Southwest promoted Mike Van de Ven to Chief of Operations to oversee ground operations, inflight, maintenance and engineering, dispatch, safety and airport security. Currently executive VP-operations, Van de Ven also has worked as Southwest's senior VP-planning and VP-financial planning and analysis. The carrier also elevated Daryl Krause to senior VP-inflight from VP of the department, and is promoting Senior Director of Provisioning Scott Halfmann to VP. -LR
The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security yesterday awarded Northrop Grumman $55.4 million for the third and final phase of the government's program to assess the feasibility of installing infrared countermeasures on commercial airliners. Rival BAE Systems expects to receive its own Phase III contract within the next day or two, according to a company spokeswoman.
FAA has closed its investigation on subsidies given to AirTran Airways by the City of Wichita, since the original program expired on May 6, 2006. The city replaced its "Fare Fares" program with the Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP) program in June, making all airlines eligible for subsidies (DAILY, June 19). REAP is being handled by Sedgwick County.
Vought Aircraft Industries recorded a second-quarter net profit of $34.5 million, compared to a net loss of $109.1 million last year, with the large swing attributed to one-time items.
The Transportation Security Administration yesterday said Minnesota-based company Professional Export Services (PES) is no longer allowed to ship cargo on U.S. passenger aircraft, because PES failed to meet TSA security standards. U.S. airlines -- particularly those operating at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport -- have been instructed not to accept any cargo from PES, TSA said. A fine of up to $25,000 can be levied against any airline carrying cargo for an indirect air carrier that is not TSA-approved.
Gulf Air's bottom line will get a healthy boost from first-half traffic at the carrier's Oman and Bahrain hubs that jumped more than expected, executives predict.
Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings, which yesterday reported a wider $26.4 million second-quarter loss due to a large one-time charge, is moving through a top-to-bottom review of the company to squeeze out more costs to offset fuel expenses and intense inter-island competition.
Continental announced last week it has converted 12 Boeing 737 orders into orders for the 737-900ERs, becoming the first U.S. carrier to place firm orders for the -900ER. The 12 -900ER orders are scheduled for delivery in 2008. The order conversion does not change Continental's total of 65 firm commitments for 737s, the carrier said, and it is still able to convert more of these commitments to -900ERs. Last month, Continental ordered an undisclosed mix of 24 737s and 10 787s.
Bolivian airline AeroSur, capitalizing on Lloyd Aereo Boliviano's unending troubles, yesterday started nonstop service three times a week between Santa Cruz and Miami. Flights will be operated with a leased 180-passenger Boeing 757-200, and AeroSur plans early expansion to Miami and Washington.
Security checks for passengers flying out of London Heathrow, Hong Kong and Dubai airports this fall could be quicker under an international registered traveler trial program being tested by IATA affiliate Simplifying Passenger Travel Interest Group (SPTIG).
Embraer's Board of Directors picked Frederico Curado to succeed Mauricio Botelho as president and CEO of the company in April 2007. Bothelho, who will remain as Embraer's chairman until 2009, detailed his plans to relinquish his chief executive role in January. Curado joined Embraer in 1984, and for the last eight years held the position of VP-airline market, overseeing the launch of the Embraer 170/190 family of aircraft. -LR
The eighth broad U.S. fare hike of the year matched by all network carriers couldn't have come at a better time, as fuel prices spiked to near records yesterday.
Air Midwest on Oct. 5 will begin flying six of the 18 subsidized roundtrips it operates at Joplin, Mo., under the Essential Air Service program to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport; the remaining 12 roundtrips will fly to Kansas City. Air Midwest in May won a two-year contract to fly subsidized service between Joplin and Kansas City. The carrier will receive $849,757 per year until July 31, 2008, to operate the service, which Air Midwest will fly under the US Airways Express brand.
Denver Airport set a new record for daily operations Friday, when it handled 2,013 arrivals and departures, Denver controllers say. Rapid growth in flight numbers at Denver has pushed daily operation totals about 24% ahead of the previous year's totals, said Mike Coulter, head of the local unit of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Coulter attributed the increase to Denver carriers matching Southwest's recent expansion, and growing numbers of regional jets replacing Boeing 757 and 767 service.
The JAL Group narrowed its fiscal first quarter loss to 26.7 billion yen (US$232 million), thanks to higher revenue and stronger demand on international routes.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is talking with private companies to possibly take over security screening from the Transportation Security Administration, says Gus Hudson, head of the airport's security division. Private screeners would have to show they could handle the high volumes of traffic and process passengers more quickly "or there would be no benefit," he adds.
Air Arabia strengthened its ties with Emirates Post, allowing passengers to pay in cash if they've already reserved a flight through the carrier's call center. Passengers present their reservation numbers and make the payment within 48 hours. Emirates Post collects a AED10 (US$2.72) for each transaction. This builds on a two-year partnership Air Arabia has with Emirates Post. Outlets began selling Air Arabia tickets in 2004. -LR
Etihad Airways last week hired former Emirates executive Josephine Boulus as the U.S. country manager as the airline prepares to launch New York service in October.
Aeromexico yesterday finalized a new multi-year agreement with Worldspan that will see the airline distribute its published flights, schedules, availability and fares, including web-based fares, through the Worldspan global distribution system.
Air traffic control equipment problems at Los Angeles Airport yesterday cut its arrival rate drastically, causing significant flight delays throughout the day.
Consulting firm Morten Beyer & Agnew recently named industry veteran George Hamlin to VP-business consulting. Hamlin will lead the company's work in industry analysis and financial modeling. Hamlin's previous experience includes senior positions at MergeGlobal and Global Aviation Associates. He has held other man- agement positions with notable corporations such as Lockheed, Airbus and TWA. "The experience that George brings to mba further strengthens our broad industry capabilities in business consulting and advisory services," said President Robert Agnew.
