A drop in the need for gate space for Northwest has led the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) to slow its $854 million expansion plan at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. MAC originally unveiled its 20/20 Vision effort in September 2004 to meet capacity demands for the region through 2020.
Crude oil prices hit another record high yesterday, closing at $72.17 per barrel on the New York exchange. The spike pushed jet fuel prices to more than $2.16 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Northwest CEO Doug Steenland earlier this week told staff that the jump "adds hundreds of millions of dollars of expense to our business plan."
The location of Mesa Air Group's Go operation at Honolulu Airport has been finalized after some initial confusion. Go was originally given space in the commuter terminal by the state DOT. But Go was informed it would operate from the Interisland Terminal with Aloha Airlines in a March 13 letter from Brian Sekiguchi, deputy director of airports.
United Technologies Corp. posted first-quarter results yesterday that beat analysts' expectations, with its Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand units reporting double-digit revenue and profit gains. Even UTC's Sikorsky Aircraft was able to squeeze out a small operating profit despite a six-week strike by 3,600 workers that crippled its plants in Connecticut and Florida. UTC reported first quarter net income of $768 million, an 18% gain from the same period a year earlier. Quarterly revenues increased 13% to $10.62 billion.
The Greater Washington Aviation Open, the region's largest aviation-based charity, has nearly sold out again. Now in its 18th year, GWAO will exceed the $1 million mark in donations used to support the Corporate Angel Network at this year's tournament and dinner. The 18th annual GWAO is being held Monday, May 8, at the Lansdowne Golf Resort, which features two world-class golf courses. Honorary Chairman Rep. Joe Knollenberg and Industry Chairman Ed Bolen of NBAA will be there to play. [email protected]
American managed to nearly halve its first-quarter net loss compared with last year thanks partly to a better-than-expected unit revenue performance, and the airline is predicting a strong revenue performance over the summer.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport came to a standstill yesterday when security checkpoints were closed for around two hours after a device thought to be a bomb was seen in a TSA screening machine around 2:00 p.m. Although flights were delayed by an average of 1.5 hours and the checkpoints shut down while the device was inspected by the bomb squad, the airport terminal remained open..
Lufthansa Technik plans to launch a new integrated materials and logistics support program aimed at capturing business from airlines that are outsourcing more and from startup carriers, which tend not to build big infrastructures.
Brazilian civil aviation authority ANAC this week vetoed the sale of cargo subsidiary VarigLog to Volo Brasil, a move that seems to contradict its offer to help the bankruptcy court overseeing Varig's restructuring to find solutions for its current crisis (DAILY, April 19).
Royal Air Maroc recently took delivery of a new Boeing 737-800 as part of its 10-year fleet renewal program. The airline several years decided to acquire 24 medium-haul aircraft between 2002 and 2012 in addition to five Boeing 787s. The airline added eight aircraft between 2003 and 2005 -- six 737-800s and two A321-200s. In January the airline added one 767, one 737-700 and one A321 in March 2006. Last week, the carrier took delivery of a new 737-800. The latest plane has 171 seats. -LR
British Airways yesterday said it will raise its fuel surcharge by $10 per sector for North American customers, with its fuel bill for this year growing far above earlier estimates. Starting Friday, the surcharge on long-haul tickets sold in North America will increase from $55 to $65 per sector, or $135 for a roundtrip, the airline said. BA said it will look to raise surcharges by a similar amount in all other markets. The surcharge on short-haul tickets will remain the same, at $19 per sector.
Competition is thriving in Ecuador's Quito-Manta market, thanks to Tame, Icaro and Aerogal. Icaro claims a 40% share, operating three daily Fokker 100 services. Tame, second at 35%, operates twice-daily Embraer regional jet service. Aerogal captured 25% of the market after launching operations only in January. Manta, a colorful port on Ecuador's paradisiacal central Pacific Coast, is quickly becoming a major commercial fishing and seafood processing center, developing new industries and expanding its resort infrastructure.
Cendant subsidiary Galileo International this week signed a multi-year distribution contract with the newly formed travel partnership, The Odyssey Group.
Iberia Chief Operating Officer Angel Mullor yesterday announced his resignation. In a regulatory filing, Iberia said he will pursue "new personal and professional projects." An airline spokesman said Mullor has been planning his retirement for two years. The airline's board will meet next week to make a decision on who will replace him.
Tour operator Travelspan Inc. wants to get into the airline business and is positioning its Travelspan G.T. airline to operate in the underserved U.S.-Guyana market. Travelspan G.T. wants exemptions to operate scheduled and charter flights between Georgetown, Guyana, and U.S. points -- initially twice weekly to New York Kennedy via Port of Spain, Trinidad. The airline anticipates it will start operations to Fort Lauderdale and Toronto in the second year, with additional service to Miami remaining a possibility.
Scottish carrier Flyglobespan won exemptions for scheduled service between the U.S. and the U.K. that it intends to use to launch flights from Glasgow to Orlando. In awarding the exemption the U.S. Transportation Dept. dismissed arguments from American and United that DOT should have deferred approval of the application until an equitable solution was found to the fuel rationing scheme at London Heathrow Airport (DAILY, Jan. 26).
Brussels Airport has become a 100% smoke-free facility; smoking is no longer allowed in any of the public areas of the airport buildings, including restaurants, bars and lounges. Brussels International Airport Company (BIAC), which runs the airport, has removed all ash trays in the public areas. The measure applies to the non-public areas commonly used by airport staff, such as corridors and staircases.
The Dept. of Homeland Security just completed another test of e-Passports, which will be required later this year of travelers from 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. DHS tested e-Passports and e-Passport readers with Basic Access Control (BAC) between Jan. 15 and April 15 at San Francisco Airport. BAC makes travel documents tamper-resistant, enhancing the document's security and the traveler's privacy.
