Capital Cargo and Florida West International Airways both won from the U.S. Transportation Dept. approval to delay the launch of some of their U.S.-Mexico cargo services.
U.S. domestic airfares dropped to a six-year low at the close of 2005, according to a new American Express Business Travel survey, but international fares and hotel rates hit new six-year highs.
Mesa subsidiary Air Midwest was re-selected for essential air service flying for Manhattan and Salina, Kan., maintaining the same level of service from the communities to Kansas City but receiving some $252,000 more in subsidies (DAILY, Dec. 21, 2005).
SR Technics is staying true to its pledge to make more acquisitions after unveiling plans to buy Sifco's Large Aero Engine Turbine Component Repair business based in Cork, Ireland, for close to $10 million.
Venezuela is poised to implement a controversial plan to restrict flights by some U.S. carriers on March 30, even with an FAA audit on the table. Venezuela's civil aviation institute (INAC) planned to impose the restrictions because of limitations Venezuelan carriers have faced in operating to the U.S. (DAILY, Feb. 28, March 14). Venezuela's restrictions initially were set to take effect March 1, but INAC pushed the date back to "keep communication channels open between the two countries" in discussing measures that affect both.
Trans States Airlines on May 9 will suspend service from Springfield, Mo., to St. Louis, thanks to approval from the U.S. Transportation Dept. The suspension is part of the airline's exodus from five markets: Columbia, Mo; Decatur, Ill.; Joplin, Mo.; Springfield, Ill., and Springfield, Mo. The move is also related to the retirement of the British Aerospace J-41 turboprop fleet (DAILY, Feb. 9). The carrier operated the service as an AmericanConnection carrier [OST-2006-23933].
Nav Canada plans to reduce aircraft separation standards on the busy North Atlantic routes within the next two years, using advanced air traffic control technology that will soon be mirrored on the other side of the Atlantic.
Swiss International Air Lines plans to officially join Star Alliance on April 1, becoming the 17th member of the alliance, and yesterday announced more collaboration with Lufthansa.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper this week named Turner West manager of aviation at Denver International Airport (DIA), effective April 1. West was previously co-manager of the facility with Vicki Braunagel, who is retiring at the end of the month. Cheryl Cohen-Vader has been named chief deputy director of DIA. West, who has worked for the airport system for 21 years, was DIA's deputy manager of aviation for maintenance and engineering before becoming co-manager of aviation in 2003.
China Southern tapped Rolls-Royce to supply its Trent 700s for ten Airbus A330s it has on order in a $600 million deal that includes a 10-year support package. Deliveries are scheduled for 2007 and 2008. Deliveries of the airline's Trent 900-powered A380s start in 2007.
Language that would have allowed airports to opt out of using TSA screeners in favor of private contractors was removed yesterday from the TSA Reorganization Act, during a House subcommittee mark-up session.
Airbus chose Lufthansa Technik to outfit cabins on its A318 Elite corporate jets, allowing the MRO to ink a deal with launch customer Comlux to outfit its first three planes at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg.
JetBlue today is expected to unveil two new destinations it is likely to serve with its new Embraer 190s. Executives recently said the carrier is looking at markets in the Carolinas and Midwest that have high-priced regional jet service (DAILY, March 9).
United filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to delay filing its 10-K form for 15 days due to a heavier workload created as part of its emergence from bankruptcy Feb. 1.
Thai Airways formed a new company with the hope of securing contracts to manage airports in the region. Thai Airport Management Co. (TAMC) has start-up capital of THB100 million (US$2.6 million) and plans to submit proposals to the government to manage airports in Krabi, Surat Thani and Chumphon in Thailand, which are under the Department of Civil Aviation. Thailand is requesting bids to manage secondary provincial airports. The competition would be open only to Thai companies in the aviation industry.
World Air Holdings -- parent of World Airways and North American -- this week delayed the filing of its annual report, although preliminary results for 2005 show a healthy rise in operating profit.
Northwest CEO Doug Steenland reiterated his plea for Congress to approve pension reforms for the airline industry so his carrier doesn't have to end its frozen defined benefit pension plans.
Representatives of unions for Mesaba's flight attendants and mechanics plan to make their case to the bankruptcy court next week against the rejection of their collective bargaining agreements, while the judge overseeing the case opted to extend the March 27 deadline to rule on dissolving the contracts.
Lufthansa and MTU affiliate Airfoil Services Sdn. Bhd. (ASSB) broke ground on a new site in Kota Damansara that will house a 5,000 square meter workshop and 2,500 square meters of office space. ASSB plans to offer repairs of high-pressure compressor blades, as well as continuing blade repair for CFM International, International Aero Engines and GE powerplants for MTU's maintenance arm and Lufthansa Technik. ASSB's new site is set to open early next year. -LR
