AIRPORT NEWS

Tender planned for New Mexico’s spaceport

Right: Designed by Foster + Partners and URS Corporation, the proposed Spaceport is due to enter service in late 2009 or early 2010

A tender for the construction of the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport is due to go out in the first half of next year, says Spaceport America. The 9,300m² hangar and terminal facility in New Mexico will serve as the operational base for flights into space by Virgin Galactic.

The design, by a US-British team of URS Corporation and Foster + Partners, is a low-lying shape that makes widespread use of earth for insulation and relies on passive energy for heating and cooling, with photovoltaic panels for electricity and water recycling capabilities. A rolling concrete shell acts as a roof with massive windows, offering views of the runway and spacecraft.

The terminal and hangar facility is projected to cost about US$31 million. It will provide Virgin Galactic’s pre-flight and post-flight training facilities and lounges, as well as the maintenance hangar for two White Knight 2 and five Spaceship 2 aircraft.

Stuttgart proposes growth plan

Right: Stuttgart's target of more than 17 million passengers is dependent on approval of its development plan by the Baden-Württemberg County government

Stuttgart Airport aims to handle 17.3 million passengers annually by 2020. The airport operator unveiled this target yesterday as it presented its airport masterplan for the period until 2020. Airport officials say it will only reach this target if the local government approves the building of a second runway for around US$880 million (Euro 600 million), which will help it to remain competitive.

Stuttgart also wants to limit its existing night curfew and claims that without infrastructural measures, it will lose traffic to Frankfurt and Munich. The airport says it expects to grow to handle no more than 14.1 million passengers per year in 2020 if the County rejects the plan for a second runway.

The Baden-Württemberg County government will decide on the airport development plan in spring 2008. If it grants permission to build the runway, Stuttgart Airport officials claim the project could be complete by 2015.

If the runway gets the go-ahead, the airport operator says it will need to extend its existing terminal to the west, adding 20-30 more aircraft positions and expanding airport facilities such as the check-in area. Stuttgart Airport forecasts that the terminal extension would cost around US$185 million (Euro 125 million).

Stuttgart is Germany’s sixth largest international airport, and handled 10 million passengers in a year for the first time in 2006. It expects to grow by 4.2% per year to 2020 if the expansion plans are improved, but to grow by just 2.8% per year if they are not.

Retail boom awaits China’s airports

Right: Duty free shops at Shanghai Airport

China’s airport retail sector is expected to experience “eruptive growth” in the next three to seven years, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Liu Shaocheng, CAAC policy department director, says, “China’s airport retail business is a gold mine waiting to be explored.”

Shaocheng says that retail revenues at China’s airports last year amounted to US$3.08 billion (Yuan 22.85 billion), but less than 40% came from the non-aviation sector. “This is much less than at airports in Europe, Australia and the rest of Asia, which means the commercial potential of Chinese airports has not been developed fully,” he says.

The presence of players like Sunrise Duty Free and King Power Group in Shanghai Pudong International Airport and DFS in Meilan International Airport suggests that China’s airports are increasingly aware of this potential and are changing their operations to exploit the opportunities.

Shaocheng predicts further cooperation between international airports and Chinese airports will contribute to the development of airport retail in the country.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has just signed a contract with Schiphol Group for the development of commercial activities, including retail, food and beverage facilities.

Shanghai plans self-service baggage check-in

Right: Wincor-Nixdorf self-service check-in kiosks at Shanghai Airport

From March next year, air travellers holding electronic tickets will be able to check in their own luggage at self-service kiosks at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Officials claim that Pudong will be the first airport in China to provide self-service kiosks that allow passengers to check in their luggage.

Last June, the airport installed six self-service Proair kiosks from Wincor-Nixdorf at check-in Island B in the domestic check-in hall. The six machines are used by more than 1,000 travellers each day, but they do not, at present, allow passengers to check-in their baggage.

The kiosks software was co-developed by Materna Information & Communications and a local system integrator.

Shanghai Airport Authority is working with airlines and kiosk suppliers to develop a self-service kiosk that allows passengers to check in their luggage. They plan to put the kiosks near traditional check-in counters so passengers can tag the luggage by themselves and then load the luggage onto the conveyors once they have received a boarding pass and baggage tags from the kiosks. It is estimated that by March next year, such kiosks will be deployed by the airport.

Green campaigners challenge Manchester’s masterplan

Plans by Manchester Airport to become one of the most environmentally friendly airports in Europe have been blasted by environmental campaigners. The airport’s latest master plan to 2030, proposes increasing its passenger volume by 50% to 33 million, but also includes plans to make the airport’s terminals carbon neutral from ground operations by 2015.

