The 23 Airbus A320s ordered by China Aviation Supplies Import Export Corp (CASIEC) on Dec. 6 (DAILY, Dec. 9) will be delivered to Shenzhen Airlines, CASIEC reported, and Shenzen said the deal turned on price.
Regional carrier Aerocondor has added six Boeing 737-200s to serve 11 new domestic destinations in Peru, one more aircraft than CEO Luis Eduardo Palacin had previously planned. The fleet growth could further complicate a problem the regional already faces with excess capacity (DAILY, Jan. 19). With a $3.5 million investment from Peruvian nationals, Palacin told DAILY affiliate AvNews Latin American & Caribbean that the carrier is ready to "fight for the market based on the best airline service and not through fare wars."
An Atlas Air Boeing 747-200 overran Duesseldorf Airport's Runway 23L yesterday, causing significant damage to at least two of four engines. The aircraft operated on behalf of Emirates Sky Cargo as Flight EK 8995 from Dubai with a scheduled landing in Duesseldorf. After touching down, the aircraft's crew was unable to brake the plane before the end of the runway. Airport officials said two engines caught fire.
United Friday promoted Kathryn Mikells to VP and treasurer, responsible for United's treasury department, including corporate finance, risk management, cash management, insurance and corporate tax. She replaces Jeff Kawalsky, who is retiring from United. Most recently, Mikells served as VP-corporate real estate.
Republic Airways Holdings completed a portion of its recent deal with Embraer to swap eight 50-seat ERJ-145s for 70-seat Embraer 170s. Republic ordered 16 -170s from Embraer after concluding a deal with Delta for the company's subsidiary, Republic Airlines, to fly the larger planes (DAILY, Dec. 27, 2004). Republic Airlines is set to fly Embraer 170s for both Delta and United once it finalizes its operating certificate with FAA.
GE named five companies set to take a combined 36% stake in the GEnx engine slated to power the Boeing 7E7 and the Airbus A350. Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will have a 15% share in the engine and will supply low-pressure rotating components, module assembly, compressor airfoils and mid-fan shaft compressor casing. Italy's Avio SpA is responsible for the GEnx's gearboxes, low-pressure turbine static components and lubrication systems.
Continental asked to start daily nonstop service between Houston and Cali, Colombia, on June 9, using seven frequencies that the carrier once held but never used to operate New York/Newark-Medellin service. The Newark-Medellin frequencies became dormant on April 1, 2003, after Continental opted not to begin service because of "continuing dramatically reduced demand, skyrocketing fuel costs, terrorist threats and potential warfare," the carrier said.
Argentina's Southern Winds Airlines on Jan. 16 launched nonstop service between Buenos Aires and Madrid with recently acquired Boeing 747-200 aircraft. Next, Southern Winds will look to re-establish nonstop service between Buenos Aires and Miami, as soon as Argentina returns to Category 1 in the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Program. The country currently holds Cat 2 standing.
US Airways during the weekend launched a "clear skies ahead" marketing campaign in an attempt to win back passengers who waited to book travel with the carrier, and CEO Bruce Lakefield confirmed the airline is on track to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by the end of June.
The U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is planning to convene a confirmation hearing for Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Michael Chertoff in the first week of February, says a committee spokeswoman. The committee also will hold a DHS oversight hearing Wednesday to examine the "road ahead" for the department, focusing on issues such as border and transportation security and intelligence.
America West posted a $49.7 million fourth quarter loss, citing the same challenges as its peers did earlier in the week, but contrary to the competition, America West executives reported that revenue and yields are showing small signs of improvement.
ExpressJet topped forecasts and continued to show strong earnings through the end of 2004, crediting efficiency, cost controls and expansion of its regional jet fleet for solid results.
JAL last week reached a deal with Korean Air to expand their code-share flights between Japan and Korea. Starting March 27, they will launch code share flights between the new Chubu International Airport near Nagoya and Pusan. The two airlines are currently operating their own flights from Nagoya and Pusan out of Nagoya's Komaki Airport. Starting Feb. 17, they will switch flights on the Nagoya-Pusan route to the new Chubu International Airport, which opens on the same day.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger and baggage screening procedures pushed up drug-related arrests at Los Angeles International 49% in 2004, airport police say. TSA requirements, such as removing jackets and secondary-screening pat-downs, uncovered 181 drug-related incidents at the airport, compared with 121 reported in 2003. Airport law enforcement includes drug arrests in the category of miscellaneous offenses, which rose 37% last year. Arrests at the airport, overall, rose 33%.
Brazil's low-fare, low-cost Gol Airlines recently started weekly service between Sao Paulo via Rio de Janeiro (Galeao Airport) to Joao Pessoa, the gateway to the sugar and resort area of northeast Brazil. The airline will offer connections to 38 other destinations served by carrier throughout the country and introductory fares start at $155 one way. -LZ
Alaska Airlines won FAA approval to use required navigation performance (RNP) at Palm Springs airport, the carrier's first RNP destination in the lower 48 states. Alaska said it was forced to cancel, delay or divert 24 flights into Palm Springs this month due to low clouds and visibility problems, but only three flights would have been canceled if RNP was used.
Two of the largest U.S. low-fare carriers -- Southwest and America West -- on Friday rejected an incentive package offered by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that executives hoped would fill the gap left by Delta.
US Airways' mechanics and fleet service employees, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), on Friday were expected to ratify their concession deal reached earlier this month, union sources say. An IAM approval would represent the airline's final hurdle in its effort to cut labor costs.
Air Wisconsin plans to hold informational and interview sessions exclusively for Independence Air pilots near Washington Dulles airport this week. Air Wisconsin is vying against FLYi and eight other regional carriers to keep intact a 70-plane deal it has with United. United last year sought proposals from other carriers to try to lower the costs of the current contract is has with Air Wisconsin (DAILY, Nov. 12). A United decision could come as early as this week.
