Despite operating in a turbulent market, Lan Argentina believes demand is growing and will make a few adjustments to improve costs to achieve its goal of 50% growth in 2007 from last year.
The Senate Commerce Committee wants to examine the potential effects of airline mergers and industry consolidation in a "state of the industry" hearing on Jan. 24. The panel also plans a hearing on "promoting travel to America," in which it will look at "economic and security concerns."
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] JAN. 21-24 -- NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, Phoenix, Ariz., www.nbaa.org JAN. 27 -- Airline Pilot Job Fair hosted by AIR, Inc., Dallas, Texas Sheraton Grand Hotel @ DFW., 1-800-JET-JOBS (538-5627), www.jet-jobs.com, email: Customer Service at [email protected]. JAN. 29-30 -- SMi: Future MRO in Civil Aviation, London, +44 (0) 20 7827 6000, fax: +44 (0) 20 7827 6001, email: [email protected]
Cleveland-Hopkins Airport has tapped Todd Payne as its new chief of marketing and air service development. In the newly created position, Payne will be responsible for expanding air and cargo service at Hopkins. He will also oversee advertising, public relations, and the airport's customer service and ambassador teams. Before coming to Cleveland, Payne was regional sales manager for the eastern U.S. at Hawaiian Airlines, and he brings 21 years of travel industry marketing and sales leadership experience to his new job.
Southwest would be very interested in operating at New York LaGuardia if a merger shakes some slots loose, says CEO Gary Kelly. Regulators may require a merger such as US Airways-Delta to divest some slots, and this "may be the only opportunity" to move into LGA for many years. "We would be foolish not to consider [LGA slots] very carefully."
Invited Asa Hutchinson, former Homeland Security Dept. under secretary for border and transportation security, to rejoin the firm as a partner in the Washington office.
The latest guidance issued by Continental leads at least one analyst to predict a "modest loss" for the airline in the first quarter, hard on the heels of a profitable 2006. JP Morgan analyst Jamie Baker said the guidance caused him to change his first-quarter prediction for the airline that was issued the previous day. His first forecast -- like those of other analysts -- predicted a first-quarter profit, following slightly better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.
Selected Jon Johanson to receive the Wiley Post Spirit Award for his many aviation achievements, such as becoming first person to fly solo over the South Pole in a single-engine aircraft and the first person to circumnavigate the world solo three times in a home-built aircraft.
Virgin America last week unveiled a key part of its inflight product thanks to a new deal with EchoStar Communications, which will provide live satellite television and other entertainment.
Alitalia Chairman and CEO Giancarlo Cimoli, has resigned from the board of directors of Air France-KLM in a move that mirrors the resignation of Air France-KLM group CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta from Alitalia's board last week (DAILY, Jan. 18). Spinetta's resignation prompted the Italian airline to call for a shareholders meeting on Feb. 22 to designate a new board of directors, as Alitalia's has only two members left.
FAA's goals for en route air traffic control improvements this year include airspace projects in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston, and internal redesign of RNAV routing in Salt Lake City, says VP-En Route and Oceanic Services Rick Day. He also stresses the need for enhancing the safety culture in the en route arena.
Allegiant Airlines is "among industry leaders" when it comes to profit margins, says Merrill Lynch analyst Michael Linenberg; the carrier's share price is up 64% since an initial public offering last month. Allegiant has generated net income for the past 15 consecutive quarters and has one of the lowest cost structures among its peers, Linenberg said, adding that "Allegiant is very much a growth story."
Air Madrid's labor union ATAM rejected the agreement that will let Air Plus Comet take some of Air Madrid's routes and employees (DAILY, Jan. 19), claiming the deal covers only temporary collective labor contracts and "sacrifices the workers," Spanish news reports say. Madrid's El Pais reports the union requested an emergency meeting with Air Plus Coment and Spain's Ministry of Development (Fomento) to "renegotiate said agreement, which was drafted and signed without the presence and consensus of the workers."
The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services has launched a recruitment campaign to help reach its employment goals for the next two years. NATS said it has "challenging [controller] recruitment targets" in 2007 and 2008, so it has contracted a new advertising agency and unveiled an advertising push. Ads have appeared in national newspapers and popular employment web sites. Controller applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet certain education requirements. -AS
Virgin America is subleasing a couple of its Airbus narrowbodies and "will probably sublease a couple more," says CEO Fred Reid. The Ascend database shows the carrier has seven Airbus A320s and a single A319. Reid notes that Virgin America's reply to DOT's turndown of its certification application is responsive and comprehensive and that he's "more confident than ever that Virgin America will fly."
