Business Buzz
¦ ASIG announced that four of its aviation fuel services operations, based in the United Kingdom, are recipients of Shell Aviation’s top health, safety, security & environmental award, Goal Zero. ASIG provides aviation fuel services on behalf of Shell Aviation to their airline customers at these airports. Under the award scheme, ASIG’s aircraft refueling operation at Birmingham International Airport achieved bronze status. Refueling operations at Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport both received silver. At London Luton Airport, ASIG achieved gold status for both its refueling and fuel facility management and operations units. The Goal Zero award scheme recognizes proactive management and practices as well as being a top performer. Criteria include compliance, training and achievement of zero spills, accidents and injuries.
¦ Palmer Johnson Power Systems announced it has been selected as an Mpower ChaMpion for 2010, a Madison, Wisconsin, initiative that systematically ensures businesses go green effectively and efficiently. Mpower Business ChaMpions participate in the program to amplify their actions and results in sustainability and energy efficiency. One of the many aspects of the program is assistance in efficiently connecting businesses with a wealth of resources, including: Focus on Energy, Rideshare etc, EnAct, Energy Star Portfolio Manager, Madison Metro, and others.
¦ Swissport International announced it expects to incur losses of up to CHF 15 million (EUR 10 million) as a result of the recent disruptions. Although flight restrictions have now been lifted, disruption and cancellations will continue for a number of days as airlines reconstruct scheduled services.
¦ Servisair announced that through a highly competitive bid process, it has been awarded a multi-year ramp handling contract for Lufthansa Airlines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston. Servisair started the new services on April 1, 2010, providing Lufthansa the services for its daily Boeing 747-400 service to Frankfurt.
Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts
¦ Singapore Airport Terminal Services and Air India signed an agreement to form a single 50:50 joint venture company that would serve as the vehicle to house their three existing ground and cargo handling JVs in Bangalore and Hyderabad. To be named Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS), the JV company is in the process of being incorporated in Delhi. The incorporation of AISATS, which is expected to be completed next month, will provide a legal entity to house the existing operations in Bangalore and Hyderabad and potential operations in other metro airports. Air India and SATS will each nominate three representatives as boardmembers of AISATS.
¦ Menzies announced it has won the passenger, ramp and cargo warehousing contract for Emirates new operation at Prague airport. Emirates will operate daily with an Airbus A330-200 starting from July 1.
¦ Cavotec has reported its first airports order in Argentina with a deal to supply a range of advanced fueling hydrants and related material for Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. One of Cavotec’s three airport units, Cavotec Dabico, in conjunction with partners, Aviation Fueling Consulting Corp, will supply 25 fuel hydrant pits and four low-point drain assemblies to Ezeiza International Airport.
¦ Ship it AOG, the rapidly emerging premier aircraft parts distributor, has been named the factory-authorized South-Central USA distributor of LEKTRO electric towbarless aircraft tugs.
¦ ASIG announced that Los Angeles World Airports has awarded ASIG the contract to provide equipment maintenance and operation services for Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport. ASIG is providing around-the-clock staffing to provide preventive and routine maintenance for Terminal 3’s passenger loading bridges and baggage handling system including inbound and outbound carousels, and for additional equipment such as fire doors, cooling systems and generators.
¦ Singapore Airport Terminal Services Limited announced that it has been granted a technical ramp license at Changi Airport by Changi AirportGroup. This licence will enable SATS to expand its comprehensive suite of ground handling services to include technical ramp services starting from May 1. The scope of technical ramp services will encompass the receiving and dispatching of aircraft which covers marshalling and parking, aircraft pushback/towing, aircraft exterior cleaning as well as the provision of ground power and cooling units.
¦ At the EBACE show in May, AERO Specialties will announce Unitron’s newest CE-marked ground power products. Items to be introduced include the latest advancement in solid-state 200/115 VAC, 400hz and 28 VDC GPUs. Unitron GPUs are designed to operate from a European 400/230V 50 Hz utility bus and will meet all applicable CE Mark requirements. The 28 VDC GPUs, designated as the “UDC Series” provide 400 or 600 Amps continuous regulated voltage with aircraft starting capabilities of 1000 & 2000 Amps respectively. The 400 Hz GPUs, designated as the “UFC Series” are available in 20, 30 and 40 KVA ratings, including optional overload ratings up to 600 percent.
¦ Menzies announced that the company and its JV partners have commenced full ground handling services (passenger, operations and ramp ) to United Airlines under a code share agreement with Aer Lingus at Madrid Barajas Airport T1. UA and EI are operating jointly scheduled daily flights from Washington Dulles to Madrid Barajas Airport. The flights are operated by Aer Lingus aircraft A330-200.
¦ Swissport International announced that its Europe/Africa ground handling division has concluded a number of major commercial agreements recently in Spain, France, Bulgaria, Algeria and Tanzania. Swissport has gained further market share over the past few weeks and days, securing new airline business that should add more than 5,000 more flights to its annual handling volume. The new customers won include Turkish Airlines and United Airlines in Madrid, Vueling and Strategic Air at Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Austrian Airlines in Sofia, Air Berlin and TAP Portugal in Algiers and Oman Air in Dar es Salaam.
¦ Cavotec MSL has received a landmark order to install 53 advanced fuel hydrant systems and related material at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) as part of the airport’s modernization program. Cavotec is to supply 44 hydrant pits, including Cavotec Dabico Cla-Val hydrant valves, and nine DAB-24 pits for low point drains and high point vents. Deliveries are due for completion in early August.
People in the News
¦ The National Air Transportation Association appointed Daniel B. Gurley, III as the director of membership and business development. Prior to joining NATA, Gurley was the director of membership and meetings for the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. There, he was responsible for membership recruitment/retention, affinity programs and meeting production.
¦ Swissport International has appointed Markus Milesi as its new Customer Relationship Manager within its global Cargo Services team. His appointment is effective July 1. He comes to Swissport from Swiss WorldCargo, where he is currently serving as a category manager within the cargo procurement division. In Swissport’s Cargo Services team, Markus Milesi will be putting a particular focus on global customer contacts, to which he will be able to devote his extensive product expertise on commercial, operational and technical issues.
¦ The National Air Transportation Association elected three new members to its board of directors at its annual membership meeting. The new members are Bob Marinace, president and chief executive officer, Key Air, Alfred G. Peterson, airport manager, Nantucket Memorial Airport, and Jim Sweeney, president, Fargo Jet Center.
