Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Mauritania Airlines received (21-Dec-2017) its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 (5T-CLJ; serial number 64299), becoming the first operator of the aircraft type in Africa. [more - original PR]

JetWest Airways, a Nigerian start-up, announced (Dec-2017) the following details via its official LinkedIn account:

• Base: Lagos;
• Secondary hubs: Accra, Abuja;
• Operating model: LCC;
• Launch of operations: 2018;
• Network: Initially focused on domestic Nigerian routes. Carrier will serve international destinations in West Africa from Accra base;
• Initial destinations: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola, Kano, Enugu, Asaba, Uyo, Owerri and Calabar. [more - original PR]

Syria's Transport Minister Ali Hammoud outlined plans to construct a new airport in Damascus to replace the old airport, constructed almost 50 years ago (Sputnik, 20-Dec-2017). "The new airport will be constructed in Damascus. The existing airport was built in 1970 and has a small capacity. Taking it into account we are going to prepare a project for a new airport that will meet Damascus needs," Mr Hammoud said.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland issued (20-Dec-2017) a statement on the US Department of Commerce's final duty determinations on Bombardier C Series aircraft, reporting the Government of Canada is "deeply troubled by the protectionist nature of Boeing's allegations, which seek to advance its market dominance by excluding Bombardier's C Series aircraft from the US market". Ms Freeland added it is "beyond all reason that Boeing could be threatened with injury in a market segment it exited over a decade ago" and noted that the high level of final countervailing and anti-dumping duty rates announced by the US Department of Commerce on imports of the C Series "are highly punitive to aerospace workers on both sides of the border". [more - original PR]

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced (20-Dec-2017) affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations of the import of 100 to 150 seat large civil aircraft (Bombardier C Series) from Canada. Secretary Ross said the decision was "based on a full and unbiased review of the facts in an open and transparent process" and the US is "committed to a free, fair, and reciprocal trade and will always stand up for American workers and companies being harmed by unfair imports." The US Department of Commerce determined imports of 100 to 150 seat large civil aircraft to the US from Canada were conducted at 79.82% less than fair value. It also determined that Canada is providing unfair subsidies to its producers of 100 to 150 seat large civil aircraft at a rate of 212.39%. [more - original PR]

Croatia's National Tourist Board discussed (04-Dec-2017) the possibility of launching nonstop services to the US. Croatia's National Tourist Board director Kristjan Staničić said US partners expressed support for the proposal. [more - original PR - Croatian]

Eurowings stated (20-Dec-2017) new collective agreements for growth will enable increases in staff numbers at all German bases, including Duesseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne and in Austria and Spain. Eurowings will add 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft by summer 2018. "Eurowings will shortly advertise 86 captain's posts for its co-pilots internally", said Eurowings head of HR Benedict Schneider, while confirming Eurowings hired more than 500 employees in recent weeks. [more - original PR]

US Department of Commerce (DoC) made (20-Dec-2017) affirmative final determinations concerning antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations for the import of Bombardier C Series aircraft from Canada to the US, applying tariffs totalling 292.21%. DoC stated:

• Bombardier's final dumping margin was based on "adverse facts available (AFA) because Bombardier failed to provide information requested by DoC in its AD questionnaire". Boeing alleged one dumping margin in the petition. As AFA, DoC applied the sole dumping margin calculated in the petition for Canadian exports of aircraft, which is 79.82%;
• Using reported information from Canada, Quebec, the UK and Bombardier, the DoC calculated a final subsidy rate of 212.39% for Bombardier;
• Bombardier, the Canadian Government and petitioners agreed the proposed transaction between Bombardier and Airbus for majority ownership of the C Series does not impact these investigations. The proposed transaction is yet to be finalised;
• Upon publication of the final affirmative AD and CVD determinations, US Customs and Border Protection will be instructed to collect cash deposits equal to the applicable final weighted average dumping margin and the final subsidy rate;
• The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its final determinations in the case on or about 01-Feb-2018. If the ITC makes affirmative final determinations that imports of aircraft from Canada materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, the DoC will issue AD and CVD orders. If the ITC makes negative determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated. [more - original PR]

Bombardier VP communications and public affairs Mike Nadolski issued (20-Dec-2017) the following statement in response to tariff determinations issued by the US Department of Commerce:

• Evidence presented at the US International Trade Commission "demonstrated that Boeing's petition is an unfounded assault on airlines, the flying public, and the US aerospace industry";
• The US Commerce Department decision is "divorced from this reality and ignores long-standing business practices in the aerospace industry, including launch pricing and the financing of multibillion dollar aircraft programs". Bombardier is "deeply disappointed that the Commerce Department did not take this opportunity to rectify its past errors";
• Bombardier remains confident that "at the end of the process" the US International Trade Commission will "reach the right conclusion, which is that the C Series benefits the US aerospace industry, US airlines, and the US flying public";
• The C Series "simply does not threaten Boeing" and Boeing did not compete in the Delta Air Lines sales campaign;
• Bombardier estimates the new Alabama assembly line, developed in partnership with Airbus to manufacture the C Series in the US, will add 400 to 500 direct jobs in the US, along with thousands more indirect and induced US jobs. It will also bring approximately USD300 million in new foreign direct investment to the US. [more - original PR]

Azerbaijan's Ambassador to UAE Dashgin Shikarov stated (20 Dec-2017) Etihad Airways plans to launch Abu Dhabi-Baku service in 2018. flydubai currently operates a Gabala service. [more - original PR - Azerbaijani]