Amidst the relief and in some cases cautious jubilation that the economic turmoil of 2009 was receding and 2010 would herald brighter prospects, the Haiti earthquake struck creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in history. With no internal emergency capability and a completely devastated infrastructure, thousands dead and many more homeless and without food, water or sanitation, the world’s second poorest country was in dire need. The emergency response … [Read more...] about Aiding and abetting

The enormity of crisis last year is by now well-known to industry players. International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show the industry ending 2009 with cargo in a fullyear decline of 10.1 per cent – the largest ever post-war decline – with an average load factor of just 49.1 per cent. “We are ending an Annus Horribilis that brings to a close the 10 challenging years of an aviation Decennis Horribilis. Between 2000 and 2009, airlines lost US$49.1 … [Read more...] about On the wings of a recovering market

German carrier Lufthansa is the first large European airline in two decades to offer flights to Baghdad. Lufthansa said that a combination of eased security issues within the country combined with high demand has prompted it to offer passenger service from Frankfurt and Munich to the Iraqi capital, as well as the northern city of Erbil this summer. It’s not the first time flying to Iraq for Lufthansa, which first began flights to Baghdad in 1956, but stopped operating these in … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa returns to Iraq with Baghdad and Erbil

Airbus recently announced a full-year 2009 delivery record of 498 aircraft, an increase of 15 aircraft from 2008 and included just over 400 aircraft from the A320 family along with 86 A330s/A340s and 10 A380s (compared to the 18 it expected to deliver). The airframer also reported a gross order intake for the year of 310 aircraft, worth a total of US$34.9 billion but cancellations reduced the net to 271 planes valued at $30.3 billion, compared to 777 in 2008. Airbus also said it’s … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Airbus posts record aircraft deliveries for 2009

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasised the importance of engaging the industry on security issues in a meeting with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in January. IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani hosted a summit at IATA’s headquarters in Geneva which included DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, the secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), top executives from 25 airlines, as well as participants from the US … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: IATA, US hold summit on aviation security coop