- Macau to Sign Agreement with Mongolia[Jun. 25, 2006]
Macau's Office for Transportation and Public Affairs today announces, Macau's Secretary for Transportation and Public Affairs,Ou Wenlong, leaves Macau for Beijing on 25th, June, and will go to Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, to sign a new air service agreement between Macau SAR Government and Mongolian Government with Zeng Gele, the Minister for Mongolia's Road, Transportation and Tourism on 27th, and come back to Macau on the 29th of this month.
- Norman Mineta to Step Down as Secretary[Jun. 26, 2006]
US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced that he will resign his position effective July 7.Mineta, who is 74, informed President Bush in a letter dated July 20, citing a desire "to move on to other challenges." The Bush Administration announced the decision Friday. It has not nominated a successor. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said Mineta made the decision on his own. "He was not being pushed out," Snow said during a press conference.
- Virgin Reportedly Tipped off Authorities[Jun. 26, 2006]
Virgin Atlantic Airways reported rival British Airways to the UK Office of Fair Trading for inappropriate phone calls that a BA executive allegedly made to Virgin executives regarding fuel surcharges, a tip-off that triggered a joint UK-US probe into possible "cartel activity," British media said Friday.
- EU to Clear a Subsidy to Ryanair on Fri.[Jun. 26, 2006]
The European Commission on Friday cleared a subsidy to Ryanair for the launch of a new route between London Stansted and Toulon.The aid will be granted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Var, which is the owner and operator of Toulon Hyeres Le Palyvestre Airport. The Commission said the subvention, which will take the form of route-specific marketing related to the launch and ongoing promotion of the route, is compatible with the Common Market rules on state aid and in line with its previous rulings in this area, such as the Charleroi/Ryanair decision (ATWOnline, Sept. 8, 2005).
- Cyprus Airways Spins Off Charter Unit[Jun. 24, 2006]
Cypriot flag carrier Cyprus Airways has sold charter subsidiary Eurocypria to the government for CYP13.45 million pounds (USD$29.3 million) as part of a restructuring.
- Great Wall Airlines Officially Launched[Jun. 23, 2006]
Great Wall Airlines, a joint venture airline established by China Great Wall Industry Corporation, Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd and Dahlia Investments Pte Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd), was officially launched at a ceremony at the Shanghai International Convention Centre June 22nd.
- Airbus Rollout Faces Political Backlash[Jun. 26, 2006]
THE troubled Airbus A380 program was dealt a potential blow on Friday when an influential US congressman said federal funds should not be used to upgrade US airports to accommodate the world's largest passenger aircraft.
- Civil & Military Controllers Join Forces[Jun. 23, 2006]
A GROUND-BREAKING project that will help the military reduce costs and address a shortage of air traffic controllers is under way in Perth.
- Rio Judge Gives Varig Employees[Jun. 21, 2006]
Apparently satisfied that an investor group organized by Varig employees has its financial affairs in order, a Rio de Janeiro bankruptcy court judge approved a BRL1.01 billion ($449.7 million) bid for the ailing airline late Monday.Judge Luiz Roberto Ayoub had given his conditional blessing to the proposal from NV Participacoes last week but said he needed more time to review the bid structure and financial details (ATWOnline, June 16). "The consortium has presented the explanations and the guarantees necessary and the court is satisfied," the judge told reporters. NVP has until Friday to deposit $75 million or Varig will go back onto the auction block.
- European Commission Prepares Agreement[Jun. 20, 2006]
The European Commission tabled two initiatives to put "a legally sound framework" in place for the transfer of PNR data to the United States.Last month, the European Court of Justice ruled the current agreement dating from May 2004 was "founded on an inappropriate legal basis" and gave the EU and Washington until Sept. 30 to negotiate a replacement (ATWOnline, May 31).