At a time when the entire issue of Venezuela's status in the FAA's IASA program is being reviewed (DAILY, March 9), the civil aviation institute (INAC) said any new audit by FAA inspectors would merely confirm the favorable result of ICAO's latest audit. In this regard, INAC announced that radio navigation aids at Caracas Maiquetia International Airport have been upgraded 60% through completed installation of primary and secondary radar pedestals, motors and antennas.
Caterer Gate Gourmet recently finalized a CHF600 million (US$461 million) debt refinancing and used the proceeds to pay the senior secured debt in full, as well as a part of the junior debt.
Hawaiian Airlines yesterday promoted Kirk Smith to VP-marketing and sales. Smith has been with Hawaiian since December 2003 as senior director-advertising and promotions. With his added responsibility, Smith will oversee Hawaiian's sales program, while continuing to lead its marketing and promotional departments.
A U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) judge this week ruled that controllers fired by President Reagan after the 1981 strike can proceed with a class action suit against FAA charging that age discrimination has prevented their rehiring.
Mexican President Vicente Fox attended ceremonies Monday at Toluca Airport as the first flight of startup low-cost carrier Volaris took off for Tijuana with an Airbus 319. The carrier's president, former Treasury Secretary Pedro Aspe, previously announced investments of $100 million to implement the first phase of a long-term strategic plan that includes major destinations, such as Guadalajara, Monterrey and Cancun, in addition to Toluca. -LZ
Panama's COPA Airlines and its cabin attendants last week agreed on salary adjustments, thus defusing a strike originally called for March 17. In intensive negotiations monitored by the ministry of labor, the parties reached a four-year agreement providing for an overall wage increase of 20%. All concerned were pleased because job stability is now ensured for most of COPA's 3,000 employees, although adjustments still need to be ironed out with maintenance workers on the basis of proposals tabled by management and labor. -LZ
Japan's new Kitakyushu Airport, expected to open for operations tomorrow, will be used largely for domestic flights to Tokyo, but the airport's single runway is long enough to handle some international service.
United this year plans to launch a major technology overhaul to make some long-overdue system upgrades and improvements, and it recently launched a project to fix reliability problems with its airport kiosks.
Aer Lingus yesterday signed a contract with Airbus for the delivery of two A330s, one -200 model and one -300. The two aircraft will be delivered in mid-2007. The -200 will be configured for 24 premier passengers and 245 in economy class, and the -300 will carry 24 in premier and 303 in economy. These deliveries will expand the airline's long-haul fleet to nine A330s. The decision to buy the Airbus aircraft was made last month (DAILY, Feb. 10). -LR
A court in Rome yesterday cleared Alitalia's acquisition of bankrupt low-fare carrier Volare, rejecting claims from rival Air One that Alitalia should not be allowed to buy Volare because it has received state aid and could otherwise not have afforded the takeover (DAILY, March 9). Alitalia is mainly interested in Volare's slots at Milan Malpensa and Rome Fuimicino airports. -JF
B/E Aerospace yesterday won the deal to make the new first- and business-class seats for United's international fleet, but the product won't be installed for another year, and all aircraft won't be refurbished until about 2010.
Cargo carried at Hong Kong International Airport grew 10% in February to 225,000 tons, while 3.27 million passengers traveled through the airport, a 5.5% rise from a year go. In the rolling 12-month period, cargo grew 10% to 3.4 million tons and passenger numbers grew 9.5% to 41.39 million.
Passenger traffic at European airports grew 5% in January, with the smallest commercial airports once again showing the highest growth rates. Group Four airports -- those with fewer than five million passengers a year -- saw passenger traffic grow by an average of 9.9%, compared with last year, and by 27.4%, compared with January 2004, said Airports Council International-Europe. Of this group, Bournemouth was up 94.1%, Liege 64.4% and Riga 58.5%.
Aeroflot will join the SkyTeam alliance on April 14, reports Deputy CEO Lev Koshlyakov. Air France-KLM CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta will welcome the airline to the group at a Moscow ceremony, Koshlyakov says. Aeroflot has been close to joining SkyTeam for months despite last-minute efforts by rivals, such as Star Alliance, to win the carrier over.
Northwest yesterday reported that the first day of sales of its "Coach Choice" test program to charge passengers for a reserved aisle or exit-row seat was running "ahead of expectations."
