Expedia's third-quarter net profit sank 38% to $59 million partly because of a drop in revenue from U.S. air bookings, but the online travel agent claims that the results will turn around in 2007.
A group of 10 family members of some victims killed when a GOL jetliner crashed after allegedly colliding with a Legacy executive jet on Sept. 29 in Brazil (DAILY, Oct. 23) has sued two companies deemed liable for the accident at the U.S. Federal District Court in Brooklyn. The lawsuit for unspecified damages names as defendants Excel-Aire Service, of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., as operator of the Legacy, and Honeywell International as maker of transponders on board. A spokeswoman for Excel-Aire said the company is preparing a reply.
Delta plans to boost its access to Europe thanks to 14 new code-share flights operated by SkyTeam partner KLM, effective Dec. 1. With the new links, customers can fly between Delta's U.S. gateways and Amsterdam and then connect to flights to Bremen, Germany; Aberdeen, Scotland; Luxembourg; Riga, Latvia; Bergen and Stavanger, Norway; and Newcastle, U.K., within five hours of arrival.
Travelspan G.T. may have to push back plans to launch service from Georgetown, Guyana, to Fort Lauderdale and Miami (DAILY, April 19) because the U.S. Transportation Dept. gave the carrier the green light for a New York Kennedy service but deferred action on the Florida locales.
Austrian Airlines plans to be the first European carrier to win the right to operate scheduled services to Iraq as early as next month. The carrier said on Friday that "preparations are now well underway" to fly to the city of Erbil in Northern Iraq, starting Dec. 11. The carrier will operate the route twice a week from Vienna with an Airbus A319. "The city of Erbil in Northern Iraq is a safe gateway," the airline said. Erbil is the fourth-largest city in Iraq and the fastest-growing in the country, the carrier said.
Boeing added 18 new orders to its backlog in the week ending Nov. 7. This total included 15 previously announced 777 orders from FedEx and three unidentified orders: one 737 and two VIP jets -- a 737 version and a 747. Boeing has 793 net orders for the year-to-date.
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. 13-15 -- Aerospace & Defense Programs, Phoenix
SAS Group said its third-quarter profit was up 12% from last year. The company's net profit reached SEK559 million (US$78 million). Sales increased by 8.4% to SEK18 billion (US$2.5 million). Following years of massive yield declines, average fares improved by 9% at Scandinavian Airlines. SAS Group consists of five carriers -- SAS, Spanair, Blue1, Wideroe and Air Baltic.
Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings on Friday reported a sharp 62% drop in third-quarter net profit to C$103 million (US$91 million), but excluding a large one-time charge, the carrier had a double-digit operating margin helped by higher revenues in almost all regions. The net income included a C$102 million special charge related to Air Canada's obligations for the redemption of frequent flyer miles and a C$52 million gain thanks to the sale of more than 1 million US Airways shares. Excluding charges, the airline had a 10.3% operating margin.
Named Doug Kight to succeed Jerry Calhoun as VP-human resources for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and appointed Lianne Stein VP-Boeing International and president-Boeing Germany.
There are more flight simulators in the world than demand, reports Roei Ganzarski, Alteon director-business development and marketing. He says a "rationalization effort" is needed worldwide, as there is a 120%-150% overcapacity. "There is a lot of waste, which the airlines pay for."
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] NOV. 13-14 -- Halldale Media Group's European Airline Training Symposium and Exhibits, Maritim Pro Arte Hotel, Berlin, 407-942-0071, www.halldale/com/eats, email: gabby@ halldale.com. NOV. 14-15 -- American Astronautical Society National Conference and 53rd Annual Meeting: "The Human + Machine Equation." Pasadena (Calif.) Hilton, 703-866-0020, fax 703-866-3526, www.astronautical.org
Frontier got the go-ahead from the U.S. Transportation Dept. for its planned service to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, from San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. (DAILY, Oct. 4). Frontier will launch the new service in March [OST-2006-25993].
30 Years Ago Nov. 15, 1976 -- Big squabble could be brewing among airlines over rights to Atlantic City, where legal gambling soon will be permitted. Allegheny stock was one of the most active last week, reflecting interest in prospects of the seashore resort. Northwest already filed to serve the city. 20 Years Ago
U.S. Transportation Security Administration lost Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Yolanda Clark, who left to join the American Automobile Association. Clark will become AAA's managing director of public relations at the Heathrow, Fla., national office.
LAN Argentina's flights to Miami can stop over in Dominican Republic vacation hotspot Punta Cana. The carrier won an amended exemption taking the stopover into account from the U.S. Transportation Dept. last week [OST-2005-22140].
Aerolineas Argentinas last week made its 146th deposit into the escrow account established to address the disparities in landing fees paid by U.S. carriers and AR at Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport. The account now stands at $3,942,895. American, FedEx, United and UPS last year attempted to get the U.S. Transportation Dept. to distribute the funds (DAILY, Sept. 23, 2005) -- action AR opposed -- but the department has not addressed the request [OST-2003-15092].
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association supported the campaigns of 143 House and Senate lawmakers during last week's election, with 90% of these candidates winning election. "When it comes time to talk about user fees, those winners will remember -- and listen to our arguments," AOPA President Phil Boyer tells members. Of the money given by AOPA, 56% went to Republicans and 44% to Democrats.
Republic Airways Holdings is readying the first CRJ-200 slated to fly for Continental next year after recently taking delivery of the former Independence Air aircraft. Eventually, RAH's Chautauqua subsidiary will fly 24 CRJ-200s and 20 ERJ-145s for Continental. The CRJ-200 is a new aircraft type for RAH, which flies Embraer ERJ-135s/140s/145s and 170s.
The Eurocontrol council last week approved an air traffic management roadmap that will, among other things, create a new organization to provide industry input. The roadmap document focuses on the role and priorities of Eurocontrol in the future ATM system. It establishes an Air Navigation Services Board (ANSB), which is intended to become the "new single platform" for industry and Eurocontrol to discuss the ATM network and operations. The board includes CEOs of ATC organizations, as well as airline and airport representatives.
Aviation security policy could be tweaked early in the new Congress, with incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) promising to implement all the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. This could mean more emphasis on cargo screening and more life for the registered traveler program and missile defense for commercial aircraft, industry sources say.
