NEWSBhoja Air 737 crashes on approach to Islamabad; 127 feared deadA Bhoja Air Boeing 737-200 carrying 127 passengers and crew crashed on approach to Islamabad (ISB) Friday, Pakistani defense minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhar has confirmed, according to multiple media reports from Pakistan. The domestic flight was en route from Karachi (KHI) and reportedly lost contact with the control tower about 10 min. before it was supposed to land. Mukhar said Friday that the crashed aircraft was on fire and all 118 passengers and nine crew are feared dead. It reportedly came down in a rural area. No causes for the crash were immediately cited.
LinkPakistan orders new safety checks after Bhoja 737 crashThe Pakistan government has mandated a new safety inspection for all privately run Pakistan airlines following the fatal crash of a Bhoja Air Boeing 737-200 Friday. The Associated Press reported that Pakistan Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar told state TV that aircraft operated by private airlines will be inspected one by one, and any aircraft that fails will be grounded. Planes currently in operation will be allowed to fly as they await inspection, he said.
LinkCAAC expected to approve launch of Ningxia Cargo AirlinesThe Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is expected to green light Ningxia Cargo Airlines, the first cargo carrier based in West China.
The new cargo entity, based in the Ningxia Autonomous Region, has a registered capital of CNY120 million ($18.98 million). Shanghai Chongda International Freight Co., which has a 40% holding, is the major stakeholder. Shan’xi Tongyang Investment Management has a 25% stake and Shan’xi Xiangyu Logistics Co., Xi’an Huijie Logistics Co., and Shan’xi International Air Freight hold the rest.
LinkLufthansa completes bmi takeover deal
Lufthansa Group announced Friday it has completed the sale of British Midland Ltd. (bmi) to British Airways owner International Airlines Group. Lufthansa Group said the gross purchase price was £172.5 million ($278 million).
LinkUS Airways, American unions join to push for merger
US Airways (US) and American Airlines’ (AA) three largest unions reached an agreement Friday that supports a US-AA merger, a major development that threatens to upend AA’s plans to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring as an independent carrier.
LinkAPA: American to keep branding and DFW base in possible merger
A possible merged carrier between American Airlines and US Airways would be branded American Airlines, and would be based at Fort Worth, says one of three American unions which formally supported a merger today.
LinkIndonesia’s Mandala relaunches international servicesJakarta-based low-cost carrier Mandala Airlines relaunched operations Thursday with international service from Medan, Indonesia to Singapore after undergoing financial restructuring last year. Domestic services from Jakarta to MES began April 5 with 12 weekly flights. It has a fleet of new Airbus A320s.
LinkUS Navy to start P-8 operational tests in the summerThe US Navy is set to start operational testing of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft this summer. "What we're looking forward to this year, really, is our initial operational test and evaluation of the program," says Captain Aaron Rondeau, the USN's Poseidon program manager.
LinkAir Canada, pilots to return to negotiations
Air Canada and its 3,000 pilots said Thursday they will try again to reach a collective bargaining agreement that has so far been elusive. Air Canada and the Air Canada Pilots Assn. union representing the flight deck crew said in a joint statement they “have agreed to re-commence negotiations.” The return to the negotiating table comes after AC accused pilots of disrupting service by engaging in unauthorized sickouts.
LinkUK regulator halves British Airways’ price-fixing fine
A financial penalty on British Airways (BA) for engaging in anti-competitive practices with Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) has been more than halved. In August 2007, the UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) gave notice that it intended to fine the national flag carrier £121.5 million ($188.3 million) for coordinating its fuel surcharge pricing with VS over an 18-month period up to January 2006.
LinkRussia FAS: Rosaviatsia illegally withdrew Transaero’s rightsThe Russian Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said that the Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia violated competition law when it withdrew Transaero’s (UN) permission to operate charter service from Moscow (DME) to Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP) and Venice (VCE), according to a statement on the FAS website.
LinkCharter specialist targets Latin AmericaUK Air charter specialist Chartersphere is to develop operations in Spain and South America. The move follows the appointment of cargo charter broker Nacho Carretero, who has seven years’ experience working as a broker and freight-forwarder in Europe and Latin America, the company reveals.
LinkSt Louis seeks tax benefitA revised proposal giving companies shipping freight out of Lambert/St Louis International Airport (US) tax breaks moves a step closer to being finalized. Missouri House of Representatives – the lower chamber of the state legislature – has given its initial approval for a bill to allow up to US$60m in tax credits over several years for firms using the Mid-western airport. The legislation, which still needs another vote to move to the Senate, was first presented as part of a major plan to improve business opportunities – including transforming the airport into an international cargo hub.
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