NEWS

 

25/10/02 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for a new partnership between airports and airlines based on increased transparency. "Airlines can no longer pay for airport monopolistic inefficiency"

The call came as Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO addressed the ACI ( Airports Council International ) World Assembly in Tokyo Japan. "If one of the partners in a partnership is losing his shirt while the other is counting his money, it is no longer a partnership!" declared Bisignani.

Citing the disparity between the returns of airlines and airports, Bisignani called for a structural change in the partnership. He asked airport managements to explain "what you are doing to make yourselves more efficient; to reduce your costs and your charges to airlines while at the same time improving the services you offer."

Competition means ever lower prices for consumers and airlines can only survive through cost efficiencies. Airlines are paying over US$15 billion to airports and air traffic service providers annually for their international services alone. Rather than decreasing, this is increasing and now accounts for nearly 10% of airline operating costs with no relief in sight. "I don't accept the pricing policies of our suppliers who basically operate as monopolies. Airlines and their customers cannot pay for airport inefficiencies."

Bisignani called on airports to join in a new partnership based on transparency and value for money. IATA is benchmarking airports to highlight disparities between charges, the costs of providing facilities and services and airport profit targets. "We will be challenging service levels, and demanding greater attention from airports and ATS shareholders, to the need for more efficient management and more value for money for airlines and their customers;" concluded Bisignani.

Airline Business, in a survey covering 2000 and 2001, showed that the operating margins of the different industry sectors were as follows:

Airports 27.6%
Selected ATS providers 23.4%
Top CRS's 14.7%
Major manufacturers 11.8%
4.8% for the top 150 airlines.

The latest ACI Airport Economic Survey in the Autumn of 2002, indicated that airports recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 30% on their total revenues.

The most recent report of the Transport Research Laboratory on airport performance indicators lists operating profits for some airports that are truly amazing, to say the least:

Auckland 57%
South African Airports 50%
London-Heathrow 41%,
Frankfurt 32%

Globally airlines lost USD 18 billion in 2001 - 12 billion on international services and 6 billion on domestic services.

The outlook for 2002 anticipates losses of USD 5 billion on international scheduled traffic. The US domestic market is expected to show a loss of at least USD 7 billion.

Global losses in 2002 are therefore expected to be USD 12 billion.

22/10/02 Swiss WorldCargo has created a series of new brochures on its various airfreight products.

The publications are designed to help SWISS's cargo division stand out from its competitors and provide existing and potential customers with extensive information on its products, services, network and operating environment, along with key contact addresses.

The new product brochures reflect Swiss WorldCargo's clear focus on the belly capacity of the SWISS aircraft fleet and on high-value airfreight products and services. The individual brochures are dedicated to Swiss X-Presso and Swiss X-Presso XL (express consignments), Swiss Valuables (banknotes and valuables), Swiss Perishables (temperature-sensitive and perishable goods), Swiss Mail (postal consignments) and Swiss General Cargo (general airfreight and special consignments such as dangerous goods, films and diplomatic mail).

Clear and reader-friendly
The brochures all adopt a clear and reader-friendly structure to explain the key features and benefits of the various products described, the operating environment for which they are intended, the network on which they are available and the corresponding cost structure. Each brochure also includes a general section on the principles and overall strategy of Swiss WorldCargo, along with key contact addresses. The brochures have all been designed in line with the overall SWISS corporate identity devised by Tyler Brûlé and his UK-based Wink Media agency. In addition to the red-and-white of SWISS, the brochures also carry Swiss WorldCargo's own dark blue.

The new brochures are available in English, French and German, and can be ordered free of charge from: cargo@swiss.com

For further information, visit the www.swissworldcargo.com website.

Swiss WorldCargo is the air cargo division of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. With its global network of more than 150 destinations in over 80 countries and its broad range of products and services, Swiss WorldCargo creates genuine added value for its customers and makes a substantial contribution to SWISS's earnings results.

17/10/02 IATA announced their Monthly International Statistics August 2002 - Passenger Traffic Better than July, But Still Down on 2001

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its monthly statistics for scheduled international airline traffic.

August passenger traffic was down 4.6% on August 2001, but was better than July 2002 results of -6.5%.

