- Norwegian to enter low-fare fray[Apr. 07, 2006]
Norwegian has decided to invade an already-crowded Polish low-cost market and intends to hire Polish flight crew for the operation.The LCC announced yesterday that it will open a base in Warsaw and operate flights to three Spanish cities, France and its Oslo hub. It will base two aircraft at Warsaw, where it will compete with LOT Polish Airlines subsidiary Centralwings, SkyEurope Airlines and Wizz Air, among others.
- Iraq to open nonstop flight to China[Apr. 06, 2006]
Officials of Iraqi Airways Company mentioned in Irbil on the 3rd that Iraq will launch a nonstop flight from Baghdad to Guangzhou, a city in southern China.
- Australia: Air testing turns fatal[Apr. 06, 2006]
The head of the nation's private pilot lobby group died in Sydney yesterday after a plane he was testing apparently developed engine trouble.
- Sydney Airport security in chaos[Apr. 06, 2006]
Tampering with security cameras at Sydney airport meant heroin could have been placed in an innocent passenger's baggage and there would be no record, a Labor MP said today.
- Farnborough 2006 to be 'remarkable' show[Apr. 06, 2006]
Organizers of the UK's biennial Farnborough International Air Show have high expectations for the 45th edition, set to take place July 17-23.
- Ireland approves AL privatization[Apr. 06, 2006]
The Irish government on Tuesday decided to sell off of most of Aer Lingus through an IPO nearly a decade after it first announced its intention to privatize the carrier, but said it will retain a stake of "at least 25.1%.""The transaction is taking place in order to give Aer Lingus both the commercial flexibility and the financial muscle to compete and succeed in the global marketplace," Transport Minister Martin Cullen said in a statement.
- FL Group sells easyJet stake, adds 787s[Apr. 06, 2006]
FL Group announced yesterday the sale of its 16.9% stake in easyJet for approximately ?325 million ($395.9 million), earning Icelandair's parent company some ?140 million in profit from its initial investment and representing an annual return of 70%, "far surpassing" the 20% target. JPMorgan was the sole bookrunner and JPMorganCazenove was joint lead manager. FL Group said the proceeds will be "channeled into new investments during 2006." It now has liquid assets of about ?600 million.
- Hawaii, China sign tourism agreement[Apr. 05, 2006]
The US state of Hawaii signed an agreement with China to boost Chinese travel to the islands, The Associated Press reported today.
- Air NZ starts direct Shanghai flights[Apr. 05, 2006]
Air New Zealand is launching a new three-times-a-week direct service to Shanghai later this year.
- AUS: Crashed pilot 'didn't stand a chance'[Apr. 05, 2006]
A light plane pilot killed during a takeoff exercise stood no chance of surviving the high-speed crash, a witness said.