NewsWeek airberlin signs up Jettainer


GERMAN ULD (unit load device) supplier Jettainer has


won a contract to manage and maintain airberlin’s container fleet. Jettainer will also replace 750 of the units with modern, lightweight versions on airberlin’s long- haul flights. This will mean a


reduction in the gross weight of the carrier’s A330-300 and A330- 200 aircraft by up to 200kg per flight, lead- ing to a potential reduction in annual fuel consumption of over 30,000 litres. In turn, CO2


sions are expected to be lowered by up to 1.1 tons per aircraft, significantly improv- ing the airline’s carbon footprint. Jettainer managing


Silk Way predicts recovery


AZERBAIJAN-based freighter operator Silk Way West Air- lines has had a difficult time of late, admits Kamran Gazimov, president and CEO of the rebranded carrier. “Compared to the first half


of 2011 we have had a signif- icant fall in volumes, especially in June and July,” he explained. “Cargo flows fell both eastbound and west- bound, although charter flying has become more financially attractive.” The global industry down-


turn has affected Silk Way West’s business, he noted, but Gazimov is forecasting a recov- ery starting from September or October. The carrier will be well prepared for that turnaround, if and when it


comes, he believes, with a fleet of five freighters – three B747- 400Fs and two B767-300Fs. As for the airline’s various


areas of interest: “There is increasing competition in the CIS cargo market, despite the strict aviation authorities’ requirements alongside the liberalisation of commercial rights,” Gazimov pointed out. In terms of the valuable


Western European market: “We hope that the EU zone will soon recover economically and we will see a return to the huge demand of 2010,” he


added. n Wickes Air Services has been appointed station man- ager by Silk Way West at London Stansted International airport.


director Alexander Plümacher remarked: “Being responsible for the global management and maintenance of airberlin’s ULD fleet makes us very proud – last but not least due to the fact that airberlin’s part- ner Etihad Airways has appointed Jettainer to supply, manage and maintain its ULD fleet last year already.” In addition to the environ-


emis-


mental and cost benefits of the deal, Plümacher observed: “Furthermore, both airlines will benefit from logistical syn- ergies at the international hubs in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Abu Dhabi and New York.” airberlin is Frankfurt-based Jettainer’s 14th customer.


Alitalia believes the worst is over


ITALIAN flag-carrier Alitalia has said that despite the cur- rent state of the market and the serious problems it has encountered in recent years, “revenue growth will remain a mission for our group in the next few years”. Andrea Ragnetti, Alitalia’s


CEO, considers: “In the latest quarter we worked hard to counter the crisis and prepare ourselves to speed up the pace of our revenue growth in the


13 August 2012


second half of 2012 and chiefly in 2013. “The worst part of the year


is (over). The second half will (be) better than the first,” Rag- netti added. Certainly one area of the


carrier’s operations that has seen an improvement this year is its cargo business. Revenue from Alitalia’s bellyhold cargo business increased by 6.2 per- cent year-on-year in the first half of 2012.


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