Air Transport World articles from November 2007

Air Transport World archives from November 2007

Trends.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... WORLD AIRLINE TRAFFIC [GRAPHIC OMITTED] JET FUELS PRICES * [GRAPHIC OMITTED] TOP 20 AIRLINES SYSTEM TRAFFIC JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2007 RANK AIRLINE RPKS (000) 1 American 168,158,680 2 ...

A new low.(EDITORIAL)
November 1, 2007... To the US airline industry's list of negative achievements in 2007--the worst ontime performance in a decade, a 65% rise in passenger complaints compared to 2006--we can add a new one: President Bush has found it necessary to take time away...

Boeing shuffles 787 management as delays mount.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Problems with the 787 assembly led to the replacement of program head Mike Bair on Oct. 16. Announcement came a week after the company conceded that its plan put forward in September to overcome production delays in time to deliver the first...

ICAO rejects EU emissions unilateralism.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(European Union)(International Civil Aviation Organization )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... ICAO delegates supported a resolution at the organization's 36th Assembly in late September stating that "emissions trading schemes should not be applied [by states and governing bodies such as the European Union] to aircraft of foreign...

US airlines under fire for delays, meet on JFK congestion.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Federal Aviation Administration)(Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US airlines were set to meet with FAA and DOT in late October to discuss ways to reduce congestion and delays at New York JFK amid growing concern in Washington over airline service in general that included a public scolding by President George...

Insider trading charges mar A380 handover.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Airbus S.A.S.)(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.)(Singapore Airlines Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Airbus and EADS were hit by another controversy just a week before the handover of the first A380 to Singapore Airlines, this one involving allegations of widespread insider trading by senior executives ahead of the public disclosure of A380...

Airbus switches to composite frame on A350.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... In a major about-face, Airbus dropped the aluminum frame for a composite frame on the A350 XWB. An Airbus spokes-person said that the decision was taken for "simplification of maintenance." The company expects to complete design refinement by...

Pratt launches GTF engine on Mitsubishi RJ.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Geared Turbofan )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Pratt & Whitney and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced Oct. 9 that MHI has selected Pratt's Geared Turbofan as the exclusive engine for its proposed 70/90-seat regional jet, the first selection for the powerplant, which the engine-maker also...

Air France, Delta launch transatlantic JV.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)
November 1, 2007... In a deal clearly inspired by the KLM-Northwest Airlines transatlantic joint venture, Air France and Delta Air Lines last month announced the creation of 50-50 JV to share revenues and costs on their transatlantic operations and confirmed hat...

Champagne Flight.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)
November 1, 2007... CAPTION: Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng (r), Airbus CEO Tom Enders (center) and Rolls-Royce CEO John Rose toast the first delivery of the Trent 900-powered A380 onboard the aircraft in Toulouse on Oct. 15. Chew called the delivery "the...

Japan Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Japan Airlines Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Japan Airlines said it will offer early retirement to 900 senior cabin staff as part of its plan to cut yearly employment costs by [yen]50 billion ($425 million) from FY06 by increasing productivity 10%, implementing a hiring freeze and...

China Eastern Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(China Eastern Airlines Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... China Eastern Airlines is making preparations for the sale of a 24% stake to Singapore Airlines to be approved at a shareholder meeting to be held before year end, but the deal potentially could be derailed by a rival bid from Air China and...

Shanghai-based Junyao Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Shanghai-based Junyao Airlines, benefiting from robust domestic growth and yuan appreciation, earned a net profit of CNY18 million ($2.4 million) from January to August operating with an average load factor of 80%. Buttressed by the solid...

UK and Singapore.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... UK and Singapore concluded a significant aviation services agreement that removes all restrictions on flights operated by airlines of both countries and includes beyond and domestic rights in the UK.

Singapore and Malaysia governments.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Singapore and Malaysia governments stated that unlimited access to the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route, which a number of carriers have expressed interest in operating, will not be allowed until at least the end of 2008.