“This is an ambitious target and would place us ahead of every other UK airport,” says Tim Walmsley, the airport’s environmental manager. “We will deliver major environmental and financial benefits from reducing our carbon emissions.”

Manchester Airport plans by 2020 to get all of its electricity from renewable sources (the present figure is 20%) and to generate up to one fifth of its energy needs on-site.

The master plan has not, however, been welcomed by local councillor Vanessa Hall, a member of the Green Party. “Manchester Airport could tow the planes to the runway using a fleet of bicycles, but this would not get away from the fact that flying already accounts for 13% of the UK’s global warming,” she says. “Manchester Airport already produces double the emissions of Uganda.”

Dr Graeme Sherrif of Friends of the Earth says, “Manchester Airport aiming to become carbon neutral is like a tobacconist shop becoming a smoke-free zone. The reality is that the carbon emissions from the flights it encourages dwarf those of its ground operations. The airport must take responsibility for these emissions and this means abandoning its aggressive growth plans, refusing to operate domestic flights and ceasing to overestimate its importance to the region’s economy.”

East Midlands wins fifth award this year

East Midlands Airport in the UK has been awarded the title of Airport of the Year in this year’s British Travel Awards in London. East Midlands was chosen for the award by an independent panel of travel trade experts.

This is the fifth award won by East Midlands in 2007. In January, it was named Best Regional Airport at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards and World’s Leading Eco Friendly Airport at the World Travel Awards. It was also been Best UK Regional Airport at the Travel Bulletin 2007 Star Awards and Best Airport at the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) Awards 2007.

“We are very proud of the titles we have been awarded this year, which recognise the hard work and dedication of our great team,” says Penny Coates, airport managing director.

IATA to launch ground handling safety audit

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will launch a worldwide safety audit programme for ground handlers in early 2008. The programme is aimed at preventing accidents involving ground handlers that cost billions of dollars in aircraft damage each year.

IATA’s new Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) aims to reduce accidents and injuries on the ground, while reducing the number of redundant audits, through the creation of a global safety audit standard for ground handling companies.

The new programme will be led by Mike O’Brien, IATA’s director, programme implementation/auditing, who says that ISAGO aims to create an environment in which companies will undergo a single audit that applies a consistent set of commonly agreed standards, tailored to the operating regime of each company.

Upon completion of the audit and correction of any findings, the ground handler will be placed on a Registry. Airlines will then be able to use the ISAGO Registration and access the report as necessary, instead of conducting their own safety audit, as is the case today.

A total of 14 trial audits are already under way and the first real audits will start in March 2008. ISAGO will be made available to all ground service providers worldwide, irrespective of size or independent status, and will be tailored to each entity’s specific ground handling activities.

IATA will conduct a number of regional seminars in 2008 about ISAGO.

Consultants chosen to manage Jeddah airport expansion

Above: Expansion will raise capacity at King Abdulaziz airport to 80 million

Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdulaziz, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation regulator (GACA), has signed a US$68.3 million deal this week with the international consultancy Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners) to manage the construction of Jeddah’s new US$4.8 billion airport.

Under the five-year contract, the consultancy, which operates from Cairo and Beirut, will supervise the work at the largest airport to be built in Saudi Arabia. The construction is expected to start in the beginning of 2008 and will develop the outdated King Abdulaziz airport in Jeddah into a regional hub.

Construction will take place in three stages, the first of which should be completed by the first quarter of 2011. At the end of the first stage, the airport’s capacity will increase from 13 million passengers to 30 million passengers each year. Once all three construction stages are complete, the airport’s capacity will rise to 80 million passengers per year.

The new airport will have four new crescent-shaped passenger terminals, and a high-speed rail link connecting the airport to the two Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The expansion of the airport includes the construction of a support services building, renovation of the existing South and North Terminals and upgrades to the existing runway and airfield systems to accommodate the Airbus A380.

Abdullah Rehaimy, president of GACA, says the project will be built by local companies. He claims the airport is not commercially feasible at present, but that it will start to make a profit once construction is completed.

Changi launches concierge shopping

Singapore’s Changi Airport has introduced a shopping concierge service, which is due to run until 5 January next year. The service is aimed at reducing the stress of Christmas shopping for passengers using the airport.

