Industry News

Honeywell — and Satcom Direct, an innovator of satellite voice, fax, and Internet data service solutions, enter an agreement to provide flight support and cabin communications services in a turnkey package. Satcom Direct will also handle support and account management of Honeywell’s existing cabin services, including OneLink(TM), OneView, and JetMapII(TM).

iata — Int’l Air Transport Association releases international traffic data for August that confirms a continuing downturn globally. International passenger demand growth slowed to 1.3 percent, following disappointing growth of 1.9 percent in July. Passenger load factors fell to 79.2 percent, a sharp dropoff from the 81 percent recorded during the same period last year as capacity growth outpaced demand. International freight traffic saw its third consecutive month of contraction with a 2.7 percent decline following drops of 1.9 percent in July and 0.8 percent in June.

int’l communications group — of Newport News, VA receives approval from FAA for its in-house Repair Station. ICG employs some 100 people at its 115,000-sq. ft. headquarters facility in Newport News, VA.

Kansas city int’l airport — hosts KCI Cruise Night, drawing some 500 show cars and 200 spectator cars and hundreds of attendees.

MIAmi int’l airport — unveils a new art exhibit, one with a purpose — finding parents for foster children in Miami-Dade County. The Children’s Trust Miami Heart Gallery, spearheaded by The Children’s Trust, is a groundbreaking project that seeks adoptive parents for 48 children through portraits taken by 30 of the world’s top photographers. The exhibit is being hosted by The Division of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs at MIA.

mooney aerospace group, ltd. — of Kerrville, TX names Robert B. Gowens Chief Executive Officer of Mooney Airplane Company. Gowens, the former CEO, president, and vice president/GM of three different manufacturing companies in the recreational marine industry, brings more than 36 years of senior leadership experience to his new role. Dennis E. Ferguson remains the President of Mooney.

nashville int’l airport — begins work on Phase I of its Terminal Access Roadway Improvements (TARI) Project, designed to improve traffic conditions into and out of the main terminal complex.

NWA cargo — as part of the NWA EarthCares program, replaces engines on five of its freighter aircraft with more fuel efficient and higher performance engines, achieving a 5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and saving the airline an estimated 2.4 million gallons of fuel per year and eliminate over 26,000 tons of carbon emissions. NWA Cargo also made a progressive environmental move to purchase 4,200 lightweight cargo/luggage containers (LD3s), driving significant fuel savings of up to 1.3 million gallons of fuel per year.

OAG — Official Airline Guide estimates that the world’s airlines will offer 59.7 million fewer seats in the 4th quarter of 2008 than they did a year ago, a drop in capacity of 7 percent. OAG says the U.S. domestic market will account for just under 20 million of that figure, or 33 percent of the global decline in capacity.

o’hare int’l airport — announces the commissioning of the runway 10/28 extension, the first infrastructure project completed by the O’Hare Modernization Program. Runway was opened 56 days ahead of schedule and under budget. The 3,000-ft. extension brings the runway length to 13,000 feet.

panama city-bay county (FL) int’l airport — launches a new website to help educate the public on the progress of its new $318.5 million airport, set to open in 2010. Features milestones leading up to the groundbreaking of the airport, the first built in the U.S. in the past 13 years, as well as constant photo and video updates on the development of the airport; www.newpcairport.com.

philadelphia int’l airport — names International Shoppes as the first “Merchant of the Year” award recipient under the Philadelphia Marketplace’s EDGE! (Excellence Drives Great Experiences) Program, designed to motivate and reward merchants for providing great customer service to passengers at PHL.