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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 1263.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT Swissair considers stake in Lt* airport delayed new low-cost Italian carrier SWISSAIR IS IN talks with Italy's new low-cost carrier, No- man, on commercial links which may lead to it taking a share of up to 33% in the airline. Noman, which was formerly known as Fortune Aviation, began scheduled passenger operations on 22 January, offering no-frills ser vices between Rome and Milan's Linate Airport, in competition with flag carrier Alitalia and Air One. At the time of the start-up, Noman's fleet included the two 99-seat ex- Fortune Aviation McDonnell Douglas (MDC) DC-9-15RCs (ra pid convertibles). Load factors had reached 49.2 % by mid-May, with Noman's stated goal being 50%. The airline has recently launched new services from Milan to Olbia in Sardinia, competing with Alitalia and Meridiana. Other destinations are planned, including Catania and Palermo. The airline's planned growth is being hampered by insuf ficient financing for new aircraft and technical operations. The car rier however, is to double its fleet this summer with additional air craft, possibly MDC MD-80s. Swissair representatives have vis ited Noman's headquarters at Ciampino, Rome, with talks so far centring on timetable co-ordina tion, which would enable Swissair to link its international flights with Noman's domestic network. Sour ces at Swissair confirm the airline's interest in a link with Noman, but denies plans for any shareholding. Noman's general manager, Giulio La Starza, says that no pre cise timetable for an agreement with Swissair has yet been reached. He declines to reveal to financial conditions which might be attached to the deal. • Swissair begins A319 operations SWISSAIR HAS PUT THE first Airbus A319 into revenue ser vice. The aircraft, one of eight destined for the Swiss carrier, was handed over on 30 April, to be used initially on services from Zurich to Frankfurt, Munich and Helsinki. World Airlines launches London City services WORLD AIRLINES initiat ed scheduled services be tween London City Airport (LCY) and Amsterdam on 13 May, using a British Aerospace 146-200 leased from USAir. The new UK carrier, which has been formed by music entrepre neur Nick Stolberg, is operating World launched Amsterdam service with 146 some 44 flights a week between the two cities, and is aiming primarily at the business sector. Stolberg made his fortune in the car-rental business, netting some £40 million ($26 million) in 1995 when he sold his shareholding in a company which he set up in the 1980s. He then undertook two pro jects — managing a music band and establishing World Airlines. The carrier is using Southend-based Flight- line's air operator's cer tificate and is initially leasing two 81-seat 146- 200s from USAir. These aircraft were previously stored for several years in the Mojave desert. Mar shall Aerospace has under taken the overhaul work. A second route is to be added this summer from London to Copen hagen, and the airline is also look ing at serving Edinburgh from the Docklands Airport. Services to other major European cities are envisaged over the next two years. Stolberg says that the scheduling plan also provides opportunities to' operate weekend charters. • UK long-haul start-up carrier Europe Elite is understood still to be planning services from London Heathrow to Tashkent, Uzbek istan, and AJmaty, Tadjikistan, using Boeing 757s. Several obsta cles remain to be overcome, how ever, including the fact that British Airways was awarded route licences to serve these points from London, over Europe Elite. • THE PLAN FOR a third inter national airport in the Paris region has run into further trouble following another bout of political infighting over its location. President Chirac's Government has previously said thatthe decision on the location of the airport is a priority, to prepare for the expected saturation at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, early in the next century. Areport, commissioned from ex- transport minister Jacques Douf- fiagues in mid-1995, and released in March, strongly favoured Beau- villiers, in the Eure-et-Loire region some 120km (75 miles) south-west of Paris. According to some, its findings have been virtually ig nored by the Government. The Government has specified that the new airport should be out side the 100km radius of the He de France area surrounding Paris. Several other sites have since emerged as potential favourites, and there is speculation that the Government may even re-open the entire selection process although, under the original schedule, a pre ferred location is expected to be announced within weeks. The process has been confused by the announcement of a public inquiry later this year into relieving the short-term-capacity problem by expanding Charles de Gaulle with two short, parallel, runways to the east, a plan strongly opposed by local residents. The new runways would increase traffic capacity from 84 movements an hour to 120, and are described as "indispensable" by Aeroports de Paris. The Government adds that, if they were built, the need for a new airport would not surface until 2020-2030. • Air Mauritanie order MAURITANIA'S AIRMaur-itanie has placed an order for two ATR 42 s to replace its Fokker F28 Mk 6000. The airline plans to use the aircraft to increase frequencies on its domestic and international network. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22 - 28 May 1996 15
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