Heathrow confirms T2 as new Star Alliance home

Written by Doug Newhouse

Thursday, 13 December 2012 07:51

Heathrow Airport has made the important decision to move all Star Alliance carriers into Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 when it opens in 2014. While the decision has pleased the Star Alliance group, it also provides a good lead time for Heathrow to settle upon its retail mix in the new modern terminal which will now serve multiple nationalities amongst those member airlines that will use Heathrow Terminal 2. The decision should also create some interesting transfer traffic retail opportunities in the new terminal. Mark Schwab, CEO of the Star Alliance said: “We are delighted by today’s decision, which gives the green light for creating a new travel experience for our customers and allows our member's airlines to operate an efficient hub in London. “After many years of intensive planning for a world leading alliance terminal together with Colin Matthew’s team at Heathrow, we can now shift into implementation mode.” Star Alliance is the second-largest alliance grouping at the UK’s most important airport, offering more than 21% of all available seat capacity from the airport. T2 WILL FEATURE THE 'LATEST TECHNOLOGY' Both Heathrow and the Star Alliance says that now the way is clear for the creation of a true alliance terminal, which will offer "many innovative features". The latest technology, as well as integrated facilities and aligned processes among the member carriers are expected to contribute to significantly improve the traveller’s experience. Star Alliance members in Terminal 2 will also benefit from the minimum connecting time between flights of around 45 minutes, thereby increasing the number of possible flight connections by 31%, although this will also raise some retail challenges for the airport. Star Alliance carriers are due to move into the new T2 facility in phases during 2014. Further information on the Heathrow Terminal 2 project can be found at: http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/rebuilding-heathrow/heathrow's-new-terminal-2 The Star Alliance airline membership network includes the following carriers, although as mentioned, not all of all these fly from Heathrow: Adria Airways; Aegean Airlines; Air Canada; Air China; Air New Zealand; ANA; Asiana Airlines; Austrian; Avianca; TACA Airlines; Brussels Airlines; Copa Airlines; Croatia Airlines; EGYPTAIR; Ethiopian Airlines; LOT Polish Airlines; Lufthansa; Scandinavian Airlines; Shenzhen Airlines; Singapore Airlines; South African Airways; SWISS; TAM Airlines; TAP Portugal; Turkish Airlines; THAI; United; and US Airways. EVA Air has also been announced as a future member.

Star Alliance member carriers show well at World Travel Awards

17 DEC 2012

Star Alliance member carriers show well at World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards, hailed as the "Oscars of the travel industry", once again placed several Star Alliance member carriers in top positions at an awards ceremony in India. Singapore Airlines won for World's Leading Airline in Business Class and World's Leading Airline to Asia. Lufthansa won for World's Leading Airline in Economy Class and World's Leading Airline to Europe. TAP won for World's Leading Airline to Africa and to South America.
South African Airways won for Africa's Leading Airline and for Africa's Leading Airline in Economy Class.
Air New Zealand won for Australasia's Leading Airline.
Copa won for Mexico & Central America's Leading Airline.
SWISS won for Europe's Leading Airline in Business Class.

South Africa: Gigaba Appoints SAA Acting CEO, Chairperson

Pretoria — Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has appointed South African Airways (SAA) executive chairperson Vuyisile Kona as the airline's acting CEO.
Kona's appointment will take effect immediately until a permanent replacement is found for Siza Mzimela, who resigned in October.
Following a recent SAA Board meeting Gigaba also appointed Duduzile Myeni as the Acting Chairperson of the Board.
Myeni is expected to reinforce leadership stability at SAA and initiate a robust recruitment process for the appointment of the new CEO to ensure continuity in the airlines business operations.
The Acting Chairperson will be required to lead the process for the development of the long term strategy currently being initiated by the company.
A task team, appointed by Gigaba has been mandated to advise and lead the engagements with key government departments and ensure alignment between the SAA Board, other state aviation assets, and key government departments. It will also monitor the work-plan and advise on the achievements of key deliverables as agreed upon by the SAA Board and the consultants; and to ensure alignment between the long term strategy and the wider government objectives.
"It is important to note that the establishment of the Task Team does not replace the Board's decision making process nor does it absolve the Board of its fiduciary role and responsibility. The Board is still expected to be the custodian of the long term strategy, with the shareholder being advised and apprised at all stages of the process," Gigaba said in a statement.

