The U.S. Homeland Security Dept. plans to hold a public hearing June 13 on a proposal to collect biometric data from passengers exiting the U.S and isn’t going along with the airline industry’s request to extend the rule’s 60-day comment period, according to a notice on the hearing obtained by The DAILY. "Because [DHS] is operating under a statutory deadline for implementation of a US-VISIT air exit system, however, DHS will not extend the comment period for the rule," introduced April 24, the notice says. A Government Job
Brazil’s airlines are scaling back fleet growth in the face of high fuel costs. Gol, which registered first-quarter losses of $45 million, adjusted fleet renewal this year from 112 to 108 aircraft. The carrier blamed the cuts on fuel costs and the burden of carrying subsidiary Varig, which itself suspended long-haul international services because of surging fuel costs.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) signed a memorandum of understanding that could allow for collaboration on ground handling and establishing a codeshare. The MOU proposes several initiatives that the airlines say are likely to include “a future code-share agreement as well as collaboration on frequent-flyer programs, ground handling, customer support, cargo and airport lounge access.”
The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted yesterday to make aviation's inclusion in the emissions trading scheme (ETS) more stringent than the European Commission had originally proposed. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted to lower the cap on emissions to 90% of the 2004-2006 levels, or 10% lower than the measure approved by the Council of Ministers, said Piotr Zalewski, spokesman for the Environment Committee.
EasyJet has made good on a threat to file for a judicial review against the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over a 21% hike in price caps the agency approved at London Gatwick Airport effective April 1. Ryanair joined EasyJet in a protest over the price caps, also put into effect at London Stansted Airport, placing the disputed amount of fees in an escrow account pending a final decision (DAILY, April 21).
Startup Aero Regional Paraguay (ARP) is set to take off in June with one 86-seat BAe 146. Two more aircraft will join the fleet in the next few months. CEO Silvio Segovia told reporters the carrier is now completing technical requirements with civil aviation authorities and will at first limit operations to charters before starting scheduled services on trunk domestic routes.
Mexico and the European Commission initialed a so-called “horizontal” air transport agreement, which removes nationality restrictions from the existing twelve bilateral accords between Mexico and European Union member states. This means any EU airline will be allowed to operate flights between Mexico and any EU member state “where it is established and where a bilateral agreement with Mexico exists and traffic rights are available,” explained the commission. The accord with Mexico is the 37th of its kind.
Southwest Airlines finished testing an express baggage-drop kiosk at Oakland International Airport to give travelers more control over check-in. Many Southwest’s customers can already print boarding passes on southwest.com, said spokeswoman Marilee McInnis. “We felt it was important to offer a baggage check-in option at the airport that would expedite the process of tendering their checked baggage to Southwest,” she explained.
India’s Jet Airways took delivery of its latest Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a ceremony at the Berlin Air Show. The aircraft forms part of an order for 15 Airbus A330-200 aircraft placed between 2005 and 2007. Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said given today’s high fuel prices and intense fare competition and irrational pricing, he was not looking at immediate orders. However, Jet would not delay any deliveries, he told The DAILY.
American Airlines is retiring its Saab 340B fleet under a plan to cut 12% of the carrier’s domestic capacity. American Eagle is currently operating 33 Saab 340Bs. With the loss of these 34-seat turboprops, American now confirms it will cut as many as 119 aircraft from its fleet if mainline and regional jet retirements announced on May 21 are maintained.
Silverjet, suddenly fighting for its survival, was working on a financing deal late yesterday that it hoped to finalize this week, airline CEO Lawrence Hunt said. The DAILY reached Hunt Tuesday night while he was on a conference call trying to put the deal together.
Midwest and Frontier last week said that they, too, would begin to charge passengers a fee for checking a second bag. The announcements came only days after American announced that it would charge passengers a $15 fee for the first checked bag (DAILY, May 22).
Employees at Venezuelan carrier Aeropostal are aligning themselves with the Makled Group in the brouhaha between Makled and former owner Nelson Ramiz (DAILY, May 27) over control of the carrier. On May 22, dozens of Aeropostal employees demonstrated against Ramiz’s return in front of a civil court dealing with the issue. The court ruled for Makled, allowing the purchase process to proceed subject to several conditions. Makled also plans to implement an across-the-board 20% salary increase for the labor force, the first in three years.
Herb Kelleher, who on May 21 became the former chairman of the airline he helped found, will continue working on special projects for Southwest. But, he also might find the time to write a book. Although Kelleher will be called upon to help Southwest work with Boeing on planning the next generation 737 aircraft, as well as lending a hand with its dispute with the FAA over a $10.2 million fine for flying planes that did not comply with an airworthiness directive, he believes a book is in his future.
The U.S. Commerce Dept. named Carlson Companies Chairman and CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson to become chairman of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Aviation Director William DeCota to become vice chair. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will continue to serve as ex-officio members of the board.
30 Years Ago May 30, 1978 - ATI extended to airline scheduling committees at various large airports, including Washington National and New York Kennedy, is being reviewed by CAB. One CAB staffer said, “We are concerned whenever a group of airlines gets together” to allocate airport slots. 20 Years Ago
U.S. cargo operator ABX Holdings has changed its name to Air Transport Service Group, and will now list its stock on Nasdaq under the symbol ATSG. The alteration will not affect the holding company’s subsidiaries, which continue to operate under the same designations.
Military airspace off the East Coast and elsewhere probably won’t be opened up to airline flights for the entire summer travel season, says Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. This normally restricted airspace has been opened to commercial traffic during peak holiday periods, and airlines would like to have access more often. Wynne also says there should be a more efficient system for requesting commercial use of military airspace.
Alenia Aeronautica subsidiary Alenia North America appointed retired Air Force Lieutenant General and former Commander U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Michael Wooley to its board.
