Airline consumer complaints topped 5,500 in the first nine months of 2004, 17.4% more than the total of 4,736 complaints that the U.S. Transportation Dept. received from January to September 2003, according to the latest Air Travel Consumer Report. DOT got 592 complaints in September about airline service, which is down 25.2% from 791 complaints in August (DAILY, Oct. 11) but up 29% from the 459 complaints received in September 2003.
The number of aircraft operating with Chinese airlines is expected to more than quadruple in the next 20 years from the current 575. The China Aviation Industry Corp. 1 (CAIC1), a government agency under the purview of the Commission of Science and Technology and Industry for National Defense, estimates that the local airline industry will add 2,194 passenger aircraft by 2023. CAIC1 predicts 705 of the 2,194 aircraft will be 50- to 70-seat regional aircraft that will be used to link provincial capitals with smaller and medium-sized cities in the country.
After inaugurating three weekly Toronto-Lima services last week (DAILY, Oct. 27), Air Canada followed up on the next day with three weekly nonstops from Toronto to Buenos Aires, plus three more via Santiago, for a total of six. The carrier will also make its Sao Paulo service a daily offering on Dec. 1. All flights are operated with 224-seat Boeing 767-300ERs that feature Hospitality and Executive Class service, and are scheduled to offer quick connections both at Canadian gateways and Latin American destinations. -LZ
Frontier Airlines signed a 16-year deal with GE Engine Services for maintenance, repair and overhaul of the CFM International CFM56-5B engines powering 32 Airbus A318s/A319s. GE said the deal's estimated value was $100 million for the contract's duration. The maintenance cost per hour agreement follows a similar deal GE signed with Frontier in 2002 for 30 leased and owned A318s/A319s.
The simultaneous offset instrument approach (SOIA) procedure FAA has introduced at San Francisco Airport will increase arrivals by 25% during low-visibility conditions, the agency says. The procedure allows simultaneous landings on the airport's two parallel runways in bad weather. An advanced radar system installed last year lets aircraft approach at different angles, then fly a parallel approach when they are under the cloud deck. The procedure uses a precision runway monitor system.
Title: Specialized Technical Services. Expires: Nov. 18. Contact: Micheline Conn, 202-385-8737, [email protected]. Posting: The FAA is currently deploying the ASR-11 radar system to support the modernization of the National Airspace System. The agency needs specialized technical services to provide timely and accurate ASR-11 radar system and deployment support. The purpose of this market survey is to identify small business concerns capable of providing support for this initiative.
FAA has awarded Harris Corp. a six-month, $5.7 million extension to the weather and radar processor (WARP) contract, bringing the contract's total value to more than $131 million since 1996. WARP is a next-generation processor that gives FAA the software to consolidate weather data from several sources into a single, integrated display to support air traffic operations nationwide. The announcement was made during the Air Traffic Control Association's 49th Annual Conference this week.
Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) may emerge from Argentina's version of Chapter 11 on Dec. 27 and trade its shares on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange sometime in the New Year, CEO Antonio Mata reports.
Already dealing with spiraling fuel prices, airlines in Argentina are also battling with the government over what they call inordinately high airport fees.
While airlines like TANS, TACA Peru and LanPeru continue to pick up the slack left by Nuevo Continente's grounding (DAILY, Nov. 1), investors in Peru hoping to fill the void have approached the government about setting up new national carrier, says the head of the nation's aviation agency. Though no names have been revealed, civil aviation dept. (DGAC) CEO Roberto Rodriguez said his agency has offered them full cooperation and expediency to process operating certificates and other prerequisites.
Delta and Air Tahiti Nui this week signed a memorandum of understanding to start code-share service from New York Kennedy to Papeete next year. Both airlines will now work to finalize a deal to start the code-share partnership, as well as frequent flyer cooperation, lounge and passenger-handling links. All code sharing between the carriers will be subject to government approval. Air Tahiti Nui's only U.S. gateway is Los Angles, but the carrier plans to add New York service in July. -SL
Buoyed by robust performance at Airbus, EADS more than doubled its profits for the first nine months of the year. Net income rose to EUR$597 million (US$767 million), compared with EUR$242 million (US$311 million) for January-September of 2003.
Declining trust fund revenue means FAA's new Air Traffic Organization (ATO) cannot continue on a "business as usual" course and must look to cut costs and increase efficiency over the next five years, said ATO head Russell Chew.
There were 181 Airprox incidents in U.K. airspace during 2003, a new report by the U.K. Airprox Board (UKAB) says. This is the lowest number yet recorded by pilots and air traffic controllers, UKAB said. Of the 2003 total, 64 incidents involved commercial aircraft, also a record low. No incidents fell in the most serious "actual risk" category.
South African Airways second-highest executive resigned from the airline this week, only days after the airline unveiled a plan to cut costs and improve service. Deputy CEO Oyama Mabandla originally wanted to leave the airline by the end of this month but agreed to "be available" to help the airline's management until the end of March. "The time has come for me to move on," he said. "I will be pursuing my own business interests to take advantage of the economic tide that is sweeping our country as a result of the success of our democracy."
The U.K.'s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is still trying to determine why a Bmibaby Boeing 737 and an Excel 767 collided yesterday while both were preparing to depart Manchester Airport. The tail of the 737 struck the wing of the 767. The 334 passengers from both planes were evacuated and kept at an airside location. No casualties were reported. -LR
A group of local investors in Rosario, the third-largest city in Argentina, is planning to create a commuter airline that would initially operate to Cordoba and Buenos Aires. Industry web portal Puntobiz reports that Rosario's wholesale tour operator, Transatlantica, eager to capitalize on the carrier with its own business, is spearheading the project. The startup would eventually replace grounded Aerovip on the carrier's former commuter routes. -LZ
With the local petroleum industry going strong, Venezuelan carrier Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela has augmented its expansion plans to include the carrier's first all-cargo service from Miami to Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo. "In spite of Venezuela's political turmoil, the petroleum industry continues to thrive and require more freighter service," said major shareholder and CEO Nelson Ramiz. The all-cargo flights will operate three times weekly with Boeing 727 freighters.
Virgin Blue yesterday inked a deal with LiveTV to install the live satellite television service on its aircraft, becoming the first customer outside of North America for the JetBlue wholly owned subsidiary.
Hertz car rental will offer wireless high-speed Internet access in its facilities in more than 50 major U.S. airports by the end of the first quarter 2005. The wi-fi Internet service will be provided by Wayport, which sells network memberships for use at airports, hotels and McDonalds restaurants. Non-members pay a one-time connection fee.
In what is the largest civil aircraft order of the year, Air Berlin yesterday bought up to 110 Airbus A320s to aggressively build its fleet and in turn stabilize the company's position as Europe's third-largest, low-fare airline.