“This is part of CAAS’ efforts to enhance passengers’ shopping experience at Changi Airport. We hope that passengers will find shopping a breeze at Changi Airport Shopping City, given the extra help from our new shopping concierge staff, and take full advantage of the great buys being offered during this Christmas shopping promotion period,” says Lim Kim Choon, director-general & chief executive officer, of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

The shopping concierge counters are located within the Transit Malls of Terminals 1 and 2. Staff stationed at these counters will provide passengers with gift ideas and recommendations and will advise passengers on the best buys at the airport.

Lufthansa, TUI, Eurowings Discuss Airline Alliance

The merger plans of Lufthansa's Germanwings unit and of TUI's TUIfly division are set to include Eurowings too, people familiar with the talks said on Thursday.

The parties plan to build a larger alliance that also involves Eurowings as a third airline, it was said.

Building entrepreneur Albrecht Knauf, who holds a majority stake in Eurowings, may also take a stake in the possible new entity. Lufthansa owns 49 percent of Eurowings but has all the voting rights and operates the regional airline.

Lufthansa, Germanwings and TUIfly declined to comment.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported in a pre-released article from Friday's edition, citing unidentified people in the industry, that Lufthansa and TUI agreed to hold 40 percent of the merged entity each and Knauf 20 percent.

Iran To Buy Five Passenger Planes From Russia

Iran's national airliner Iran Air will buy five Tupolev passenger planes from Russia to meet high demand for domestic flights, Iran's state broadcaster said on Wednesday.

"Iran Air has various plans to complete its fleet and is to buy five Tupolev 214 passenger planes," Managing Director Saeed Hessami was quoted as saying on the web site of state broadcaster IRIB.

"The deposit has been prepared for transfer to the (Ilyushin Finance) company and they (the aircraft) will gradually join the fleet," Hessami said without giving any financial details on the deal.

Hessami did not mention any other plans to buy Tupolev planes from Russia.

In Moscow on Monday, a source with knowledge of the deal said Iran had started talks to buy 30 Russian Tupolev 204 passenger aircraft worth more than USD$1 billion.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said the deal was likely to be reached by the end of the year.

It is likely to embarrass Western powers which are trying to persuade Russia and China to join them in tightening sanctions on Iran to make it halt its uranium enrichment program.

Washington and its close allies suspect it of trying to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran says it wants only to produce electricity.

Russia and China, both with strong trade ties with Tehran and veto power on the UN Security Council, have argued for more negotiations to encourage Iran to comply with the international demand for a halt in uranium enrichment.

Government-owned Iran Air operates a fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes, while its Iran Air Tours subsidiary flies Tupolev 154 planes. Iran's airline sector has been under US sanctions for almost three decades, preventing it from buying new US planes or spare parts.

(Reuters)

Heathrow growth to bring UK £10 billion a year

Future Heathrow, representing employers, staff and aviation organisations, hailed the UK Government's confirmation that proposals for a short, third runway and fuller use of the two existing runways would meet stringent requirements for reducing noise and improving local air quality.

The group urged that firm decisions should be taken quickly to implement the first increases in runway capacity at the UK's national hub since 1946. Expansion would benefit wealth and job creation across the country by nearly £10 billion a year.

The airport's growth would remove the threat to London's status as a global business capital and establish world-class air links for the UK regions to boost inward investment.

Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: "Good air links are vital to UK businesses operating in a global economy, and Heathrow, as our national hub, has been constrained for too long. The government needs to move forward swiftly so that extra capacity at Heathrow can become a reality."

"This verdict that the local environmental tests can be met is an important step forward. We must also ensure that, as the threat from climate change grows, aviation plays its part in the move to a low carbon economy - even as demand for air travel increases."

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said: "Aviation supports around 500,000 jobs in the UK, and many others in support services, so the future of Heathrow is crucial to our economy. We want to see Heathrow's development to deliver secure, high quality jobs in a well-unionised environment."

"We welcome the Government's commitment to balancing the economic benefits of airport expansion with environmental aspects, not only local noise and air pollution, but also national climate change priorities. The TUC looks forward to working with government to ensure the sustainable development of Heathrow."

Stephen Nelson, chief executive of BAA, said: "This consultation spells good news for passengers. Heathrow is full and its dependence on two runways, while European competitors have four or five, causes delays, stacks and crawling taxiway queues. The cost of this congestion can be measured economically and environmentally. "

"More efficient, or mixed-mode, use of the existing runways would allow us to cut delays at a stroke, while a third runway will mean we can add new destinations to the UK's global reach. There will be no more noise overall from the airport, better air quality, and improved public transport links."

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said: "We are committed to ensuring that growth is sustainable. By the time a third runway becomes operational, aviation emissions will have been capped by the EU for several years."

