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Cargolux’s board adopts a new business plan

Cargolux Airlines International‘s (Luxembourg) board of directors, minus Qatar Airways, has adopted a new business plan. The company issued the following statement:

The Board of Directors of Cargolux Airlines International S.A. has approved the airline’s business plan for the period from 2013 to 2017. The plan is designed to achieve profitable growth, enhance shareholder value and ensure the long-term sustainability of Cargolux. In the same context, the Board of Directors further resolved to request the shareholders of Cargolux to commit additional liquidity to the airline, with a first tranche of $100 million (US) requested for the first quarter of 2013 in the form of a convertible loan. Both decisions enhance the government’s position in the ongoing discussions with potential new shareholders.

‘This is an important milestone for Cargolux in securing its sustainability. Going forward, all stakeholders will need to contribute their part to ensure this plan’s success. I am confident in the leadership team’s ability to execute it together with the airline’s highly skilled and dedicated employees,’ said Paul Helminger, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Commenting on the business plan, Richard Forson, Interim President and CEO, said: ‘We have a clear vision for the future which is founded on the strengths of the Cargolux business model. By continuing to put customers first while further improving our flexibility and resilience, this business plan will help us meet the challenges ahead and ensure that Cargolux remains a relevant player in the long run’.

The business plan optimizes and builds on the proven Cargolux business model with the aim to:

– retain the single fleet philosophy and leverage the improved efficiency of the Boeing 747-8 freighter
– pursue profitable, moderate fleet growth and optimize daily fleet utilization
– achieve permanent efficiency gains and increased levels of flexibility in terms of cost and capacity; involving a range of measures including amendments to the Collective Work Agreement
– enhance growth and cost competitiveness and return to profitability in 2014

The 2013-2017 business plan is the result of an extensive evaluation by management of the airline’s business model, fleet structure, route network, customer base and future growth opportunities and takes account of different air freight market scenarios and macroeconomic developments.

Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom. Boeing 747-8R7F LX-VCD (msn 35809) taxies to the runway at New York’s JFK International Airport.

Cargolux Airlines International:

Cargolux and Qatar Airways to go their separate ways

Cargolux Airlines International‘s (Luxembourg) and Qatar Airways‘ (Doha) officials met yesterday to discuss a new strategy and direction for the cargo airline. The two parties could not agree on the future direction of the company according to this report by Reuters. As a result, Qatar will sell its 35 percent share in Cargolux.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. Cargolux’s Boeing 747-8R7F LX-VCD (msn 35809) climbs powerfully away from the runway at Miami International Airport.

Cargolux:

Qatar Airways:

Lufthansa suffers through another strike day, Chicago O’Hare to be the next Boeing 747-8 city

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) today is suffering through another 24-hour strike by its flight attendants. The company issued the following statement:

“The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) has announced a nationwide 24-hour strike action for Friday, 7. September 2012.

Lufthansa has prepared a list with cancelled flights. Our goal is to provide as much certainty as is possible for our passengers.

Lufthansa sincerely regrets that the labor dispute is being waged at the expense of its customers. Lufthansa will do its utmost best to minimize the impacts on its customers.

The call to strike action forces Lufthansa to cancel a majority of flights. Unscheduled cancellations and delays of Lufthansa flights must be anticipated. Flights of Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings and Swiss as well as LH codeshare flights will not be affected. However, at this stage, Lufthansa cannot say for sure what exact impact the strike action will have.

Even after the end of the strike, Lufthansa foresees irregularities in flight operations on the weekend.”

However the two warring sides are now showing signs they may want to settle their on-going dispute. Both sides are now welcoming a mediation as a possible way to resolve the issues.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. Boeing 747-830 D-ABYA (msn 37827) lands at Hamburg. The airline is planning to make Chicago (O’Hare) its third Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental destination after Washington (Dulles) and Bangalore.

Lufthansa:

Lufthansa to fly the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental to Bangalore starting on September 13

Lufthansa‘s (Frankfurt) passengers can now book flights to the latest Boeing 747-8 destination. Tickets for flights on the Frankfurt-Bangalore route with the Lufthansa flagship are now on sale. From September 13, the “Queen of the Skies” will depart daily from Frankfurt for Bangalore at 12.15 hours, operating under flight number LH 754. The scheduled arrival time in the Indian metropolis is 0.30 hours local time. Two hours later, LH 755 will return to its home base in Frankfurt, landing at 08.25 hours.

Lufthansa will soon take delivery of its third Boeing 747-8 and add the final touches to the aircraft, which will bear the registration of D-ABYD. As soon as it is ready to enter into service, it will be deployed on the route to Bangalore – the third Lufthansa destination to be served by the new jumbo jet. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental currently flies to Washington (Dulles) and Delhi.

