Star Alliance partners United and Air Canada simultaneously yesterday unveiled plans to launch new transborder service from Denver to Toronto and Montreal in June.
Aeromexico's subsidiary Aerolitoral last week launched four daily flights from Toluca Airport, near Mexico City, to Monterrey. All Aerolitoral flights are operated with 50-passenger Embraer 145 regional jets, and one-way fares from Toluca to Monterrey start at $82.
The Air Transport Association yesterday reported that November passenger yields were up 7.7% for the seven major carriers ATA tracks. Yields increased 13.7% for the Atlantic markets, 3.7% for Latin America and 8.1% for Pacific. For the year to the end of November, domestic yield increased 1.3%, Atlantic 7.1%, Latin America 0.6% and Pacific 5.5%.
Boeing last week chose cargo carrier Evergreen to operate the manufacturer's three modified 747 freighters that will transport 787 sections. Evergreen will fly the large cargo freighter (LCF) to the U.S. and to Japan, and Cargolux has subcontracted to fly the aircraft on Europe-U.S. flights. U.S. company Sojitz Corp. will coordinate logistics for Evergreen when it transports parts from Japanese suppliers.
World Air Holdings yesterday signed a letter of intent to lease another Boeing 767-300ER passenger aircraft to be used by subsidiary North American. The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in December 2006, with a three-year lease. It will be North American's fifth 767, and will boost its fleet to 10 aircraft. The carrier's fourth 767 is already scheduled to be delivered in March. North American also signed a two-year extension on a 757-200ER lease.
United on Feb. 8 plans to start two daily roundtrip flights between San Francisco and Palm Springs, Calif. SkyWest will operate the twice-daily service with 50-seat regional jets. United also offers service from Palm Springs to Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The National Transportation Safety Board sent staff to Miami yesterday to start investigating the crash of a Chalk's Ocean Airways seaplane. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed at least 12 fatalities. The flight was going from Nassau to Miami. Chalk's claims to be the world's oldest scheduled airline. The carrier operates twin-engine Grumman G-73T Turbine Mallards.
The European Commission will take Latvia to the European Union Court of Justice for failing to implement European Union rules governing the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at airports. Latvia has not yet integrated a 2002 guideline on the issue. "Noise around airports is a particularly important issue for European citizens. Latvia must apply as soon as possible this legislation that provides for coherent solutions to noise problems around EU airports," said EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. -MT
Pilots and Mesaba are still at the negotiating table as management's deadline of yesterday to strike a concession deal passed without an agreement. Mesaba filed Chapter 11 on Oct. 13 after its major partner Northwest Airlines sought bankruptcy protection in September. The airline's fleet estimates for March 2006 are 55% below previous projections (DAILY, Dec. 12).
JetBlue believes it is entitled to the five flight slots at Long Beach, Calif., that American will relinquish in March and is already planning to boost its schedule from the airport, but Alaska Airlines also has put in a request for the slots.
Gate Gourmet yesterday hired Continental executive Ron Howard as president of the Americas division to succeed Peter Pappas, who was appointed president of Global Aviation Services. At Continental, Howard was VP of the airline's Chelsea Food Services division, as well as the inflight and food services divisions. In his new Gate Gourmet job, Howard is responsible for operations at 57 flight kitchens in North and South America, 13 Amtrak commissaries, plus sales, service and administrative functions for the division. -SL
Argentina's Under Secretary for Commercial Air Transport yesterday held public hearings to consider route awards requested by AERO 2000 (27 routes); Aerolineas Argentinas (eight); American Jet (nine); Andes Lineas Aereas (19); Austral (four); Cata Lineas Aereas (18); Safe Flight (18); Servicios de Enlace Aereos Fueguinos (one); Silver Sky (eight); Sol S.A. (three); Sud America Air (one), and Transoportes Aereos Petroleros (one). -LZ
World Air Holdings last week said its operating income will likely be up by 50% this year after a strong period of growth. Operating profit is estimated to be $59 million-$63 million, up $19 million-$23 million from last year. Fourth-quarter revenue is likely to be in the range of $205 million-$215 million, and operating profit is expected to be $12 million-$14 million. World is the parent company of cargo carrier World Airways and charter carrier North American. -AS
Air New Zealand says it will send heavy maintenance of its widebody aircraft engines to an overseas company, although the carrier delayed a decision on its proposal to do the same with its airframe maintenance.
Courts in Brazil last week removed and restored the Rubem Berta Foundation to control of Varig after the foundation attempted to have Varig legally released from bankruptcy protection to remove the obstacle blocking its sale to Docas (DAILY, Dec. 15).
The U.S. has no more meetings planned with Mongolia after the two governments held an "informational meeting" last week in Washington. The U.S. answered the Mongolian delegation's questions about open skies, says a U.S. Transportation Dept. spokesman. The U.S. has no other bilateral meetings with any other country on the calendar through January.
United Services won a $180 million, three-year contract with Pratt & Whitney to maintain PW F117 engines powering Boeing C-17s for the U.S. Air Force. Work on the engines will take place at United Services San Francisco center and the United center in Charleston, S.C.
Continental and American yesterday asked the U.S. Transportation Dept. to suspend its evaluation of Virgin America until the carrier provides more details about its ownership structure and the amount of foreign control.
American is axing plans to introduce flights from New York Kennedy Airport to Newcastle, U.K., because higher fuel prices, in particular, made the new route less attractive. American announced the route in June and was scheduled to begin flying it with Boeing 757s in May 2006. It would have been the first nonstop from New York to Newcastle, which is a major center for the U.K.'s Northeast region. Passengers that have already booked this flight will be refunded.
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation awarded 25 U.S. carriers blanket route authority covering all of each carrier's current and prospective international route authorities, as part of moves to make regulatory procedures more efficient. Previously, carriers had to file for route integration authority each time they applied for new exemptions. The certificates will be effective for five years and are open to renewal [OST-2005-22228]. -ARS
