BA's Concorde moved for £1.1m hangar
Manchester Airport’s retired Concorde is being moved from its base to make way for a £1.1m visitor centre.
The aircraft has been sitting at the aviation viewing park since making a final flight to the city in 2003.
But now the 97 tonne aeroplane is being moved 17m (56ft) away while engineers build its new hangar.
An education centre for school tours, corporate hospitality and a restaurant will also be part of the development, which is due to open in July 2009.
BA Airport operations director Andrew Holl said: “I am delighted that plans are getting under way to re-home this important piece of aviation history.
“Concorde is very close to our hearts here at Manchester Airport and the thousands of visitors feel passionately about her care for the future which this new hangar will offer.”
Construction work on the new hangar is to start in early spring.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Austrian Airlines reports operating loss
Austrian Airlines reports operating loss
Austrian Airlines has reported a third-quarter operating loss and confirmed a gloomy outlook for the final quarter of the year.
Its net loss for the three months to September was 16.6 million euros, compared with a 29.1 million euros net profit during the same period a year ago. Analysts had predicted a significantly smaller loss of 6.2 million euros.
Chief executive Alfred Oetsch said: “The fourth quarter of the 2008 financial year will be characterised by an abrupt slump in demand, negative effects from fuel hedging and the increase in the value of the US dollar.
“The economic downturn has already led to a decline in flight bookings.”
Austrian state holding company OAG said on Monday it was extending a tender of the airline by two months.
Austrian Airlines has reported a third-quarter operating loss and confirmed a gloomy outlook for the final quarter of the year.
Its net loss for the three months to September was 16.6 million euros, compared with a 29.1 million euros net profit during the same period a year ago. Analysts had predicted a significantly smaller loss of 6.2 million euros.
Chief executive Alfred Oetsch said: “The fourth quarter of the 2008 financial year will be characterised by an abrupt slump in demand, negative effects from fuel hedging and the increase in the value of the US dollar.
“The economic downturn has already led to a decline in flight bookings.”
Austrian state holding company OAG said on Monday it was extending a tender of the airline by two months.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Lufthansa issues profit warning
Lufthansa issues profit warning
Lufthansa has followed the lead of Air France-KLM by issuing a profits warning.
The German carrier lowered its 2008 operating profit outlook due to higher fuel costs and an uncertain market amid the global economic slowdown and financial crisis.
The company said it now expects operating profit for the year to come in at 1.1 billion euros (£800 million).
The profit warning comes three weeks after Lufthansa for the first time conceded that the financial crisis and cooling global economy have led to a noticeable decline in bookings, particularly from business travellers.
Commerzbank analyst Frank Skopzik said: “We’ve expected a profit warning in our estimates but are surprised how weak third quarter figures came in.”
Lufthansa said net profit for the first nine months of the year fell more than 65 per cent.
Lufthansa has followed the lead of Air France-KLM by issuing a profits warning.
The German carrier lowered its 2008 operating profit outlook due to higher fuel costs and an uncertain market amid the global economic slowdown and financial crisis.
The company said it now expects operating profit for the year to come in at 1.1 billion euros (£800 million).
The profit warning comes three weeks after Lufthansa for the first time conceded that the financial crisis and cooling global economy have led to a noticeable decline in bookings, particularly from business travellers.
Commerzbank analyst Frank Skopzik said: “We’ve expected a profit warning in our estimates but are surprised how weak third quarter figures came in.”
Lufthansa said net profit for the first nine months of the year fell more than 65 per cent.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Europe delays airport X-ray eye
EU lawmakers have delayed the introduction at airports of full body scanners, machines that generate images of passengers without their clothes.
MEPs voted for a further study on the implications for privacy and health. Computer pictures generated by the scanners give an outline of passengers bodies beneath their clothes.
Supporters say they detect hidden objects not picked up by traditional metal detectors. But critics say they amount to a virtual strip search.
The new scanners have already been introduced in several US airports and have been tested around the world.
The European Commission - which supports their implementation - has given assurances that the scanners will not be used routinely on all passengers.