Bombardier, Inc. : Bombardier Named Canadian Company of the Year in Spain

12/14/2012| 08:11am US/Eastern

December 14, 2012 - Madrid
Transportation

• Investments, R&D and export capacity of Bombardier in Spain recognised by the Canada-Spain Chamber of Commerce

Bombardier has won the prize of Canadian Company of the Year in Spain. The award by the Canada-Spain Chamber of Commerce recognises Bombardier's key role in the Spanish railway industry and contribution to Hispanic-Canadian business relations. The Chamber is a private association based in Madrid, which aims to strengthen relations between the two countries.

In the presence of the Canadian Ambassador to Spain, Jon Allen, the President of Bombardier Transportation in Spain, Álvaro Rengifo, received the award from the President of the Chamber, Alberto Echarri Ardanaz, at a ceremony at the Railway Foundation Palace in Madrid. Representatives of railway operators, rail infrastructure and engineering companies, airlines and other Chamber members attended the event.

Accepting the award, Álvaro Rengifo said: "This prize highlights our continuously growing presence in Spain and our recent investments in the country, such as the new Rail Control Solutions engineering centre in Madrid. This centre of excellence provides a global technological reference point for our local operations."

He added: "At a time of reduced economic activity, Bombardier in Spain is managing to carve a path in new markets, becoming one of the most relevant exporters in the Spanish railway industry. We achieve this by increasing investment in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) and focusing on our engineers and professionals."

Bombardier Transportation is one of the most significant companies in the Spanish railway industry, employing more than 700 people in its offices and plants in Trápaga (Biscay), San Sebastián de los Reyes and Alcobendas (Madrid), Madrid and Barcelona. The plant for the supply of Bombardier's propulsion systems, located in Trápaga, and the recently inaugurated Rail Control Solutions engineering centre in Madrid are amongst the most advanced manufacturing and technology centres of their type in the world, guiding Bombardier's projects across Spain, Portugal, Italy, South America and other locations around the world. Exports from Spain already represent more than 80 per cent of their overall activity.

In the aerospace sector, Bombardier Aerospace participates in many successful aircraft programs in Spain for customers such as Air Nostrum and the Spanish Air Force. Air Nostrum operates a fleet of
48 Bombardier CRJ series aircraft and the Spanish Air Force holds a fleet of 17 Bombardier 415 amphibious firefighter aircraft. These include the CL-415 and the CL-215T models, which contributed greatly to protecting Spanish forests from summer fires in 2012.

About Bombardier Transportation in Spain
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. Eighty years ago, the first Bombardier product in Spain was placed into service - a mechanical interlocking that began operating in the Cariñena station in Zaragoza in 1932. Due to its superior quality, it controlled rail traffic at that station until 2007. Since then, Bombardier has taken part in some of the country's major railway projects. Examples of its activities include the very high speed trains AVE S102 and S112, the high speed train AVE S130 and the BOMBARDIER TRAXX freight locomotives for RENFE, the advanced BOMBARDIER CITYFLO 650 system for Metro Madrid, the new trams for Valencia and Alicante, and the "people mover" of the Madrid Barajas (T4) airport. Bombardier also performs important train fleet maintenance services in Spain.

Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail

Star Alliance takes over Heathrow Terminal 2

Star Alliance says it is delighted by an announcement by Heathrow Airport to make Terminal 2 the new home for the alliance’s member carriers. Star is the second-biggest alliance grouping at Heathrow, one of the world’s most important trade and tourism gateways, The alliance offers more than 21% of all available seat capacity from the airport.
“Now the way is clear for the creation of a true alliance terminal, which will offer many innovative features.” Lufthansa responded. “Having all Star Alliance members collocated in Terminal 2 will allow the minimum connecting time between flights to be halved to just 45 minutes, thereby increasing the number of possible flight connections by 31%.”
Once the new Terminal 2 opens in 2014, the 23 Star Alliance member carriers operating at Heathrow will move in various stages from their current locations.
TTG Nordic

ICAO president highlights algae biofuel research at COP18

By Erin Voegele | December 14, 2012

Algae biofuel research being completed at Qatar University was praised by Roberto Kobeh González, president of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization. González toured the location as part of his trip to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP18) in Doha, Qatar. As part of his COP18 appearance, González presented a status update of the ICOA’s progress biofuels and other carbon mitigation efforts.
“We really welcome this project as an example of the varying biofuel solutions that can be applied in different areas around the globe,” said González. “The Qatar project is notable in that it is State-backed and employs resources natural to the surroundings. These do not depend on arable land vital to food consumption.”
The university’s research is being completed in collaboration with Qatar Airways and Qatar Science and Technology Park. Now in its third year, focuses on microalgae and cyanobacteria strains unique to Qatar. These microorganisms grow well in extreme heat, strong sunlight and highly saline waters.
According to information published by the university, the research group grew cultures of these strains, eliminating variations least adapted to Qatar’s environmental conditions. Production was scaled up at the laboratory level. Lipids extracted from the algae and cyanobacteria were converted into biofuel. The carbohydrate portion of the biomass was also converted to biofuel a biofuel, specifically ethanol. Currently, work is underway to scale up cultivation to 25,000 liter (6,604 gallon) research ponds. If the project continues to show success, a 1.5 million liter pilot-scale plant could be developed.
In his remarks at the COP18, González biofuels are an essential part of the ICAO member states’ strategy for sustainable aviation. “Commercial flights on sustainable alternative fuels are now a reality,” he said. “Airlines are using drop-in biofuels that do not require changes to aircraft design or fuel delivery systems. Facilitating the availability of such fuels at competitive prices and in sufficient quantities for use in aviation is the next challenge, one for which an ICAO expert group is currently developing global policies.”

