Reporting a 22 per cent decline in turnover for the first quarter of 2009, year-on-year, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said Thursday that it will cut capacity and ask its staff to take unpaid leave over the course of the next twelve months. The carrier said that from May 2009, overall planned cargo capacity will be reduced by 11 per cent while passenger capacity at Cathay Pacific will be reduced by 8 per cent and at subsidiary Dragonair by 13 per cent. The company also said it is … [Read more...] about Cathay Pacific makes further capacity cuts
recession
FedEx pulls 14 aircraft from service
FedEx Corp is pulling capacity as the ongoing downturn hits its global express business, with the US-based carrier announcing in a notice to the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week that it will remove 10 Airbus A310-200s, four Boeing MD10-10s from service between now and the end of the quarter ending May 31. "This decision reflects management's ongoing efforts to optimise the company's express network in light of continued excess aircraft capacity due to weak economic conditions … [Read more...] about FedEx pulls 14 aircraft from service
Semiconductor decline may be moderating
Global semiconductor sales declined again in February, down 30.4 per cent year-on-year to US$14.2 billion, but there is some indication the rate of decline is moderating from the fourth quarter of last year, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). "The global semiconductor industry is going through one of the steepest corrections in its history," said George Scalise, SIA president. "While it would be premature to conclude that the sales decline has hit bottom, there are some … [Read more...] about Semiconductor decline may be moderating
MASkargo looks to transhipment discounts
Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo) is pinning its hopes on further discounts to woo freight forwarders to increase their transhipment volumes through MASkargo's Advanced Cargo Centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). MASkargo managing director, Shahari Sulaiman, said earlier rebates on terminal charges for cargo transhipped via Malaysia Airlines had been increased to 100 per cent for air-to-air, land/rail-to-air, and sea-to-air transhipments from April 10 to September. “With … [Read more...] about MASkargo looks to transhipment discounts
Boeing cuts 777 production by 28%
Hit by the global economic slowdown that has savaged the global airline industry, Boeing has announced production cuts in its widebody programmes from the middle of next year. The US airframer announced that its 777 production rate will decrease from seven to five aircraft per month beginning in June 2010, representing a 28 per cent cut. It added that previous plans to moderately increase 747-8 and 767 production, each currently at about one per month, have been suspended. Boeing said the cut … [Read more...] about Boeing cuts 777 production by 28%
One year postponement for UAL China flights
United Airlines has received permission from the US Transportation Department to delay the start of flights between San Francisco and Guangzhou, China until June 2010 because of the steep drop off in demand. The move follows that of other US carriers, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways who have all delayed the start of service between the US and China in the last year. … [Read more...] about One year postponement for UAL China flights