A Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ AN-124-100 freighter has transported the fuselage section of a Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) passenger aircraft from Komsomolsk-na- Amure in Khabarovsk to Novosibirsk. The Sukhoi Superjet 100, tail number 95006, was transported to the Siberian Research Institute for tests in order to confirm the service life of the airframe – 70,000 flight hours – and to perform a Technical Inspection Program to demonstrate the conformance of the aircraft’s … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Volga-Dnepr transports Sukhoi’s new Superjet

The Italian government wants the €1.05 billion sale of Alitalia to investor group Compagnia Aerea Italiana, or CAI, to be completed by January 12, in yet another delay in the sale of the ailing state-controlled airline, Dow Jones reported. Industry Minister Claudio Scajola said the delay of the sale until after the Christmas holidays was decided to avoid disruptions during a peak travel season. Alitalia said the government agreed to the delay on the condition CAI takes responsibility … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Alitalia acquisition and relaunch delayed again

Emirates says it plans to use all of the 22 new aircraft due for delivery next year to grow the airline further, and is not considering phasing out older aircraft to reduce capacity, despite the economicdownturn. The aggressively expanding carrier has found financing for all of its aircraft purchases up until March of 2010, which includes deliveries of eight Airbus A380s and 14 Boeing 777s next year. In spite of the current fi nancial crisis, Emirates has found financing for all of its … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Emirates will continue to place new aircraft

Abu Dhabi Aviation has acquired a 95 per cent stake in specialist heavy-lifter company Maximus Air Cargo. “Maximus will retain its brand, operational independence and management structure, and the change will allow the company to pursue its route to increase efficiency and profitability and ensure corporate growth,” said president and chief executive Fathi Hilal Buhazza. Maximus earlier reported healthy growth during the first nine months of 2008, with up to four-fold increases in … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Maximus acquired by Abu Dhabi Aviation