With confidence on a high, the leading German airline resumes operations in the Libyan capital with up to three times weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tripoli ; Future plans to increase capacity; Airport staff and town office are back in full swing to serve inbound and outbound passengers

After almost a year, Lufthansa German Airlines will return to Libya on February 2nd as it resumes up to three times weekly flights between Germany and Libya. Based on expected escalating demand, Lufthansa will eventually increase capacity in the future.

Lufthansa airport staff and town office in Tripoli are now back in force to provide service and assistance to both inbound and outbound passengers.

Lufthansa flights will be operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class cabin configuration, featuring Lufthansa’s Business and Economy class.

Lufthansa German Airlines wings back to Tripoli is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

LAN Colombia launched service today between Miami International Airport and Bogota, Colombia. The airline will operate four flights per week onboard modern Boeing Airbus A320 aircraft with connections to 22 destinations in Colombia including Cartagena, Medellin, Cali, Pereira, and Monteria.

“LAN Airlines and its affiliates are committed to growth, while providing passengers an increased number of connections within South America,” said Pablo Chiozza, Vice President, North America and Caribbean, LAN Airlines. “Colombia represents the second largest passenger market in the region, and is the fourth largest economy in Latin America. We are delighted that our affiliate, LAN Colombia, is expanding its service in this fast-growing market and excited by the opportunities LAN Colombia represents for travelers and businesses in the U.S. and in Colombia.”

LAN Colombia is currently the second largest airline in Colombia with 23% market share and an unparalleled network of domestic destinations in the country.

LAN Colombia Launches Miami-Bogota Service is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

“The agreement with BP is great news for Panalpina. We’ve gone through tough times in Oil and Gas in the past years,” said Panalpina CEO Monika Ribar. “Today we are stronger than ever before in that area of expertise. We are best-in-class when it comes to compliance and standards for Health, Safety, Security and Environment. And more importantly, we have the experience, the capability and the capacity to execute and deliver for our Oil and Gas customers.”

Upstream business under one single contract

The agreement unites Operations and Freight Management Services for upstream capital projects under a single contract. The upstream sector is known as the exploration and production (E&P) sector. It involves the searching for potential underground or underwater oil and gas fields, drilling of exploratory wells, and subsequently operating the wells that recover and bring the crude oil or raw natural gas to the surface.

Panalpina is awarded global E&P contract with BP is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

Scandinavian Airlines has officially been named Europe’s most punctual airline, for the third year in a row, by the independent source Flightstats. SAS was also
the world’s third most punctual airline after Japanese airlines ANA and JAL. For 2011, 88.22% of all SAS flights arrived on time.

“We are very pleased to once again be named Europe’s most punctual airline and remain Europe’s most reliable airline for the third year in a row. All our
employees, both on the ground and in the air, do their utmost every day to ensure that every flight meet our customers’ expectations and offer them the
most value for time and money. To also be the world’s third most punctual major airline really confirms that we are a world-class airline,” says Rickard
Gustafson, CEO, Scandinavian Airlines.

Out of SAS’ 239,320 flights in 2011, 208,972 arrived on time. The arrival statistics for 2011 is also an improvement of 2010′s punctuality of 86.47%. In
2009, SAS’ punctuality record was 89.83% and in 2008 it was 83.92%.

All data is provided by the independent source Flightstats. Flightstats track the performance of over 150,000 flights per day, archive the data for analysis
and publication, and provide real time flight status to millions of travelers worldwide each day. For more information about Flightstats, please visit
www.flightstats.com. SAS is included in the category major airlines.

SAS is Europe’s most punctual airline for third year in a row is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

US Airways has selected defense and security company Saab AB subsidiary Saab Sensis Corporation’s Aerobahn® airport surface management system for use at its three hubs located at the Charlotte-Douglas (CLT), Philadelphia (PHL) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airports (PHX).  Saab Sensis Aerobahn will provide US Airways with precise, real-time visibility of all ground operations with a suite of tools that improves operational efficiency, reliability and customer convenience.

“Saab Sensis Aerobahn will help us provide better service for our customers by giving us real-time insight into our ground operations,” said US Airways’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Robert Isom.  “The bird’s-eye view of the airport surface helps our team reduce tarmac delays, ensure more on-time arrivals and departures and more effectively manage operations during inclement weather, which results in a better experience for our customers.”

“US Airways is deploying the latest features in our decade-long commitment to Aerobahn advancements, such as integrated workflow process tracking,” said Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Saab Sensis. “This further positions Aerobahn as the surface management system of choice for top airports, airlines and air navigation service providers charged with proactively managing operations on the surface for improved customer experience and operational cost savings.”

