Air France has announced it will begin operating high-speed rail service to from London to Paris, challenging the current monopoly enjoyed by Eurostar which will come to an end in 2010 when new “open access” regulations come into force. The London to Paris journey would take under two hours, according to the Air France plan that would use a new generation of high-speed train on the route from St Pancras. Trains would operate at maximum speeds reaching 224mph, which is 38mph faster … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Air France to take to the rails in 2010
airlines cargo
Europe/CIS: AirBridgeCargo transports “Spartacus” for Bolshoi
Stage scenery for Russia’s world famous Bolshoi Th eatre has been transported from Moscow by AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) for a special production of ‘Spartacus’ in Hong Kong. The stage scenery was transported onboard one of ABC’s scheduled Boeing 747-400ER freighters that operate seven times a week from Moscow to Hong Kong. ABC said it was chosen for this special delivery because of the reliability of its Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, the convenience of a non-stop … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: AirBridgeCargo transports “Spartacus” for Bolshoi
Europe/CIS: Aeroflot Nord 737-500 crashes killing 88
An Aeroflot Nord 737-500 en route from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Perm lost radio contact at 3,600 feet on approach and crashed last month, killing all 82 passengers and six crew. Russian officials cited engine failure as the most likely cause. Crash debris was scattered over 10,000 sq. m. area. Aeroflot, which owns a 51 per cent stake in the regional carrier that operates domestic services cutties to Aeroflot Nord only days after the fatal crash, saying that Nord no longer will operate flights … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Aeroflot Nord 737-500 crashes killing 88
Europe/CIS: Lufthansa, Air France- KLM volumes drop
Lufthansa, Europe’s biggest cargo airline, reported a sharp drop in freight traffic in August from a year ago as the residual impact of strike action in July ended several months of strong gains. The German carrier said the 8 per cent year-on-year decline in cargo carried on its freighters and passenger aircraft to 152,000 tonnes was also due in part to the economic slowdown in the Americas, its fastestgrowing market over the past year. Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa’s standalone … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Lufthansa, Air France- KLM volumes drop
Europe/CIS: Air Caraibes, the A350-1000 XWB launch customer
French Caribbean carrier Air Caraïbes has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for three A350-1000 aircraft, and is with this purchase decision becoming the European launch customer for the largest version of the A350 XWB. The aircraft will be operated on the airline’s network from Paris to the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and soon to French Guyana. “The A350 XWB will continue the track record of spectacular effi ciency and low operating costs we already experience with … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Air Caraibes, the A350-1000 XWB launch customer
Europe/CIS: 30 more airlines could fail before Xmas
UK flag carrier British Airways’ CEO Willie Walsh said recently that as many as 30 more airlines could go bankrupt before Christmas. Britain’s Independent carried a report quoting Walsh as saying: “We are in the worst trading environment the industry has ever seen. We have already seen 30 or so airlines go bust this year and it would be fair to expect a similar number of casualties worldwide over the next three to four months.” Some UK bookmakers are taking bets on … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: 30 more airlines could fail before Xmas
