United on Sunday plans to show a new 60-second television advertisement during Sunday's Super Bowl football championship game, some of the most expensive air time all year.
Travelocity last week signed a $34 million deal to acquire full ownership of online travel agency Zuji, which was started by a group of 15 Asia-Pacific airlines.
The Colombian government moved to force West Airlines into liquidation (DAILY, Jan. 6), after the airline's stockholders failed to submit a restructuring plan to solve West's financial problems. West's creditors will decide the carrier's fate over the next four months. Alvaro Isaza, appointed as receiver by government regulators, will analyze finances and submit options to a vote by creditors. Among major creditors are government tax, customs, airport management and social security agencies.
Air New Zealand accepted a modified proposal from its unions that will keep widebody heavy maintenance at the airline, instead of being outsourced as the airline had proposed earlier.
JetBlue plans to introduce two new daily nonstop flights from Orlando to San Juan and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico starting May 3. The airline faces competition from American, Delta and Spirit on its flights between Orlando and San Juan. American plans to offer four daily round-trip flights between the two destinations while Delta plans to offer two daily roundtrips. Spirit plans to offer as many as two nonstop daily flights from Orlando to Puerto Rico.
Northwest management last week backed off its proposal to create a Newco subsidiary to fly 77- to 100-seat aircraft, but it has not altered the plan enough to satisfy the airline's pilots, who report little progress in reaching a concession deal.
JetBlue CEO David Neeleman admits the airline has "been too aggressive" in putting its Embraer 190s into service, and the carrier is planning to back off its planned schedule growth for the aircraft in March and April.
Emirates recently expanded its Internet check-in service to seven major cities in Africa, making it available to customers in 55 cities served by the airline across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia.
Flybe has no concerns about British Airways' plans to launch its BA Connect low-fare carrier, Flybe's top executive says, although he questions BA's long-term plan for the low-cost off-shoot. CEO Jim French told The DAILY on the sidelines of the Raymond James Growth Airline conference in New York that BA has "copied everything we're doing except investing $1.5 billion in airplanes. You have to question their long-term strategic plan." French also said Flybe has a 60% market share on routes where it competes with BA.
Columbus-based, low-fare startup Skybus amended its application for a foreign operating certificate to operate to points in Canada, not just Toronto (DAILY, July 5, 2005). The carrier filed the amendment after the U.S. Transportation Dept. tried to determine whether Skybus wanted serve only the one city. DOT's interest is a possible sign the carrier could see action in the dockets on both its foreign and domestic operating certificates.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week called on FAA to prohibit airlines from using thrust reversers to calculate runway stopping distances, which NTSB said was a factor in the fatal Dec. 8 runway overrun accident in Chicago. "This recommendation needs the immediate attention of FAA since we will be experiencing winter weather conditions in many areas...for several more months," NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said.
Mexico's Cintra S.A. last week officially changed its name to Consorcio Aeromexico S.A, reflecting the recent sale of Mexicana that left the holding company with control of the Aeromexico/Aerolitoral group and 50% equity in subsidiaries Aeromexpress, Seat and Alas de America. Also, John Donnelly and Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes were appointed advisers to Consorcio. The duo was tasked with recommending options for the sale of the Consorcio's remaining assets. -LZ
Horizon Air this week will take delivery of its 20th Bombardier CRJ-700 and later this week will add the first of 12 Q400 turboprops it ordered last year. The Alaska Air subsidiary will grow capacity 6% this year largely due to new deliveries and utilization improvements.
