Leveraging newly acquired 5th Freedom Traffic Rights, Martinair is set to begin scheduled services from Viracopus, Brazil (VCP) to Ecuador (Quito and Guayaquil) and Colombia (Bogota) on its four weekly MD11 freighter flights. Martinair was able to obtain the traffic rights from Sao Paulo to Ecuador and Colombia from the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency - Agência Nacional de Aviacão Civil (ANAC) in cooperation with Grupo BETA (Brazilian Express Transportes Aéreos), a Brazilian cargo … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Martinair taps 5th freedoms in S. America

Extreme winter weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere have meant not just operational difficulties for carriers, but added costs as high oil demand has pushed prices firmly back above US$80 per barrel in the first week of trading in 2010 after beginning the climb since mid-Dec-2009, taking jet fuel prices up with it. Aviation fuel prices are now more than double where they were 12 months ago, and the spike in oil is an ominous sign for the industry struggling to recover from the … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Harsh weather = harsher oil prices

The SAS Group has announced it has sold 18 MD-80 aircraft to Allegiant Travel Company, a US based airline, that were made redundant as part of its drive to reduce its capacity by a total of 21 aircraft. By end of December 2009, 18 aircraft had already been taken out of service. As a result of this and earlier capacity reductions SAS holds MD-80 series surplus aircraft. Allegiant has previously bought 13 SAS MD80s. Following the sale, the SAS Group will have 24 MD-80´s in operation out of a … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: SAS sells 18 surplus MD-80 aircraft

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the Copenhagen Accord as an “important step in the right direction” for climate change. IATA said the fact that aviation emissions were not addressed specifically in the accord, is a “reflection of the pro-active measures the industry has taken to set challenging targets for itself, together with an aggressive strategy to achieve them.” The industry body also pledged to continue working towards … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Copenhagen accord step in right direction: IATA

GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd. (GECAS), the Irish-based aircraft leasing business of General Electric Capital Corporation announced the sale of 15 commercial aircraft valued at approximately US$830 million, leased to multiple airlines around the world to CDB Leasing Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Development Bank. CDB Leasing, which has to date completed delivery of 45 aircraft, said it is seeking to expand its international presence. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: GE Capital sells 15 aircraft to China’s CDB

Swiss WorldCargo has announced the launch of direct flights between Zurich and San Francisco from 2 June 2010. The cargo division of Swiss said it will operate a six-times weekly service with wide A340-300 body aircraft which will essentially double cargo capacity on the route. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Swiss Cargo doubles capacity on Zurich-San Fran