“The Commission believes that body scanning methods can complement in a very effective and efficient way the existing security measures at airports,” said spokesman Jens Mester at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
MEPs voted for a further study on the implications for privacy and health. Computer pictures generated by the scanners give an outline of passengers bodies beneath their clothes.
Supporters say they detect hidden objects not picked up by traditional metal detectors. But critics say they amount to a virtual strip search.
The new scanners have already been introduced in several US airports and have been tested around the world.
The European Commission - which supports their implementation - has given assurances that the scanners will not be used routinely on all passengers.
“The Commission believes that body scanning methods can complement in a very effective and efficient way the existing security measures at airports,” said spokesman Jens Mester at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Mideast carriers urged to improve efficiency
Middle East carriers need to improve fuel efficiency and expand commercial freedoms to meet the rising challenges facing the industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.
While European and US carriers have scaled back plans, Middle East airlines – buoyed by soaring oil prices – have largely avoided the turmoil hitting the industry.
But IATA director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned: “The oil price is falling but what we save in fuel we lose in revenue. This industry will lose $5.2 billion this year. Even the Middle East is not immune.”
Speaking at the AGM of the Arab Air Carriers Association, he said the combined profit of airlines based in the region would fall from £300 million in 2007 to $200 million this year.
And while traffic from the region’s carriers grew 18.1 per cent in 2007, in August this year growth dropped to just 4.3 per cent.
“Only a handful of carriers will be profitable while the majority bleed red ink,” said Giovanni. “The region’s fleet is set to double to 1,300 aircraft over the next decade. As we enter a period of global economic uncertainty, the challenge of matching capacity to demand will be difficult.”
While European and US carriers have scaled back plans, Middle East airlines – buoyed by soaring oil prices – have largely avoided the turmoil hitting the industry.
But IATA director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned: “The oil price is falling but what we save in fuel we lose in revenue. This industry will lose $5.2 billion this year. Even the Middle East is not immune.”
Speaking at the AGM of the Arab Air Carriers Association, he said the combined profit of airlines based in the region would fall from £300 million in 2007 to $200 million this year.
And while traffic from the region’s carriers grew 18.1 per cent in 2007, in August this year growth dropped to just 4.3 per cent.
“Only a handful of carriers will be profitable while the majority bleed red ink,” said Giovanni. “The region’s fleet is set to double to 1,300 aircraft over the next decade. As we enter a period of global economic uncertainty, the challenge of matching capacity to demand will be difficult.”
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Aer Arann to axe quarter of workforce
Aer Arann to axe quarter of workforce
Irish budget airline Aer Arann is planning to cut 100 jobs – a quarter of its workforce – owing to the “difficult operating environment”.
The group said in a statement: “Aer Arann is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure the company’s viability and long-term development.”
The carrier employs 380 staff and operates 40 routes across Europe.
Irish budget airline Aer Arann is planning to cut 100 jobs – a quarter of its workforce – owing to the “difficult operating environment”.
The group said in a statement: “Aer Arann is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure the company’s viability and long-term development.”
The carrier employs 380 staff and operates 40 routes across Europe.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Spanair to lay off 90 pilots
Spanair to lay off 90 pilots
Spanair is to lay off 90 pilots as it looks to counter the global economic slowdown.
The airline, a Spanish subsidiary of Scandinavian airline SAS, agreed the job cuts with Spanish labour union Sepla. It is part of a plan to reduce operations in the Spanish destinations of Majorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Bilbao and Malaga and the Canary Islands.
Spanair has been hit hard by the global economic slowdown and higher fuel costs, while in August, more than 150 people died in the company’s worst air disaster in Madrid.
Spanair is to lay off 90 pilots as it looks to counter the global economic slowdown.
The airline, a Spanish subsidiary of Scandinavian airline SAS, agreed the job cuts with Spanish labour union Sepla. It is part of a plan to reduce operations in the Spanish destinations of Majorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Bilbao and Malaga and the Canary Islands.
Spanair has been hit hard by the global economic slowdown and higher fuel costs, while in August, more than 150 people died in the company’s worst air disaster in Madrid.
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