Saab Sensis Aerobahn is the most widely deployed airport surface management system in the industry, and combines airside operational information and airline host information such as planned arrival and departure gates, and passenger/bag connection information to proactively manage flight departures to minimize passenger and bag misconnects and to maximize on-time operational performance.  All events are recorded for future playback to identify trends and develop new procedures that mitigate delays or similar events in the future.

New Surface Management Tool Reduces Ground Delays for US Airways Customers is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

World Airways has extended its cooperation with Allied Air Cargo for the lease of two MD-11F aircraft beginning in January 2012 for service between Europe and various cities in Africa. World Airways, a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings Inc., began operating aircraft for Allied Air in October 2008.

“Allied Air Cargo and World Airways have built up a strong commercial relationship over the last three years and I am pleased that we are extending this cooperation with a multiple-year agreement,” said Brian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer for Global Aviation Holdings. “World Airways will provide two MD-11 freighters to further serve the international needs of Allied and their business partners in Europe and in Africa. Allied is a leading provider in these markets, and World is proud to be the airline of choice for their wide-body cargo capacity.”

“ANA Aviation and Allied Air are pleased to renew our wet-lease agreement with World Airways for the lease of two MD11Fs on a long-term basis,” said Andrew Leslie, the Commercial Director. He also commented, “The last three years that we have been leasing aircraft from World Airways have gone very well indeed, and we hope to grow our business further together as we expand our route network throughout Africa, as well as offering ad-hoc charter solutions on a worldwide basis.”

Allied Air Extends Contract for Two World Airways MD-11 Freighters is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

Delta Air Lines has been named “Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline” by PCWorld magazine for its airport recharging stations, in-flight Wi-Fi on more domestic flights than any other carrier and smartphone apps with innovative features including baggage tracking and airport check-in. The publication also highlighted Delta’s 24-hour customer service via Twitter from @DeltaAssist, as well as the ability to book tickets directly from Facebook.

“We’re providing customers with technology tools to keep them connected during their travel experience on the ground and in the air,” said Bob Kupbens, Delta’s vice president – eCommerce. “When you literally have the tools in the palm of your hand to track your bag at 30,000 feet or check the status of your connecting flight, it helps eliminate the stress of travel and puts customers in control.”

Delta’s tech-friendly offerings are part of the airline’s previously announced plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2013.

Installation of branded recharging stations in Delta’s top 19 airports, including all of its domestic hubs, was complete in 2010. Wi-Fi is available on all of Delta’s domestic mainline aircraft, and installation on all of its two-class regional jets will be complete by the end of March 2012. When completed, customers will have access to in-flight Wi-Fi on more than 800 aircraft flying 3,000 daily domestic flights every day.

The popular Fly Delta app was launched on the iPhone in the fall of 2010. BlackBerry, Android and Windows versions followed soon after.  The apps provide eBoarding check-in options in 79 cities worldwide, the ability to track and pay for bags, alerts for updated travel information, airport and aircraft details, and a parking reminder.

Delta’s Ticket Counter allows Facebook users to book travel or check-in for their upcoming flight using a dedicated “tab” at facebook.com/delta without navigating to delta.com. Innovative tools like the Delta Away We Go app lets customers share and plan their travel with family and friends. Delta has continued to expand its social interaction with customers on twitter.com/delta, blog.delta.com and also provides real-time travel assistance at twitter.com/deltaassist in English and twitter.com/deltaassist_ES in Spanish.

Delta Named Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

WestJet, Calgary, is the latest airline to choose UATP to address the needs of its corporate travelers. WestJet now accepts all UATP corporate cards including online at www.westjet.com.

WestJet, one of the most profitable airlines in North America, has set its vision to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world by 2016.   WestJet will utilize a multi-channel strategy, concentrating on guest experience, revenue and growth, costs and very importantly people and culture.  The four pillars build the strategic plan for long-term success.

“Accepting UATP will help WestJet to offer more options for corporate travellers, allowing them to deliver their great guest experience to our UATP cardholders,” said Ralph Kaiser, CEO and president, UATP.  “Airlines are listening to customers and building UATP into successful business strategies.”

Begun in 1996, WestJet is Canada’s leading high-value low-fare airline offering scheduled service to 71 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. In 15 years, WestJet grew from three aircraft, five destinations and 220 employees to 97 aircraft, 71 destinations and more than 8,500 WestJetters.

UATP is the low cost payment network privately owned by the world’s airlines. For more information, visit uatp.com or www.westjet.com.

WestJet Becomes New UATP Merchant is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy