Chile-based LAN airline group reports a $21.8 million net profit for the second quarter before taxes, down from $26.6 million in the same period in 2005, because higher fuel costs.
Further talks between Northwest and its flight attendants are likely in the wake of the attendants' rejection of a second concession deal, although observers note that neither side appears willing to move far enough from its entrenched position to strike a new compromise.
Continental last week quietly asked the U.S. Transportation Dept. amend its authority to fly between U.S. and Spain to include Malaga and Palma de Mallorca. The carrier already holds an exemption to serve the two points through a code share with Air Europa, and an amended certificate would let the carrier operate its own flights in addition to the code-share service. The current certificate provides for operations from New York/Newark to Madrid and Barcelona. Continental asked DOT to renew that authority, as well [OST-96-1423]. -ARS
Bombardier sold four 74-seat Q400 turboprops to Algerian carrier Tassili Airlines. Deliveries are set to start in the third quarter 2007. Tassili, owned by the Sonatrach State Energy Group, plans to carry workers to oil fields before launching domestic and international service in the next few years. It is the second African carrier this year to order the Q400 after South African Express ordered two planes in January.
The Independent Pilots Association expects to announce the results of the UPS pilots contract ratification vote at 10 a.m. EDT on Aug. 31. Voting opened yesterday morning. UPS on June 20 reached a tentative deal with its pilots after four years of negotiations (DAILY, July 6).
Pinnacle Airlines hopes to start talks with Northwest regarding its contract within 45 days, and also wants to secure the right from its major partner to fly for other airlines on its current operating certificate. Northwest filed for Chapter 11 last year, and subsequently removed 15 CRJ-200s from Pinnacle's fleet. The U.S. major also sent out a request for proposals to regional airlines inviting them to bid on flying for 126 50- and 76-seat planes.
Delta and SkyWest will introduce the first nonstop U.S.-Guadalajara service from Salt Lake City this winter pending approval from the U.S. Transportation Dept. Delta would initiate peak season mainline service on Dec. 1, flying three weekly flights between its Salt Lake City hub and Guadalajara with its two-class Boeing 737-800 aircraft. SkyWest would begin operating the flights as Delta Connection in late February, using its 70-seat CRJ-700s in the market.
Analysts are expecting Ryanair to report a EUR97 million net profit (US$124 million), when the company releases its first-quarter results today. Revenues are expected to improve by 31% to EUR530 million (US$677 million), a 51% increase from last year. Ryanair could also reveal details of its planned inflight cell phone use concept.
Swiss yesterday retired its last Embraer 145 after only six years of service; the aircraft made a scheduled flight from Zurich to Venice before being pulled out of revenue service. Swiss predecessor Crossair ordered 25 Embraer 145s in 1998 as part of a larger fleet overhaul in which it also launched the Embraer 170/190 family. Crossair took delivery of the 145s between 2000 and 2002, but following its revamp as a mainline carrier Swiss found the 50-seaters no longer suitable for its strategy.
A large-bore tunnel is the best option for building the proposed Metrorail extension to Washington Dulles International Airport, says an independent panel of engineers tapped to study the project by Virginia's secretary of transportation.
Aeromexico is in talks with Boeing for two additional Boeing 787s that, with the three other aircraft from an ILFC deal (DAILY, June 30), are being sought as part of the carrier's fleet modernization program.
The world's airports posted a 4% hike year over year in passenger traffic in June, fueled by international travel and the boost that comes with the beginning of the summer travel season. International traffic rose 7%, while domestic growth was an anemic 1% in June, according to Airports Council International. Overall traffic rose 4% in the first six months of June, with international rising 6% and domestic 2%.
The Port of Seattle and Sound Transit recently awarded the first of three major contracts to build a light rail line to Seattle-Tacoma Airport and expand airport roadway capacity.
ICAO in a new report is questioning the readiness of Suvarnabhumi Airport for the facility's Sept. 28 opening (DAILY, June 21). The report identified 93 items as areas of concern, 29 of them high risk, 43 medium risk and the remaining 21 low risk, with ICAO defining high-risk items as those that are likely impossible to resolve in time for the opening. Suvarnabhumi has a temporary certificate issued by the Dept. of Aviation. The airport can open for operations only after a certificate is issued by ICAO.
WestJet secured a US$191.1 million debut financing facility arranged by ING Capital supported by loan guarantees from the US Export-Import Bank to support its purchase of five Boeing 737-600s and a single 737-700.
Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines opted to participate in FAA's Aviation Safety Action Program, making the carrier the fourth airline to have all four eligible labor groups in the program. ASAP allows employees at airlines and other certificate holders voluntarily to report safety risks without being concerned about potential enforcement action from FAA.
United told employees yesterday that it will evaluate the future size of the New York Kennedy crew base following its decision to eliminate the remaining international routes from JFK this fall.
The Transportation Security Administration needs to create performance measures when using al- ternate baggage screening procedures for short-term, special circumstances according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport brings in more than $7.6 billion in economic impact across Michigan, with $2.2 billion attributed directly to passenger air travel and cargo revenue, according to a new report from the Wayne County Airport Authority and the University of Michigan.
Labor unions with workers at Varig threatened legal action and strikes in response to news on Friday that the carrier plans to dismiss 5,500 of its 9,485-strong work force. Uebio Dias, president of the Sao Paulo airline workers union, said union members were denouncing Varig before Brazil's attorney general in charge of labor for such "massive firings" and had brought a motion to seek legal redress.
United's cost-cutting efforts are bearing fruit more quickly than expected, with some of the savings targeted for 2007 likely to be realized this year, the airline said yesterday.
