Benelux

US Airlines seeks 2-year delay in secondary cockpit barrier rule

The Federal Aviation Administration said that major U.S. carriers want to delay for two years, by August of this year, the requirement to install a secondary barrier in the cockpit to prevent intrusions. Airlines for America, a trade group that represents American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines as well as other major carriers, argued in a petition to the FAA that it should delay the finalization of the 2023 requirement because the FAA has yet to approve a secondary cockpit barricade and there are no approved manuals, training programs or procedures. The FAA announced that it would be
Passenger Transportation Services

Airlines stick to net zero target despite green fuel doubts
Airlines stick to net zero target despite green fuel doubts

The global airlines concluded a two-day conference on Tuesday, sticking to their target of zero net emissions by 2050. However, they expressed new concerns about the availability and cost of greener fuels as well as new planes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 350 airlines, has said that achieving the target will cost carriers $4.7 trillion or $174 billion per year. At least some of this amount is likely to be passed along as higher fares. IATA has avoided a sensitive discussion on net zero despite earlier signs that airlines were becoming more sceptical. Instead, IATA bosses have
Passenger Transportation Services

Modi's ambitious Indian aviation plans face many obstacles
SoftBank invests $40 million in Irish fintech Nomupay

Nomupay, an Irish fintech company, announced on Tuesday that it received a $40-million investment from a unit of SoftBank Corp. The investment is valued at $290 million and will help the company expand into Asian countries like Japan. Nomupay began operations in 2021, after purchasing licenses from Wirecard. The payments company had collapsed in the biggest fraud scandal in Germany since World War II a year before. Nomupay raised $120 millions since then, and the latest round of $37million in January valued it at $200million. Peter Burridge, Nomupay's CEO, said: "We will integrate Japanese payment methods provided by SoftBank so
Passenger Transportation Services

Airbus deliveries dropped 4% in May according to sources

Airbus delivered 51 aircraft in May, according to industry sources, a drop of 4% compared to the same month last. This brings the total number of aircraft delivered so far in 2024 to around 243, a 5% drop from the first five month period. Airbus declined to comment before a performance bulletin for the month of June. As airlines increase pressure on the world's biggest planemaker over delivery delays, it is aiming to hand over 820 aircraft to its customers in total for the year. This represents a 7% rise in deliveries. The head of Saudi Budget Airlines, who attended
Ethiopian Airlines CEO: Ethiopian Airlines is considering ordering at least 20 regional jets

Transport Infrastructure

Pre-tariff US traffic boosts revenue from the Ferrovial Highway

Ferrovial, a motorway and airports company, reported a first-quarter surprise revenue boost from freight traffic on US toll roads and Canadian toll roads, likely related to imports anticipating sweeping U.S. Tariffs, according to its CFO. The Spanish company's surge in revenue despite the adverse winter weather is part of a larger trend of increased commercial activities at U.S. roads and ports that predated U.S. president Donald Trump's announcement on April 1, 2017 of new tariffs. Many of these remain suspended. Ferrovial reported last week that its first-quarter revenues from its North American toll roads business rose by 14%. This shows...

Transport Infrastructure

Airbus talks to Malaysian Airlines about its A220 planes

According to Bernama, the state news agency, Airbus has been in talks with Malaysian airlines about its A220 plane, according to a senior company executive. Anand Stanley is the Asia-Pacific President of Airbus and he said that the A220 has potential in Malaysia where 150 other Airbus commercial planes are currently operating. The agency also said it expects to receive 400 more orders for delivery in the future. Stanley was quoted as saying, "We see Malaysians have a large potential for demand." We are only in the early stages of discussions, but I can't comment on a timeline, we hope...

Transport Infrastructure

Next week, Macron will visit Vietnam to discuss satellites and nuclear power

Officials said that Emmanuel Macron, the French President, is expected to discuss infrastructure and energy with Vietnam's top leaders during a visit to the ex-colony next week. During this state visit dozens of agreements may be signed. A larger tour through Southeast Asia includes the first visit to Vietnam in almost a decade by a French President. Macron will arrive in Hanoi, Indonesia, on 25 May, and then finish his tour in Singapore on 30 May, when he speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue - Asia's premier defence conference. The Elysee Office of Macron said that dozens were being prepared for...

Transport Infrastructure

Investcorp invests $500 million in the expansion of Oman’s Port of Duqm

Investcorp, the Middle East’s largest alternative investment company, announced on Monday that it had entered into an agreement to invest $550 million in the expansion of the Port of Duqm, Oman. This is part of its ongoing investments in regional infrastructure assets. Investcorp's infrastructure platform Investcorp Aberdeen will be a partner in the project along with a consortium made up of the Port of Duqm Company and the DEME Group, as well as the Port of Antwerp Bruges. Duqm Port, located in Oman on the southwest coast, is close to major oil and gas developments. It serves as a hub...