AirAsia unveils $9.4 billion Airbus order

(Reuters) - AirAsia confirmed a $9.4 billion order for 100 more Airbus jets on Thursday, making it the European planemaker's largest airline customer by number of planes ordered.
The deal for 64 revamped, fuel-efficient A320neo jets and 36 current-generation A320s comes on top of 375 similar planes already ordered by Asia's largest low-cost carrier.
"We have just bought 100 planes which makes a total of 475. To meet the amazing demand in Asia," AirAsia owner Tony Fernandes wrote on Twitter.
The deal is worth $9.4 billion at list prices but in practice aircraft are sold at significant discounts.
Britain, which co-operates in building Airbus planes together with France, Germany and Spain, said the deal would safeguard 9,000 British jobs including 1,500 at Airbus itself.
"This is excellent news and a tremendous boost for the workforce and for UK manufacturing," British Prime Minister David Cameron's office said in a statement.
Cameron, who eyes manufacturing as crucial to a rebalancing the British economy away from sectors like financial services, was at the Airbus wings factory in Wales when the announcement was made.
Together, Cameron and Fernandes toured the Broughton plant, which employs over 5,000 people out of 60,000 employed by Airbus globally.
The order had already been included in the Airbus books without the name of the buyer being identified, meaning Thursday's event was mainly a ceremonial one to promote the airline and the impact of aerospace on the British economy.
Its announcement comes a day after data showed that the number of people in work in Britain hit a record high in November, offering some relief to a government struggling with unpopular austerity measures and a sluggish economy.
BOMBARDIER JET CONSIDERED
Economic growth, urbanisation and rising disposable incomes are spurring rapid passenger growth among Asian low-cost carriers, helping to shield Airbus and its rival Boeing from the malaise gripping developed economies.
Despite the new order, Airbus is expected to fall behind rival Boeing (BA.N) in the race for new business this year.
The contract reaffirms AirAsia, Asia's largest low-cost carrier, as the world's largest A320 customer and second only to leasing giants in the number of Airbus planes ordered.
Wearing a jaunty red baseball cap, Fernandes set out even more ambitious dreams for AirAsia, which was struggling when he bought it just over a decade ago.
"One day, Air Asia would be as well known as Coca Cola. That would be cool. That is a massive ask," he said.
AirAsia placed a record 200-plane Airbus order in 2011 and fresh talks between the groups, initially for 50 jets, were first reported by Reuters in May .
But the European planemaker's chances for a deal were thrown into doubt when Fernandes held surprise talks with Canadian planemaker Bombardier (BBDb.TO) in July.
The talks, noticed by a Reuters sports correspondent, were held at Silverstone on the eve of the British Grand Prix. Fernandes owns a race team and a soccer club.
By September, industry sources said AirAsia and Airbus were closing in on an expanded deal for 100 aircraft .
"It's a huge ask for anyone to come in to AirAsia. We have to be responsible to our shareholders and be open to it," Fernandes said on Thursday.
Airbus and Boeing dominate the jet market but face a growing challenge from Canada's Bombardier as well as China and Russia.
Bombardier's CSeries aims to compete directly with the world's best-selling aircraft, the 150-seat Airbus A320 and Boeing's 737, and a deal with AirAsia would have been a coup.
Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier denied the Canadian group's model had ever seriously threatened the AirAsia deal.
Bombardier says its 130-seat jet is more modern and predicts sales will increase after a maiden flight due next year.
Fernandes said that he was buying the new Airbus planes mainly to grow his fleet, rather than to replace old aircraft.
He added that the company has no plans to look at a rights issue, saying that the transaction could be funded through cash. He also said the company is in a position to offer a dividend but gave no more detail. (Reporting by Isla Binnie in Wales, Natalie Huet in London and James Regan in Paris, Writing by Christine Murray; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Tim Hepher)