"If airlines want to fly more, they will have to pay for emissions reductions in other industries - so overall CO2 in the atmosphere will not rise because of a third runway."

Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "Limiting growth at Heathrow wouldn't prevent climate change because that growth would only go elsewhere."

"It would only serve to damage the UK's competitiveness, as well as limit the choice available to the huge number of people living in London who want to travel to visit friends and family. We rely on air travel to connect people and places on a wider scale.

Airlines welcome Heathrow consultation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the UK Government’s announcement of a consultation into the third runway at London Heathrow Airport. “Heathrow is Europe’s busiest international hub and critical to the UK’s competitiveness. It is also bursting at the seams. Short-term fixes, including mixed mode are useful. But the only real long-term solution is a third runway,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO.

Heathrow airport ranks among the world’s most congested airports. The capacity cap is 480,000 slots per year. For the airline schedule commencing next March, 477,000 slots are taken-up. The remaining 3,000 slots are at undesirable off-peak times.

Heathrow operates with dedicated runways for take-offs and landings. Mixed mode operations (allowing the runways to be used flexibly for take-offs and landings) could bring capacity to 550,000 slots per year. A third runway would allow up to 720,000 slots.

“Heathrow has been operating with the same runway capacity for 60 years. On infrastructure, it is the poor cousin among Europe’s great airports. Paris operates with four runways, Frankfurt with three and Amsterdam with five. If Heathrow does not catch-up on capacity, the economic benefits of being Europe’s premier hub are anything but guaranteed,” said Bisignani.

“The consultation committee will be weighing up the costs as well as the benefits for the economy and the environment. Let’s get the calculation right. A congested airport with chronic delays has an unnecessary environmental cost. So capacity expansion has an environmental benefit,” said Bisignani.

“The airline industry’s commitment to a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency by 2020 is solid and endorsed by the UK government. The next step is carbon neutral growth while aiming for a carbon-free future. Short-sighted decisions must not saddle UK competitiveness with the long-term burden of second-rate infrastructure,” concluded Bisignani.

UK and Singapore sign landmark air services agreement

The UK and Singapore have signed a landmark aviation agreement on air services which removes all remaining restrictions on air services between the two countries. The agreement, the terms of which were finalised at talks last month, was signed by the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, and the Singapore Minister for
Transport, Raymond Lim.

Ms Kelly said: "I am delighted to sign this landmark deal, which will be good for passengers and for the aviation industry, both in the UK and Singapore. As the most liberal agreement of its kind to date, I hope it will set the standard for other comparable agreements in the future."

"This is a major step forward in extending the benefits of open aviation agreements such as travellers already enjoy within Europe."

The new agreement opens access to each country's aviation market for the other country's airlines, including flights to any onward destination in other countries. It is the first agreement that gives unfettered access to the London-US market to a non-EU or US airline. It applies state aid rules to ensure fair competition on both sides. It also finalises a new treaty that liberalises arrangements on a wide range of further issues, including codesharing and ground handling.

The UK-Singapore deal will come into effect from 30 March 2008.

Singapore concludes open skies agreement with Slovak Republic

Singapore and the Slovak Republic have concluded an Open Skies Agreement (OSA) on 22 November 2007, allowing for full flexibility on air services operated by carriers of both countries. The agreement was reached during air services consultations which took place from 20 to 22 November 2007 in Singapore.

The consultations were led by Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Mr Jan Breja, Director General, Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications of the Slovak Republic General Directorate of Civil Aviation and Water Transport.

With this agreement, which takes effect immediately, Singapore carriers will be able to operate flights as frequently as desired between Singapore and points in the Slovak Republic, as well as beyond the Slovak Republic to any other city in the world. Similarly, the Slovak Republic carriers will be able to operate any number of services to and beyond Singapore.

Mr Lim said, “This is a very positive agreement that reflects our two countries' commitment to promoting free competition in the aviation industry.”

He added, “Singapore and the Slovak Republic share warm bilateral ties, and I am confident that this agreement will allow our carriers the full flexibility to react quickly to future market opportunities.”

With the Singapore - Slovak Republic OSA, Singapore has concluded OSAs with more than 20 countries, including 11 in the European Union.

Adam Air To Double Fleet Size

Officials with Adam Air, an Indonesian low cost carrier, are planning a fleet expansion with a plan that could increase its size from 50-to-60 jets in the next five years, according to AFP.
Adam Air, a privately owned airline operating from Jakarta, began operation in 2003 and is the largest low fare airline in Indonesia's market by passenger number.

"We plan to add more planes to our fleet, four or five additional aircraft, each year. So in five years we will have about 50 to 60 aircraft. Right now we have 23," said Adam Air spokesman Danke Dradjat.

