Spirit is delaying implementation of its new Detroit-Cancun service from March 23 to April 8 as the carrier works a fleet transition from MD-80s to new Airbus aircraft. "Because of the dramatic and prolonged increase in fuel prices, Spirit has opted to accelerate the retirement of its MD-80 fleet," the carrier told the U.S. Transportation Dept. "Given the need to adjust its operation without causing undue disruption during the Easter holiday, Spirit plans to defer the anticipated startup of this service by two weeks" [OST-2004-18692].
Appointed Ben Baldanza, most recently senior VP-Marketing and Planning at US Airways, president and chief operating officer of the airline, effective Jan. 24.
FAA boosted its pool of controller candidates by extending the eligibility period for graduates of college ATC courses, a move already called for by the main ATC union and industry group. The extension applies to courses under the FAA's Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). Trainees once eligible for hire only within two years of graduation can now apply for an extra year of eligibility, up the maximum hiring age of 31.
Named current senior VP-alliances and US Airways Express President Bruce Ashby to executive VP-marketing and planning, to replace Ben Baldanza; VP-Network and Revenue Management Andrew Nocella will become senior VP-planning, senior VP and controller Anita Beier will add "organization re-engineering" to her duties as VP-Restructuring James Schear moves to VP-safety and regulatory compliance.
The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services is preparing to install a NavCanada electronic flight data system at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The system, which eliminates the need for controllers to use paper flight strips, was introduced at Stansted airport last week.
Tsunami-hit beach resorts in Thailand continue to see a reduction in flights due to declining passenger loads. Starting Saturday, Thai Airways International will cut its daily Singapore-Phuket service to three weekly, and SilkAir has dropped a Phuket flight and halved its services to Krabi to twice weekly. Low-fare Thai Air Asia has suspended the route indefinitely.
The major U.S. freight forwarders' industry group is concerned that the Transportation Security Administration is seriously underestimating how much its proposed cargo security rule will hurt its members.
Because of observation of the U.S. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, Aviation Daily will not publish an issue dated Jan. 17. The next issue will be dated Jan. 18.
Bill Bozin is joining Airbus North America Feb. 1 as VP-safety and compliance, replacing John Lauber, who is now the chief safety officer in Toulouse. Bozin was most recently safety VP at US Airways. Based at the Airbus North America office in Washington, D.C., Bozin will lead a team of Airbus employees and consultants to work with FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board on safety issues.
Minneapolis-St. Paul airport plans to begin work later this year or early next year on a new cargo facility, an airport spokesman told The DAILY. The facility is scheduled to be finished by 2006, and will house smaller freight forwarders and carriers that want space at the airport. Some already use temporary space at the airport. Separate facilities were built for UPS in 2003 and FedEx in 2002.
Southwest yesterday named the 11 ATA markets in which it will code share, a move that will let Southwest start attacking Northwest's turf in Minneapolis and begin selling tickets to Honolulu. The airlines described the alliance as the first of its kind for low-cost carriers. The code share starts in most markets Feb.4, and passengers can book the new flights beginning Jan. 16.
Easyjet will add two new routes to its growing Belfast base in July, with a four-times weekly Rome service and three weekly roundtrips to Berlin-Schoenefeld. Geneva, Inverness and Palma de Majorca were recently added.
Pinnacle warned earlier this week that weather delays and cancellations that pummeled several carriers during December would weaken its fourth-quarter 2004 earnings. The Northwest Airlink carrier said heavy icing caused major disruptions at its Memphis hub, and delays throughout its network. Pinnacle also had problems with its crew scheduling and communications systems during the weather delays, and plans to install better equipment during the first quarter.
Singapore Airlines created a special logo to show off to the world that it is the launch customer for the Airbus A380. The new logo has the taglines "First to Fly - the Singapore Airlines A380" and "Experience the Difference in 2006." SIA has 10 A380s on firm order and options on 15 more and it will configure the plane with under 500 seats in a three-class configuration.
In a bid to boost tourism, Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to establish more aviation links to connect the two countries. As a first step the two governments will increase the number of flights from China, India and the Middle East to Indonesia via Singapore, which will also be promoted as a destination. The frequencies would be finalized within the next two weeks and an agreement should be signed by the Transport Ministers of both countries by month's end.
Airbus picked Triumph Composite Systems to design and build the floor panel system for the A380 freighter. The deal -- worth more than $35 million over the life of the program -- includes qualification testing, parts manufacturing and post-production support. Based in Spokane, Wash., Triumph Composite Systems is a subsidiary of the Triumph Group.
Airbus parent company EADS yesterday revised upwards its 2004 earning forecast, backed by stronger than expected Airbus sales and an improved performance of its military business. "Preliminary estimates show that the company has exceeded its financial targets for the fifth closing in a row," EADS Co-CEOs Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich said in a joint statement.
US Airways won bankruptcy court approval to use its available cash to fund operations through June 30, which takes the airline up to its deadline for emerging from bankruptcy. Although the extension was expected, its length was surprising to some analysts. Under a deal with GE, US Airways agreed to emerge from bankruptcy no later than June 30.
Traffic at Philadelphia International is up more than 15% for the first 11 months of 2004 over 2003 figures, a boost the airport credits to the increase of low-fare carriers. Airport officials said this week they expect December travel figures to push passenger traffic totals past the 28 million mark for the year, reflecting a 3 million-passenger increase for the year. The airport's low-fare carriers -- including recent entrants Frontier and Southwest, which has been battling US Airways on its home turf -- have contributed to the growth.
Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal is hoping to speed up its privatization through a merger with private carrier Portugalia, TAP President Fernando Pinto said this week. "There is interest in the deal on the part of TAP, I would say there is interest also on the part of Portugalia, we have talked a lot," he told Portuguese radio TSF. "I would like to see the process finished as soon as possible, I think the two companies have much to gain with that."