Freight traffic continues to be up at +10.6% over August 2001.

· IATA has 273 member airlines from 143 countries. Its members carry over 98% of total international scheduled traffic.

· Released statistics give top line numbers for passenger and freight traffic and capacity. Statistics are based on voluntary reporting from a number of IATA carriers around the world

· Subscriptions to the full statistical report provide a monthly update of major industry trends.

Subscriptions are available from the IATA Aviation Information & Research Department (AIR), located in London or on the newly launched IATA Global Aviation Business Information site www.iataGABI.com

Contact Patrick Folley at folleyp@iata.org or tel: +44 20 8607 6207

16/10/02 CSAV, KHL and NYK announced new joint service 'Super Good Hope Express Service (SGEX)' in the Far East/ECSA & RSA

Compania Sud Americana de Vapores S.A (hereinafter referred to as CSAV) KIEN HUNG SHIPPING CO., LTD, (hereinafter referred to as KHL), and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, (hereinafter referred to as NYK) announced launching new joint liner service Super Good Hope Express service.

Since 1995 the service has been provided by CSAV and NYK under the name of Good Hope Express (GEX) , and today KHL which is currently operating eleven vessels independently, will join the service.

New service SGEX, offer 77 days round fixed day weekly sailing to and from Far East/ECSA via RSA with eleven 2500 teu class geared vessels.

Very detailed schedules, constructed over many months, will enable SGEX offer express transit times between several important port pairs new service will include following ports.

Pusan / Moji / Nagoya / Yokohama / Keelung / Hongkong / Singapore / Durban / Santos / Buenos Aires / Montevideo / Rio Grande / Paranagua / Rio de Janeiro / Santos / Port Elizabeth / Durban / Singapore / Hongkong / Pusan

In addition to the present GEX calling ports, Pusan/Montevideo and Port Elizabeth are newly added to meet customers various requirement.

With commencing this new SGEX, 3 lines demonstrates further commitment to its customers, emphasizing its presence as one of the major carrier in the Far East/ECSA & RSA trade.

15/10/02 KLM AND TAM initiate BUENOS AIRES codeshare service

Subject to Government approval, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and TAM Brazilian Airlines will begin codesharing on the route between São Paulo and Buenos Aires with the commencement of the 2002/03 winter schedule.

These services will be operated by TAM Brazilian Airlines and will connect with KLM´s six weekly services between Amsterdam and São Paulo. This will include Buenos Aires in KLM's route network for the first time since the direct services between Amsterdam and the Argentinean capital were stopped in summer 2001.

TAM will operate the six weekly codeshare flights between São Paulo and Buenos Aires using modern Airbus 330 aircraft.

"We are very pleased that the cooperation with such a distinguished airline as TAM brings back Buenos Aires into KLM´s global route network", says KLM´s Chief Operating Officer Peter Hartman. "We are glad that together with TAM we can offer our passengers an extended continental route network in South America through a smooth connection in São Paulo and the modern and convenient TAM service".

TAM Brazilian Airlines is the second largest airline in Brazil. It operates a fleet of 74 aircraft, using mainly Airbus (A330, A320 and A319) and Fokker 100 equipment. TAM serves more than 40 domestic destinations in Brazil. Additionally, the Brazilian airline boasts Miami and Paris as international destinations in the U.S. and Europe respectively. In 2001, the Brazilian airline carried 13 million passengers.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and its partners serve over 400 cities in 78 countries on six continents. KLM operates a fleet of 152 aircraft from its homebase Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands, one of the world's most modern hub airports. KLM is the core airline of the KLM Group, further comprising KLM cityhopper, KLM uk and Transavia. In 2001, KLM carried more than 15.9 million passengers.

08/10/02 FERRONOR S.A. - RailAmerica's Chilean Railroad Enters Into Five-Year, US$9 Million Transportation Agreement with Norgas S.A.

RailAmerica, Inc., the world's largest short line and regional railroad operator, announced that its Chilean railroad, Empresa de Transporte Ferroviario S.A. (Ferronor), entered into a five-year rail transportation agreement with Norgas S.A. of Valparaiso, Chile -- the largest supplier of compressed natural gas (CNG) to northern Chile -- valued at US$9 million.

