Virgin Atlantic president Richard Branson said he was prepared to spend heavily to try to prevent a planned tieup between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain’s Iberia. “If it is approved we believe Virgin Atlantic will be damaged (along with) ... any smaller carriers on these routes,” Branson told reporters recently, adding he would spend “millions of dollars” in a bid to block the tie-up. He said he would start by painting “no way … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: "No way BA-AA!" says Virgin's Branson
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Middle East: Qatar's freight business sees healthy growth
Qatar’s freight transport business will grow at an average 8.1 per cent annually up to 2011, according to a recent study entitled Qatar Freight Transport Report, by global emerging markets specialist Business Monitor International (BMI). On the edge of a new gas-led export boom, and with fairly open markets, Qatar leads the Middle East and Africa freight transport business environment ranking with a score of 46, compared to a “theoretical maximum” of 70 and a regional … [Read more...] about Middle East: Qatar's freight business sees healthy growth
Sri Lanka: Colombo's runway too short, too narrow
A former director of Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority has questioned the ability of Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to support airfreight exports and passenger demand and also has suggested international airlines will not support a second international airport in the country. Speaking at a Sri Lankan Chamber of Construction Industries (CCI) seminar, Dayanthe Athulathmudali, now director, Safety and Security of Dubai World Central, said small states like Sri … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka: Colombo's runway too short, too narrow
Malaysia: AP carriers' volumes drop
The Malaysia Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) carriers, which include major global air cargo industry players such as Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines and Singapore Airlines, saw their total international freight traffic drop for the second month in a row in July. The July figure of 4,497 million freight tonne kilometres (FTKs) was 5.5 per cent down on the comparable month in 2007. The average freight load factor was up marginally, by 0.3 of a percentage … [Read more...] about Malaysia: AP carriers' volumes drop
China: China's trade surplus grows as imports slow
China’s trade surplus hit a monthly all-time high of US$28.7 billion in August – but this was caused by a sharp slowdown in imports rather than any signifi cant movement in export numbers, AFP reported. The previous record for the trade surplus was US$27.1 billion, set in October 2007. Total imports came in at US$106.2 billion in August, up just 23.1 per cent year-on-year. Import growth was 33.7 per cent in the previous month. Exports rose 21.1 per cent to US$134.9 billion, compared … [Read more...] about China: China's trade surplus grows as imports slow
China: Shenzhen's growth rate hits 30-year low
Economic growth in Shenzhen slid to its lowest level in nearly 30 years during the first half of the year, the South China Morning Post reported. The city posted GDP growth of 10.5 per cent for the sixth-month period, a marked slowdown on the 14.6 per cent growth in 2007 as a whole. Economic planners have revised down their full-year projection for 2008 from 14.7 per cent to 12 per cent. By comparison, between 1980 and 2006 Shenzhen saw its economy expand by more than 27 per cent. … [Read more...] about China: Shenzhen's growth rate hits 30-year low
