Gently Apply Your Brakes

We like cars.
     Especially the 1957 Mercedes 220S convertible that Frankfurt Airport is giving away next January as part of a Christmas promotion there.
     The 220S was built between 1956 and 1959 and less than 2,200 were created.
     Talk about a great car.
     But it figures—airplanes and cars seem to go together.
     Some time look at the MBZ “gull wing” or 1930 Chrysler Airflow.
     You know what we mean.
     In fact today most Chryslers include a set of “wings” as part of the logo for the automobile.
     So to get a chance to win a 1957 MBZ 220S Cabrio (not this one, but we are certain a version equally dazzling) get a contest coupon, featured in Fraport’s Christmas shopping flyer, valid from November 1 to December 31.      Passengers and visitors at FRA can get a copy of the flyer in shops and other locations throughout the terminals.
     Us poor slobs elsewhere in the world that can only wish for enough time to look at the art at an airport, can fill out a chance to win a little heaven @ www.airportcity-frankfurt#A395C.
     Fraport’s Celebrating Christmas Classics Promotion includes displaying of four classic German automobiles throughout the terminals: the 1954 Mercedes Benz 170 SB limousine, the 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220 S convertible – perhaps yours to win – and the 1938 BMW 327 sports car.
     Three of these cars are on exhibit in Terminal 1 in Check-In Hall A and near the Travel Value & Duty Free shops in Transit A and Transit B-East, and the other one is located in Check-in Hall D of Terminal 2.
     Class up your ride, we say.

    Air Bridge Cargo with an interline agreement with Continental Airlines and new GSA partners in key cities across the United States is moving front and center toward greater visibility across America as ABC plans new freighter services in 2007.
    “It is no secret that AirBridge Cargo plans to commence operations to the United States,” said Stan Wraight, Vice President of Volga Dnepr Group.
    “America is one of the reasons why we have two new Boeing 747-400ER Freighters on order with the first delivery scheduled for 2007.
    “Our interline agreement with EL AL Cargo is already proving very successful and I am confident Continental Airlines will be an excellent partner for us in Houston.
    “Both of these interline agreements will continue beyond the introduction of our own services to North America.
    “The appointment of GSA’s is another essential step in building AirBridge Cargo’s presence in the United States and will help to improve communication and customer satisfaction straight away through our interline partners and, importantly, for our own flights when they begin next year.”

    More evidence that SriLankan Airlines Cargo is out to build on recent success that now is about 13% of the airline’s throughput is late word from Head of Cargo Nalin Rodrigo that the carrier is launching a regional charter service carrying cargo to South Asia and elsewhere.
    Currently SriLankan Cargo is the largest foreign carrier into India and the Maldives with over 100 weekly flights.
    Elsewhere the carrier offers scheduled services to 50 destinations in 28 countries, serviced by dedicated freighters and 14 belly lift Airbus Aircraft.
    “While scheduled services give businesses a regular connection to key destinations around the world, the globalization and the fast pace of businesses sometimes demands collection and delivery to remote locations,” said Nalin Rodrigo, Head of SriLankan Cargo.
    In India alone SriLankan Cargo operates regular schedules to 10 destinations.
More: nalin.rodrigo@srilankan.aero.

The man who came to dinner ends up eating the house as FedEx Express buys its Indian service partner, Prakash Air Freight, for $30 million in cash. Prakash has 384 offices in India and serves nearly 4,400 destinations. Do the math. FedEx picks up a big India presence for what amounts to chump change. The deal, subject to regulatory approval will be interesting to watch as India Civil Aviation guru Praful Patel recently unveiled some transportation toughness not usually seen calling workers at Air India and Indian Airlines to task for productivity lags last month. It is improbable and beside the point in an “open market,” that there will be a beef here over the acquisition but the climate is heating up. DHL seems to have a giant head start here in India, which may have hastened the FedEx grab.Face it.

Two airplanes keep Boeing Commercial in business. One is the B737. The other is the Boeing 777 here delivered (777-200ER) to Thai Airways. The aircraft is one of three the carrier will receive by end of 2007.

Word that Singapore's Tiger Airways has applied to India and Sri Lanka for service means that most probably next year the Indian cities of Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Goa will have a Tiger on the runways. Colombo, Sri Lanka on the other hand has issues and might look twice at welcoming an airline called Tiger. Your move …

Austrian Airlines revamps the fleet with long-haul flights utilizing either Boeing 767 or Boeing 777 equipment. Carrier aimed at cutting losses is phasing out entire stable of Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft. As previously announced on the first warm day in May 2007, Austrian adds a fourth North American gateway with six times a week, from Chicago to Vienna, in addition to its daily flights from New York, Washington and Toronto. Next year the carrier said it will also buck the trend and actually drop service to Shanghai, China. Austrian will also withdraw from Phuket, Mauritius and the Maldives.