Category: Cargo News (Page 2 of 43)

Southwest Airlines expand technical operations facility In Phoenix

February 19, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Dallas, Texas, February, 2024 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is celebrating the completion of a multi-year, $100 million project, which nearly doubles the size of the airline’s maintenance hangar at Phoenix Sky Harbor. The 90,000-square foot expansion adds three new aircraft bays to the facility, allowing the airline to work on up to five aircraft simultaneously and brings more maintenance shops to support the nearly 500 Southwest® Technical Operations Employees based at Sky Harbor. The project also included a larger facility for members of the airline’s Provisioning and Ground Support Equipment Maintenance Teams that opened in 2020.

The expanded hangar has also achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The expansion incorporated sustainable design features including the use of recycled content in over 30% of the building materials; the installation of high-reflectance roof and surrounding paving materials to reduce heat island effect; and the selection of building products from manufacturers with verified environmental performance.

Southwest Airlines® first opened a Technical Operations base at Sky Harbor in 1986. In 1993, the airline moved into a new maintenance hangar facility to support its growth throughout the western half of the United States. Today, the carrier’s Phoenix-based Technical Operations Teams accept new aircraft deliveries to prepare them to enter revenue service and maintain aircraft as part of daily and scheduled maintenance programs.

In addition to Phoenix, Southwest operates hangar facilities in Atlanta, Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Denver, Houston (Hobby), and Orlando. Construction is underway on a new hangar facility at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, which is anticipated to open in 2025.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bonza launches Rockhampton sale with fares from $39

February 19, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier Bonza is celebrating its Rockhampton partnership with sale fares starting at $39 per person one way* so Rocky locals can explore more of Australia, for less.

The five-day sale starts today and ends on Monday, 19 February for travel between 16 April – 19 June to/from the Beef Capital to/from Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Travellers are encouraged to download the Fly Bonza app which is the only place to book direct.

*Prices quoted starting from $39pp Rockhampton to or from Cairns, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and starting from $59pp Rockhampton to or from Melbourne (Tullamarine) are one way, per person, excluding checked bags and seat selection, via the Fly Bonza app paying by Bonza’s fee free payment option. Offer starts 08:00 AEST, 15 February 2024. Offer ends 23:59 AEST, 19 February 2024. For travel between 16 April and 19 June 2024, subject to availability. Discount applies to fare only, excluding bags, seats and payment fees. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or promotional offer. We reserve the right to vary, modify or cancel this promotion at any time. Payment fees may apply. Conditions of Carriage apply.

Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

AMSL Aero welcomes government support for vertiia aircraft to fight bushfires

February 19, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Sydney, Australia, February 19, 2024 – Australian zero emission aircraft designer and manufacturer AMSL Aero today welcomes the Australian Government’s move to back the development of its zero-emission aircraft Vertiia to fight bushfires autonomously in an effective, efficient way that keeps firefighters safer and enables nighttime firefighting.

AMSL Aero will use the A$3 million in funding from the Cooperative Research Centres’ Projects program to develop a remotely piloted version of Vertiia, the world’s most efficient long range zero emissions electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, that is capable of effectively spraying preventative fire retardant and dropping hundreds of litres of water.

AMSL Aero will work with its partners to develop a method of operating autonomous remotely piloted VTOLs for aerial firefighting, modify a prototype Vertiia for use as zero emissions low-cost firefighting aircraft, meet regulatory requirements, and test the aircraft in regional Australia. Its partners on the project are The University of Sydney, leading robotics company Mission Systems and Australian firefighting aviation operator Pay’s Air Service, which conducts firefighting operations in Australia and Europe every year, including in Greece, where it recently fought fires for NATO.

Milan court rules in favor of ryanair online distribution model

February 14, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Milan, Italy, February 14, 2023 – Ryanair Holdings PLC (Dublin: RYA), Europe’s No.1 airline, today welcomes the judgments of the Milan Court of Appeal conclusively rejecting Lastminute and Viaggiare’s claims that Ryanair’s exclusive online distribution model constitutes an abuse of a dominant position.

