Aviation Week & Space Technology 1995-06-12

Continental Airlines is exceeding its targets for improving performance laid out in a plan to make 1995 its first profitable year in a decade, but a dispute with its pilots threatens to scuttle that progress. The airline's president and chief executive, Gordon R. Bethune, told stockholders at their annual meeting in Houston last week that Continental has exceeded revenue and expense targets every month since its performance plan was launched in January.

Canadian Airlines International is taking a calculated risk this summer, with preliminary support from labor after a disappointing C$108.6-million ($78.2 million) first-quarter loss. The Calgary-based carrier has launched an aggressive summer schedule, boosting capacity by 15%. Key unions have agreed to productivity improvements under an interim agreement that allows Canadian to operate additional frequencies this summer at virtually no increase in labor costs.

The A300-600ST, the world's widest cargo aircraft, is completing its flight test program and is scheduled to obtain certification in September.

The X-31 program appears to have reached its conclusion with the exhaustion of funds in March, but participants have contributed to this week's planned flight demonstration at the Paris air show.