US and Australia.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US and Australia announced "their intention to liberalize relations by initiating bilateral discussions to conclude a comprehensive open skies agreement," expected early next year. An existing open skies agreement covers only cargo services.

Air New Zealand, Boeing.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Air New Zealand, Boeing and Rolls-Royce signed an MOU to conduct jointly what they claimed will be the first trial of a commercial 747 operated with biofuel. The test flight, which will not carry passengers, will take place in late 2008 or...

Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Co.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Co. broke ground on a S$56 million ($32.2 million) hangar complex at Shanghai Pudong capable of handling three narrowbody and two widebody aircraft including the A380. STARCO is a joint ventureture of Singapore...

Nordam Group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... Nordam Group signed an exclusive seven-year MRO agreement for CF6-80C2 thrust reversers with China Airlines.

Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems and Singapore Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems and Singapore Airlines signed a maintenance support agreement covering SIA's A380s that will be equipped with the Pratt & Whitney Canada/Hamilton Sundstrand PW980 APU. Under the agreement, HSPS will perform MRO...

Messier Services Asia.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Messier Services Asia completed a S$10 million ($6.7 million) expansion of its facility in Singapore that provides additional capacity for overhauling landing gear on 777, 737NG, A330, A340 and A320 aircraft and also "establishes the...

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Dunlop Aircraft Tyres signed an MOU with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. to establish a tire retreading facility in Jinjiang.

US government.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US government should require airlines to have policies for stranded passengers that would specify how long they would have to wait before being allowed to leave an aircraft, the US Dept. of Transportation Inspector General said in a recent...

DOT.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... DOT awarded coveted new China daily route authorities to all six US legacy carriers. Delta Air Lines won authority to operate direct flights between Atlanta and Shanghai and United Airlines was cleared to start San Francisco-Guangzhou service,...

American Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(AMR Corp.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... American Airlines came under pressure from Reykjavikbased FL Group, which owns a stake of about 9% in AA parent AMR Corp., to spin off its AAdvantage loyalty program as a way to halt the rapid descent of AMR's stock price. FL Group claimed that...

Southwest Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Southwest Airlines decided to maintain its open-seating policy but will change its boarding process to eliminate "the perceived cattle call" experience at gates in which its passengers "camp out in their boarding line." Under the new boarding...

US National Transportation Safety Board.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the probable cause of the Southwest Airlines 737-700 runway overrun in December 2005 at Chicago Midway "was the pilots' failure to use available reverse thrust in a timely manner" and to...

Air Canada.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Air Canada introduced paperless boarding passes for customers who check in using a PDA or cellphone for domestic Canada flights and to international (non-US) destinations, including connecting flights, from 60 airports across Canada served by...

US Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US Airways said it will reduce mainline Pittsburgh service to 22 daily flights from 31 from Jan. 6 and expects service provided by regional partners to drop to 46 daily flights from 77. The former hub lost more than $40 million over the past...

DayJet Corp.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(jet service)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... DayJet Corp. on Oct. 3 formally launched what it described as the world's first "per-seat, on-demand" jet service within Florida using PW600-powered Eclipse 500 very light jets. The company initially is offering same-day return travel among...

AirTran Airways pilots.(ASIA/PACIFICASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... AirTran Airways pilots, represented by the National Pilots Assn., rejected a tentative labor agreement that NPA's board had negotiated with management and endorsed.

Alaska Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(check-in facility launched)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Alaska Airlines launched the first phase of an $18 million check-in facility dubbed the Airport of the Future at Seattle-Tacoma International. The system, shared with Horizon Air, replaces traditional ticket counters with a series of kiosks and...

FAA.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... FAA revised its definition of a "runway incursion," adopting ICAO's characterization of "any unauthorized intrusion onto a runway." The primary difference is that FAA's prior definition required that an aircraft present "a potential conflict"...

US secretary of transportation.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters named United Airlines VP-Flight Operations Henry Krakowski COO of FAA's Air Traffic Organization.

