30 Years Ago Nov. 25, 1977 -- Most carriers continue to oppose the imposition of mandatory on-time arrival standard -- 75% as the minimum rate -- as proposed by the Aviation Consumer Action Project, and have also severely criticized a CAB bureau's plan to inform passengers of flights that are "subject to frequent delay." 20 Years Ago
Aeroports de Paris posted a slim 0.8% increase in passenger numbers, to 7.1 million, in October year over year. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport's traffic was up 1.4% to 5 million passengers, while Paris Orly Airport was down 0.7% at 2.1 million passengers. For the first 10 months, traffic increased 4.8%. An Air France flight attendants strike had a limited effect on traffic at -0.3%, for the first 10 months of the year. Despite this, ADP raised its 2007 forecast of passenger traffic 4.8%-5%.
Spanish bank Caja Madrid has increased its shareholding in take-over target Iberia, sharpening battle lines between it and a TPG/British Airways-led consortium. After buying 7% of the public float of Iberia from BBVA, it now has also exercised its option to buy more than 6% of the airline's shares that were being sold by distribution company Logista. In total, Caja Madrid now holds more than 23% in Iberia. Caja Madrid, which is owned by the local government, says it plans to hold on to its holding but hasn't signaled if it is looking to buy more shares.
Pacific Wings hit back at Mokulele Airlines, alleging that Mokulele's attempt to get the U.S. Transportation Dept. to reopen Essential Air Service carrier selection in Hawaii (DAILY, Nov. 1) is more about ensuring its own survival than about Pacific Wings' service.
BAE Systems believes there is strong potential for regional jet sales in Africa -- nearly half the total African airline fleet comprises regional aircraft, but only 10% of the total are regional jets. The regional jet share increased from just 3% of the fleet in the space of 12 months, BAE says.
FAA is accepting industry's request to allow more time for commenting on its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast rule. The new comment deadline is March 3, 2008 -- two months later than the original deadline. Several industry groups asked for the extension because they need more time assess the cost burden of the rule.
Nashville International Airport and John Tune Airport have an economic effect of $3.7 billion a year, according to a new study by Wilbur Smith Associates. The study found that one out of 20 jobs in the Nashville economic area can be tied directly to Nashville and Tune airports. "With more than 5,600 on-airport jobs, Nashville is the 10th-largest workplace in the region, and its total economic impact comprises 6.2% of the gross regional product of Middle Tennessee," it said.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines last week named Bradford Holt president and chief operating officer, replacing Bryan LaBrecque, who announced his retirement in early November as president, and former COO Anthony DiNota, who resigned in October. Separately, the Air Line Pilots Association unit at ASA ratified a new thee-year contract that gives them pay increases, work rule and benefit improvements and a signing bonus for active pilots.
The Aero Club of Washington will host the 60th Annual Wright Memorial Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Friday, Dec. 14. The dinner honors the 2007 recipient of the NAA Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, pilot and astronaut Eugene Cernan. He was the second man to walk in space and the last man to walk on the moon. The most recent award winners were Norman Mineta, Pete Aldridge, Bob Crandall and Sen. John Glenn. For more information, call 703-327-7082 or e-mail [email protected]. [email protected]
Spirit intends to launch service between Fort Lauderdale and Cartagena, Colombia, pending U.S. Transportation Dept. approval. The airline last week told DOT it wanted exemption authority to serve the open-skies service point with its Airbus A319 or Airbus A321 aircraft. Initially, the service would operate twice weekly but would be upgraded to a daily offering on March 9 [DOT-OST-2007-0075].
Recent history shows that Continental's share price is likely to rally soon after its latest steep slide, JP Morgan notes. Continental's shares dropped 30% over 30 trading days, which has occurred 18 times since 1993. Each time, the share price has bounced back after hitting this trigger point, JP Morgan says.
Although US Airways' proposed Beijing service is caught up in a debate about gate availability at Philadelphia Airport, the airline stresses it is already taking steps to launch the China route in 2009. US Airways says it has met with consultants and advisers in China, and has sent teams to China to meet with "relevant Chinese government, airport and airline officials." The carrier notes "these are not the actions of a carrier disinterested in serving China."
The European Parliament is expected to demand that the European Union's draft legislation on airport charges (DAILY, Jan. 25) apply only to major airports. An amendment voted last week by the House's transport committee states that the new rules should apply only to airports whose annual traffic is more than 5 million passengers or which account for more than 15% of the annual passenger movements in the EU country where it is located.
A bill that would transfer airport employee badging responsibility from airports to the Transportation Security Administration for access to Federal Special Security Zones (FSSZ) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 4177, introduced by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), was introduced in the wake of the arrest of 30 undocumented workers who carried illegal badges at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
American says it will offer a series of fresh contract proposals to the Allied Pilots Association before the end of the year. The union, meanwhile, is likely to present the remainder of its opening proposals during sessions this week, and the negotiating schedule for the rest of the year will also be worked out.
Zagat Survey has released two surveys ranking domestic and international airlines for 2007, with Virgin America and Midwest each topping four of the top categories in the domestic survey. Zagat received responses from 7,498 frequent flyers and travel professionals. Virgin America had the highest scores for premium service overall, for comfort, service and food. Midwest Airlines was ranked the highest for economy service overall, for comfort, service and food. Southwest took the highest scores for its Web site, frequent flyer program and timeliness.
You can now register online for AVIATION WEEK events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) NOV. 28-29 -- A&D Finance Conference, New York, N.Y. APRIL 15-17, 2008 -- MRO/MRO Military North America, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. SEPT. 12 -- Management Forums, Green Aviation, Brussels, Belgium OCT. 2-3 -- Lean/Six Sigma, San Francisco, Calif. OCT. 29 -- Avionics Outlook, Phoenix, Ariz.
The candidates for the privatization of Alitalia are expected to table formal bids this week. As a consequence, the airline's board meeting that will identify the preferred bidder "could be held within the first half of the coming month of December," said the airline.