Dradjat said that Adam Air has not made a decision to fly only Boeing 737 series jets, or make a switch to Airbus aircraft. He indicated that the "terms and conditions" that are offered by the world's two largest commercial aircraft manufactures will be deciding factors in the jet type for its expansion. Adam Air had previously offered its plan to expand with Airbus aircraft, according to a company press release.

Dradjet did not offer cost estimates for the fleet expansion or a timeframe for delivery needs, but added that the rapid expansion of other low cost carriers in India and China were making it harder to obtain lease aircraft and causing costs to soar, forcing Adam Air to look for a fleet purchase deal.

Adam Air opened a new domestic route this week to Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan province on Borneo Island, and was studying opening flights to Ambon and Kupang in the east, Dradjat said.

Passenger numbers have resumed to previous levels after one of its jetliners crashed into the sea on New Year's Day, with average passenger loads at 92 percent'" Dradjat said. The disaster killed 102 people,as reported ANN

"We had quite a bad time the first and second month after the accident, but then conditions rebounded very quickly, especially after the Garuda accident when people saw it could happen to any airline," the airline spokesman said.

Man Arrested For Threatening To Kill UA Pilot

Five Passengers Restrain Drunk While En-Route

An apparently inebriated passenger was restrained on a United Airlines flight and later arrested after threatening to kill the aircraft's pilot on Wednesday.

Damien R. Sexton was charged in federal court with assaulting a passenger on board a San Francisco-bound flight after he allegedly stood up in his seat and blurted out, "I'm going to kill the pilot," according to court records.

The intoxicated man the stepped on the thigh of passenger Patricia Mace trying to gain access to the aisle of the plane while it was en route from Philadelphia on November 21, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Mace's thigh muscle and nerves were damaged by Sexton's actions, that came moments after he threatened to kill the pilot, authorities said.

Sexton was restrained by four or five passengers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Danner wrote in court papers. A flight purser gave the passengers duct tape and handcuffs while restraining Sexton, according to reports. Sexton was arrested upon arrival at San Francisco and charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco with assaulting a passenger and threatening to injure the pilot.

Boeing, KLM Announce Order for Additional 777-300ERs and 737-700s

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, part of the AIR FRANCE/KLM Group, has placed an order for additional 737 and 777 aircraft. The airline will add three Next-Generation 737-700s and two 777-300ERs (Extended Range) to its fleet. As part of the agreement, KLM took options on one additional 737 and two additional 777s. The order, worth approximately $716 million at catalog prices, was previously posted to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries Web site and attributed to an unidentified customer.

With today’s announcement, the airline has six 777-300ERs on direct order with Boeing and is scheduled to take delivery of its first of this model in the first quarter of 2008. KLM currently operates a fleet of 15 777-200ERs in a combination of leases and direct purchases.

The airline continues to strengthen its short-haul fleet with the Next-Generation 737 to improve overall efficiency and reliability and to strengthen its competitive position in the European market.

“KLM and Boeing enjoy a long-standing and productive partnership through programs in engineering, maintenance and flight operations. Together, we work for the most optimal utilization of Boeing products in KLM’s fleet,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “KLM’s expansion and renewal program demonstrates their commitment to improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact, a commitment that Boeing shares.”

Over the life of the 777 program, 53 customers worldwide have placed more than 1,000 orders for 777s. The program has approximately 350 unfilled orders worth more than $90 billion at current list prices.

As of Oct. 31, Boeing had logged orders for more than 4,200 Next-Generation 737s, and has unfilled orders for more than 1,800 airplanes worth more than $130 billion at current list prices.

Source: Boeing

A380 Confirmed Quietest Long Range Aircraft In The Skies

Airbus has received validation in November 2007 for the external noise values of the A380 powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). External noise certification is part of the process for the joint EASA and FAA type certification for the GP7200-powered A380, which is scheduled in December 2007.

The approval of the A380’s very low noise values confirms it is by far the quietest long-range aircraft in the skies. The noise levels certified on the GP7200-powered A380 are equivalent to those already approved on the Rolls Royce Trent 900 powered A380. With an impressive 17 EPNdB (Effective Perceived Noise in Decibels) cumulative margin to the ICAO Chapter 4 noise standard, voluntarily used by Airbus instead of the mandatory Chapter 3 standard, the A380 is easily compliant with today’s most stringent noise standards and is well prepared for the future.

