Good Week

Nur Astana Mosque 
 © Sipa Press/Rex Features
KAZAKHSTAN The government in Astana is to guarantee finance for carriers leasing regional aircraft to serve domestic routes, as it sees civil aviation as the sole means of linking many cities and regions in the vast nation. Seven carriers serving 40 routes are being urged to phase out ageing Antonov An-24s, Yakovlev Yak-40s and Yak-42s. Transport minister Serik Akhmetov says: "We suggest they acquire modern regional aircraft through financial leasing schemes."

 

Bad Week

Icelandair
 © Boeing
ICELANDAIR Economic meltdown at home pushed the carrier to a fourth quarter loss of IcKr10.6 billion ($93.8 million) - it was down a mere IcKr800 million last time - and a full-year loss of IcKr7.5 billion (2007 profit: IcKr300 million). Chief executive Bjorgolfur Johannsson deserves a prize for understatement: "The events that transpired in Iceland in October and their consequences drastically altered the operating conditions of the quarter."

 

 

Source: Flight International

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