Calendar
March 13-14
AviationPros LIVE
Las Vegas, NV
April 16-18
Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition
Shanghai, China
April 24-26
GSE Buyers Conference
Lisbon, Portugal
Business Buzz
Swissport May Leave SOF: Swissport has threatened to withdraw from Bulgaria’s Sofia Airport after it filed two complaints claiming unfair competition and volatile business environment at the airport.
ASIG Wins Spirit Award: ASIG was named Ground Handling Business Partner of the Year by Spirit Airlines. ASIG provides a variety of airside services to more than 15,000 Spirit Airlines flights at 11 U.S. airports.
Signature To Build FBO At LTN: Signature Flight Support will begin constructing a new, state-of-the-art FBO to replace its existing facility at London Luton Airport.
Menzies Closes ORD Station: John Menzies will take a $29 million hit on profits in restructuring work at both its periodical distriution and aviation units. It also said its aviation unit would close loss-making cargo-handling operations in Chicago, having looked at alternative options for two years.
Upswing For Cargo Amid Cautious Demand: IATA released traffic results for November 2012 which showed an improvement in both passenger and air freight demand. Air travel was 4.6 percent higher compared to November 2011, up on the October result of 2.9 percent. Air freight volumes edged up 1.6 percent over the same period after declining 2.6 percent in October, year to year. Passenger capacity rose 3.2 percent and load factor improved one percentage point to 77.3 percent compared to the year-ago period.
IPO For Saudi Handler: Saudi Ground Services, the ground handling unit of national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, has hired HSBC for advice on a planned initial public offer.
OSHA Renews Alliance With GSE Safety Panel: OSHA renewed its alliance with the Airline Ground Safety Panel to address hazards and worker injuries related to operating aviation ground support equipment. The Airline Ground Safety Panel is a joint industry and labor partnership that consists of 11 airline companies and three unions that employ and represent 350,000 workers, which accounts for about 85 percent of the industry.
New Deals
Swissport Extends Service To Thomson: Swissport UK announced an extended partnership with Thomson Airways that includes retaining existing operations within London Gatwick, London Stansted and Newcastle airport as well new business at Manchester Airport.
Aviator Wins New Business With SunExpress: Aviator was awarded a new handling contract with SunExpress for all its locations in Norway as well as Malmo Airport and Lulea Airport in Sweden.
Servisair To Deice JetBlue: Servisair was awarded two deicing contracts for JetBlue at Boston Logan International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Also, Virgin Atlantic has awarded Servisair contracts Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Manchester airports. Finally, Canadian airline Air Transat has selected Servisair as its partner to provide ground handling services for operations at London Gatwick Airport.
Cavotec Announces Contracts At HAN, CAI: Cavotec has won three contracts to install aircraft fuel and electrical supply ground support equipment at two separate applications at Hong Kong International Airport. The company also announced orders for integrated GSE equipment at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and Cairo International Airport.
B GSE To Supply AFB: B GSE Group, LLC will supply USS Inc. 400 Hz hatch pits to the Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM. The base has ordered a second hangar for the C 130. B GSE Group has an exclusive partnership with the Churubusco, IN-based manufacturer.
MoU A First For danata: Myanmar Airways International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with dnata to offer joint ground handling services in Myanmar’s airports, the first time that the state-run carrier has ever partnered with a foreign company for such ramp services.
New Rep For Malabar: Malabar International signed an agreement with Aerospace GSE Ltd to represent it for sales and service of Malabar products in Western Europe.
People
Jasper Engines & Transmissions announced the following changes to its leadership: John Schroeder was named vice president of drivetrain manufacturing. Joe Haug was named manager of the transmission division at the Crawford County facility. Mark Balsmeyer was named director of the Jasper Production System. JPS is a combination of JASPER’s workforce, and the processes and systems that guide the company’s remanufacturing procedures.
BBA Aviation Flight Support promoted Maria Sastre to the position of president and chief operating officer for Signature Flight Support Corp. In her new role, Sastre is responsible for the daily operations of Signature’s worldwide network of FBOs and maintenance centers. Also, Signature Flight Support promoted Geoff Heck to the position of a senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Patrick Lester joined B GSE Group, LLC as the east coast military sales executive and service pit sales expert responsible for sales, project management and after-market support. Previously, Lester worked at a military OEM manufacture where he supported military sales and special project sourcing initiatives for seven years.
Mary Hester was named managing director of station operations for Horizon Air, where she will be responsible for airport and customer service operations in 31 cities spanning California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washingon, Canada and Mexico.
