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AIR Partner has expanded into Turkey and Hong Kong as part of its on-going geographical growth plans to enter new and emerging markets. The new ventures began trading last month (January) with a focus on developing the company's freight charter business to meet the needs of a client base, which continues to grow, despite the recession.

IN December 2009, the ACI PaxFlash and FreightFlash traffic reports show a surge in traffic worldwide. Global airport passenger traffic rose by 5.3 per cent relative to December 2008. Both international passenger traffic (up by 5.6 per cent) and domestic traffic (up by 5.2 per cent) were boosted by strong performance across Asia Pacific (+15.7 per cent international; +14 per cent domestic). All regions saw increases, except for North America, which remained flat.

FOLLOWING its acquisition of an ex-Air France B747-400ERF in late 2009, AirBridgeCargo is looking to rapidly expand its fleet further by leasing the two ex-Cargo B Boeing 747-400Fs from Nippon Cargo Airlines, according to a source within the Japanese carrier.

BOGOTA airport is handing over its cargo infrastructure to US-based cargo facility developer Lynxs Group to manage and operate it. The US-based private developer, which formed a 50:50 joint venture with GECAS three years ago, is taking over infrastructure and land valued at $125 million - $135 million, which makes it one of the largest cargo infrastructure projects on the planet.

DRAMATIC year-on-year growth in December helped Frankfurt to achieve its second best day ever for freight on 13 December ¨C a sign that the air cargo market might truly be on the mend.

A NEW B777 passenger service from Singapore Airlines and the start of Il-96 freighter services by Polet, will be key sources of growth for Munich Airport in the months ahead, making up for the loss of B747F services from Cathay Pacific and Korean Air in the downturn.

REALISING its results for the quarter ended 31 December, management of Nippon Cargo Airlines parent NYK, felt compelled to add a statement that negotiations with Japan Airlines about a merger of NCA with JAL Cargo had not come to a conclusion but were still going on.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it remained concerned about the threat of excess air freight capacity and weaknesses in the global economy, despite a return to profit in the quarter ending 31 December.

Lufthansa Cargo (LC) has teamed up with security technology provider Smiths Detection and US security specialist Covenant Aviation Security to provide "an all-in-one, TSA-approved security solution for the freight forwarding, air cargo shipping and logistics industry in the US".

Security loopholes governing cargo on passenger planes won't be plugged for two years, leaving some shippers meeting stricter regulations than others, according to a shipper website.

Aircraft maker Airbus said that Hong Kong Airlines has signed an order for six A330-200 aircraft, increasing the number of A330 aircraft ordered by the carrier to 23, Dow Jones reported.

Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) yesterday reported a 42 percent jump in third-quarter net profit to US$37.6 million, the Straits Times reported.

With its wet-lease of four B747-200Fs due to expire this month, Malaysia Airlines Cargo (Maskargo) is reviewing its freighter fleet and talking with suppliers about purchase options.

Boeing has said that it will be very difficult for its delayed 747-8 jumbo jet to make a profit, Dow Jones reported.

Airbus is seeing a pickup in the global air traffic market, but does not expect a spike in aircraft orders or deliveries any time soon, the Straits Times reported.

Airbus does not expect plane orders to pick up for two more years, its chief executive said, Reuters reported.

Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo) expects its cargo charter business to improve by a tenth this year, raking in around US$14.6 million in revenue as it moves more livestock, race cars and oil and gas items, Business Times reported.

The partners said they will "provide both large and small freight forwarders and shippers with an array of air cargo solutions",including ground handling, security screening and equipment, warehousing, training and transportation.

Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) is considering a small capacity increase this year, which it may add to if faced with stronger demand, Reuters reported.

Russia's government approved the merger of the country's largest international airline, Aeroflot, with six domestic carriers that the state recently rescued from bankruptcy, Dow Jones reported.