News in Brief

Feb. 18, 2011

Business Buzz

¦ NATA releases 2011 revision of refueling and quality control guide: The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced the availability of the 2011 revision of its popular guidebook Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations. The 2011 revision is a complete update that contains an in-depth review of topics relating to aviation fuel handling, with full-color photographs in a new easy-to-read format. Included in the 2011 revision are chapters addressing: safety, aviation fuels, fuel handling equipment, quality control and fuel testing procedures, equipment inspections and maintenance, operational procedures, fuel spill response, training and other resources.

¦ The Air Transport Association of America releases quarterly Airline Cost Index: The ATA, the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, released its quarterly Airline Cost Index, incorporating data through the third quarter of 2010. Costs faced by U.S. passenger airlines, measured by the “composite cost index,” rose 5 percent to 209.8 in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, outpacing the 1.2 percent gain in the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). The composite airline cost index remains approximately 110 percent higher than its level of 100 in 2000.

¦ ATR moves into new remanufacturing facility: Authorized Transmission Remanufacturing Inc., a national supplier of fleet transmissions throughout the U.S. and Canada, announced that they have moved into a new 100,000-square-foot remanufacturing plant located in Mundelein, IL. The plant has an enclosed cleaning/processing department, sound-proof dyno testing area, large remanufacturing area for cellular and rebuilder work stations, employee- and customer-training room, and a large parts department and warehousing for its product line.

¦ Swissport Cargo Services opens new warehouse in Nairobi: Swissport has opened a new airside warehouse at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. The facility sets new benchmarks in a number of areas, particularly in the handling and storage of perishable goods that make up 80 percent of Nairobi’s airfreight. The development triples Swissport’s capacity at Africa’s largest air cargo hub. Swissport has been operating in Kenya since 1997 with great success, and currently serves 20 airline customers, handling nearly 4,000 flights a year with a workforce of some 400 personnel.

¦ Swissport Ukraine launches operations in Kharkov: Swissport Ukraine is pleased to announce the launch of its operations in Kharkov, Ukraine’s second largest city with a population of 1.5 million citizens. The growth of

Swissport Ukraine into the east of the country is a first step to expand business to other airports and services within the Ukraine in light of the EURO 2012 and economy picking up. With the awarding of EURO 2012 to Poland and Ukraine, Kharkov International Airport opened on Dec. 1, a modern, 20,000-square-meters terminal with a capacity of 2 million passengers per year and 1,600 passengers per hour. The modern terminal has 18 check-in desks, six gates and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts

¦ AERO Specialties announces aquisition: The manufacturer and distributer of aircraft ground support equipment announced the outright purchase of Australia-based JetGo International. JetGo designed a line of diesel-electric hybrid ground power units. AERO Specialties had previously been the exclusive distributor for JetGo International.

¦ Bliss-Fox selects Allison Transmission for new tractor: Allison Transmission announced that Australian GSE manufacturer Bliss-Fox has selected Allison’s 4500 automatic transmission for its new generation Bliss-Fox F1-500, the pushback tractor that was designed and engineered to handle the higher loads demanded by the arrival of the Airbus A380 at airports around the globe.

¦ BEUMER to supply baggage transport system at Gdansk Airport: The company announced that Hydrobudowa Polska S.A. has decided to use the BEUMER autover® baggage transport system. BEUMER, a manufacturer of intralogistics, will supply and install a rail system with a length of 506 meters, 44 vehicles — the so-called BEUMER autoca® — as well as 20 induction belt conveyors and 12 destinations. The visual display system and the host system (SAC - sort allocation computer) are also part of the scope of supply. A BEUMER service team will supervise and maintain the complete baggage handling system on site over a period of more than five years. The system is scheduled for operation by February 2012.

¦ Menzies awarded handling contract in Cancun: Effective Jan. 16, 2011, AirTran awarded Menzies their ramp handling business in Cancun. Airtran operates up to five flights per day in the peak season, and in a full year operates about 1,250 turns to CUN. This award is on the back of additional business secured from a number of other carriers in recent months, including Volaris and Virgin America, as well as additional flying from a number of existing customers, including United, American and Alaska Airlines.

