Air Shipping Asia

Continental Cargo to offer CSafe ULDs

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Continental Airlines Cargo has reached an agreement with CSafe to become the first passenger airline to offer the company's AcuTemp RKN. The AcuTemp RKN is the only compressor-based, non-dry ice ULD available to US carriers. In use since 2008, the air cargo container has both cooling and heating capabilities and can sustain consistent interior temperatures in ambient extremes from -30 degrees Celsius to +50 degrees Celsius, the company says. … [Read more...] about Continental Cargo to offer CSafe ULDs

Virgin points to oneworld “monster monopoly”

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Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson has said that the US Dept. of Transportation's granting American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA) and other oneworld carriers antitrust immunity on transatlantic services "would create a monster monopoly on key routes between London Heathrow and the US." In a speech in Washington, he said BA/AA would control "nearly half of all takeoff and landing slots at London Heathrow" and that antitrust immunity would prove "disastrous" for the airline industry and … [Read more...] about Virgin points to oneworld “monster monopoly”

Thai “Merchant of Death” verdict in August

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Judges in Thailand said they would give until 30 June for closing statements on a US request for the extradition of a Russian who is alleged to be an international arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death." Viktor Bout has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest in Bangkok on charges that he peddled weapons that were used in some of the world's most violent conflicts, to customers including Al-Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf (Philippines), Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone, the … [Read more...] about Thai “Merchant of Death” verdict in August

Lufthansa may walk away from BMI deal

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Lufthansa has indicated it may walk away from its takeover deal for BMI, over the issue of capital restructuring, according to a Financial Times report. If successful it will own about 80 per cent of shares, but obstructing the deal is the issue of who will pay for the capital restructuring, with BMI management saying it's not needed. The German carrier is also said to be seeking up to €500 million in 'restructuring' aid. … [Read more...] about Lufthansa may walk away from BMI deal

Finnair’s latest A330 on Delhi route

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Finnair's third A330 aircraft will make its first commercial flight to Delhi on 20 May after which it will start regular scheduled flights between the Indian capital and New York. The new A330 aircraft are part of a major long haul fleet renewal which will see Finnair take delivery of a total of five new A330s this year. … [Read more...] about Finnair’s latest A330 on Delhi route

Grand China Express becomes Tianjin Airlines

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Hainan Airlines Group has announced plans to relaunch its Grand China Express Airlines subsidiary as Tianjin Airlines from early June. Grand China had been operating 10 E-190s, 12 ERJ-145s and 29 Do 328-300s on more than 80 domestic routes. The Tianjin government agreed, in December, to inject CNY200 million (US$29.3 million) into Grand China, giving it a 15.4 per cent stake in the new carrier, with Hainan holding 83.4 per cent and its subsidiary, Hainan Airlines holding the remainder. By 2012 … [Read more...] about Grand China Express becomes Tianjin Airlines