The U.S. and Cameroon last week signed a full open-skies accord that will let the airlines of each country operate flights to the other without restriction. U.S. Dept. of State Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer and Cameroonian Minister of Transport Dakole Daissala signed the agreement in Yaounde, Cameroon.
U.S. leisure fares rose 1% to $104 for the week of Feb. 13, compared with the week before, and business fares were flat at $453. Continental's leisure fares from Atlanta to Newark rose 13% to $89 each way, and United's fare from Denver to Los Angeles fell 5% to $104 each way.
DBA owner Hans-Rudolf Woehrl is reportedly buying a 60% stake in charter carrier LTU, according to European media reports. DBA is a low-fare carrier, while LTU focuses on charter operations.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] (Bold type indicates new calendar listing in PDF format.) FEB. 22 -- Air Traffic Control Association's Progress Through Innovation: A Report from the FAA's ATO and the JPDO, 703-299-2430 ext. 303, Fax 703-299-2437, email [email protected] FEB. 22-24 -- American Association of Airport Executives Airport Planning, Design and Construction Symposium, Reno Hilton, Reno, Nev., 703-824-0504, www.airportnet.org
General aviation aircraft billings up are 27.2% to an all-time high of $15.1 billion in 2005, and industry leaders are optimistic that economic forecasts bode well for even better performances in the future. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reports that GA planemakers shipped 3,580 airplanes in 2005, a 20.8% improvement from 2004 and the largest number recorded by the industry in 22 years.
Venezuelan carrier Santa Barbara Airlines' main priorities for the $6 million development of lucrative routes between Venezuela and Spain include fleet modernization and ground service upgrades. The carrier already acquired on lease two Boeing 767s for long- and medium-haul flights.
Sixteen new area navigation (RNAV) routes will soon open in the Memphis en route airspace. The new routes, part of FAA's high-altitude redesign effort, are expected to make use of airspace in the south-central U.S. more efficient and flexible.
Embraer last week launched a Chinese-language version of its web site, which may be accessed through its main address or directly at www.embraer.com.cn.
The European Aviation Safety Agency plans to step up cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States to focus on airworthiness of planes built in the region before the CIS was established.
Allegiant Air continues to grow at Orlando Sanford International, with flights to its 14th destination -- Youngstown, Ohio -- starting May 15. Allegiant is getting financial support to market the service from both Youngstown Airport and the surrounding community, according to an airline spokeswoman. Allegiant plans to offer two weekly flights between Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Orlando on Monday and Friday. After a period of offering introductory fares as low as $59 one way, Allegiant's fares will range from $89 to $199 each way.
The number of modern aircraft parked in the desert remains nearly flat from mid-January to mid-February, and increased by one plane to 577 jets, according to the Airclaims fleet database. "Non-competitive" older parked aircraft also are flat, falling to 1,440 aircraft from 1,450. "We suspect modern jets in storage will remain fairly steady pending no further restructuring announcements," said Merrill Lynch analyst Ronald Epstein.
Expedia's fourth-quarter net profit sank 43% to $25.2 million, and executives warned that 2006 will be difficult due to investments the compny is making in Europe and intense competition.
Performance of the European ATM system is "not yet optimal," Eurocontrol Director General Victor Aguado says. The fragmentation of Europe's airspace is increasing costs by up to EUR1.5 billion a year, underlining the need for the Single European Sky. The current system can handle demand for "some years to come," but a new system will be needed by 2015-2020.
The government inspector charged with turning around the troubled situation at Lloyd Aereo Boliviano said it will take at least three more weeks to normalize operations after a recent nine-day strike by pilots (DAILY, Feb. 16).
Peru's state-owned carrier Tans will soon resume operations on the Iquitos-Tarapoto-Ucayali and Piura-Tumbes routes, as well as flights to Madre de Dios via Cusco, thanks to the civil aviation department's decision to lift the airline's temporary suspension (DAILY, Feb. 15). The "flights of social integration" will serve destinations that regular commercial airlines do not serve. -LZ
AirTran and Anheuser-Busch are friends again after the brewery's CEO Patrick Stokes apologized for his company's marketing department and advertising agency, which made a radio commercial "ridiculing" low-fare airline pilots, the airline reports. AirTran negotiated a new deal with Anheuser-Busch and will now offer Michelob Ultra in addition to Budweiser and Bud Light. The carrier offers a total of six types of beer.
Work on an emergency bypass between Caracas and Maiquetia Airport will be completed by Feb. 26, reports Venezuelan Infrastructure Minister Ramon Carrizales. The bypass is another interim solution in the crisis caused by the bridge collapse that cut off transportation between the city and the airport (DAILY, Feb. 6). A 1.5-mile stretch mile of contingency road will be asphalted, enabling the roads to handle both truck and car traffic.
GOL is adding four new destinations outside Brazil to its cargo business, Gollog. The new sites are Montevideo, Uruguay; Asuncion, Paraguay, and Rosario and Cordoba, Argentina. The latest additions expand Gollog's network to 43 poins -- 38 in Brazil, three in Argentina and the latest two in Paraguay and Uruguay. -LR