“The GP7200-powered A380 has been performing extremely well throughout the development and certification programme. This excellent result is one of the final milestones before certification in December,” said Mario Heinen, Airbus Executive Vice President, A380 Programme. “The aircraft is consistently meeting and often exceeding its design targets”, he added.

Generating at least 50 per cent less noise than its nearest competitor at take-off and on landing, both A380 models meet the most stringent noise rules at any international airport, namely London’s Heathrow airport - QC2 for departures and QC0.5 for arrivals. This is of major benefit both to A380 operators who have more flexibility to operate night-time flights, and to airports, since passenger capacity will be increased while limiting the impact of noise on the surrounding communities.

The certification programme for the GP7200-powered A380, including noise testing, has been carried out with A380 flight test aircraft MSN009. In May this year, MSN009 confirmed its low noise emissions during a series of certification tests that were performed at the Spanish Air Force base at Morón de la Frontera in southern Spain and jointly witnessed by European and US noise authority specialists.

Being greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter, the A380 is already setting new standards for air transport and the environment. The A380 has unmatched fuel efficiency, consuming less than three litres per passenger per 100 kilometers.

Source: EADS

Boeing Delivers Third C-40C to U.S. Air Force Reserve Command

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] Friday delivered the third of three C-40C transport aircraft to the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), providing a critical airlift asset to government leaders on official business.

Maj. Gen. Robert Duignan, commander, 4^th Air Force, accepted the aircraft at Boeing facilities in Seattle and flew it to Scott Air Force Base (AFB), Ill., where it will begin service with the AFRC.

The 932^nd and 375^th Airlift Wings, units of the AFRC and Air Mobility Command respectively, will use the Next-Generation 737-700 Boeing Business Jet derivative to provide congressional delegations and senior government personnel safe, secure and reliable transportation — often to remote locations around the world — while supporting their need to conduct in-flight business.

“The leading-edge capabilities and 21^st century capacities of the multi-mission C-40C provide us with an advanced platform for taking great care of our distinguished visitors and accomplishing a range of essential missions, including air evacuation and cargo transportation and, when necessary, maintaining team integrity for critical missions,” said Duignan. “The C-40C has the mission legs and operational versatility we’ve always hoped for, and the Boeing team, as always, has delivered the right-sized platform and the right capabilities to do the job.”

Maureen Carlson, Boeing C-40C program manager, added, “In working together with our Commercial Airplanes unit, Mission Integration Center and key supplier Greenpoint Technologies, we incorporated lessons learned on the first two aircraft to deliver this third one six weeks ahead of schedule. This will enable our Air Force Reserve and Air Mobility Command customers to assure availability of a critical asset to our nation’s leaders.”

Aircraft modifications include military avionics that augment the 737’s commercial flight deck; satellite communications equipment for passenger use; a reconfigurable interior that comprises 40 business-class seats, two work areas with conference table or divan and accommodations for 11 crew members; and auxiliary fuel tanks that extend the aircraft’s range to approximately 4,400 nautical miles.

The airplane joins a family of 18 C-40s already in service with the U.S. government: three C-40Cs with the Air National Guard at Andrews AFB, Md., as well as the two already delivered to AFRC at Scott AFB; four Air Force C-40Bs supporting the U.S. Combatant Commands at Andrews, Ramstein AFB, Germany, and Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and the U.S. Navy Reserve’s nine C-40As stationed at Naval Air Stations North Island, Calif., Fort Worth, Texas, and Jacksonville, Fla.

Source: Boeing

Kingfisher to launch operations to Sydney

Kingfisher Airlines reportedly plans to launch four times weekly service from India to Sydney from Oct-08, subject to government approval. The carrier plans to increase frequency to daily in the future.

Meanwhile, Kingfisher has requested that Airbus advance delivery of its five A380s scheduled for 2011-12 to the end of 2009. Kingfisher is the only Indian customer for the A380, and plans to operate the aircraft to the US and on other long haul routes.

Air India converting aircraft to freighter configuration

Air Indias expected 100 widebody aircraft order will make way for the carrier to convert aging widebody aircraft in its existing fleet into freighter configuration. The carrier recently announced plans to convert two additional A310s to freighter configuration for Air India Cargo operations between Jul-08 and Sep-08, and additionally plans to convert all its B747-400s into freighter configuration.

Air India, has so far converted two A310s and two B737-200s into freighters.

According to Express Travel World, P K Gupta, Executive Director of sales and marketing, stated, “cargo is an emerging industry today, which is why Air India Cargo came about. Until now, we didn't have dedicated freighters to carry cargo and would depend on the empty belly space, but now things are changing and we already have two passenger aircraft converted into freighters and will be converting another two A310s and inducting around mid-2008. However, there is scope for more synergies between passenger aircraft and freighters to carry load”.

