Air cargo drops by 4,7%

Fin24 says that airlines have been hurt by the 4,7% drop in air cargo being ferried around the world. It quotes the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) latest figures that show passenger travel had increased by 3,6%. Read more >>

Etihad Airways flags schedule improvements to Joburg

Etihad Airways recently announced significant changes to its daily Johannesburg service from 24 January 2012. Improvements to the Johannesburg flight timings will provide new morning and evening departure options from both Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg. Read more >>

Virgin considers joining an alliance

IOL reports that Virgin Atlantic Airways, which until now has remained independent of any international alliance, has consulted Deutsche Bank over the possible advantage of joining one. Virgin flies to Jo'burg all year round, but withdraws its service to Cape Town in winter, when its passengers are carried between Cape Town and London by SAA under codeshare arrangements. Read more >>

Airbus A400M boss applauds Denel

Denel's Aerostructures (DSA) partnership with Airbus in the manufacturing of the A400M airlifter was discussed at a meeting with the head of the Airbus A400M programme, Cedric Gautier, who is in South Africa to evaluate the work done by DSA in the manufacturing of vital parts for the world's most advanced military transport plane. Read more >>

Transnet says 18,6% hike in port tariffs is essential

According to an article published by Business Report, Transnet has defended its port tariff hike of 18,6 - more than three times the current inflation rate - saying that it was necessary for the company's financial wellbeing. Read more >>

Piracy attacks repelled off Somali coast

According to a Ports & Ships report, attacks by Somali pirates on merchant ships were foiled in the last week of November, even though pirates had used rocket-propelled grenades to attempt to capture a ship off the coast of Oman. Read more >>

First carbon-neutral cab service launched

A group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs have established South Africa's first carbon-neutral transport service, Media Club South Africa reports. Cape Town-based initiative The Green Cab is the brainchild of a group of women who decided to pool their expertise to help lower vehicle emissions and make transport services more sustainable. Read more >>

Investec Property to develop Makro's distribution centre

Engineering News reports that retailer Makro's distribution centre in Midrand will undergo refurbishment and development, expanding from about 16 000m² to 27 000m², after JSE-listed Investec Property secured the development rights for the property. Read more >>

Removals company launches Draw-a-Search

LONDON, UK: Rightmove is reputed to be the UK's largest property portal with more users, more advertisers and more properties than any other UK property website. It is also the ninth most popular website in the UK, generating more than 12 times more page views than its nearest competitor. To maintain its position, the company decided to enhance its website's mapping functionality with Google Maps. Read more >>

Tender winner gives big at ANC party

An Eastern Cape transport company that secured a multimillion-rand tender just five months ago was one of the main donors at an ANC fundraising dinner recently. Read more >>

Cape Town to court over toll road

The City of Cape Town will oppose Sanral's N1-N2 highway toll project in the Cape Town High Court. Read more >>

Africa must up its game in business

[Kemantha Govender] Africa must move beyond the point of being producers of raw materials to build dynamic and competitive manufacturing sectors which process minerals and agricultural products into consumer goods, says Jacob Zuma. Read more >>

Cost of SA exports to rise on EU shipping tax

Exports to the European Union (EU) are set to become more expensive when proposals to introduce a shipping tax next year are adopted by the bloc, trade policy analyst Peter Draper said earlier this week. Read more >>