Boeing.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Boeing delivered 109 commercial aircraft in the third quarter, up from 100 in the year-ago quarter. Deliveries comprised 81 737NGs, five 747s, three 767s and 20 777s. Year-to-date deliveries totaled 329, up from 295 in the first three months of...

GE Aviation.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... GE Aviation began testing the new CF34-10A that will power the ARJ21-700 being built by China Aviation Industry Corp. After a successful break-in run, the engine achieved 70% of its maximum thrust capability of more than 20,000 lb. during an...

Honeywell.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(contract awarded)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Honeywell was awarded a contract valued at $16 billion by Airbus to supply the APU for the A350 XWB and provide aftermarket support. Honeywell also will furnish integrated systems to control the cabin environment, including heating, cooling and...

Goodrich Corp.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Goodrich Corp. is selling its Aviation Technical Services heavy maintenance and modification facility in Everett, Wash., to Australia's Macquarie Bank. Price was not disclosed. ATS employs more than 1,200 at the 950,000-sq.-ft. base. ...

Pemco Aviation Group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Pemco Aviation Group closed the previously announced sale of Pemco World Air Services, its commercial division specializing in MRO and conversion, to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners for $43 million.

Kidde Aerospace & defense, Monogram systems and Moog.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... Kidde Aerospace & Defense, Monogram Systems and Moog were added as partners for Boeing's 787 GoldCare life-cycle support program.

Lufthansa Technik Tulsa.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... Lufthansa Technik Tulsa signed a five-year agreement with US Airways to provide technical support for thrust reversers on the airline's Airbus narrowbodies.

Megadata.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
November 1, 2007... Megadata announced that Kansas City International purchased a subscription to PASSUR Pulse, which will help increase its capture of landing fee revenue.

Quoted briefly.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Quotation)
November 1, 2007... "We are disappointed by today's schedule change and deeply regret the impact these delays will have on our customers." --Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney

Suite dreams!(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... CAPTION: Singapore Airlines' A380s feature 14 Singapore Airlines Suites, an upgrade to SIA's standard first class product that provides a "private cabin in the sky" containing a separate bed, seat, work table and 23 in. LCD screen IFE unit. For...

US Majors Traffic September 2007.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... US Majors Traffic September 2007 * Airline RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF (%) +/- chg. (bil.) 2006 (bil.) 2006 2006 AirTran 1.26 32.3 1.83 19.3 68.5 6.7 Alaska ...

Flying on a single ticket.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... CAPTION: US Airways, which confirmed its earlier order for 92 Airbus aircraft including 22 A350 XWBs, received a single operating certificate for its former US and America West operations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Alitalia's board.(EUROPE Report)(Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Alitalia's board released a shortlist of six potential buyers comprising Aeroflot, Air France KLM, AP Holding (Air One), Cordata Baldassarre, Lufthansa and TPG (formerly Texas Pacific Group). The Italian government wants to sell most of its...

Aeroflot's.(EUROPE Report)
November 1, 2007... Aeroflot's first-half profit plunged 25.2% year-over-year year to RUB3.2 billion ($128.6 million) according to Russian Accounting Standards, RIA Novosti reported. Turnover climbed 21.7% to RUB33.5 billion against a 15.4% increase in costs to...

EasyJet.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... EasyJet will open bases at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Lyon Saint-Exupery next year and launch more than a dozen new routes as part of a plan to invest [euro]600 million ($849.5 million) through 2011 to reinforce its position as France's "only...

Tony Ryan.(EUROPE Report)(Obituary)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Tony Ryan, who helped to transform the way airlines acquire aircraft and founded Ryanair, died Oct. 3 at the age of 71 after a long illness. In a statement, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary called him "one of the greatest Irishmen of the 20th...

British government.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... British government is considering replacing the controversial air passenger duty with a tax based on flights rather than passengers. APD levels will be frozen in the run-up to the change. EasyJet welcomed the proposal. "It is right to tax...