¦ Lufthansa signs new ground handling contract with Fraport: Fraport AG and Deutsche Lufthansa AG signed a new agreement covering ground handling for all of the airline’s aircraft at its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) global hub over the next eight years. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, the agreement runs until Dec. 31, 2018. Both partners agreed not to disclose any details of the contract volume. Services covered under the contract include the handling of passengers and their baggage, as well as cargo.

¦ ASIG renews deicing agreements with Frontier: ASIG announced that Frontier Airlines has renewed its aircraft deicing agreements with ASIG to provide services at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Indianapolis International (IND), Chicago Midway (MDW) and General Mitchell International (MKE) airports. Frontier has also awarded ASIG two new locations, Bradley International (BDL) and Salt Lake City International (SLC) airports.

¦ Thai Airways extends handling contract with Menzies: The carrier extended the cargo handling contract at BLR & HYD for an additional three years. The existing contract agreement has been extended up to summer 2014.

¦ ASIG secures new contract with US Airways at Heathrow: ASIG announced that it has secured a new agreement with US Airways to provide cabin cleaning services at London Heathrow Airport. In a subcontracted agreement with United Airlines, ASIG will also provide aircraft deicing services to US Airways. ASIG currently serves US Airways at 24 international airports in North America and Europe, providing aircraft refueling and a variety of other ground support services.

¦ INET to provide GSE for Sacramento airport: INET has been selected to provide the 400Hz ground power and pre-conditioned air equipment for the central terminal B expansion project at Sacramento International Airport. This two-phase project, referred to as “the big build,” will initially require 14 solid-state point-of-use units for the first phase, and an additional five units in the second phase. The new equipment will be installed on 19 new passenger boarding bridges being purchased for the gate operations.

¦ ATS announces contract award from British Airways in Toronto: Airport Terminal Services (ATS) announced that British Airways has appointed ATS as their ramp handling agent at Toronto L.B. Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3. The multi-year contract transitioned BA’s full ramp and cabin cleaning services to ATS on Jan. 6, 2011. BA operates two daily widebody flights connecting Toronto to its hub at London Heathrow.

¦ INET to supply GSE to John Wayne Airport: At the recent Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting, approval was given for a contract with INET Airport Systems, of Fullerton, to supply and install new 400Hz and pre-conditioned equipment on 20 passenger boarding bridges at JWA.This new equipment, including potable water cabinets, will be installed on the six new Terminal C gates, plus replacement of the equipment at the 14 existing gates. The new Terminal C project is scheduled to be completed in late 2011.

¦ Menzies announces contract with Alaska Airlines in Seattle: The handler currently provides ramp handling services to Alaska Airlines for about 45,000 turns per annum at Seattle. On March 24, Menzies will take over responsibility for delivery on online and interline baggage transfers, and, effective April 8, it will take over all bag room responsibilities. In total, Menzies will add 118 new staff in Seattle to cover the additional services.

Adriano Di Placido
ServiceTec has announced that Adriano Di Placido has accepted a new role with ServiceTec as manager - business development the Americas, reporting to Lynne Harrison. In addition to enabling the company to have a focus on developing the business in Canada, Adriano will also be responsible for certain U.S. airports. He will also be the company’s main liaison with SITA.

Robert L. Lekites
UPS announced that Robert L. “Bob” Lekites, president of UPS Airlines, is retiring after 36 years of service at the global logistics company. Mitch Nichols, vice president of UPS Air Group operations, has been named to replace Lekites. As president of UPS Airlines, Lekites had responsibility for all aspects of the company’s airline operations as well as Worldport, UPS’s cutting-edge package processing facility and all-points international air hub in Louisville.

Ricardo van Duijkeren
Damco announced the nomination of its new head of airfreight for Europe. Ricardo van Duijkeren took on this role Feb. 1, 2011, and brings more than 30 years of airfreight experience to the European region. In his new position, Ricardo will be responsible for expanding Damco‘s growing airfreight business in the European region.