Aviation
IATA: H1N1 Scare Caused Traffic Drop
FROM: AVIATIONWEEK.COM
The H1N1 flu scare reduced passenger traffic on international routes by 1% in May, although its effect on traffic was far higher in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Factoring in other influences, international traffic was down 9.3% year-on-year in May, IATA said. The May data is the first to show the results of the H1N1 scare.
Mexican carriers saw their international traffic drop 40% in May, with the flu effect contributing to this. Latin American airlines recorded a 9.2% traffic fall on a 0.2% capacity rise, resulting in load factor dropping to 64.7% -- the lowest loads for any region.
Globally, IATA says the May numbers provide further proof that the slump in demand for international flights is bottoming out. The May decline was actually greater than the 3.1% year-on-year drop seen in April, although both months were an improvement on the 11.1% reduction in March. For May, passenger capacity was cut by 5%. The fall in international revenues - 30% - was much steeper than the drop in either load factor or demand.
In other regions, Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 14.3% fall in international traffic, versus a 9.3% capacity reduction. North American carriers experienced a 10.9% year-on-year demand decline - significantly worse than the 4.2% fall in April. Capacity was down 6.6%. European network airlines reported a 9.4% traffic drop versus a 6.5% capacity cut. Middle Eastern airlines were the only ones to buck the slump, with traffic growing 9.5% and capacity climbing 14.5%.
Click this link for full story:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/FLU062409.xml&headline=IATA: H1N1 Scare Caused Traffic Drop
SkyEurope Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
FROM: AVIATIONWEEK.COM
After several months of trying to secure its financial future, Slovakian carrier SkyEurope has been unable to close a deal in time and has sought bankruptcy protection to reorganize.
The airline says its debt level has been one of the main obstacles to finding a major investor. The airline has now named London-based Reynolds Partners as investment bankers to help it secure outside capital.
Airline CFO Nick Manoudakis said, "With this reorganization, we are confident that we can secure further investment that will support our business plan and future growth."
The airline says it will maintain operations during the current period.
The Bratislava I District Court granted the creditor protection application. Airline CEO Jason Bitter said, "We will be able to operate without any disruption while we implement our reorganization." The airline says previous reorganization steps are already showing results, with per passenger revenue and load factors on the rise.
Click this link for full story:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/SKY062409.xml&headline=SkyEurope Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Israeli Airliners to Get Missile Defense
FROM: AVIATIONWEEK.COM
Israeli airliners are to be equipped with laser anti-missile defenses, after the Ministry of Transportation awarded Elbit Systems a $76 million contract to supply C-Music directed infrared countermeasures (Dircm) systems.
A countermeasures system dispensing decoy flares was fitted on commercial Israeli airliners following the attempt to shoot down an Arkia Boeing 757 at Mombasa, Kenya, in 2002 (DAILY, Dec. 16, 2002). The laser system, which jams infrared seekers, is more effective against newer surface-to-air missiles.
The U.S. has tested commercial Dircm units from BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman in revenue service on airliners flown by American Airlines and FedEx Express, but the departments of Defense and Homeland Security so far see no need to equip U.S. commercial aircraft, even those carrying cargo and personnel into Iraq and Afghanistan.
C-Music is a commercial derivative of Elbit subsidiary El-Op’s Music system, developed to protect military helicopters from missile attack. The system comprises a missile warning sensor, a thermal camera to acquire and track the target, and a fiber laser that generates the jamming beam.
Click this link for full story:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/ISRAEL062609.xml&headline=Israeli Airliners To Get Missile Defense