Ryanair has long campaigned to protect customers from price gouging by OTAs who continue to dupe unsuspecting consumers by unlawfully scraping Ryanair’s website, including by overcharging for air fares and ancillary services, using fake customer accounts, fake customer payment cards and fake customer emails. This can be hugely detrimental to customers who, apart from being overcharged, cannot access their Ryanair bookings, make the necessary security declarations, access refunds, or receive direct email communications (such as online check-in reminders) from Ryanair. This historical and precedent-setting Court ruling is a major step forward in protecting unsuspecting consumers from being overcharged by OTAs, and will help to ensure that Ryanair customers always get the lowest fares, the best customer service, and real time email communications.

Ryanair has recently concluded pro-consumer deals with the OTAs Love Holidays and Kiwi so that they can market our flights to their customers, without hidden mark-ups and with full transparency for passengers to protect them against overcharging.

Forward-Looking Statements

Maersk introduces new digital solution for Air Freight booking

February 12, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – A.P. Moller – Maersk AS (US-OTC: AMKBY), as a part of its integrated logistics solutions, has launched a fully digital solution for customers willing to purchase air freight solutions. The new online solution available on Maersk.com provides customers with an option to book their air cargo requirements through a simple online tool that will provide customers with instant prices for as many as 70,000 connections between virtually all relevant airports globally. With the launch of this new solution, Maersk takes further steps towards connecting and truly simplifying its customers’ supply chains.

Maersk’s air freight cargo coverage extends to 70,000 airport pairings across more than 90 countries around the world. Being a fully online solution, the platform also allows the customer to book cargo movement for any of the 70,000 airport pairings from anywhere in the world.

Maersk’s air freight solutions offer cargo movement from most of India’s international airports. Combined with Maersk’s integrated logistics solutions that include a robust hinterland coverage of distribution network, Maersk allows such cargo movement to and from 80% of India’s postal/ZIP codes with end-to-end pick-up and deliveries.

Customers can also add Maersk Customs Services for seamless customs clearance and track their cargo from anywhere, at any time.

Forward-Looking Statements

BAE Systems acquires Malloy Aeronautics

February 3, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

BAE Systems has acquired Malloy Aeronautics – a leading company in innovative heavy lift drone and aeronautical technologies. Malloy Aeronautics designs and supplies all-electric uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to both civil and military customers. Their range of uncrewed, heavy lift quadcopters are capable of lifting payloads from 68kg to 300kg over short to medium range missions.

These platforms offer interchangeable capabilities and greater flexibility at a fraction of the cost and time of more traditional methods, whilst minimising risk to more expensive assets and human life. Malloy’s approximately 80 strong workforce will continue to operate from its site in Berkshire, supporting its existing customers. BAE Systems and Malloy, who have been working together in advancing cutting-edge UAS solutions since 2021, will further develop Malloy’s existing portfolio and accelerate new and novel technologies to customers worldwide.

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics engineers have been collaborating to develop the 300kg T-650 all-electric ‘heavy lift’ UAS as a potential new solution to deliver cost-effective, sustainable rapid response capability to military, security and civilian customers.

Maersk and Air Cargo News highlight global trends in 2024 air cargo market

February 2, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

The air cargo sector is undergoing a demand slowdown due to global macroeconomic conditions. Post-Covid normalisation as well as global geopolitical crises, most notably in the form of military conflicts, have been the root cause.

Looking ahead, there is little confidence that this situation will improve drastically in the near term. This is partly due to rising interest rates and the termination of key government support programmes.

With customer demands getting more nuanced, a high level of flexibility seems to be the need of the hour. Air freight operators need to be nimble and provide solutions that lower operating costs and save time.

Here’s a quick fly-by of air cargo trends in 2024…

Click here to read the full story!

Korean Air gets approval from Japan on Asiana merger

February 1, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) approved Korean Air’s business combination with Asiana Airlines, marking a significant milestone in the two airlines’ merger process. To date, Korean Air has received approvals from 12 of 14 competition authorities.

The approval process commenced in January 2021, when Korean Air submitted its intent to the JFTC. Subsequently, a comprehensive initial report containing market and economic analysis was submitted in August 2021. Korean Air has proactively engaged in dialogues with all concerned parties to address various concerns raised by the JFTC.