On board, Lufthansa passengers can enjoy the new Business Class, which includes a seat that can be converted at the press of a button into a horizontal sleeping surface measuring 1.98 metres in length. The new seat offers exceptional comfort for passengers in a sitting or recumbent position, intuitive adjustment features, additional storage space and enhanced entertainment system.

The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is a completely new aircraft that builds upon the positive features of the Boeing 747 series, Lufthansa’s long-haul workhorse for more than 40 years. The aircraft’s wings have significantly improved aerodynamics and newly developed wingtips. The aircraft also provides tangible improvements in terms of eco-efficiency. The GEnx-2B engines consume less fuel and achieve a 15 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions per passenger. In addition, noise emissions have been reduced by 30 per cent.

In 2012, Lufthansa expects to take delivery of a further Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, which is scheduled to operate flights to Los Angeles. To date, Lufthansa has ordered a total of 20 Boeing 747-8 aircraft.

Lufthansa Slide Show:

Lufthansa’s cabin crews delay their strike plans

Lufthansa‘s (Frankfurt) 10,000 cabin staff (flight attendants) have rejected the latest contract proposal. The union will decide next week whether they will strike according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Brand new Boeing 747-830 D-ABYA (msn 37827) climbs majestically away from Dulles International Airport near Washington.

Lufthansa:

Nippon Cargo takes delivery of its first new Boeing 747-8F Freighter

Nippon Cargo Airlines-NCA (Tokyo-Narita) has taken delivery of its first new Boeing 747-8F Freighter, marking the Japanese debut for the 747-8F. The new airplane is NCA’s first 747-8F Freighter on order with Boeing.

The airline currently operates eight 747-400F Freighters with two 747-400F Freighters on lease with other airlines.

The environmentally focused Nippon Cargo Airlines will also undertake its first biofuel flight with this milestone 747-8F Freighter delivery. The new airplane will become the first 747-8F to use a blend of environmentally progressive biofuels (jet kerosene and used cooking oil) to fly across the Pacific Ocean.

Nippon Cargo Airlines, one of the launch customers for the 747-8F Freighter in 2005 and also part of a team that helped develop the aircraft, plans to begin revenue service with its new 747-8 Freighter by mid-August on Asia and North American routes.

The 747-8F Freighter will provide double-digit improvements in fuel burn, operating costs and lower emissions over the 747-400F Freighter. The 747-8F Freighter also provides 16 percent more revenue-generating cargo volume and boasts a significantly improved environmental performance. Per tonne-kilometer, its carbon dioxide emissions are 16 percent lower than those of the 747-400F Freighter. It also reduced its noise footprint by more than 30 percent.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. As previously reported, the pictured Boeing 747-8KZF JA13KZ (msn 36138) departing from Paine Field near Everett is also ushering in a new livery for Nippon Cargo.

NCA:

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Atlas Air takes delivery of the second new Boeing 747-800F Freighter for Panalpina

Atlas Air (New York) has taken delivery of a fifth Boeing 747-8F Freighter.

The pictured 747-87UF N851GT (msn 37565) departing from Everett (Paine Field) is the second aircraft of the type to be placed into service for Panalpina under a previously announced multi-year aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) outsourcing contract.

The newest freighter will offer Panalpina, a Swiss-based global freight forwarding and logistics services provider, additional next-generation performance in payload, fuel efficiency, total cost per tonne-mile, and environmental compliance.

Atlas Air expects to receive two additional 747-8Fs in 2012 and two in the first half of 2013 for a total of nine. As previously announced, Atlas has received a commitment from Apple Bank for Savings to finance the remaining deliveries, subject to customary conditions.

The acquisition of this latest 747-8F was financed in part with proceeds from a term loan and was subsequently refinanced by the issuance of $142.7 million of 12-year, secured bonds. These bonds, which are guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, have been priced at 1.73% and are scheduled to close on July 31, 2012. BNP Paribas and KGS Alpha Capital Markets are acting as joint lead bookrunners.

Atlas Air:

Nippon Cargo Airlines introduces a new livery with the new Boeing 747-800 freighters

Nippon Cargo Airlines-NCA (Tokyo-Narita) has introduced this new livery with the first new Boeing 747-800 freighters. The cargo airline has 15 copies on order.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Boeing 747-8KZF JA13KZ (msn 36138) climbs gracefully into the sunny skies at Paine Field near Everett, Washington.

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Nippon Cargo Airlines-NCA:

Panalpina sells its 12% share of Luxair

Panalpina (Basel) has sold its 12.09 percent share of Luxair-Luxembourg Airlines (Luxembourg). The government of Luxembourg purchased the shares in June according to this report by Handelszeitung.

Read the full report (in German): CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Royal S. King. Swiss freight forwarder Panalpina has a close relationship with Atlas Air. Atlas Air operates this new Boeing 747-87UF N851GT for Panalpina.

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