AirTran Airways has become the launch customer for an enhanced Sabre tool using XML connectivity for online bookings, and one that gives low-cost carriers that have not participated with global distribution systems in the past, a platform to distribute their inventory.
Airbus and Boeing are now clearly in record territory for annual order intake with both having reported figured showing progress through the end of November. Airbus has the lead in the race, with 1,204 gross orders at the start of December, and Boeing recording 1,144 net orders through Dec. 4. More deals are expected to close before yearend. For instance, DAE, which committed to taking 100 aircraft from both manufacturers, was hoping to close the contracts before 2008.
A plan has emerged on Capitol Hill to provide more funds to the Defense Dept. for Iraq operations, as well as the rest of the federal government now operating under a continuing resolution, but the outcome is far from certain. The House on Dec. 11 is expected to take up a convoluted appropriations bill essentially for all non-DOD discretionary spending, and worth more than $500 billion. Using the annual foreign operation spending measure as its vehicle, lawmakers would amend or peg other legislative language to it.
Canadian air traffic increased by an average of 5.6% in October, according to air traffic control provider Nav Canada. For Nav Canada’s fiscal year to date, which runs through Aug. 31, traffic was 4.9% higher. Traffic is measured in weighted charging units.
U.S. citizens traveling to Europe in 2007 are projected to surpass the record set in 2000. During the peak season — May to September — a record 6,994,329 U.S. travelers flew transatlantic, up 2.7% from the same period in 2006, according to Donald N. Martin & Co. The largest airlines serving the market saw their traffic grow an average 8.3% on 5.8% more capacity.
Germany’s Fraport AG has decided to appeal to annul a decision made by the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on its claim against the Philippine government.
The Senate is expected to soon hold a confirmation hearing for the White House’s FAA Administrator nominee Robert Sturgell. The Senate Commerce Committee is believed to be considering holding the hearing during the week of Dec. 17. However, many observers are skeptical that the Democratic Congress will confirm any Bush nominee for a full five-year term at the helm of FAA.
The U.S. aerospace industry will deliver more than 480 civil transport aircraft worth $33.5 billion in 2008, the Aerospace Industries Association predicts. General aviation will add another $12.8 billion in sales. There will be 443 large commercial aircraft deliveries in 2007, AIA says. The civil aircraft sector should “continue on an upward trajectory for at least an additional three or four years,” AIA says.
Pinnacle carried 835,086 passengers on the flights its operated as Northwest Airlink in November, up 10.4% from the same month last year. Passenger traffic increased 7.4% on 2.2% more capacity, resulting in a 3.7 percentage-point increase in load factor to 78.3%. Traffic for the year to date, meanwhile, is also up — the airline flew some 4.3 billion revenue passenger miles, up 8.3%, on 7.3% more seat offer. Load factor for the January-November period stood at 77.1%, up 0.8 percentage points from the same period in 2006.
Emirates’ vacation department plans to put together tour packages for Americans wanting to visit Dubai, said Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed Bid Saeed Al-Maktoum. “Dubai is a very cosmopolitan city, and we want to see more people come here,” he adds . Delta is looking to spend $50 million-$100 million at New York Kennedy Airport in the next two years on the facility’s customer-facing areas, says President and CFO Ed Bastian. The carrier’s JFK facility plan details will be announced “sometime in 2008,” he adds.
The Commercial Aviation Safety Teamappointed Continental’s Senior Director-Safety and Regulatory Compliance Don Gunther as its incoming Industry co-chair. Gunther succeeds Hank Krakowski, who recently became chief operating officer of FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. Continental Airlinesnamed John Slater managing director-Latin America, effective Jan. 1. L-3 Communicationsappointed Karen Tripp VP-corporate communications. JetBirdtapped Carsten Dettmar to become head of finance, effective Feb. 1.
The U.S. Transportation Dept. is backing away from congestion pricing for New York airports, and sources say DOT is instead looking at slot auctions as well as extending flight caps to all three New York region airports. DOT officials last week told industry representatives it will not carry out its threat to introduce congestion pricing to alleviate New York delays (DAILY, Dec. 7). But the White House still wants to bring in some sort of market mechanism for New York, and DOT has indicated some type of slot auction system could be proposed.
UAL Corp.’s board of directors approved a special distribution of $2.15 per share to holders of UAL common stock on Jan. 9, which will be paid out on Jan. 23.
JetBlue, US Airways and Continental are joining Spirit and Delta in proceedings that will see the award of 21 new opportunities to serve the U.S.-Colombia market. Spirit is the only carrier to have applied for all 21 frequencies. It also indicated its interest in seven other frequencies that could be revoked from American (DAILY, Nov. 30)
Travel Industry Association of America President and CEO Roger Dow was named Association Executive of the Year by Association Trends, a weekly publication for association professionals. Dow was recognized for his role in making the travel industry’s voice heard on Capitol Hill through the creation of the Discover America Partnership, as well as for other actions. Dow said, “I’m humbled by the honor, and feel it’s as much a recognition of how the leaders of our industry have come together to give us a bigger voice in Washington.”
American is asking the U.S. Transportation Dept. to reconsider an order that indicates it will weigh reawarding seven of American’s U.S.-Colombia frequencies in proceedings to hand out recently won rights (DAILY, Nov. 30), saying the action is “arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion, and should be vacated forthwith.”
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) employees last week gained additional time to fight the creditors push for bankruptcy after a civil judge elected to send the case to a higher bench. Civil judge Basilio Cruz last week dismissed the workers’ appeal against his ruling in favor of bankruptcy (DAILY, Dec. 6) but also reported transfer of the appeal for confirmation to the higher Superior Court of Justice, a procedure that might take up to three months due to a jam-packed calendar.
Alitalia confirmed that its board will examine three non-binding offers to acquire the Italian state’s shareholding in its capital. Next to Air France-KLM and AP Holding, the consortium set up by Air One founder Carlo Toto, the board also accepted to review the proposal tabled by Antonio Baldassarre (DAILY, Dec. 7). Last month, the consortium set up by the former chairman of the Italian constitutional court was rejected for failing to produce sufficient information to Alitalia’s privatization adviser, Citigroup.