Air Berlin.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Air Berlin will end its attempt to offer UK domestic service from London Stansted. An AB spokesperson confirmed to ATW that twice-daily service to Manchester, Glasgow International and Belfast City will be shut down. AB handles 1.2 million...

UK Competition Commission.(EUROPE Report)(per-passenger charge increases)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... UK Competition Commission recommended that the maximum per-passenger charge at London Heathrow rise to [pounds sterling]10.96 ($22.35) in 2008-09, with charges subsequently increasing by no more than retail price index inflation plus 7.5% each...

Aer Lingus.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Aer Lingus, saying it is in "a regrettable position where we have no option," imposed an immediate pay freeze on all staff, citing labor unions' rejection of its "Program for Continuous Improvement" cost-saving initiative. CEO Dermot Mannion...

European Commission.(EUROPE Report)(Ryanair mergers with Aer Lingus Group PLC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... European Commission confirmed that it has no authority to force Ryanair to sell its shareholding in Aer Lingus as the Irish state requested. Ryanair currently holds a 29.4% shareholding in EI. The EC in June prohibited it from taking over its...

Ryanair.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Ryanair said it is taking France to the European Court of Human Rights over a recent ruling by the French Conseil d'Etat, the country's highest administrative court, requiring that it apply French labor laws to employees located in Marseille,...

British Airways.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... British Airways will end daily service between London Heathrow and Detroit effective March 30 after 50 years, citing changing market conditions mostly related to the decline of the US auto industry.

Malev.(EUROPE Report)
November 1, 2007... Malev Vice Chairman Peter Leonov has taken over the CEO position as well, replacing Lloyd Paxton, who left unexpectedly citing personal reasons.

A J Walter Aviation.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... A J Walter Aviation will help Thales Training and Simulation support customers of its flight simulators by providing maintenance and spare parts supply of aircraft avionics and instruments fitted to the simulators.

Lufthansa Technik.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Lufthansa Technik intends to invest close to [euro]50 million ($70.1 million) to build a new engine MRO shop in Hamburg that is expected to boost repair capacity from 320 engines per year currently to 400. The hall will be dedicated to its...

SR Technics.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... SR Technics will provide nose-to-tail C checks and a modification program on Scandinavian Airlines' fleet of four A330s and seven A340s with work carried out at SRT facilities at Dublin Airport. SRT opened a new 1,400sq.-m. component...

Volvo Aero.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Volvo Aero said it was contracted by Pratt & Whitney to design, manufacture and support a lightweight turbine exhaust case for the Engine Alliance GP7000 powering the A380. Volvo Aero said its design reduces the weight of the TEC by 10%.

Snecma Services Brussels.(EUROPE Report)(contract with KD Avia )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Snecma Services Brussels entered into a three-year time-and-materials engine MRO agreement with KD Avia based in Kaliningrad covering the CFM56-3s powering the airline's seven 737 Classics. Snecma also will ensure the availability of a...

Lufthansa Systems.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Lufthansa Systems launched Lido electronic Aircraft Performance Monitoring, a Web-based tool for determination of inflight performance levels of an aircraft. Separately, LHS said Condor chose it to support the airline's scheduling,...

SAS Group.(EUROPE Report)(SAS Group mergers with Newco Airport Services )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... SAS Group will sell its 55% holding in Spanish ground handling company Newco Airport Services to 45% owner Teinver. SAS said the transaction will have a positive impact of SEK400 million ($61.4 million).

SITA.(EUROPE Report)(contract with Eclipse)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... SITA added Eclipse as a new member to its Channel Partner Program under which the French IT distributor is allowed to sell a select number of SITA's systems to about 100 airports in France handling up to 5 million passengers per year.

Swiss Aviation Software.(EUROPE Report)
November 1, 2007... Swiss Aviation Software said CSA Czech Airlines is implementing its AMOS integrated information system to help streamline MRO administration and management.

