News
news updates between our biweekly newsletter editions
Hochtief Sells Airports to Canada’s PSP
May 7, 2013
Hochtief AG agreed to sell its airports division to Public Sector Pension Investment Board of Canada as Germany’s largest construction company narrows its focus to building. The stock rose to a 21-month high. The deal values the business, which has stakes in airports in Athens, Budapest, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Sydney and the Albanian capital of Tirana, at about EUR 1.5 billion (USD2 billion) and Hochtief will get EUR 1.1 billion as some shares are held by business partners, the Essen, Germany-based builder said today in a statement.
São Paulo governor presents 19-airport concession plan
May 3, 2013
São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin has presented a concession plan for 19 regional airports to civil aviation minister Moreira Franco, according to a state government release.
Presented to the minister on April 30, investments for the plan are expected to come from the federal government's national aviation funding program, which initially involves 7.3bn reais (USD3.62bn) in funds throughout the country.
Currently, the program has earmarked a total of 1.6bn reais for 65 airports in the southeast region, which includes the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo. Of this, 361mn reais will go to the state of São Paulo, according to national civil aviation agency, Anac.
São Paulo is ahead of the game in terms of preparing studies and basic plans, according to the superintendent of the state's air transport department, Daesp, Ricardo Rodrigues Barbosa Volpi.
"As soon as basic plans are ready, we will forward them to civil aviation department SAC. We then plan to start tenders in H2," Vopli said in the release.
Overall, São Paulo has 31 regional airports or airfields being administered by Daesp throughout the state and, as of March of this year, 11 are currently under construction, Daesp said in a release.
Among some of the main construction projects are a new passenger terminal for Araraquara airport, as well as renovation and expansion work to the passenger terminal of Franca airport. Moreover, an executive project is underway for passenger terminal additions to the Bauru-Arealva airport.
Tender for third airport’s construction in Istanbul starts
May 3, 2013
The tender for the construction of a third airport in Istanbul started in the city on May 3, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Friday.
According to the report, 17 local and foreign companies have submitted their proposals for participation in the tender. They have purchased a package of tender documents worth 100,000 lira, paying a total of 1.6 million lira.
However, according to the newspaper, only four of them made tender proposals.
The third airport in Istanbul will be built near Lake Terkos in the north of the city. The airport's transportation capacity is 150 million passengers a year.
Earlier, the Department of Air Transport of the Ministry of Transport, Shipping and Communications of Turkey told Trend that the construction of the third airport in Istanbul would cost 10 billion lire.
The ministry also said the airport will be able to serve 90 million people a year during the first phase. In future, this figure will increase to 150 million a year.
Darwin Airport set for $60m upgrade
May 3, 2013
Darwin International Airport will embark on a AUD 60m year-long upgrade next month which will deliver an expanded terminal, enlarged Qantas Club and an all-new 150 seat Virgin Australia lounge.
The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2014, but the airport says the expansion "will be carefully staged to minimise its impact on the airport’s existing operations."
The revamped terminal represents AUD 42.5m of the total bill and will almost double in size, going from 16,000 to 27,000 square metres.
The extra space will be used for an expanded check-in area, additional departure lounge areas plus improved baggage systems and security screening.
Travellers will also see new shops and food and beverage outlets, including the Bumbu eatery by Darwin-based chef and restauranter Jimmy Shu, and the Dôme café with floor to ceiling airside views.
"We're very excited to be embarking on such a major development to our airport, the biggest in our history" said Darwin International Airport CEO Ian Kew.
"The expansion will increase capacity dramatically, enabling us to improve efficiencies for our airline customers and terminal operators, and improve the travelling experience for our passengers."
Two HMSHost locations Named Best New Airport Restaurant
April 25, 2013
Global restaurateur HMSHost was honored by Entrepreneur® for two of its dining locations as part of the magazine’s 2013 Business Travel Awards. HMSHost’s Beaudevin was named Best New Airport Bar, and Cowboy Ciao, operated by HMSHost at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, was named Best New Airport Restaurant. A full article on the winners appears in the magazine’s May 2013 issue.
“Being recognized by such an influential business publication as Entrepreneur is a great honor,” said HMSHost President and CEO Tom Fricke. “We serve thousands of business travelers every day at more than 100 airports around the world, and we are very pleased to know that many of these travelers will have the chance to experience one of our award-winning restaurants.”
Airways graduates from China say training successful
April 25, 2013
Aviation organisations from around the globe – including from the rapidly growing aviation sector in China – are looking to New Zealand to gain world-leading CNS/ATM training at the Airways Training Centre in Christchurch.
The most recent CNS/ATM training graduates from Airways have come from Northwest Regional Air Traffic Management Bureau in China – one of eight Chinese groups that have received tuition through Airways Training in the past year.
A group of 12 leaders and senior staff members from NWATMB travelled to Christchurch to attend a three-week training programme on Air Traffic Control Threat & Error Management, and taking advantage of Airways’ world class training facilities in Christchurch.
“The training was very successful,” says CAO Sue Guang, Deputy Director General of NWATMB.
“Airways was very well prepared for the course and our daily life. The instructors were very professional and have a very rich working experience, not only in New Zealand - they also know the ATC industry well in European countries. The training methodology Airways provided to us was unique and interesting, and it got all of our attention during class so we have learned a lot through this training,” CAO Sue Guang concludes.
Airways Head of Training Sharon Cooke says Airways provides air traffic services training at the highest levels on a global scale, evident by its recently awarded ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS certification.
“We’re experiencing increased demand from ANSPs globally, with particularly strong interest from the Gulf States and Asia. We offer a range of short and long courses to meet the needs of ANSPs – our courses are designed to keep ANSP managers up-to-date with best practice management techniques,” Ms Cooke says.
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