Ansett's administrator has sold the Ansett International Cargo Handling business of the defunct carrier to Australian transport and logistics group Patrick Corp, which recently purchased 50% of low-cost carrier Virgin Blue. Completion of the deal, details of which have not been disclosed, is expected in late May. Lufthansa Technik has completed its takeover of California maintenance specialist Hawker Pacific Aerospace, buying the remainder of the company for $9 million. It already held 76% after converting $9.8 million in Hawker debt into equity. The move gives Lufthansa Technik a 20% share of the world airliner landing gear maintenance market. Alitalia has sold its Sigma travel distribution subsidiary to travel and hospitality specialist Cendant for €105 million ($93 million). The sell-off is the latest in the Italian flag carrier's programme of disposing of non-core assets. The UK Department of Trade and Industry has cleared the MBDA missile joint venture between BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica. Alenia's take-over of BAE's Combat and Radar Systems division was also approved. Air Methods has signed a letter of intent to acquire an unidentified major US air medical service provider, and expects the deal to close in the third quarter. Denver-based Air Methods is already one of the largest US providers of emergency aeromedical transport through its Air Medical Services division and Mercy Air subsidiary. Kaman is selling its microwave products line to aerospace supplier Meggitt for an undisclosed sum. The microwave products will move to Meggitt's Simi Valley, California, subsidiary, Meggitt Safety Systems, which manufactures microwave cables and fluid control devices. Local press reports indicate that the Japanese Fair Trade Commission is likely to approve the merger between Japan Airlines (JAL) and Japan Air System. A previous merger bid was refused on competition grounds.
Source: Flight International
