INDUSTRY BRIEFS.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Air Canada has agreed to sell a hangar and other assets to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for CAD90m, and has also agreed to co-operate on plans to build two additional runways and improve the flow of aircraft

South African Airways' (SAA) technical subsidiary has signed a USD50m agreement with Rolls Royce Plc for a long-term support package covering comprehensive maintenance of SAA's fleet of RB211 engines.

Malaysia Airline System placed its five Airbus A330 aircraft back into service yesterday (11 December) after grounding them to conduct safety inspections on the Pratt & Whitney-produced engines. A global directive to inspect A330 aircraft was issued by France on 10 December after damage was discovered on the engine mounts of an A330 inspected in the USA.

British Mediterranean Airways, a British Airways franchisee, has indicated that it will be acquiring two Airbus A320 aircraft for use on a new non-stop service from London, UK to Tehran, Iran according to Air & Business Travel News.

Southwest Airlines, a US carrier, has signed a contract with Quantitude Inc, a global networking subsidiary of Galileo International Inc, to connect the carrier's web site to Galilieo's computer reservation system using Galileo's structured data interface for car and hotel offerings.

Birmingham International Airport, UK reported its busiest November on record this year, handling some 491,221 passengers. The figure represents a 7.6% increase on November 1999. The airport also reported more passengers over the first 11 months of 2000 (7.17m) than the total for 1999 (7.02m).

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))