After months of haggling with unions and frenetic talks with politicians seeking to save local airports, a new, slimmeddown Alitalia took to the skies today, after months of uncertainty as to its future after the former state-controlled airlinefiled for bankruptcy in August. “We’ve done it. There’s no turning back from the new Alitalia now and all the prophets of misfortune have been silenced,” said Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi, whose government had made saving … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: ‘New’ Alitalia takes to the skiesya
air freighter
MIDDLE EAST: Etihad expands network to Turkey
Etihad Airways is expanding its European services with the addition of its latest new route to Istanbul in Turkey. Turkey’s commercial capital will initially be served four times a week from 2 June, expanding to five flights a week from October. The addition of Istanbul will bring to 13 the number of European cities served by Etihad. The new destination will increase the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s global flight network to 54 cities and follows confirmation that Etihad will also … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad expands network to Turkey
MIDDLE EAST: Air cargo firms appeal UAE Antonov ban
UAE air cargo companies have joined forces to appeal against a decision by the General Civil Aviation Authority banning Antonov An-12 airplanes fromUAE airspace. The authority last week ordered all Antonov An-12 aeroplanes out of the country by today, citing safety concerns after a recent string of accidents involving the four-engine turboprop plane. In a meeting yesterday with a civil aviation official, representatives of 14 air-cargo companies that use An-12s complained that the ban … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Air cargo firms appeal UAE Antonov ban
MIDDLE EAST: Antonov An-12s banned from UAE airspace
The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority has banned a widely used cargo aircraft from UAE airspace, citing safety concerns. A number of recent accidents involving the Antonov An-12, a four-engine turboprop plane, prompting the authority to blacklist the plane last week. Th e An-12 has a range of more than 3,000 km and can carry a payload of 20 tonnes. About a half-dozen small carriers in the UAE use the Soviet-era aircraft to carry goods such as medicine and food … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Antonov An-12s banned from UAE airspace
MIDDLE EAST: ACI reports Nov drop in global air traffic
Global freight growth dropped dramatically in November according to the latest statistics released by Airports Council International (ACI) from 165 key airports around the world. International freight plummeted by 15.6 per cent and domestic tonnage by 13.1 per cent onaverage. The year-to-date and the rolling 12-month year periods also registered negative growth compared to the same time period of the previous year leaving only the Middle East with positive results amongst all the regions. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: ACI reports Nov drop in global air traffic
MIDDLE EAST: DHL links Europe to the ME by road
DHL Freight, the overland transport business of German global logistics group Deutsche Post World Net, has announced the launch of a regular road freight service between Europe and the Middle East, which it is touting as a lower cost alternative to air freight with faster transit times than ocean freight. “For shipments to and from the fast-growing Middle East region, DHL customers can now choose the most suitable mode of transport depending on the time/cost restraints associated with … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: DHL links Europe to the ME by road
