NEWS
Credit: Kelly Barrie, Panic Studio LA.
Above politics
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has said the decision about a new Sydney airport must be “above politics”. Speaking at CAPA’s Australian Pacific Aviation Summit in Sydney, Albanese, who also serves as Aviation Minister, called for a new Sydney airport, that would allow for more growth in the city and the rest of Australia. “All the tinkering in the world won’t change the fact that Sydney airport is stretched for capacity. Saying no to a new airport is saying no to jobs and growth,” said Albanese. He added: “Four out of 10 flights [in Australia] are passing through Sydney – a delay at Sydney spreads like influenza. Australia needs a new airport.”
Picture this
In celebration of its expansion and renovation, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is staging its first-ever public art festival, entitled Influx: Art at LAX. The extravaganza – presented by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) – features 11 original, site-specific art installations located throughout LAX and includes the work of 45 Los Angeles-based artists. The artwork includes video, large-scale sculptures, mixed media, ink drawings, and murals. “With the opening of the New Tom Bradley International Terminal, LAX is beginning a new era, and the art programme is an important part of this transformation,” says LAWA’s art manager, Sarah Cifarelli.
Virtual walkabout in Adelaide
Adelaide Airport has become the first in Australia, and only the second international gateway in the world, to use Google Maps’ indoor ‘Street View’ technology. The navigation works like Street View, so viewers can explore both the departures and arrivals levels of Adelaide Airport’s main terminal building. The technology – available through the airport’s Google Business Photos initiative – even lets you ‘walk’ down one of the aerobridges and out alongside the edge of the runway in a 360 degree experience. “Adelaide Airport’s terminal was chosen because it’s currently the newest and most modern looking of Australia’s airports, so the images look very good,” admits Google photographer, Carlos Zuluaga.
China to fund new Khartoum airport
Stake out
Khartoum’s eagerly awaited new airport is finally set to be built after China’s Export Import Bank agreed to bankroll its development. The bank has agreed to loan the Sudanese government $700 million to fund the development of the new gateway, which is set to be built on an 80 square kilometre site about 40km from Khartoum. According to reports in China, the Sudanese capital’s new airport will be constructed in 40 months by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and boast a single terminal building and two runways. Mohamed Abdul-Aziz, director of Sudan Airports Holding Company, enthuses: “Khartoum’s new international airport is a dream that all Sudanese people are looking forward to becoming reality.”
VINCI has paid €364 million for 4.7% stake in fellow global airport operator, Aéroports de Paris (ADP). Once the transaction is closed, its aviation division – VINCI Airports – will hold an 8% shareholding in ADP, which owns and operates Paris’ airport system and has stakes in a number of other gateways across the world. VINCI has acquired some of the French government’s shares in ADP, which it put up for sale earlier this year. “VINCI will propose to ADP, within the context of existing agreements, to enter into discussions to share our respective expertise, particularly in the area of international development,” VINCI said in a statement. Fast expanding VINCI successfully bid €3 billion for a 95% stake in Portuguese airport operator, ANA, late last year.
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of 2012. “The Canadian domestic market continues to experience strong capacity discipline on the part of the major national carriers and we have not been immune,” says Barry Rempel, president and CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA). Maryland governor, Martin O’Malley, has announced a $125 million three-year plan to further improve Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The multi-phase development plan will involve the construction of a new secure connector between Concourse D and Concourse E; creation of a new security checkpoint to serve domestic and international travellers; and, the reconfiguration of airline gates to support additional international flights. Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the UK has celebrated its 80th birthday – with a visit from 86 year old Jim Keight who witnessed the original opening ceremony back in 1933 and a good luck message from Yoko Ono! The former wife of Beetle, John Lennon, said: “As you probably know, this year, I am having my 80th birthday too. In Chinese astrology, 8 is the strongest number. So let’s have a good year to start an amazing journey into the magical and mysterious future! Lots of love, Yoko.” According to press reports, the Spanish government is hoping to raise up to €6 billion from a partial sa ?????????????????????????????????????????Q????????????????????????????????????????????M????????????????????5????? ????????? ??????????A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????q??????????????????t???????????????????????M?????M????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????A????A???()%IA=IP?]=I1?U UMP?MAQ5 H?????((??((0