UK air passenger numbers rise for first time in two years
"Heathrow-owner BAA today reported its first rise in domestic passengers in two years for last month, as Britons return to pre-recession routines."
How to recycle a plane
"After decades of transporting thousands of people around the globe, aircraft that are too old or too expensive come to an airfield in Gloucestershire to be scrapped."
Detroit terror attack: delay over airport X-ray scanners 'risking lives'
"Ministers have been accused of putting lives at risk by failing to order X-ray style body scanners at British airports despite fears that al-Qaeda is planning a wave of syringe bomb attacks on planes.
The scanners, which could have thwarted the attack by the Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, are already in use in countries including America and Germany, and on Wednesday the Netherlands and Nigeria announced they would follow suit.
But the Government said it had “no immediate plans” to deploy them, leading to accusations that ministers had been “caught napping”.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that four of the £100,000 full body scanners are in storage at Heathrow Airport, following a previous trial, but airport staff are not authorised to use them."
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The scanners, which could have thwarted the attack by the Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, are already in use in countries including America and Germany, and on Wednesday the Netherlands and Nigeria announced they would follow suit.
But the Government said it had “no immediate plans” to deploy them, leading to accusations that ministers had been “caught napping”.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that four of the £100,000 full body scanners are in storage at Heathrow Airport, following a previous trial, but airport staff are not authorised to use them."
Read on...
European economy is weak link in global aviation recovery
"Global air passenger and freight demand are rising, but both are still way below pre-crisis levels and Europe's weak economic recovery is pulling it behind international rivals.
...In the air freight market, Europe's lag is even more pronounced. Asia-Pacific's freight carriers saw a 14.5 per cent jump in demand, thanks to the success of stimulus packages in boosting industrial output. Latin America's 17.5 per cent growth, the Middle East's 21.4 per cent and the 13.6 per cent rise in the US are all linked to the rise in demand in Asia. Meanwhile, Europe's carriers recorded a 5.6 per cent fall in demand.
"Freight is a leading indicator that the world is starting to trade," said a spokesman for Iata. "There is some encouragement from freight traffic, but not in Europe, partly due to local economic conditions, partly because it is not a hub for the long haul routes into and out of Asia-Pacific."
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...In the air freight market, Europe's lag is even more pronounced. Asia-Pacific's freight carriers saw a 14.5 per cent jump in demand, thanks to the success of stimulus packages in boosting industrial output. Latin America's 17.5 per cent growth, the Middle East's 21.4 per cent and the 13.6 per cent rise in the US are all linked to the rise in demand in Asia. Meanwhile, Europe's carriers recorded a 5.6 per cent fall in demand.
"Freight is a leading indicator that the world is starting to trade," said a spokesman for Iata. "There is some encouragement from freight traffic, but not in Europe, partly due to local economic conditions, partly because it is not a hub for the long haul routes into and out of Asia-Pacific."
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Boeing's 787 Dreamliner takes flight for the first time
"It's not every day a a major new aircraft takes the skies for the first time, but today's special: Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is currently taking its very first test flight over the skies of Everett, Washington."
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European airports see traffic picking up
"BRUSSELS – European airport operators said Thursday that they are seeing a "slow and gradual" recovery in air travel in October after an unprecedented fall in passenger numbers."
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Heathrow, Stansted to get £500m
"Heathrow and Stansted airports were told today that they will be getting a massive £500 million injection of cash.
The airports have been laid low by the worst airline recession in history and the cash will come mainly from their international owners."
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The airports have been laid low by the worst airline recession in history and the cash will come mainly from their international owners."
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Man accidentally ejects himself from plane
"Passenger survives incident while flying with pilot from South Africa's Silver Falcons' air display team"
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Regional airlines eye new Cyprus airport at Larnaca as a new hub
"Regional airlines, primarily from the Middle East, are considering using the new terminals in Cyprus built by Hermes Airports as alternative hubs, with Greek operator Aegean opening a dedicated lounge at Larnaca as it will also be the first to test the e-ticket stations.
The new Larnaca terminal, with increased capacity and improved efficiencies for airlines, will start operations on November 10 with only Cyprus Airways and Easyjet using the new facilities, while all other airlines will follow a week later on November 17.
Newcomers, such as the UAE’s Etihad and low-cost carrier Air Arabia, are keen to set up a base at the new Larnaca airport to service through-traffic to other European destinations, just as Emirates operates a daily flight from Dubai to Malta with a stopover in Larnaca taking passengers each way."
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The new Larnaca terminal, with increased capacity and improved efficiencies for airlines, will start operations on November 10 with only Cyprus Airways and Easyjet using the new facilities, while all other airlines will follow a week later on November 17.
Newcomers, such as the UAE’s Etihad and low-cost carrier Air Arabia, are keen to set up a base at the new Larnaca airport to service through-traffic to other European destinations, just as Emirates operates a daily flight from Dubai to Malta with a stopover in Larnaca taking passengers each way."
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Heathrow voted world's worst airport
"Heathrow has been voted the worst airport in the world for the second year running.
