Full-service carriers in India are "on average bleeding a remarkable 1.5 percentage points of market share every month to LCCs," according to the Centre For Asia Pacific Aviation. Using current fleet projections as a guide, CAPA says that loss won't ease any time soon, adding, "LCCs could therefore control over 35% of the domestic market by the end of 2006 and pass 50% in the second half of 2007.
While workers at Lloyd Aereo Boliviano accepted breaking off negotiations with TAA and pursuing other rescue options (DAILY, Aug. 22), the U.K.-based consortium was still hopeful the deal could be revived. Alvaro Mauricio Cassab, TAA's legal representative in Bolivia, told Cochabamba's Los Tiempos that the company would continue with legal steps to accept transfer of former President Ernesto Asbun's equity shares. Once this is completed, it would decide "whether to go or stay," a process estimated to take about 10 days.
US Airways will soon change its fare class codes to "streamline" America West and US Airways codes and to be compliant with Star Alliance. There will be 26 codes and to help remember them and their order, the carrier's revenue management team is holding a contest to come with the best mnemonic for all the classes. The carrier will go live with the new fare classes next month.
Colombia's state-owned Satena, operated as a commercial airline by the air force, grew by a record-breaking 25.26% in July to reach third place in market share with 13%. According to figures from the civil aviation department Aerocivil, Satena carried 78,591 more passengers in July than in the same month last year as it entered several routes with new Embraer regional jets.
Chile-based LAN group of airlines reports 4.7% systemwide increase in passenger traffic in July, compared with the same month last year, attributable to 5.8% growth on international flights. Domestic traffic fell by 3.4%, however. Systemwide cargo volume increased 5.4%.
Sydney-based Macquarie Airports (MAp) posted a profit of A$203.7 million (US$341.2 million), up almost 30% in the first half of the year ended June 30. Macquarie credited the increase to consolidation of Copenhagen Airports and the removal of security holder finance costs. MAp holds interests in six airports -- Copenhagen, the U.K.'s Birmingham and Bristol, Brussels, Rome and Sydney.
The U.S. Transportation Dept. fined Mesa Airlines $20,000 for prematurely using the Go trade name in advertisements before DOT's acceptance of the trade name registration, a violation of federal code.
A pro-strike vote by BMI pilots is giving labor representatives a boost going into next week's talks with management over pay and other grievances. BMI management on Wednesday agreed to come to the bargaining table, after the majority of votes cast by BMIbaby pilots came out in favor of a strike. That stance was reinforced yesterday, when the British Airline Pilots' Assoc. announced that a plurality of pilots for BMI Mainline and BMI Regional also voted in favor of a strike during last week's balloting.
German air traffic organization Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) is imposing airspace restrictions over several areas in Bavaria during the visit of the Pope Sept. 9-14. The restrictions apply to 11 areas in the Munich flight information region (FIR). In general, all VFR flights are prohibited in the restricted zones, except for police, military and emergency flights.
Pinnacle's prediction of launching talks soon with major airline partner Northwest was borne out now that Northwest has told the regional it is ready to discuss the air services agreement. But just when those discussions formally get underway remains up in the air due to a stipulation from Northwest that Pinnacle reach a contract with its pilots.
Tightened TSA security regulations have provided an opportunity for baggage-handling companies targeting passengers who want less hassle when checking bags. For a fee, Las Vegas-based Bags to Go and Orlando-based Baggage Airline Guest Services (BAGS) allow passengers to check baggage and get their boarding passes at off-site locations.
The Israeli ministry of finance has signed a renewable one-year agreement with Alitalia on a set of special fares and conditions for flights booked by Israeli government officials traveling professionally.
The National Guard is still deployed at four of California's top five airports two weeks after a foiled terrorist attack in London led Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to deploy the troops to help with security.
Mexicana is nearing a deal to acquire as many as 40 new Airbus narrowbody aircraft, The DAILY has learned, as part of its goal to move to nearly an all-Airbus fleet, but the order is contingent on reaching new agreements with all three of its major unions.
Virgin Blue's push to garner a larger portion of business travelers appears to be gaining traction as the airline's profits for the nine months ending June 30 rose 12%. The purchase of the carrier's majority stakeholder Patrick Corp. by Toll Holdings led Virgin Blue to move the reporting of its yearend results from September to June to match Toll's financial calendar.
Swissport proposed a new pay deal that prompted unions to call off a strike by baggage handlers at London Stansted Airport, but the threat of a strike by BMI's London Heathrow ground staff still remains.
St. George, Utah, is one step closer to getting a new airport now that FAA has completed its environmental impact analysis on a new site five miles southeast of the city's downtown area. The new site was chosen out of six potential sites. In its Record of Decision (ROD), FAA said the city's plans to build an airport with a 9,300-foot runway on 1,300 acres met all environmental and safety guidelines, and would not have an adverse affect on local parks. The new airport would be able to accommodate regional jets flown by hometown carrier SkyWest Airlines.
Boeing has completed the modification and certification of a 747-400 freighter conversion for Korean Air, the fourth such 747-400 conversion redelivered by Boeing to cargo operators. Boeing managed all phases of the conversion process, and contracted the hands-on modification work to Taikoo Aircraft Engineering in Xiamen, China. Meanwhile, Korean Air's Aerospace Division in Pusan, Korea is working on another -400 conversion, using a freighter kit supplied by Boeing. Korean has six firm orders for -400 freighter kits, and options for another 13.
The largest U.S. airlines reported an 11.1% jump in July mainline passenger unit revenue, thanks to strong domestic yield increases, according to the Air Transport Association,.
AOPA believes a New York state law requiring criminal background checks for trainee pilots will not withstand a court challenge because it pre-empts federal laws. AOPA says it will "pursue every possible venue to get this law overturned." TSA has issued an opinion that national pilot training security provisions will take precedence over state-imposed rules.
