Last update: 02.03.2002

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LUFTHANSA IS MULLING SERVICES to Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg twice a day. The possible go-ahead could be seen as a response to SWISS' service levels (cuts) and her moves concerning future airline alliances. Preliminary plans would call in Cirrus Air for Berlin and Augsburg Airways for Düsseldorf and Hamburg under franchise agreements.

KHALIFA AIRWAYS IS TO OFFER FIVE FLIGHTS A WEEK TO CONSTANTINE starting with the new Summer schedule. Also, codeshares with Air Algerie should be worked out boosting frequencies to eight services a week during July and August. Amadeus.net does not show the new schedule yet.

WORLD TRADE CENTER BASEL's new headquarters will be at the Crown Plaza Hotel, member of Six Continent Hotels, which is due to open in 2004. The new hotel is just 3 minutes off the airport terminal. The complex will offer hotel accommodation and business and grand casino facilities. WTC Basel was founded in 1980.

GERMAN CHARTER ACTIVITY IN FEBRUARY: LTU A-330-200 to Jeddah (3 flights), Condor B-757-300 to Palma (first visit of aircraft)

NEW HOUSING PROJECTS WILL NOT BE APPROVED if they are to be built near Swiss airports. New regulations are tolerating maximum noise levels for future housing developments not to exceed 50 dba after 22.00 hours local time. Such a project near the EuroAirport is about to be turned down by state authorities after recent recordings of 52 dba by the Swiss Federal Agency for testing and monitoring. The issue is now with town officials and the airport, which have both different interests to contest. The EAP wishes to keep the doors open for express cargo flights. On the other hand town authorities see their lifeline at stake in state-of-the-art-housing projects as planned.

START-UP DATA AND WHEATHER INFORMATION VIA TRANSPONDER sent directly to the cockpit screen are now being tested until May 15. Communication between tower and cockpit ought to be reduced to the essentials. A definite introduction promises less workload for the controllers and clear-cut messages concerning flight operations for the aircrew. Basel ATC has already tested initial approach sequence systems which allow preliminary arrival data initiated by controllers on duty.

AIR FRANCE HAS BEEN STEPPING UP SALES EF in Northwestern Switzerland in recent months. This has obviously pushed up revenues by 17% on AF's network ex EuroAirport, according to airport sources.

Statistics January 2002

190'476 Passengers - minus 17%
8553 Movements - minus 12%
6466 Tons of Cargo - minus 23%
231 Tons of Mail - minus 10%

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EUROCROSS PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE

In the wake of Swissair's downfall and Crossair's rise to national status it is interesting to look at former Crossair's commitment to niche markets within Europe. Now as SWISS the company has been catapulted to new heights as a flag carrier succeeding Swissair. When looking at its core European activitiy the airline has done well to promote fast European travel via EuroCross. The shift of roles from European niche-performer to national status has changed priorities. A lot of attention must now be spent on safing intercontinental services ex Zürich which is a different game altogether. Following the different and repeated statements issued at various occasions, the airline seems still to be committed to its European routes ex Bern, EAP, Geneva and Lugano. At the EAP where SWISS produces about 50% of the airport's traffic, authorities are closely watching what might happen to the EuroCross as a concept of former Crossair. Reduced schedules may be accepted temporarily (economic downturn). The fallout of Swissair's collapse has shaken the entire Swiss aviation industry which led to considerable shiftings to other airways (airlines).

EAP's WEEKLY SUMMER SCEDULES 2002

SWISS's SUMMER CHARTER PROGRAM 2002

The new Swiss airline "SWISS" has published its charter program ex EuroAirport (see chart below). All other airlines and destinations served from March thru October are listed in our "Charter Summer 2002 special" attached.

CHARTER SUMMER 2002

Airfreight Flash

SWISS IS POSITIONING HER AIRFREIGHT DIVISION by establishing its own brand of aircargo. Headquarters of the intercontinental arm will be at Zürich whereas Europe and Africa are managed out of Basel. This branch is the largest within the entire cargo operation. 162 people are working in the new building complex which is soon to be ready. The airline's European and African division is headed by Robert Schefer, Vice President SWISS Cargo. The EAP's location close to the EC market in France, Germany and Italy where most airfreight is generated was instrumental for the site selection.

KE WILL HALT SERVICES TO SEOUL AT THE END OF MARCH 2002. Considerable efforts went into keeping alive the only freighter service left to Swiss exporters. SWISS expressed a desire for a soft block space agreement starting with 20 tons in each direction and a flexible hand on surplus cargo. All efforts by the airport, handling agent and roadfeeders did not produce satisfactory results to Korean Air Cargo to change the tide......

At the same time efforts are under way to set up a Swiss cargo airline which would offer dedicated freighter services to mainstream aircargo destinations in the US, in India and South Korea. The new company is obviously on track for operations in early Fall 2002. Its prime hub is likely to be at the EuroAirport.

AIRTRAFFIC PROMOTION GROUP, WANDERSTRASSE 77, 4054 BASEL - TEL./FAX. ++41 61 302 5775 / E-MAIL. EAPNEWS@HOTMAIL.COM

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