The Republic of Congo has signed a concession agreement for the development, operation and management of the country’s three international airports of Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire andOllombo. The concession which was awarded to AERCO (Aéroports de la République du Congo) with the French Egis Group and its subsidiary SEGAP as the operating company’s main shareholder after what Lufthansa Consulting said was almost three years of comprehensive project work. This … [Read more...] about AFRICA: Lufthansa Consulting integral to Congo’s aviation

United Airlines chairman and chief executive Glenn Tilton has suggested a possible resumption of merger efforts between United and Continental. Merger talks between the two ended in April 2008 amid soaring fuel costs and fading cash reserves, at which time Continental then left the SkyTeam alliance headed by Delta and Air France and joined United in the rival Star Alliance. “The investor seems to have spoken,” Tilton told the Financial Times in reference to the merger of Delta … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: United’s Tilton talks consolidation

Alaska Air Cargo is increasing the cut-off time and imposing a security screening surcharge in order to meet US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements for seafood shipments on passenger aircraft. From 15 February, freight that is not pre-screened by shippers under the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) will have to be delivered to the airline four hours prior to flight departure and the carrier is increasing its security screening surcharge to four … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Alaska imposes security surcharge for seafood

Air Canada has reported a 2009 net loss of C$24 million (US$22.4 million), a significant improvement over a net loss of C$1.03 billion a year earlier. In part it was aided by C$657 million in gains on foreign exchange that were reversed from C$655 million in losses in the prior year. Revenue for 2009 fell 12.2 per cent to C$9.74 billion. President and CEO Calin Rovinescu said the carrier “overcame tremendous challenges” last year and has started 2010 in a far “more stable … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Air Canada narrows losses from year earlier

Canada’s WestJet has reported a 2009 full-year net income of C$98.2 million (US$94 million), down 45 per cent from C$178.5 million in 2008, and said it plans to re-accelerate growth this year after slowing annual capacity expansion to just 2.6 per cent last year. Revenue in 2009 fell 10.5 per cent to C$2.28 billion. WestJet took delivery of five 737NGs in the fourth quarter 2009 and a further 737-800 in February 2010 to bring its fleet to 87, all 737NGs. It will take a -700 by the … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: WestJet to grow capacity 10% this year

Canada’s WestJet has reported a 2009 full-year net income of C$98.2 million (US$94 million), down 45 per cent from C$178.5 million in 2008, and said it plans to re-accelerate growth this year after slowing annual capacity expansion to just 2.6 per cent last year. Revenue in 2009 fell 10.5 per cent to C$2.28 billion. WestJet took delivery of five 737NGs in the fourth quarter 2009 and a further 737-800 in February 2010 to bring its fleet to 87, all 737NGs. It will take a -700 by the … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: WestJet to grow capacity 10% this year