Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, June 4, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Gandalf Airlines, a carrier based in Milan, Italy has joined the EuropebyAir FlightPass programme. The airline offers scheduled services from Milan to Germany, Spain and other Italian cites, and is the 26th carrier in Europe to join the programme.

The new terminal at Ireland's Belfast City Airport commenced operation on Sunday (3 June). The terminal cost USD21m to build and replaces an older terminal located a few hundred metres away, PA News reported.

Onex Corporation announced on 1 June that it had completed the sale of ownership of the SkyChefs airline catering unit to LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, a unit of the German carrier Lufthansa AG. Onex Corp's remaining 47% stake in SkyChefs sold for about USD1.3bn, bringing the total value of the deal to USD1.8bn. The deal was approved by the European Commission after it found 'no reasons for concern' arising from the deal, Reuters reported.

Delta Air Lines, a US carrier, and Air Jamaica joined City Ticket Office locations in Fort Lauderdale on 1 June. The Plantation Square location will be staffed during opening hours by five Delta Air Lines staff and two from Air Jamaica.

SABCA, a Belgian aeronautics construction company, signed a USD424m contract with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus Industrie on 1 June to join the A380 aircraft production team. SABCA will help manufacture some parts of the aircraft, though the specifics of the contract were not disclosed, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Hawaiian Airlines has signed a letter of intent to lease four wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft from International Lease Finance Corp. The aircraft will be delivered during the first and second quarters of 2002 and will replace the airline's McDonnell Douglas DC-10s on transpacific routes.

American Airlines celebrated the 55th anniversary of its Tulsa Maintenance & Engineering Centre on 2 June. The facility first opened on 1 June 1946 in four war-surplus hangars at the then Tulsa Municipal Airport.

Delta Air Lines, a US carrier, has launched a new SkyMiles frequent flyer promotion that gives members a chance to win a trip to the 83rd PGA Championship being held from 13-19 August at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga. The offer is made by the Delta Golf programme in partnership with Turner/TNT and will allow five SkyMiles members and their guests to win package that includes airfare, hotel, ground transportation and admission to the Championship. Enrolment is between 1 and 30 June and requires members to sign up to receive Delta Golf e-mail updates at http://www.delta.com/deltagolf.> ((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))