Meanwhile, Air India officially handed over the first of five B737Fs to India Post and logistics firm, Gati, to operate daily Delhi-Mumbai-Bangalore cargo service through a JV. The remaining four aircraft are reportedly expected to be provided to Gati by mid-08.

Qatar Airways and United Airlines implement codeshare agreement

Qatar Airways and United Airlines have implemented their code share agreement following approval from the US Department of Transportation to place their codes on each others flights giving passengers more destinations to choose from. Under the agreement, Qatar Airways significantly expands its presence in the United States, a market it entered in June with scheduled flights from Doha to New York (Newark).

In July, Qatar Airways added daily non-stop scheduled services between Doha and Washington DC. Qatar Airways’ QR flight code is now placed on selected services operated by United Airlines, giving the Doha-based carrier access to a number of domestic cities across the United States from Washington DC, and on flights from key European gateways to the US.

United Airlines’ UA flight code is also placed on Qatar Airways’ flights between Doha and Washington DC and Newark, as well as a number of routes operated by Qatar Airways across its network from the Qatari capital. As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways has applied its QR flight code on:
• Flights operated by United Airlines from Washington DC to more than 50 cities across the US
• Flights operated by United Airlines from London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Rome and Munich to one or all of the following cities – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and Chicago.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that passenger feedback had been extremely positive since the airline launched flights to the United States this summer.

“We are delighted with the strong passenger response to our New York and Washington DC flights – and the codeshare arrangement we have entered into with United Airlines will strengthen our position across the US,” he said.

“United Airlines has an extensive reach across the US domestic market. Our passengers travelling from Doha, the Indian subcontinent, Asia and the Middle East will gain online access to an array of US cities via connecting flights operated by United Airlines through Washington DC and Europe.

“For passengers it means seamless transfers between flights, baggage checked-through to their final destination and a host of other benefits.”

Qatar Airways began its relationship with United Airlines in November 2005 when members of the airline’s Privilege Club frequent flyer programme were able to earn and redeem Qmiles on flights operated by United Airlines.

Both carriers have also enjoyed a strategic cargo partnership through which the airlines have carried more than 600,000 kilos (1.3 million pounds) of general freight and in excess of two million kilos (4 million pounds) of mail since its inception in early 2006.

Emirates commences construction of Australian luxury resort

Emirates Airline commenced the development of the USD69 million luxury Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Australia's Blue Mountains, a project that will see the transformation of 4,000 acres of distressed farming land into a high-value conservation site. The opening ceremony is the result of two years of planning, investment and approval processes and marks the beginning of Emirates' first resort project outside of Dubai.

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is the second conservation-focussed property within the expanding portfolio of Emirates Hotels & Resorts - the premier hospitality division of Emirates Airline.

Two per cent of the 4,000 acres will be used to create an exclusive resort of 40 free-standing suites and a main homestead that will feature fine dining, a Timeless Spa, pool area and conference facilities. The remaining land will be progressively restored to its natural state with the reintroduction of native fauna and flora.

Sheikh Ahmed and the local dignitaries planted a Wollemi Pine as the first of tens of thousands of trees that will help regenerate the Valley. The Wollemi Pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest plants that was discovered deep in the neighbouring Wollemi National Park.

Commencing the formalities, representatives of the Wiradjuri people performed a traditional ceremony to prepare the site for its new use.

Sheikh Ahmed welcomed the beginning of construction: "We are delighted to see this project taking shape after many years of careful planning. The search for this location began in 2004 and we are now well on our way to making Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa an important asset for Australian tourism, the local community and Emirates."

In late 2009 the resort will welcome its first guests, some 70 per cent of whom are expected to be international visitors to Australia.

Guests were treated to a preview of the resort's world-class hospitality, sitting down to a luncheon featuring regional produce in a specially erected marquee on the future site of the main homestead.

Environmental considerations feature prominently in the plan for the resort including 100 per cent water recycling, green power and a strict waste management system.

Emirates has also worked closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service on a conservation plan to protect and conserve the heritage value of the property, including wildlife and threatened species such as the spotted-tailed quoll.

The luxury development is anticipated to positively impact the local economy, generating 100 jobs and increased local and international tourism to the area.

Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa was the airline's first conservation-focussed property. The resort is recognised internationally for its leadership and contributions to conservation in the region, and is among the Cond� Nast Traveller's Top 20-Hotel List. The success of Al Maha is being used as the basis for designs and operations in the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa and the Emirates Cap Ternay Resort & Spa in the Seychelles; currently in its design and planning phase, and promising to shape up as one of the Indian Oceans' best resorts.