The JFTC requested for Korean Air to submit remedies on select routes between Korea and Japan where the combined market share of Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and its respective subsidiaries (Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul) would limit competition.

After discussion, the JFTC concluded that five of the 12 overlapping routes on the network were not subject to competition review. In addressing the remaining concerns, the airline has decided to cede a limited number of slots on seven routes, should “remedy takers” decide to operate on them. These routes include Seoul-Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, as well as Busan-Osaka, Sapporo, and Fukuoka.

The JFTC also raised competition concerns about the Korea-Japan cargo network. However, with the decision to divest Asiana’s cargo business, the JFTC limited its request for the airline to enter into a cargo block space agreement (BSA) on select routes from Japan to Korea. The divestiture of Asiana’s cargo business is subject to the approval of all remaining competition authorities, and will occur after Asiana Airlines is incorporated as a subsidiary of Korean Air.

Since January 2021, Korean Air has filed business combination reports with a total of 14 competition authorities. A total of 12 authorities including Japan, have either approved the combination or concluded the review on the grounds that the business combination was not subject to review or report. Korean Air is committed to constructive dialogue with the remaining authorities – the EU and U.S. – to obtain approvals at the earliest opportunity.

Ryanair agrees on new partnership deal with OTA kiwi.com

January 29, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

KIWI GUARANTEE NO OVERCHARGING FOR RYANAIR FLIGHTS/ANCILLARIES

Following the recent approved partnership between Ryanair Holdings PLC (Ireland: RYA) and OTA, loveholidays.com. Ryanair today (Monday, January 29) announced a new partnership agreement with approved OTA, Kiwi.com, which guarantees that Kiwi will now have direct access to the Ryanair.com website without screenscraping, and Kiwi agree to provide their customers with low Ryanair prices for flights and ancillaries, and will see Kiwi provide the direct accurate customer contact and payment details to Ryanair.

This new approved OTA deal means that Kiwi customers can now buy Ryanair flights/ancillaries at real prices (without mark-ups) via the Kiwi.com website, and Kiwi customers will have direct access to their myRyanair account and will receive all Ryanair flight info directly to their email from Ryanair. Kiwi customers will no longer need to complete Ryanair’s customer verification process which unauthorised OTA Pirates’ customers must continue to do.

In addition to these benefits, this deal also allows customers to enjoy Kiwi virtual interline service which allows customers to book connecting flights, but if they miss their connection flight, Kiwi will reaccommodate passengers free of charge on the next available flight.

Ryanair has long campaigned for all consumers to be protected from OTA Pirate overcharges and pricing scams, and an end to fake customer contact and payment info. This approved OTA partnership with Kiwi demonstrates how OTAs can work with Ryanair in a transparent way that eliminates the need for anti-consumer practices while giving Kiwi.com passengers direct access to Ryanair’s low prices with no overcharges or price scams.

Forward-Looking Statements

Alstom signs contract to supply 16 electric locomotives in Romania

January 29, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

January 29, 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, and the Romanian Railway Reform Authority (ARF) have signed a contract for the delivery of 16 Traxx 3 MS electric locomotives and 20 years of associated maintenance services. The contract, totalling around €150 million, extends Alstom’s collaboration with ARF within the rolling stock sector. The 20-year maintenance and repair period can be extended by a further 20 years by concluding an additional agreement.

The Traxx locomotives offer a flexible design based on a robust, modular platform approach compatible with many applications (single or multi-country freight and passenger transport) and available in various configurations (AC, DC and multi-system). This product delivers increased operational performance and reliability with higher energy efficiency and extended maintenance intervals to improve its availability.

Alstom has been active in Romania for almost 30 years and is a market leader in railway electrification and signalling solutions. The company is responsible for implementing signalling or electrification solutions on the Rhine-Danube railway corridor as well as in the Cluj area, where the company is also part of the consortium building the second metro system in the country, in the city of Cluj Napoca. The first CBTC urban signalling solution in the country is under implementation by Alstom on Bucharest’s metro Line 5. The company has also been the provider of maintenance services for the Bucharest metro fleet for nearly 20 years, with an ongoing contract valid until 2036.

Here’s a quick fly-by of air cargo trends in 2024…

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