London's main airport came bottom in a poll of frequent flyers from more than 160 countries"
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London's main airport came bottom in a poll of frequent flyers from more than 160 countries"
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Hermes Cyprus to build 5-star hotel at Larnaca airport
"French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been invited to inaugurate the 656-million-euro new terminal building at Larnaca airport on November 7, built by French construction giant Bouyges.
Nicos Shacolas, chairman of the operator Hermes Airports, said that Cyprus president Demetris Christofias invited his French counterpart to attend the ceremony, but that it all depended on Sarkozy’s busy schedule. “If Mr. Sarkozy decides to visit Cyprus, we will welcome him and with great honour and enthusiasm”, Shacolas added.
Shacolas added that the construction of both Larnaca and Paphos airports, the biggest public projects in Cyprus, were delivered ahead of time, with the Larnaca terminal completed in just three years and 39 days, instead of three years and six months, as part of the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession.
Currently there are more installations under construction, he said, including transit cargo, additional parking areas, four new gas stations and more, with an extra cost of 52,9 mln euros.
There is also a provision and a commitment in the agreement with the government that if the passenger traffic increases, then both Cyprus’ airports can be expanded for Larnaca to increase its capacity from 7.5 mln to 9 mln passengers and for Paphos to serve 2.7 mln, up from the present 1.8 mln. These developments, he added, will raise the cost of both projects to 804,5 mln euros.
Shacolas added that “we have already submitted to the government specific plans and designs for the creation of a modern five storey airport hotel, including restaurants and conference areas, as well as a leisure centre, all totalling 200 mln euros.”
Shacolas said he believed the government’s response will be positive and construction of the new hotel will begin three months upon approval."
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Nicos Shacolas, chairman of the operator Hermes Airports, said that Cyprus president Demetris Christofias invited his French counterpart to attend the ceremony, but that it all depended on Sarkozy’s busy schedule. “If Mr. Sarkozy decides to visit Cyprus, we will welcome him and with great honour and enthusiasm”, Shacolas added.
Shacolas added that the construction of both Larnaca and Paphos airports, the biggest public projects in Cyprus, were delivered ahead of time, with the Larnaca terminal completed in just three years and 39 days, instead of three years and six months, as part of the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession.
Currently there are more installations under construction, he said, including transit cargo, additional parking areas, four new gas stations and more, with an extra cost of 52,9 mln euros.
There is also a provision and a commitment in the agreement with the government that if the passenger traffic increases, then both Cyprus’ airports can be expanded for Larnaca to increase its capacity from 7.5 mln to 9 mln passengers and for Paphos to serve 2.7 mln, up from the present 1.8 mln. These developments, he added, will raise the cost of both projects to 804,5 mln euros.
Shacolas added that “we have already submitted to the government specific plans and designs for the creation of a modern five storey airport hotel, including restaurants and conference areas, as well as a leisure centre, all totalling 200 mln euros.”
Shacolas said he believed the government’s response will be positive and construction of the new hotel will begin three months upon approval."
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BAA agrees Gatwick airport sale
"BAA has agreed to sell Gatwick, the UK's second busiest airport, to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for a fee of £1.51bn."
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New Cyprus Larnaka International Airport to boost economy of country
"The new Larnaka International Airport will give the island’s economy a new impetus, amidst the economic crisis and will significantly help the economic and tourist development in general, Androulla Christodoulou, head of Services of Civil Aviation at Larnaka International Airport told CNA.
In an interview ahead of the opening of the new airport, the opening ceremony of which is scheduled for November 7 and the first flights will take place on November 10, Christodoulou said that after the administration of the airports was undertaken by a private company, the Civil Aviation Department, which is the regulatory and supervisory authority, has a responsibility to monitor and control all authorities which are active within the airport."
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In an interview ahead of the opening of the new airport, the opening ceremony of which is scheduled for November 7 and the first flights will take place on November 10, Christodoulou said that after the administration of the airports was undertaken by a private company, the Civil Aviation Department, which is the regulatory and supervisory authority, has a responsibility to monitor and control all authorities which are active within the airport."
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'Naked' scanner in airport trial
"A human X-ray machine that produces "naked" images of passengers has started a trial at Manchester Airport."
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Cyprus property sales to foreign buyers nose-dives
Time to go and grab a great deal?
"The number of non-Cypriots buying property on the island has gone into freefall. The latest figures released on Friday by the Land Registry indicate that the message issued by the Interior Minister in July has failed to reassure foreign real estate investors."
"The districts of Cyprus suffering most from the drop in foreign demand are Larnaca, where property sales are down 83%, and Limassol, where sales have fallen by 79%. The area least hit by the fall is Nicosia, but even there sales to non-Cypriots have dropped by 54%."
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"The number of non-Cypriots buying property on the island has gone into freefall. The latest figures released on Friday by the Land Registry indicate that the message issued by the Interior Minister in July has failed to reassure foreign real estate investors."
"The districts of Cyprus suffering most from the drop in foreign demand are Larnaca, where property sales are down 83%, and Limassol, where sales have fallen by 79%. The area least hit by the fall is Nicosia, but even there sales to non-Cypriots have dropped by 54%."
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