The U.S. airline industry is still "broken," reports US Airways CEO Doug Parker, even though the revenue situation is improving in 2006. In a Washington speech, Parker says the government should stay out of the industry. "For the most part, we want to be left alone...Let us fix ourselves." He adds that regulators should "let us consolidate where it makes sense."
Alaska Airlines will continue to operate essential air service to Adak, Alaska, despite a competing proposal from Peninsula Air that called for fewer subsidies from the U.S. Transportation Dept. (DAILY, May 5).
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] JUNE 1 -- Critical Issues Facing Aviation and the New York/New Jersey Region's Airports: Airport Capacity and Surface Transportation, New York University, New York, N.Y. 212-998-7545, www.wagner.nyu.edu/rudincenter JUNE 3 -- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In and Open House, Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, Md., (301) 695-2000, www.aopa.org/fly-in
Alaska Airlines on Friday applied to the U.S. Transportation Dept. for authority to fly nonstop between Seattle and Cancun, and between Portland, Ore., and the leisure destinations of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. If approved, the new seasonal flights will begin operating this year, from the end of October to the end of April. The airline plans to offer nonstop service four days a week on the Seattle-Cancun and Portland-Los Cabos routes, and three days a week between Portland and Puerto Vallarta. A DOT decision is expected in June.
Kitty Hawk is withdrawing its bid for an exemption to serve Mexico City with all-cargo service from Fort Wayne, Ind. (DAILY, Dec. 19, May 19). The cargo specialist pointed to its recent $5 million acquisition of Air Container Transport, an airport-to airport ground freight company that operates mainly along the West Coast, as the impetus behind the withdrawal.
Passengers flying in or out of Singapore Changi Airport will have access to a new luxury terminal, beginning in August. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has signed a deal with Singapore-based airport service company JetQuay to build and operate the Commercially Important Person (CIP) terminal. JetQuay is a Singapore-based joint venture among France-based Worldwide Flight Services, Superior Travellers Services Ltd., provider of China Fast Track airport CIP services in China, and Sembawang Kimtrans Ltd., an integrated logistics company.
Trans States, which planned to exit the Joplin market on May 11 (DAILY, March 9), must continue to serve the city for another 60 to 90 days, or until Mesa subsidiary Air Midwest launches essential air service in the market.
As the 50-seat regional jet engine business slows down, Indianapolis-based Rolls-Royce Corp. is looking at providing airline operators with more options for reducing even more of the risk of their engine maintenance programs. The company has unveiled two new programs as part of a plan to offer customers more complete engine overhaul, repair and maintenance services under the TotalCare warranty program -- the Powerplant Engineering Services and On-wing Care programs.
Open conflict broke out last week between two of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano's workers as each accused the other of sabotage and plotting to return the embittered Ernesto Asbun as president of the carrier. Fist fights and other violence were reported, prompting police to rush to Cochabamba Airport to subdue the rowdy crowds.
Comair President Fred Buttrell resigned last week as the carrier continues to seek concessions from its flight attendants to help parent company Delta restructure in its bankruptcy. Buttrell took the helm of Comair in January 2005 after serving as President of Delta Connection. Shortly after his arrival, he asked pilots and flight attendants for pay freezes to garner 35 growth planes from Delta (DAILY, Feb. 2, 2005).
Delta pilots tomorrow will finish voting on a tentative concession deal with management. The Air Line Pilots Association management has "unequivocally recommended [that] the pilots ratify the agreement." A hearing for the court's approval of the agreement, including any objections, is scheduled in the bankruptcy court, also on May 31. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. filed a motion objecting to the agreement.
Alitalia says American and United are making an issue of nothing with their motion to have the U.S. Dept. of Transportation expand the ban on U.S.-Milan Linate operations beyond Eurofly to all Italian carriers (DAILY, May 17). But United and American say current Sabre schedules show the carrier operating San Francisco-Linate service via Paris through a third-country code share with Air France.
As Delta weighs a divesture of its wholly owned subsidiary Comair, analysts at Raymond James concur that "it appears that Republic and Mesa are the most likely acquirers." SkyWest could also be a potential buyer for Comair, but the analysts note the airline may "have enough on its plate with its recent acquisition of Delta's Atlantic Southeast Airlines subsidiary."
JetBlue last week requested authority from the U.S. Transportation Dept. to provide international nonstop service to Aruba from New York Kennedy. Pending approval from both governments, the proposed daily service from JFK would operate with an Airbus A320, starting about Sept. 15. The U.S. and Aruba signed an open-skies deal in 1998. "In light of the immediacy of the start date, JetBlue requested that the answer period be shortened to May 30 [OST-2006-24914].
Ryanair signed a five-year agreement with the Moroccan government to develop up to 20 routes with a combined traffic of 1 million passengers between its European bases and various points in Morocco. The deal was made possible by the multilateral air agreement between the European Union and Morocco, which is due to go into effect this year and removes the nationality clause from traditional bilateral accords. "Ryanair will be making many more new route announcements in Morocco over the coming months," said Deputy CEO Michael Cawley. -MT
House Democrats are gaining momentum in their campaign to force a vote on legislation that would stymie FAA's ability to impose a controller contract, but the crucial Republican support that the Democrats need is proving elusive.
U.K. airport operator BAA yesterday launched its long-awaited defense against a hostile raid by Spanish investment firm Ferrovial, although its counterattack was overshadowed by a surprise announcement of a regulatory review of BAA's market dominance.
Two Canadian general aviation groups have formally appealed against new fees for smaller aircraft that Nav Canada has proposed as part of a wider fee restructuring. The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and the Helicopter Association of Canada submitted appeals to the Canadian Transportation Agency. The CTA has 60 days to rule on the appeals, although a 30-day extension may be granted. Nav Canada said it will soon file an opposition to the appeals with CTA.
Air Canada recently launched a test project of different processes and procedures to turn aircraft faster on the ground, especially in the event of a delayed arrival. In Tampa, on flights to and from Toronto, both the forward and rear doors are being used for deplaning and enplaning of customers. Several North American airlines already use this process, especially JetBlue at several airports.
SkyWest is eyeing flying larger turboprops and is floating proposals to some U.S. majors to use the ATR-72 or Bombardier's Q400 in their operations. Carrier CEO Jerry Atkin said earlier this week at the Regional Airline Association conference in Dallas that those aircraft would be more effective on routes with shorter stage lengths.
