U.S. transportation secretary nominee moved one step closer to starting her new job after the Senate Commerce Committee reported out the White House nomination by a unanimous vote.
Qatar Airways signed an agreement with CIT Aerospace to lease five Airbus A321s and one A320. Delivery is slated for 2007 through 2008. Doha-based Qatar Airways operates an all-Airbus fleet of 49 aircraft covering a network of 70 destinations. The carrier plans to more than double the size of the fleet to 110 aircraft by 2015.
President George Bush plans to nominate Steven Chealander to serve as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board for the remainder of a five-year term that expires in December 2007. Chealander is Manager of Flight Operations Efficiency at American Airlines.
Raleigh/Durham Airport has an economic impact of $12.6 billion a year to the regional economy, according to a new study commissioned by the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority.
Continental is asking the U.S. Transportation Dept. for a certificate authorizing it to serve all of the countries the U.S. has inked open-skies deals with, some 75 countries in total. Continental already has authority to serve some of the countries but maintains that a blanket certificate "will streamline Continental's authority, provide indefinite authority where time-limited authority is currently held and avoid unnecessary renewal applications" [OST-2006-25917]. -ARS
The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of a UPS DC-8 that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia in February spurred concern that problems exist between air traffic controllers and pilots in communicating changes to runway landing assignments.
Mesaba management could void labor contracts Oct. 15 if the court overseeing its bankruptcy renews the carrier's authority to reject agreements with pilots, mechanics and flight attendants.
The Swedish employee union Tjänstemannaförbun det HTF is threatening SAS with a cabin crew strike unless an agreement is reached on improved working conditions.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) plans to open an office in Dubai Oct. 1 in the airport free zone at Dubai International Airport. MHI said the Middle East accounted for 25% of its overseas orders in 2006.
European air traffic control organizations and industry representatives approved the broad outlines of a Europe-wide standard for controller support systems.
FAA has dismantled most of the approved contractor program known as RESULTS that was allowing contractors to overcharge FAA by millions. In a report issued yesterday, the U.S. Transportation Dept.'s Office of Inspector General outlined a host of problems with the RESULTS program, but acknowledged that FAA has moved quickly to shut the program down. The audit was launched at the request of Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) after a whistleblower highlighted examples of waste and abuse.
Nav Canada reported yesterday that its traffic increased 4.9% in July compared to July 2005. For the fiscal year to date -- which extends through Aug. 31 -- traffic was up 3.4%. Nav Canada measures traffic in terms of charging units.
Virgin Atlantic won U.S. Transportation Dept. approval to carry Singapore Airlines' code on Virgin flights from London to Los Angeles and San Francisco (DAILY, Sept. 8). Virgin needed the department to amend the carriers' code-share authority, which previously covers Virgin's flights to Miami, Boston and Washington, to include Los Angeles and San Francisco [OST-2004-18651].
Northwest yesterday reached an interim agreement with global distribution system Amadeus that will protect agents who use the system from a $3.50 per segment airline surcharge on tickets booked on the airline.
Air China yesterday signed a deal with Expedia to use the online travel agent's WWTE private-label technology to provide booking services for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) said yesterday it is working with the private sector to develop smaller explosives detection systems (EDS) for airport security checkpoints to thwart the threat posed by liquid explosives, but it could be at least 12 months before anything is ready for widespread use.
The U.S. Transportation Dept., acting on a petition submitted by Colgan Air, tentatively decided to vacate the award of essential air service -- and subsidies -- at Jamestown, N.Y., and Bradford, Pa., to RegionsAir (DAILY, Sept. 18). Colgan moved to have the award vacated after RegionsAir pushed back the already delayed takeover of the Jamestown and Bradford service. Colgan was the incumbent on the route and earlier this year bid to continue the service, but DOT ultimately selected RegionsAir's service proposal.
Transport Canada on Friday approved Air Canada to operate scheduled air service between Canada and Algeria through a code-share operation. Air Canada plans to operate third country code-sharing to Algeria as part of a deal with Star partner Lufthansa. "Air Canada's designation sets the stage for the first scheduled air service by a Canadian carrier between Canada and Algeria," said Transport Canada Minister Lawrence Cannon. "This service may increase the trade and tourism possibilities between both countries." -SL
Passenger airlines competing for 2007 China frequencies yesterday filed exhibits supporting their claims, citing tens of thousands of signatures and letters from lawmakers and business leaders.
