The Week in brief
- After exploring the possibility of moving its corporate office, Atlas Air has decided to keep its base of operations — and 460 employees — in Purchase, N.Y. In a media release, a company spokesperson also hinted that Atlas will be hiring 50 new workers. Tax breaks were a big factor in the debate over moving Atlas' home base. For staying in New York, the company will get up to $8.5 million in job benefits through the Excelsior Job Program, around $442,000 in sales tax exemptions and energy credits that total $480,000 over 10 years. According to the spokesperson, Atlas received "incentive offers" from multiple other city governments.
- Making a big push into the U.S. domestic logistics market, Geodis Wilson has acquired Minneapolis-based One Source Logistics for an undisclosed amount. According to company spokesmen, the acquisition will help grow the company's U.S. offerings and strengthen its cross-border trucking services in North America. “Our aim is to, at least, double our freight forwarding business in the U.S. within the coming five years, based on external and organic growth," Geodis Group's CEO, Jean-Louis Demeulenaere, said in a statement.
- Looking ahead to 2012, Scandinavian Airlines announced it will launch a five-times weekly service from Copenhagen to Shanghai next March. An A340-300 will be used on the route. "The demand for traffic to China is again growing significantly, and we see the need for an additional route, complementing our successful Copenhagen-Beijing and other Asian routes," Scandinavian's CCO, Robin Kamark, said in a statement.
- Worldwide Flight Services is the new Miami cargo handler for TAP Portugal and US Airways. TAP signed up for cargo warehousing and customer service, Worldwide Flight Services will add international mail linehauls, in addition to warehousing and customer service, to its US Airways duties. TAP flies A330s into the airport five times a week, and the carrier is expecting to move 2,700 tonnes of freight annually. US Airways moves 1,800 tonnes a year through the airport.
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo has agreed to manage Brisbane, Australia-based Strategic Airlines' entire longhaul cargo activity. Virgin will brand the carrier's new routes between Brisbane and Phuket and Bali.
