Japan's All Nippon Airways on May 1 will boost code sharing with Star Alliance partner United to include five routes from Nagoya, four from Osaka and ANA's flights between Tokyo and Hiroshima. The UA code will appear on flights from Nagoya to Ashikawa, Memanbetsu, Hakodate, Akita and Wakkanai. The code will also appear on flights to Membetsu and Wakkanai from Osaka, as well as ANA's Osaka-Matsuyama and Osaka-Kagoshima flights [OST-2002-13144].
Roof work on the new terminal under construction at Indianapolis International Airport has been halted because roof trusses being installed shifted in installation and created a potentially dangerous situation. The work stoppage has not affected other projects at the new terminal, said spokesman David Dawson. "We continue to do work on the concourse, the roadways and the parking garage," he said.
London Heathrow transatlantic business-class yields could fall in double digits if the preliminary U.S./European Union open-skies deal (DAILY, March 5) is ratified, says one industry watcher. With the current Bermuda II agreement replaced, JP Morgan airline analyst Chris Avery expects both Continental and Delta to start serving Heathrow from their respective New York hubs, and he sees incumbents British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American and United responding accordingly.
Emirates will carry SAS' code on its all-cargo flights to New York from Gothenburg, the stopover point for Emirates' Dubai-New York service. The carriers would start the code share on March 25, pending the award of U.S. regulatory authority [OST-2007-27427].
Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport has begun accepting enrollments for passengers to enroll in the Nexus program, which pre-clears travelers through border crossings between the United States and Canada.
RegionsAir over the weekend said it had temporarily ceased operations as AmericanConnection from St. Louis and Continental Connection from Cleveland. The carrier said the shutdown was voluntary, and the reason for the disruption in operations was related to pilot training that required an update with FAA. Late last year, Continental cited operational problems with RegionsAir on certain Essential Air Service routes in West Virginia (DAILY, Nov. 11, 2006). At that time RegionsAir also said it was looking for a new owner. -LR
British Airways says a proposed U.S./European Union aviation agreement will not hurt the airline as much as some financial analysts fear as it pushes for the U.K. government to take a hard line against the new agreement.
Under pressure from states and Congress, the Dept. of Homeland Security agreed to delay implementing the Real ID Act, which sets minimum verification standards for state-issued drivers licenses used for federal ID purposes -- such as air travel. The 2005 law required compliance by May 11, 2008, but DHS extended the deadline for states to begin issuing compliant cards to Jan. 1, 2010.
The European Commission launched an extensive two-month consultation about the need to uphold or to abolish the European Union's existing Computer Reservations Code of Conduct, introduced in 1989. The EC is asking all interested parties if general competition rules are not sufficient to regulate the CRS market, which has changed considerably with both the development of Internet booking engines and airlines' divestment of their shares in distribution companies.
Virgin America's detractors continue to argue the carrier has not proven its US citizenship, contending the latest round of financing by U.S. investors shouldn't change the U.S. Transportation Dept.'s determination that the carrier is not a U.S. citizen. Executives at Virgin America argue that after the second closing contingent on DOT's approval of its application, 76% of the total equity in the company would stem from U.S. investors (DAILY, Feb. 28).
Northwest lost $10,000 in December and $22,000 in January from operations, the carrier said in monthly reports to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Net losses totaled $30,000 and $349,000, respectively. Northwest increased cash and short-term investments during January from $2.058 billion to $2.236 billion (unrestricted), and from $424 million to $512 million (restricted).
The Indian government approved the merger of state-owned carriers Air-India and Indian, giving the new entity new muscle to better compete against domestic rival Jet Airways and international competitors Singapore Airlines, Emirates and British Airways. When the merger is completed in 2009, the airline, with a work force of 30,000 and 120 aircraft, will be among the top 30 in the world in terms of fleet size.
Icelandair Group, parent of Icelandair and 11 other subsidiaries, posted ISK2.6 billion (US$39.4 million) in 2006 net earnings and a 23% increase in operating income from 2005 to ISK56.1 billion (US$850 million). Icelandair will continue to build transatlantic services, says Gunnar Eklund, general manger for the Americas.
Aeroports de Paris is selling its 35% stake in Beijing Capital International Airport Company Ltd. in a deal worth about $230 million. BCIA oversees Beijing Capital International Airport. ADP subsidiary Aéroports de Paris Management held 253.5 million shares in the sino-foreign joint stock limited company.
R Technics signed a new component service deal with German carrier dba covering the airline's 10 Boeing 737 classics. Work begins in October once the current contract expires. Terms of the deal include SR Technics continuing to furnish a consignment stock at Munich exclusively for dba, and supply access to the MRO's component pool at London Heathrow. Dba signed its original deal with SR Technics in 1997. Air Berlin acquired dba last year. -LR
Comair pilots have accepted by a 68.75% vote an amended contract that that reduces the company's costs by $40 million over four years. The contract went into immediate effect after ballot counting March 2. Captains of 50-seat and 70-seat CRJ aircraft are taking a 7.75% and 12% pay cut, respectively. Pay for first officers of 50-seat aircraft and 70-seat aircraft is being reduced 7.75% and 13%, respectively.
Airline insurance premiums have continued to fall and will likely remain low for the foreseeable months, according to risk management service provider AON. For 2006, the airline insurance market dropped below $2 billion for the first time since 2000. The last quarter accelerated the decline. The hull and liability insurance market was on track to fall 7%, compared with 2005 through September but came in 17% lower as increased insurance capacity and industry safety performance drove premium prices down.