Under the agreement, Ferronor will transport CNG in tank cars, on a prepaid basis, from northwest Argentina to locations in the northern region of Chile. The CNG will then be distributed via truck to surrounding industrial and commercial customers.

"This new agreement is yet another success story for our Chilean operation where we have more than doubled revenues since acquiring it in 1997," said Gary O. Marino, Chairman, President, & CEO of RailAmerica. "Under our ownership, Ferronor has signed more than US$420 million in long-term transportation agreements."

RailAmerica purchased a 55% interest in Ferronor, a 1,400-mile railroad based in Coquimbo, Chile, from the Chilean government in February 1997 for US $6.7 million. The operation consists of two regional railroads that serve the mining region of northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. In 2001, Ferronor recorded revenues of US$22 million and moved 107,000 carloads of freight.

RailAmerica, Inc. the world's largest short line and regional railroad operator, owns 49 railroads operating approximately 12,800 route miles in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile. In North America, the Company's railroads operate in 27 states and six Canadian provinces. Internationally, the Company operates 4,300 route miles under track access arrangements in Australia and Argentina. RailAmerica is a member of the Russell 2000(R) Index and in October 2001 was ranked 85th on Forbes magazine's list of the 200 Best Small Companies in America.

07/10/02 Crowley Logistics announced that it has acquired Speed Cargo Service, the Miami-based transportation services provider.

The company will become a division of Crowley Logistics and will continue to operate from its existing headquarters under its own identity and with the same employees, assets and facilities.

Speed Cargo specializes in transportation services to and from Central America and the Caribbean providing air, ocean and inland transportation services to customers throughout the United States and Latin America. Services offered include freight consolidation, documentation, warehousing and distribution.

"Our acquisition of Speed Cargo is a unique opportunity for Crowley to add a complementary business line to our present logistics activities," said Tom Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime.

Carlos Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Speed Cargo said, "The synergy in thought and direction of this venture will strengthen our position in the market. It will provide our customers unprecedented access to a wider array of shipping transportation services that will facilitate and enhance their logistics planning and shipping efforts."

Crowley's Transportation Management Center offers customers a single source for all their worldwide transportation needs, offered individually or on an integrated basis. The center provides freight forwarding, ocean transportation, inland transportation, air freight transportation, warehousing and distribution and customs house brokerage. Crowley's acquisition of Speed Cargo will not impact existing Speed Cargo customers.

"Speed Cargo customers will continue to do business with the company the same way they always have," Hourihan said. They will interact with the same employees, enjoy the same service offerings and receive the same high levels of customer service."

Crowley Logistics, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., is a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corporation and is part of its liner services segment. As a third party logistics provider, the company offers supply chain management, freight consolidation, warehousing, transportation management, and cross-docking services throughout the United States, Central America and South America. The company's Transportation Management Center serves as the heart of its logistics framework, enabling clients to combine and tailor services as needed, and tap into the company's sophisticated materials and shipment tracking technology.

02/10/02 LanChile chosen the best company in Latin America

The prestigious American magazine, Global Finance, has announced its annual ranking for the best companies worldwide, which includes the most important economic and productive sectors.

For the second year running, LanChile is included as the best airline in Latin America, leading a ranking of 15 firms selected from this region. The evaluation is based on the opinions of analysts, specialized editors and journalists, as well as experts from the different areas, who selected the best companies operating internationally.

The study takes into consideration a range of aspects, such as the increase in revenues and profits; capitalization of market growth; social responsibility; percentage of income and employees outside the home country; achievements in the areas of technology and new products; success in mergers and acquisitions; crisis management and aggressive market development.

Luis Ernesto Videla, LanChile's chief executive officer, said: "We are very proud of this new recognition of the fine management and high efficiency that our company has applied in dealing with genuinely complex scenarios. Undoubtedly this award, which we have received for the second year running, confirms the achievements that have crowned the daily efforts of LanChile's professional team in its ongoing labor to provide first class service that meets the most rigorous standards worldwide."

Buenos Aires, Rep. Argentina 25 de Octubre de 2002      Edición 680