The U.S. Justice Department, currently analyzing the proposed American Airlines-US Airways merger for antitrust concerns, should be wary of relying on the market presence of Southwest Airlines to hold down post-merger fares, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) cautions. The GAO’s warning relies on a study published in the May issue of the Transportation Research Board’s journal, and was delivered to Congress by the GAO in June 19 testimony to the Senate’s aviation subcommittee on how the merger might affect markets.
The Defense Department says it plans to take steps to better employ the under-used Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) as the nation transitions from a wartime mind-set.
For the FAA and all of those interested in transportation policy and appropriations, this week is unusually important. The Transportation Department could see its presidential nominee, Anthony Foxx, voted on and confirmed by senators, while other Capitol Hill action will provide key insight into expected spending for fiscal 2014.
The owners of Heathrow have said that building a new airport to serve the U.K. capital would leave the country worse off. In its report—Heathrow: Best placed for Britain—the airport owners LHR Airports Limited, along with architectural and planning consultants AECOM and Quod, have said that expanding Heathrow is quickest and cheapest way of maintaining a hub airport with connection to growing markets.
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic say they expect to be able to begin coordinating their pricing and schedules on U.S.-U.K. routes under a transatlantic joint venture within the first three months of 2014, now that Delta closed on its 49% stake in Virgin. But the partnership also could provide some opportunities in the nearer term for vendors.
The Airbus air traffic management unit has secured a major airport as the first customer for an advanced version of its airport surface management system, although the airport’s identity will not be revealed until later this year.
Introducing the Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts.
A June 19 article on South African Airways inaccurately detailed the carrier’s Asian network. The Chairman and CEO quoted in a June 18 piece on SkyWest Inc. should have been Jerry Atkin.
Mitsubishi Aircraft will use “paperwork changes” to overcome union contract restrictions that forbid most U.S. mainline carriers from outsourcing flying on aircraft that exceed a certified maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 86,000 lb.—a cutoff that Mitsubishi will not meet under current plans for its MRJ90 and MRJ70LR jets.
The long wait for the release of the final aircraft repair station security rule continues as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extends its review of the new regulation past its 90-day window. After years of delay, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in March received final clearance from the Department of the Homeland Security on the congressionally-mandated rule and sent the document for OMB review on March 16.
Iberia is failing to make a profit in all its markets—including routes to Latin America—and more “sacrifices” are necessary to keep the airline afloat, parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) has warned. Until recently, Iberia’s core problem was its short- and medium-haul network, while its long-haul network overall turned a profit. But that has changed.
The tentative agreement that Alaska Airlines reached with its pilots union includes no aircraft size-related restrictions on outsourcing flights, but does add new job protections for the crew members if Alaska acquires or is acquired by another carrier.
Taiwan’s Aviation Safety Council (ASC) says pilots of a Far Eastern Air Transport MD-82 ignored the airline’s maximum tailwind limit during a second landing attempt at the Magong Airport in May 2012, leading to an overrun. The aircraft stopped approximately 328 ft. beyond temporary runway end lights put in place for a construction project, according to the ASC interim report issued this month. There were no injuries among the 172 passengers and crew on Flight 025 from Songshan to Magong.
Thales has completed the acquisition of a broad portfolio of capabilities from Egis Avia, a move that will strengthen Thales’ air traffic management offerings. The company in February announced that it was in exclusive talks with Egis Avia to purchase the ATM segments. The transfer has now formally occurred, says Thales. Among the Egis Avia products going to Thales are the Maestro arrival/departure flight sequencing systems, Atalis aeronautical information systems, a data link front-end processer and ATN router, and ATC and tower simulators.
Delta Air Lines’ recently acquired Pinnacle Airlines unit on June 26 will unveil a new brand and logo when dedicating its new headquarters at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The renaming of Pinnacle to Endeavor Air, which has already been communicated to employees, is scheduled to be formally introduced Aug. 1, say several sources close to the airlines.
