- US Sanctions Great Wall Parent for Iran[Aug. 22, 2006]
Great Wall Airlines, the joint venture cargo startup in which Singapore Airlines holds a 25% stake, suspended operations Friday after the US government imposed sanctions against its majority stakeholder for allegedly conspiring to supply Iran with missile components.The US Treasury Dept. last week froze all US-related assets of Great Wall Industry Corp., the Shanghai-based firm that owns 51% of Great Wall Airlines, saying it is one of four Chinese companies providing military support to Iran.
- SIA Suspends Cargo Venture in China[Aug. 19, 2006]
Singapore Airlines has suspended the operations of its cargo venture in China after the United States imposed sanctions on the airline's Chinese partner for allegedly supplying missile components to Iran.
- Assessing the Impact of US-EU Open Skies[Aug. 21, 2006]
A new delay in securing congressional approval for the Open Skies agreement between the US and the EU is being tipped... (8/21/2006)
- Ryanair Demands UK Govt to Relax Security[Aug. 21, 2006]
Ryanair has threatened to take legal action against the British government unless it meets demands for relaxing airport security... (8/21/2006)
- Virgin America's Op Approval Still Uncertain[Aug. 21, 2006]
Virgin America, the proposed LCC startup that is 25% owned by Virgin Group, is being held up by objections over its US citizenship from legacy carriers urging the US Dept. of Transportation to reject its application for an operating certificate. Virgin America said last week that it has been forced to secure an additional $53 million in temporary financing to fight what it calls "dilatory legal tactics" by Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and US Airways, who argue that the upstart is effectively controlled by Virgin Group and therefore violates US rules limiting foreign control of US airlines.
- It Does Pain Me to Agree with Mr Ryanair[Aug. 21, 2006]
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, must have many talents to have reached his position in life, but I had not appreciated until last week that a flair for ironic cheek was one of them. Mr O'Leary appeared at a press conference to publicise his threat to sue the Government if it does not remove the recent restrictions on hand luggage by Thursday; a Union Jack was draped behind him and a Winston Churchill impersonator sat next to him. All of this was done in order to "keep Britain flying".
- Airlines May Sue over Terror Losses[Aug. 18, 2006]
Airlines including British Airways are proposing to sue the British Government for up to pound stg. 300 million ($742 million) to recover the losses incurred since extra security measures were imposed on the nation's airports last week.
- Airports Come Under Fire from BAR UK[Aug. 16, 2006]
BAR UK has become the latest critic of UK airports, claiming they were unable to cope with the extra security procedures.
- Amsterdam To Move on Airport Stake Sale[Aug. 16, 2006]
Amsterdam, which has veto power over the privatization of airport operator Schiphol Group, says it will not decide on the issue until late September, sharply curtailing the time the current government has to sell a stake in the firm.
- Operations at London Airports Recovering[Aug. 16, 2006]
Airlines operating from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports faced fewer cancellations and improved punctuality Tuesday after BAA relaxed hand luggage restrictions one day later than at most other UK airports, but carriers still complained about delays and long security lines and faulted the airport operator's response to the crisis.British Airways said it canceled a further 35 flights at LHR yesterday, raising its six-day total at its main base to around 700, while systemwide cancellations numbered around 1,100. It expects to operate "90% of its schedule" today,with plans to cancel three long-haul and 32 European and domestic departures from Heathrow and 11 domestic returns from Gatwick.