Jet Airways Buys Three More Boeing 777s

India's Jet Airways said on Thursday it had exercised an option to buy three additional Boeing 777-300 aircraft scheduled for delivery in May, October and November 2009.
Jet Airways has also purchased seven ATR 72-500 aircraft scheduled for deliveries between December 2008 and July 2010, and leased six ATR 72-500 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between November 2007 and November 2008, it said in a statement.
It did not disclose the value of the deals.
(Reuters)

Deccan Plans Stake In Airport Developer

India's Deccan Aviation, which runs budget airline Air Deccan, plans to take a stake in a consortium that will help identify and build low-cost airports in India, the Business Standard daily said on Friday.
The company is in the "final stages" of forming a four member consortium, which would include three corporates with infrastructure development interests, the paper said quoting Deccan's Executive Chairman G.R. Gopinath.
"Our mission is to achieve equitable development," the paper quoted him as saying. "Development has to extend to the fringes of the country... Connectivity plays a crucial role in this," Gopinath said
A low cost airport can be built for less than INR400 million rupees (USD$10 million) with smaller terminals and by doing away with frills such as plush buses to ferry passengers, the paper said.
States such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu , Assam and Orissa have started identifying land for low-cost airports and the Tata and GMR groups have expressed interest in developing no-frills airport, the report said.
India, through partnership with private firms, is modernizing ageing airports designed in the 1950s to keep pace with rapid growth.
India's airlines are expected to ferry about 60 million passengers by 2010, according to analysts. Deccan has the country's largest airline network connecting 65 cities and towns.
(Reuters)

Kuoni acquires Les Ateliers du Voyage

The Kuoni Group has acquired the French-based Les Ateliers du Voyage travel company, with immediate effect. Les Ateliers du Voyage offers individual travel products aimed at the higher price segment, and is excellently established in the French market. The acquisition marks a further step in Kuoni’s expansion in the premium and specialist segments.Kuoni France has acquired all the shares in French-based travel company Les Ateliers du Voyage. Since its foundation by previous majority shareholder Bruno Ferret in 1986, Les Ateliers du Voyage has secured itself a firm position in the French market as a provider of tailored travel products. The company offers individual travel arrangements to Asia under the “Yoketai” brand, trips to Southern Africa under the “Grandeur Nature” banner, travel to Latin America under the name “Arroyo” and unusual tours for small groups under its “Ananta” brand.Les Ateliers du Voyage is justly renowned for the outstanding quality of its entire product portfolio. The company’s unique luxury travel arrangements meet all the wishes and expectations of the most discerning of customers. Since March 2006, Les Ateliers du Voyage has also maintained a 700-square-metre sales outlet in Paris’s elegant 7th Quarter, where customers can obtain top personal travel advice in exotic surrounds.Les Ateliers du Voyage distributes its products primarily via direct sales channels and through a selection of independent travel agencies. The company currently employs 15 personnel and generated turnover of EUR 13 million (CHF 21 million) last year. The parties agreed not to divulge the purchase price involved.Kuoni intends to retain the various Les Ateliers du Voyage brands, which are already well established and successful in the French market. The company’s present director and his team will also continue to develop the product portfolio and ensure its further success.In organisational terms, Les Ateliers du Voyage will be operated as an autonomous unit within Kuoni France, which is led by Emmanuel Foiry. The new acquisition fits perfectly into Division Style, which is headed by Reto Wilhelm.
Michael Verikios - Thursday, July 26, 2007

First A380 flight to be sold for charity

Singapore Airlines – the first airline in the world to fly the new Airbus A380 – is preparing for the first commercial flight of the new double-decker jumbo jet, from Singapore to Sydney and return which will take place in October 2007. And in an unprecedented move, all proceeds from the sale of tickets on the first flight will be donated to charities.In response to requests from people all over the world to be passengers on the first flight, Singapore Airlines will auction the seats on global online marketplace, eBay. Bids will be invited for seats on this history-making flight, and winning bidders will know that every dollar they pay will go to worthwhile charities. All customers will receive a personalised ceremonial certificate confirming they were part of the first-ever commercial A380 flight.Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Chew Choon Seng, said the Airline wants to acknowledge the widespread interest in the entry into commercial service of this all-new airplane, and to use the opportunity to benefit worthwhile charities. “The first commercial A380 flight will be a moment in aviation history. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, on an aircraft that will mark a new chapter in air travel. And while we will celebrate the event, we also wish to remember the people who are less fortunate and can be assisted by the charities to which all the proceeds will go,” Mr Chew said.Singapore Airlines has secured support from three important partners for this charity event. One of the Airline’s strategic fuel suppliers, and a key partner, ExxonMobil Aviation, will donate the fuel for the flights.“We are pleased to support this event as a strategic partner of Singapore Airlines. This charity event is in line with our long-standing effort to make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate,” said Mr Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. eBay – the world’s leading online marketplace will subsidise the fees and charges from this auction, and PayPal, a global leader in online payment solutions, will rebate a portion of its fees and charges to help support the charities.“eBay is uniquely positioned as a global online marketplace to provide boundless opportunity for fund-raising and social responsibility programs and we are delighted to support Singapore Airlines in this very unique charity auction,” said Sam McDonagh, Director for eBay Southeast Asia. The actual date of the flight will be fixed soon, after final notification from Airbus about the delivery date this coming October.
Vicky Karantzavelou - Thursday, July 26, 2007