Unisys.(EUROPE Report)(Hahn Air Systems)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Unisys said Hahn Air Systems of Germany successfully implemented the initial phase of its eTops "next-generation" airline booking system based on the Unisys Airline Core Systems Solutions.

Gate Gourmet.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Gate Gourmet will enter the market for third-party ground handling services with the acquisition of a UK-based group operating under the Fernley and International Aviation Services brands. Gate Gourmet completed the purchase of deSter...

Munich and Frankfurt airports.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Munich and Frankfurt airports will introduce a charge of [euro]3 ($4.24) per kg. of nitrous oxide emissions for all airlines landing there effective Jan. 1. The airports noted that the fee will not generate additional airport revenue as it will...

Moscow Domodedovo.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Moscow Domodedovo announced that Air Berlin is the first non-Russian airline to join the Domodedovo Transfer Service Project to offer special interline fares for passengers transiting the airport.

Dublin Airport Authority and Macquarie Airports Group.(EUROPE Report)(Airport Holdings)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Dublin Airport Authority and Macquarie Airports Group completed the joint sale of their 48.25% shareholding in Birmingham Airport Holdings for a gross consideration of [pounds sterling]420 million ($850 million).

Widebody first.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Caption: Marking the first time it has ordered an Airbus widebody, British Airways said it will purchase 12 A380s and 24 787s and place options for a further seven A380s and 18 787s. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

European airline traffic September 2007.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... European Airline Traffic September 2006 Airline RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. Load +/- (billions) 2006 (billions) 2006 Factor 2006 (%)...

A wizz of a wiz.(EUROPE Report)
November 1, 2007... Wizz Air ordered 50 firm A320s plus 25 options. The Central European LCC already had 32 A320s on order. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mexico's Federal Competition Commission.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(merger rejected)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Mexico's Federal Competition Commission last month rejected Mexicana's bid to acquire AeroMexico, ruling that a merger of the country's two largest airlines would be unfair to competitors and "unfavorable to consumers." Ruling leaves the...

Brazil's National Civil Aviation Council.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Brazil's National Civil Aviation Council imposed new rules for airline operations at Sao Paulo Congonhas beginning Oct. 1, changes that were anticipated in the wake of the fatal TAM A320 crash in July that killed 199 people. According to TAM,...

Nacional de Aviacion Let 410.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
November 1, 2007... Nacional de Aviacion Let 410 crashed Oct. 8 after departing Villavicencio, Colombia, killing all 18 people onboard. Aircraft wreckage was discovered in mountains near Cubarral.

Messier services.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(business expansion)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Messier Services officially opened its new Americas landing gear and hydraulics MRO facility in Queretaro, Mexico, completing its move from Washington Dulles to a 10,000-sq.-m. complex. The facility is capable of performing A320 family and...

Starring role.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
November 1, 2007... Caption: EgyptAir, which will become Star Alliance's 21st member, recently took its third 737-800 out of an order for 12. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

EgyptAir.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... EgyptAir, which operates 48 aircraft to 60 destinations in 44 countries, will become Star Alliance's 21st member when it joins "within the next 18 months." Air China, Shanghai Airlines and Turkish Airlines also are preparing to join. Star CEO...

New ICAO strategy.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(International Civil Aviation Organization)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... New ICAO strategy for "sustained improvements in aviation safety in Africa was endorsed by representatives of 40 states from the African Region and world aviation stakeholders" at the 36th Session of the ICAO Assembly in late September....

DR Congo.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... DR Congo President Joseph Kabila fired Transport Minister Remy Henri Kuseyo Gatanga in the aftermath of the Oct. 5 crash of an Africa One An-26 freighter that killed at least 37 people and possibly as many as 51, both aboard the aircraft and on...

Emirates.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Emirates Airline acquires Alpha Flight Services )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Emirates will acquire a 49% interest in inflight catering specialist Alpha Flight Services Australia. As part of the agreement, Alpha will provide catering for Emirates flights from Australia starting in January.