GLOBAL OUTLOOK

The Transport & Logistics Global Industry Scan

1. Hactl air cargo volume dives 30.9% in January

Hong Kong's air cargo volume continued to fall with the airport's largest handler Hactl announcing a more than 30 percent decline in January's year-on-year volumes.

2. SAA struggles amid financial turbulence

State-owned South African Airways has incurred losses of US$136 million over the past few years, with debt standing at $177 million at the end of March 2008, it has emerged.

3. Boeing 787 on track for 2010 delivery

Boeing Co's delayed 787 Dreamliner remains on track for its first deliveries in the first quarter of 2010, Reuters reported.

4. Cathay adds new US cargo flights

Cathay Pacific will add two new destinations in the United States to its freighter network as the carrier searches for new markets to bolster sagging cargo volume.

5. US Airways to cut 233 airport positions

US Airways Group, anticipating flying fewer seats this spring and summer, said it plans to trim 233 airport positions at 10 airports it serves, including Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Tucson, Arizona Dow Jones reported.

6. China Southern, Air France mull cargo joint venture

Market hearsay goes that China's largest airline company by fleet-size, China Southern Airlines is discussing with Air France to set up a joint-venture air cargo company, Xinhua reported.

7. HKAA considers landing-fee cut

The Hong Kong Airport Authority said it will consider requests from airlines to cut landing fees to help carriers survive the turbulent year ahead, the Standard reported.

8. Indian terminal bid under court’s eye

The Supreme Court has upheld a judgment of the Kerala High Court asking the State government to consider the bids of Zoom Developers for the construction of the US$1.

9. Maersk shuts China headquarters

Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping firm, has closed its Greater China headquarters in Beijing and halved the number of its mainland sub-regional offices to streamline operations amid slowing demand, the South China Morning Post reported.

10. CMA CGM lands Syrian port deal

CMA CGM has signed a 10-year concession agreement with Lattakia Port General Company (LPGC) to manage and operate a container terminal in the Syrian port of Lattakia (Lattakia Container Terminal).

11. Port Klang to see marked fall in container traffic

Container traffic at Port Klang could fall by more than a tenth this year from a year earlier, as the global economic slowdown takes a toll on international trade, the Edge Financial Daily reported.

12. 100 liner services dock at Hamburg

Hamburg has one of the most comprehensive liner networks in Europe, which in turn means that it plays an important role as a transport hub for global cargo flows. Specialised liner traffic connects Hamburg to six continents.

13. Inkel plans to improve Kochi transport system

Infrastructures Kerala (Inkel) has drawn up several proposals to improve Kochi’s public transport system, the Hindu reported.

14. Tianjin to invest over US$5b in transportation

Tianjin, about l37 kilometres southeast of Beijing, plans to invest more than US$5.3 billion in 20 key transportation projects in 2009, SinoCast reported.

(excerpts from Aircargo Asia)