April 2011

On April 7, President Barack Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos met in Washington, D.C. to strategize about enhancing Colombian labor rights. To Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, the finalized U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement represents a giant leap forward in the economic recovery of the United States.

In February, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) issued an RFP for a consultant to scrutinize the air cargo industry. Specifically, NYCEDC wants to know why airfreight processed at JFK International Airport dropped dramatically from 2006 to 2009. The organization is currently sifting through 10 RFPs, an organization spokesperson told Air Cargo World .

For Germany’s Frankfurt Airport, the first quarter of 2011 has been particularly promising: It handled 540,000 metric tonnes of airfreight during this period. This is a 3.5 percent jump compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Qatar Airways has purchased three Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 777-300 ERs. The acquisition is valued at $1.4 billion.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted conditional approval to Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) to manage Boeing 747-8 operations. RFD is Chicago’s first airport to receive this distinction.

FedEx Express has announced a new Boeing 777F flight that will cut transit time for shipments among the United States, Middle East, India and Europe. In addition to better service, the flight will also offer customers greater capacity and improved customs clearance operations.

An AN-124-100 operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines touched down at Sendai Airport in Japan April 14 in what was the first non-military, international flight to the airport since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11.  

The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has come out against a proposed 13 percent increase in the country’s minimum wage, saying in a statement that the increase will “damage our fragile export competitiveness,” particularly to the UK.  

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has finished its first East African training program in partnership with the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA).