INDUSTRY BRIEFS.
AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Russian aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin Finance Co has signed a co-operative agreement with Aeroplan Alyans for the lease of several Tupelov Tu-204 aircraft. Aeroplan Alyans includes regional carriers Sibir, KrasAir, Kavminvodyavia and Centeravia, The Moscow Times reported.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines, a US carrier, have shipped more than 50,000 pounds of relief supplies to India to assist in earthquake recovery efforts. The supplies, which were sent in partnership with AmeriCares, included tents, nutritional and medical supplies and vaccines.
Rolls-Royce Plc, an aero engine manufacturer, has indicated that it will be using Rhenium, a rare naturally-occurring element, in its future Trent aircraft engines, including the Trent 900, which is designed for the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet aircraft. Rhenium is resistant to very high temperatures and will be present in the superalloy used in the turbine blades of the A380's engines according to Reuters.
Trans World Airlines, a US airline, has postponed the launch of its proposed daily service between St Louis and Frankfurt, Germany. The service was due to launch on 1 May, but a statement released by the carrier said that the proposed auction of the carrier's assets meant that it was 'not the right time' to start the service.
Bombardier Aerospace, a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, has received an order from Cameroon Airlines for a 50-seat CRJ200 and a 68-seat CRJ700 aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered in 4Q'2001 and represent the first CRJ regional jet aircraft to be sold to a West African nation according Bombardier.
The Kazakhstan ministry of transport and communications has signed a deal with an unnamed British company for the creation of a joint venture that will research Kazakhstan's aviation services market. The Kazakhstan government hopes that the study will lead to the establishment of two companies with the British firm - one that will lease aircraft and the other to provide technical maintenance and operation of the leased aircraft.
Northwest Airlines will implement an Internet-based check-in system for flights at Japanese airports before the end of the year. The system will allow customers to check-in over the Internet any time from 24 hours to an hour and a half before their flight's scheduled departure. The new system will first become available for flights at New Tokyo International Airport in Narita, then gradually spread to those at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and Nagoya Airport, Kyodo News reported.