China and the U.S. plan to hold government-to-government aviation talks in Washington Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The two countries last met in April in Beijing, when the Chinese government said it was in no rush to sign an open-skies deal because of several concerns, including the problems Chinese citizens face in getting U.S. entry visas (DAILY, April 24).
The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority is stepping in to help customers of Travel World Inter- national Ltd. after the company ceased trading this week. Through the Air Travel Organizer's Licensing program, CAA plans to use a GBP933,516 bond supplied by Travel World to guide 500 travelers currently abroad back to the U.K., and reimburse passengers who have flights booked with TWI. Based in Ilford, Essex, TWI sold package deals and flights through it own brand and affiliates Jewels of the World and flightcabin.com. -LR
By: Steve Lott, Aviation Daily U.S. airline executives readily admit they still have a long way to go to bring costs in line with high fuel costs -- even after dragging some of their companies through bankruptcy -- but the industry as a whole has made tremendous strides in terms of flying more seats with significantly fewer employees.
Dragonair reported a 14% jump in July traffic, which was the first time in the airline's history that it has flown more than half a million customers in one month.
United yesterday applied to the U.S. Transportation Dept. to launch nonstop service in March between Washington Dulles and Beijing, but the carrier faces significant competition for the new frequency.
Republic Airways Holdings (RAH) is lending a hand to Delta in its JFK operations, flying 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135s while Mesa fits the 37-seat Dash 8s originally slated for some of that flying with kits to ensure the flight data recorders (FDRs) on those aircraft capture the correct parameters.
Indian carrier SpiceJet converted 10 Boeing 737 options into five firm orders for the 737-800 and five of the new 737-900ER. The preliminary agreement for this deal was announced in February. The options are part of an order SpiceJet placed in February 2005. Delivery is expected to begin in late 2007.
Australia's Jetstar this week signed a deal with Gate Gourmet to cater the airline's new long-haul international routes, starting in November. The Jetstar long-haul product claims to be on of the few to provide food for sale on long-haul flights. The carrier will start flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to six international destinations -- Bangkok, Phuket, Osaka, Honolulu, Ho Chi Minh City and Bali. Gate Gourmet has been managing the provisioning of the domestic catering since the start of the Jetstar operation in May 2004.
Australia's Regional Express (Rex) this week unveiled plans to fast-track acquisition talks with troubled Queensland-based Sunshine Express, which was recently forced to ground one of its Fairchild Metro 23s after the plane was damaged during maintenance.
Beirut's international airport could reopen to regular traffic within the next week, the Lebanese government said yesterday, if the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah holds and there is no risk to commercial flights.
Continental subsidiary Continental Micronesia and Northwest want to use slots made available at Tokyo Narita Airport for the upcoming winter season to boost service in the Guam-Tokyo market. The 14 weekly slots made available by Japan would let one U.S. carrier operate seven weekly roundtrips at Narita's Runway B. Air Mike and Northwest were the only carriers to indicate to the U.S. Transportation Dept. an interest in the slots.
Airlines are growing increasingly frustrated with U.K. airport operator BAA, as passenger screening delays are expected once again to prevent carriers from resuming their full flight schedules at London Heathrow. BAA promised travelers there would be fewer cancellations today, although British Airways expects to operate only 80% of its Heathrow schedule, the same level as Monday. Airline executives are lambasting BAA for not committing enough resources to deal with the tighter security requirements imposed after last week's bomb scare.
Mexicana yesterday signed a new multi-year agreement with Worldspan that will allow the global distribution system to distribute the airline's schedules and fares.
After stalling for nearly a year, the Argentine government, under heavy pressure from airlines and the travel industry, last week relented and issued a decree providing for a 20% increase in domestic airfares and for subsidies to airlines on unprofitable routes.
Air Canada's winter schedule, unveiled yesterday, has 13% more seats between Canada and warm leisure destinations than last year. The carrier also plans to start new nonstop service from Toronto to Sarasota, Fla. The new seasonal service is scheduled to start Nov. 4, using 93-seat Embraer 190s. "We're offering customers seeking warm, sunny destinations this winter unbeatable value and convenience with a choice of more than 600 nonstop flights per week to 49 sun destinations," said Ben Smith, VP-network planning.
Thai Airways International's labor union warned that it would ask its members not to report for work should the airline decide to start domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept. 15. A union official said the group already told the carrier its decision and "also informed the Ministry of Transport (MOT) in Bangkok. The early start, 13 days ahead of the airport's controversial Sept. 28 opening, would pose serious problems for connecting passengers, as all international flights would remain at the existing Bangkok International Airport."
ICAO gave the nod for Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport to open on Sept. 28, a surprise, given its own questions about the airport's readiness earlier this month (DAILY, Aug. 1).
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) is hoping to hash out issues surrounding the Washington Air Defense Identification Zone during a meeting he has scheduled Sept. 12. Inhofe recently said he wanted to get the top aviation association leaders together with key officials with FAA and Depts. of Defense and Homeland Security.
Amadeus last week filed suit in New York in an attempt to block Northwest and American from starting a $3.50-per-segment booking fee, effective Sept. 1.
Korean Air last week swung to a KRW15 billion (US$15.6 million) second-quarter profit, compared with a KRW43 billion loss thanks to strong growth in international passenger revenue and in the cargo business.
Atlas yesterday reported a decline in second-quarter profits, with higher unit revenues only partially offsetting lower demand for 747-200 flying, but the carrier is upbeat about its traditionally stronger third quarter. Net profit totaled $10.7 million, down from $15.9 million last year. The third quarter will benefit from the "seasonal pick-up" that leads to the holiday peak season that typically begins in September and runs through mid-December. In addition, Atlas' base rate for military flying is set to increase by 5% on Oct. 1.
Chile-based LAN has been fined $10,000 by the country's labor department for infringing labor laws by using Argentine crewmembers who had no work visas in Chile. LAN issued a statement saying that a group of 33 crewmembers from Lan Argentina had attended just one training session at the company's headquarters and returned to Argentina, where they were originally hired, and performed in their assigned jobs. -LZ
B/E Aerospace is continuing its acquisition streak, detailing plans to buy New York Fasteners (NYF) for $68 million after outlining its intent to buy Draeger Aerospace last month. B/E plans to support its purchase of NYF through a senior secured credit facility, and the closing should be completed this month. NYF distributes fasteners and hardware primarily to the military market, and B/E plans to combine NYF's business with its distribution business based in Miami. -LR
Interest in lifting the current cap of 45,000 TSA screeners has been raised in the wake of a foiled attempt to attack commercial airliners was revealed Aug. 10.