Boeing 1,044 orders in 2007, challenges Airbus all-time sales record - and Middle East airlines make it possible

Both major aircraft manufacturers look likely to exceed their record order lists before the year is over. And it would not have been possible without massive orders from the Middle East airlines.

For the third year in a row, Boeing has achieved its all time record sales, yesterday reporting it has received 1,047 net orders for commercial aircraft so far in 2007, exceeding its 2006 total of 1,044 orders. In turn, that exceeded 2005's previous record of 1,002.

Boeing orders this year include 580 B737s and 290 B787 Dreamliners. The pre-launch sales for the B787 are the highest ever for a new type, at 736, to date; this number is sure to increase before the aircraft flies. Although delayed, the B787 should make its appearance commercially in early 2009.

Meanwhile Airbus has this year received orders for 1,021 aircraft, with 16 A380s, and, following Emirates’ order for of the new long haul A35XWB, Airbus hopes to exceed 300 orders for the smaller twinjet this year. The European manufacturer too is within shouting distance of its 2005 order record of 1,055 (in 2006, it lagged Boeing, booking a lower 790 units).

Middle East airlines have outstanding orders for a total of 502 Airbus orders at present (not all ordered in 2007). Recent orders at the Dubai Airshow gave Airbus a major boost, with 163 firm orders, including the manufacturer’s largest order ever by value from Emirates Airline – with 70 A350XWBs and a further 11 A380s. The A380 order book was boosted by the first order for a private A380, placed by HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia.

Commitments were received from a further 20 booked to NAS, with newly emerged DAE Capital taking 70 for its fledgling leasing operation. A commitment for 22 aircraft from Saudi Arabian Airlines was the first in a quarter century from the Saudi flag carrier, signalling the revival of the older airlines in the region, as liberalisation spreads quickly.

LCCs also featured heavily with another 34 A320 commitments from Air Arabia, 8 from Air Blue, 9 from Nile Air and four from private customers.

Although typically a strong market for Boeing in the past, it has not fared so well this year, with only 24 firm orders to 31 October, with 22 of those heading to leasing company ALAFCO, for 16 B787s and 6 B737-800s; the other two orders were to Royal Jordanian, both for B787-8s.

In 2005, Airbus' 1,055 orders combined with Boeing's 1,002 to make a previous record combined total for the major manufacturers, of 2,057 firm orders. This fell to a joint 1,834 in 2006. But with this year’s tally already at 2,068, the record may well be set for many years to come.

It won’t be until there is larger airline market base that a sequence of sales years like the last three years may be repeated, probably well into the middle of next decade. But it is a near certainty that both manufacturers will in the meantime be spending a lot of their sales time in the Middle East. There are more sales to come, as the newer airlines, including LCCs, combine with the longer established flag carriers in the increasingly liberal aviation environment sweeping the region.

Tiger takes off at Melbourne Airport

Tiger Airways Australias first services departed from its home base of Melbourne Airport on 23-Nov-07, signalling an exciting new era at Australias low-cost air travel hub.

Flight TT7402 to the Gold Coast departed at 0700 hours, followed shortly by flight TT7452 to Rockhampton at 0715 hours. Flight TT7515 to Mackay departs later today at 1205 hours.

Over the coming months, the airline will also bring on line services between Melbourne and Adelaide, Alice Springs, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Launceston, Perth and the Sunshine Coast.

Melbourne Airport CEO, Chris Woodruff, said the airport had worked tirelessly to prepare for today’s launch, investing approximately AUD5 million into Terminal 4 (T4) and ensuring Tiger had a terminal built specifically to their needs and specifications.

“A little over 6 months ago we received a call from Tiger Airways about the fact that they were in the planning phases of a new Australian domestic carrier, and were looking for an Australian home,” said Mr Woodruff. “After a tough battle between Australian cities Melbourne Airport was secured as Tiger Airways’ Australian home base. Since then we have, quite simply, pulled out all the stops to prepare for today’s first flight.”

“I congratulate the Tiger Airways team on their launch - and I have no doubt that Australia’s newest domestic airline will be a major success,” said Mr Woodruff.

Tiger Airways Group CEO, Tony Davis, said the airline was proud to call Melbourne Airport its home.

“We are excited about growing our business here at Melbourne Airport. From Day 1, the team at Melbourne Airport has supported our growth plans - and has been a key partner in helping us deliver our ‘real deal’ to Australians,” Mr Davis said.