General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
BA’s Willie Walsh to head London Chamber of Commerce
Willie Walsh has been named as president of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). It hopes Walsh, who will serve a 2-year term, can raise the profile of the lobbying organisation which represents London businesses both large and small. He replaces Stephen Greene, executive chairman of property investment firm Rankvale, in the LCCI role.
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IATA says global airlines show improved profitability, and 11% growth in 2010
IATA says total global aviation industry profits will jump to $8.9 billion in 2010 on revenues of $560 billion, more than the previous forecast in June of $2.5 billion. Rapidly improving demand has pushed traffic 3-4% above the pre-crisis levels of early 2008. Demand in 2010 is expected to grow by 11%. Europe is the only region to lose money with an expected loss of $1.3 billion. Profit will fall to $5.3 billion in 2011 wityh growth of 5%. (IATA)
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Flybe reports continued profits despite recession and hopes to increase routes
Regional airline Flybe, based at Exeter, has reported £5.7m annual profits for the year ending March 2010. It just broke even the previous year. Underlying profits - which ignore exceptional gains and losses - fell from £12.8m to £6.8m in the year to March. Passenger numbers remained unchanged. The company specialises in short-hop flights, using smaller aircraft than its rivals. It now wants to increase the number of flights from Scotland to Europe.
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Auf Wiedersehen jet: London to Frankfurt direct by train by 2013 in 4 – 5 hours?
After Paris and Brussels, a direct high-speed rail service to Germany is expected to run from Dec 2013. A German high-speed train will come to St Pancras for the first time on 19th October on a dry run for a direct rail service between London and Frankfurt and tunnel safety tests. Rail experts expect it to open up Britain to a new market for rail travel and put downward pressure on Eurostar fares, and be a real challenge to business aviation.
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Rail boss predicts demise of domestic air travel
Domestic air travel could become "the choice of the minority" with some cities not being linked by air at all, says the chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) Edward Welsh. ATOC released new figures indicating Brits travelling from city to city are becoming more likely to take the train instead of flying. Much of the increase is due to offers on cheap rail tickets. Market share of rail on many routes is 20 - 30% more than in 2008.
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Activists win historic ruling on ‘people’s law on the environment’
Activists are delighted about a ruling by UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee that the UK's legal system must make it easier for individuals and NGOs to protect the environment. Under the Aarhus Convention, signed by the UK in 1998, people should not be denied environmental justice because of the unreasonable financial risks of bringing a case to court. At present in the UK, due to fear of costs, many environmental decisions were not being challenged.
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Emirates plan for recycled A380 shower water scuppered by regulators
Emirates was forced to drop its initial plan to recycle the water used by its Airbus A380 fleet's on-board showers, rather carry up to 500kg of additional water, after it fell foul of regulators. The airline, which received its first A380 last week, put the 489-seater into service on 1 August between Dubai and New York. There are two shower cubicles by its 14 first class cubicles. The A380 carries 1,700 litres of water, and would need 25% more for the showers.
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A “winning argument for airline economics and passenger comfort”? – the airline stand up seat
An Italian company, Aviointeriors, is proposing a much denser form of aircraft seating for part of the plane, to cram more passengers into a plane. Their new form of seating - the SkyRider - would take only 23" rather than the current 28 - 30". The passenger's body assumes a dynamic upright position. This would allow airlines to offer lower priced seats.
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Boeing delays delivery of 787 Dreamliner aircraft until next year
Boeing is delaying delivery of its first new-generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft until early 2011. Japan's All Nippon Airways was due to take delivery of the aircraft at the end of this year. The 787 project has already been delayed for more than 2 years, following a series of hitches. The setback is due to the availability of a Rolls-Royce engine needed for the final phases of flight testing. All Nippon may get their aircraft in the first quarter of 2011.(BBC)
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Aer Arran in bankruptcy protection
The Irish regional airline, Aer Arran, has entered a bankruptcy protection process after suffering losses of 18m euros since 2008. The High Court in Dublin has appointed an interim examiner to the airline. That is a process of Irish company law which protects a firm from its creditors while it comes up with a restructuring plan. The company, which employs 320 people, said the move would not affect day-to-day business. (BBC)