HIGH TARGETS FOR ETIHAD
Etihad Airways has set a goal of carrying 25 million passengers by 2020. The Abu-Dhabi based carrier hopes to achieve its target of flying six million by the end of 2008.
OLYMPIC TO BE PRIVATISED
The European Union has approved the Greek government's plan to privatise the national carrier Olympic Airways SA. The privatisation will be completed in five stages and three entities will be created. An airways company (Pantheon Airways) to own 65% of the airline's transport capacity using the name and logo of Olympic, and two companies to handle ground and maintenance services. The process will be finalised by April 2009.
ALITALIA IN TROUBLE
Alitalia, Italy’s national airline may lose its operating licence if no offer is made to rescue it by 25th September. The government-appointed administrator is trying to attract offers by foreign investors. CAI (Italian Investor Group) has withdrawn its bid to buy the airline. Alitalia is currently losing €2 million a day.
INVESTING IN TRIP
Sky West has invested US$5 million in Brazil’s regional airline Trip as part of an expansion strategy. The 6% investment stake could grow up to 20% in the next two years. SkyWest Inc. operates Sky West and Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
QANTAS RECEIVES FIRST A380
Qantas has received its first of 20 A380. It was the first airline to order the double-decker aircraft but delivery has been delayed. The first flight of the new aircraft will take place on October 20 between Melbourne and Los Angeles.
THE GROWTH OF AFRIQIYAH
Afriqiyah Airways received the first of the three A319 aircraft it has ordered. The Libyan airline has also ordered 11 A320s, three A330-200s and six A350XWBs.
GATWICK AIRPORT FOR SALE
Gatwick Airport, the UK's second largest airport is up for sale following the recent report of the Competition Commission to BAA, the airport's owner. Potential bidders include Virgin Atlantic, Manchester Airport Group, Hochtief, Fraport, Global Infrastructure Partners, the GE-Credit Suisse Investment Fund, and MacQuarie Group. The airport serviced 35.1 million passengers in 2007 and it has been valued at £1.8 billion.
NEW AIRPORT TO BE BUILT IN LIBYA
SNC-Lavalin, a Canadian company, has been awarded the contract to construct a Greenfield airport in Benghazi, Libya. The Benina International Airport will be completed in 2010 and will cost CAD500 million. It will be able to service 5 million passengers per year.
NEW ADDITION TO THE FLEET OF TITAN AIRWAYS
Titan Airways, a British VIP charter operator has added a B737-300QC all-business class aircraft to its fleet. London Stansted is the base of the airline.
FLAIRJET ANNOUNCES AIR TAXI SERVICES
FlairJet, a new British Air Taxi operator announced that it will start services in May 2009 with two Phenom 100. The VLJs will be leased from a European customer of Embraer. The new VLJ operator has ordered a Phenom 100 due to be delivered in 2012 with an option for one more. This Air Taxi company has been launched by Capt. David Fletcher and it will be based at Oxford Airport.
DAYJET SUSPEND OPERATIONS
DayJet, the original on seat, on demand air taxi service has suspended all operations. The DayJet website says "it has discontinued its jet services and cancelled all future flights as a result of the company's inability to arrange critical financing in the midst of the current global financial crisis". A congressional subcommittee had recently alleged certification of the Eclipse 500 had been rushed but DayJet officials declared that this had not affected operations.
Forthcoming Events
Very Light Jets – Europe
25-26 September 2008
Barcelona, Spain
www.miuevents.com/vlj-eu-08
Very Light Jets – Latin America & The Caribbean
10-11 November 2008
Miami, USA
www.miuevents.com/vlj-lac-08
Indian Business Aviation Expo (IBAE)
1-2 December 2008
Mumbai, India
www.miuevents.com/ibae2008 |
