Airline News March 2005

Airguide Online, March 30, 2005

Mar 14, 2005

CSA Czeck Airlines

CSA Czeck Airlines is set topart-privatise after 2006 with an initial public offering of its shares. Chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik said the airline's general meeting will agreeto the plan. However, the partialsell-off will take place after the company had put a plan in place to coveraccrued losses and a financial restructuring is complete. These factors should allow the privatisation process to begin next year. http://www.csa.cz

Mar 28, 2005

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines said last week that it will replace its inflight food sales in April with an expanded snack selection. First class passengers on all flights and economy travellers on flights of 90 minutes or more will receive such snacks as crisps, peanuts and crackers. Economy class patrons on services of more than 3 hours 30 minutes will be presented with snack pack of crackers, cheese, cookies and raisins. Delta said it would continue to offer complimentary meal service to first class passengers on flights longer than3 hours 30 minutes. These are tough times with the US legacy carriers and if you are the type that gets hungry on flights the maxim is "buy sandwiches on the ground". The airline is following American Airlines and dropping pillows in the back cabin too. http://www.delta.com

Mar 21, 2005

Delta Air Lines, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection, Song

Customers flying Delta Air Lines, the Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection and Song to, from or through Boston now have a more convenient and comfortable travel experience as the doors officially open at the new, state-of-the-art Terminal A facility at Boston[sup.1]s Logan International Airport.

Mar 16, 2005

Detroit Metro Airport

Detroit Metro Airport lowers landing fees for airlines. Rising passenger traffic prompted Detroit Metro Airport to lower landing fees for airlines, the Detroit Free Press reports. Concession revenue has climbed because more people are passing through the airport, officials said. The fee was lowered from $3.39 to $2.95 for every 1,000 pounds of aircraft. The change should save airlines $5.8 million.

Mar 25, 2005

Dornier

The proud history of Dornier, founded in 1910, could be about to come to an end. Last Tuesday an auction began of what remains of the inventory of the company including the only 728 airframe completed and German insolvency practitioners Pluta had been appointed by the district court at Oberfaffenhofen to look after the affairs of AvCraft Aerospace GmbH, a successor company closely involved with the turboprop and jet versions of the 328 commuter aircraft. Most of the 345 staff have been laid off and Martin Prager of Pluta says he is looking for new investors. Since taking over, Avcraft, which is closely connected with the US company of the same name, has delivered 13 whitetails and built two complete aircraft. Cash flow seems to be the major problem, three aircraft ordered, completed, but not delivered to Chinese airline Hainan, a cause of contention. The 328 has been a success from an operational point of view, the turboprop variant the backbone of Scot Airways in the UK and the jet version also used by Southampton-based Club 328. http://www.pluta.net