Uzbekistan Airways has begun formal discussions to become an associate member of SkyTeam. The CIS flag carrier is being sponsored by Korean Air, one of the founders of the global airline grouping and is set to join in spring 2009 once it has modified its sytems and operations to meet the strict entry requirements.
The Serbian Government has announced the privatisation of national carrier JAT Airways. It is offering a minimum of a 51% stake in the company but is apparently willing to sell up to a 70% shareholding to a foreign strategic partner. Several operators have emerged as potential bidders including Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The deadline for submissions is October 24.
UK cargo operator MK Airlines has become the first European carrier to confirm an interest in acquiring the new Freight Feeder Aircraft under construction in the US. It has signed a letter of intent for ten FF5000s with an option for a further five. The two parties plan to meet ‘within the year’ to complete the negotiations with the order due to be finalised once the prototype FF5000 completes its maiden flight due in the spring of 2009.
Airbus HAS secured a third customer for the A350-1000, the largest version of its new A350XWB family. The manufacturer has confirmed that Asiana Airlines commitment for 30 A350XWB’s announced at the Farnborough Air Show in July includes ten -1000 models.
Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways are also customers for the proposed 350 seat model having each paid placed orders for 20 aircraft.
Pan European private jet carrier JetBird has converted options for three Embraer Phenom 100’s increasing its order for the four seat Very Light Jet (VLJ) to 53. The company still has options for a further 47 aircraft with the scope to expand its fleet to 100 by the end of 2013.
