CAPA News Briefs

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) commenced (11-Oct-2019) the operation of Kingston Norman Manley International Airport, effective 10-Oct-2019. GAP was granted a 12 month transition period in Oct-2018, and made a USD7.1 million payment for the concession. The contract includes mandatory works that must be executed during the first 36 months from the initiation of operations, valued at USD60 million. GAP will also pay authorities a concession fee of 62% over total aeronautical and commercial revenues. These terms, along with operating expenses, are included in the determination of passenger fees. [more - original PR]

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Public Investment Fund (PIF) and KGAL GmbH & Co KG announced (14-Oct-2019) the creation of ROAL. Total investment in the new project is expected to exceed USD600 million. The purpose of the project is to invest in modern civilian aircraft to be provided to Russian carriers under long term lease agreements. RDIF CEO Krill Dmitriev said: "We expect the company to take a leading position in the Russian airline market. It will enable Russian carriers to expand their fleets on favorable terms, and, accordingly, increase the number of routes they offer, which will create additional benefits for passengers".  [more - original PR]

Frankfurt Airport reported (14-Oct-2019) the following traffic highlights for Sep-2019:

• Passengers: 6.7 million, +1.3% year-on-year;
  • European traffic: +1.7%;
  • Intercontinental traffic: +2.8%;
• Load factor: 82.8%;
• Cargo: 174,800 tonnes, -5.5%;
• Aircraft movements: 46,713, +1.7%. [more - original PR]

Groupe ADP reported (14-Oct-2019) the following traffic highlights at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Sep-2019:

• Passengers: 6.8 million, +4.8% year-on-year;
• Aircraft movements: 44,376, +4.0%. [more - original PR]

CAAC reported (14-Oct-2019) the following traffic highlights for Chinese airlines:

• Sep-2019:
  • Passengers: 54.8 million, +8.9% year-on-year;
    • Domestic: 48.7 million, +7.6%;
    • International: 6.1 million, +20.5%;
  • Cargo: 690,000 tonnes, +4.1%;
    • Domestic: 482,000 tonnes, +5.4%;
    • International: 208,000 tonnes, +1.2%;
• Nine months ended Sep-2019:
  • Passengers: 500 million, +8.7%;
  • Cargo: 5.4 million tonnes, +0.5%. [more - original PR - Chinese]

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, via its official Twitter account, announced (13-Oct-2019) Brazil's Secretariat of Civil Aviation has 17 airports ready to be open for concession, including:

• Goiania Santa Genoveva Airport;
• Sao Luis Marechal Cunha Machado Airport;
• Cruzeiro do Sul Airport;
• Tabatinga Airport;
• Tefé Airport;
• Sao Mateus Airport;
• Imperatriz Airport;
• Corumba International Airport;
• Altamira Airport;
• Santarem Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport;
• Petrolina Senador Nilo Coelho Airport;
• Teresina Senador Petronio Portella Airport;
• Parnaíba João Silva Filho Airport.

Transavia appointed (14-Oct-2019) Marcel de Nooijer as CEO, commencing 01-Jan-2020. Mr de Nooijer currently serves as Air France-KLM Cargo EVP and Martinair MD. He succeeds Mattijs ten Brink in the role, following Mr ten Brink's departure on 30-Sep-2019. [more - original PR]

Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism signed (14-Oct-2019) an MoU with the Commission on Tourism and National Heritage of Saudi Arabia for cooperation and joint initiatives in the field of tourism. Federal Agency for Tourism stated removing visa restrictions is an urgent issue on the bilateral agenda as is discussing the possibility of a visa free regime between both countries and direct air service between Russia and Saudi Arabia. [more - original PR]

John Menzies announced (14-Oct-2019) plans to appoint Alvaro Gomez-Reino as CFO, effective 01-Dec-2019. Mr Gomez-Reino was previously CFO at Swissport. The company also confirmed the creation of a new executive management board made up of the following members: 

• Philipp Joeinig;
• Giles Wilson;
• John Geddes;
• Claire Hall;
• Mervyn Walker. [more - original PR]

Air Austral and Airbus confirmed (14-Oct-2019) the airline became the first A220 customer in the Indian Ocean region with a firm order for three A220-300 aircraft. The 132 seat aircraft will be delivered from late 2020. Air Austral CEO Marie-Joseph Malé said the order forms part of the airline's short and medium haul fleet renewal. Mr Malé commented: "The economic and operational performance of the A220 opens new possibilities for the development of our regional network". [more - original PR]

Sabre announced (14-Oct-2019) Vietnam Airlines is the first carrier in Asia Pacific to leverage its loyalty redemption solution, Sabre Dynamic Rewards. [more - original PR]

Air China reported (14-Oct-2019) the following traffic highlights for Sep-2019:

• Passengers: 9.4 million, +5.1% year-on-year;
  • Domestic: 7.7 million, +5.2%;
  • International: 1.4 million, +10.1%;
  • Regional: 353,500, -12.3%;
• Passenger load factor: 80.6%, +0.1ppt;
  • Domestic: 81.8%, -0.7ppt;
  • International: 79.7%, +2.1ppts;
  • Regional: 68.6%, -10.3ppts;
• Cargo: 123,528 tonnes, -5.4%;
  • Domestic: 86,724 tonnes, -2.9%;
  • International: 34,122 tonnes, -6.6%;
  • Regional: 2683 tonnes, -42.8%;
• Cargo load factor: 44.7%, -4.2ppts;
  • Domestic: 41.3%, -4.2ppts;
  • International: 47.5%, -3.7ppts;
  • Regional: 25.3%, -13.0ppts. [more - original PR]