Transport Infrastructure

Divers die in the initial operations to recover Lynch’s yacht

Local police reported that a diver died Friday, during the preliminary operations to retrieve the superyacht of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch from the waters near the coasts of northern Sicily. The 56-metre (184-foot-long) Bayesian was docked near Palermo in the small Porticello port, when, in August of last year, it was hit by a strong downburst. This caused seven deaths, including Lynch's daughter Hannah. Police said that the accident occurred on Friday while the diver was under water in Porticello. They added that the exact cause of death is still unknown. It is expected that the attempt to lift...

Transport Infrastructure

Oman, Netherlands and Germany reach agreement on liquid hydrogen import corridor

Tata Steel Nederland announced on Wednesday that major industrial groups from Oman and Germany, as well as the Netherlands, have signed an agreement to develop the first liquid hydrogen import corridor in the world. The group announced in a press release that the corridor would link the ports of Duqm, Oman, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and the key logistic hubs of Germany, including Duisburg. The aim is to allow the importation of liquid hydrogen that complies with RFNBO (renewable fuel of non-biological source) into Europe. Hans van den Berg is the CEO of Tata Steel Nederland. He said: "As a large buyer,...

Transport Infrastructure

Ukraine reports four deaths in Russian attack on grain ship in Odesa port

The Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian missile strike on Tuesday destroyed a grain ship in the Black Sea Port of Odesa and killed four people. Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine's Deputy Premier, said that a ballistic missile hit the MJ Pinar Bulk Carrier, which was loading wheat to Algeria. The attack killed four Syrians, injured another Syrian, and also injured a Ukrainian. Kuleba stated that "Russia is attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure, including its ports, which play a role in ensuring food security around the world." The global grain merchant Louis Dreyfus Company stated in an email that the vessel was loading at...

Transport Infrastructure

Ukraine reports four deaths in Russian attack on grain ship in Odesa port

Boskalis, a Dutch maritime services provider, will salvage a UK ship that has been damaged by stricken tanker

A spokesperson confirmed earlier Dutch media reports that Dutch marine provider Boskalis would salvage the U.S. flagged tanker Stena Immaculate after it was hit by a container vessel off northeast England Monday. He was unable to give an exact timeframe for the salvage operation but said that four ships carrying extinguishing agents and foam were already on their way to put out the fire. Boskalis spokesperson did not specify which company would salvage Solong the other container vessel involved in the collision. Stena Immaculate, anchored at the time of the incident, was hit by the smaller container vessel Solong. This...

Vopak will expand Thailand terminal to import US ethane from 2029

Global independent storage operator Vopak announced on Thursday it would expand its joint venture terminal in Thailand so that the state energy company PTT Global Chemical can import U.S.-made ethane starting in 2029. China and other petrochemical companies in Asia are looking to import more ethane from the U.S. Shale Gas Boom to diversify their raw materials supply, as well as to lower costs. According to Vopak, Thai Tank Terminal, a joint venture of PTTGC Gulf Energy Development, and Vopak, will build 160,000 cubic meters of tank storage at Map Ta Phut in Rayong. The JV that provides storage and...

Democrats claim Trump is illegally withholding funds for charging electric vehicles in the state

On Tuesday, a group of nine Senators from the Environment and Public Works Committee claimed that the Trump Administration is illegally withholding funds previously granted to the states for charging electric vehicles. The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Thursday that it would suspend the electric vehicle charging programs and rescind approval of state EV charger plans pending a re-evaluation. The Democratic Senators in the Committee led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse stated that the action was "in blatant disregard of law." Whitehouse requested any emails which would indicate if Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and advisor to President Donald Trump was involved...

Fatal US airline crashes given that 2001

An American Airlines regional passenger jet was associated with a midair accident on Wednesday night with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, officials said. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated on social networks that we know there are casualties, though he did not state how many. These are the last 11 fatal airline crashes to occur in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. National Transport Board and the Flight Safety Structure's Aviation Security Network: 2013. An Asiana Airlines airplane crashed at 2009 A Colgan Air turboprop crashed on approach to landing in. Buffalo,...

Businesses sell in Russia

Many Western companies sold their Russian assets to comply with the sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine, and to respond to the Kremlin's threats that it could seize foreign assets. The following companies have sold their business in Russia. They are grouped by sector. Continental sold its Russian tire plant to holding company S8 Capital by May 2023. Renault sold Avtovaz's majority stake to the Russian government in 2022. The price was reportedly only one rouble, but there was a six-year buyback option. Volkswagen sold its Kaluga production facility and local subsidiaries to Volkswagen in May 2023. Banks &...

Passenger Transportation Services

Airbus warns airlines of delays lasting three years, according to sources

Airbus warns airlines that delivery delays will continue for three more years, as the company works to resolve supply chain issues. At a recent gathering of customers in Toulouse, the cautious tone was reinforced. This puts more pressure on Airbus for it to show progress toward its goal of increasing production to 75 jets per month. Airbus has been talking about aircraft delays in 2027 and 2028, a senior airline executive told me. The delays are being announced in pieces every few months. A second source confirmed that aircraft scheduled to be delivered later in the decade were already penciled...