Frustrated and without its once-broad powers, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is abandoning a nearly three-year effort to force domestic airlines to pool fare revenues on certain routes. The goal was to prop up smaller airlines losing money on those routes by controlling rampant discounts. But the sheer size of the domestic network made it extremely difficult for CAAC to enforce the rule, introduced in April 2000, and CAAC's failure to plug loopholes led some airlines to keep offering discounts on some major routes.
An arbitrator finalized all the remaining items in Alaska Airlines' flight dispatchers' contract, the airline said yesterday. Dispatchers ratified the contract in August, but the parties needed an arbitrator to settle outstanding items. The arbitrator awarded a 3% cost of living increase for the first year and of 2% in each of the following two years.
EasyJet next month plans to reduce the number of inflight food options as part of several cost-cutting changes it is making to its onboard service. EasyJet currently offers a range of food and drink for purchase, including sandwiches. Starting Feb. 1, the onboard offering on routes operated by EasyJet will be "simplified," meaning there will be "better availability of fewer products." Go flights will remain unaffected until March 30.
Under the U.N. rules on equitable staffing, 27 U.S. citizens should work for ICAO's Secretariat in professional positions, but right now there are only 13, says U.S. ICAO Ambassador Edward Stimpson, "the worst record of any U.N. organization for hiring U.S. citizens."
AirTran yesterday became only the second U.S. major or national airline so far besides Southwest to report a profit, posting modest $7.5 million fourth-quarter net income, as it continues to win market share from its larger competitors.
Jerry Olson, chairman of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), died of cancer Jan. 19. Olson was airport manager at Cheyenne, Wyo., Airport from 1989 until his death, and was AAAE chair since May 2002.
Data recovered from the flight data recorder (FDR) of the Air Midwest Beech 1900D crash earlier this month show irregular readings from the pitch control sensor in the plane's elevator system, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said yesterday. The aircraft flew nine times after maintenance on Jan. 6, the board said, and "the FDR data show approximately a 10 degree down shift as measured by the pitch control position sensor on all flights after the maintenance, including the accident flight."
Aircraft engine emissions are the next source of strife between the U.S. and Europe within the walls of ICAO as the organization's Committee On Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) works to iron out reasonable regulations for its member states.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) was expected to introduce legislation yesterday or today that would require arming all commercial airlines with missile defense systems to protect against an attack by a shoulder-fired missile. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was scheduled to introduce companion legislation but calls to her office were not returned yesterday.
FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) yesterday for immediate inspections of Beech 1900, 1900C and 1900D to find mis-rigged elevator control systems. Ground tests last week of rigging procedures on aircraft in Wichita, Kan., prompted the agency's action. Agency officials stressed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probe of the Jan. 8 Air Midwest Beech 1900D crash in Charlotte, N.C., continues and "there is no evidence of mis-rigging, but we want to make sure it's not a factor in the existing fleet."
Delta tomorrow plans to reveal more details on its new low-cost subsidiary, including its brand name and livery. Sources said the operation will use the "Song" name rumored last fall to be the frontrunner (DAILY, Nov. 21). A spokesman would not comment on the brand or timing of the announcement. The operation will start this spring, eventually flying 36 Boeing 757-200s.
Continental has cut two of its seven weekly Boeing 737-700 flights from Newark to Caracas, citing the month-long strike calling for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's resignation. Services will now operate on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Daily Caracas-Houston service will continue normally. Similarly, Venezuela's Aeropostal is restructuring both itineraries to adjust to lower passenger traffic, estimated at 4,000 per day, and has temporarily suspended 304 employees on land and 129 in the air.
American in early March plans to cancel two California services, both in operation one year or less, as it battles JetBlue and other low-cost carriers. Effective March 2, AA will cancel its three daily flights from Oakland to New York Kennedy. The airline started the Boeing 757 flights on the same day last year but faced stiff competition from JetBlue and likely took traffic away from its own San Francisco and San Jose flights. JetBlue currently operates four daily flights on the route.
Swiss President Pascal Couchepin and other top officials are calling for tough legal action as details emerged of an auditors' report due for release next month accusing Swissair executives of mismanagement in the demise of the carrier.
FAA issued a final rule yesterday requiring operators of certain General Electric CF6-50 and CF6-80C2 engines to replace low-pressure turbine (LPT) shrouds with a new design. The agency noted that 37 uncontained LPT events had occurred since 1993 on CF6-50s and 24 on the CF6-80 models.
American Trans Air last week named Charles Cleaver as its new VP and treasurer. Cleaver most recently was director of aircraft programs and instrumental in obtaining financing for ATA's 27 new Boeing 757s and 40 737-800s. He also negotiated 38 new and used aircraft acquisitions, initiated interim and permanent financing for ATA's $1.9 billion aircraft order, while overseeing the re-fleeting of ATA's commuter subsidiary, Chicago Express. -SL
A coalition of general aviation organizations discussed security, airport access and funding, the impending reauthorization legislation and certification issues in their first meeting last week with FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.
Orbitz Chief Technology Officer Alex Zoghlin is expected today to announce his resignation from the company. In his three years with Orbitz, Zoghlin led the company's efforts to design a completely new online travel agency. He will remain through April to help hire a replacement, and then leave to "pursue his next challenge."
William Pollock was named to US Airways' board of directors as one of the four labor representatives, the carrier said yesterday. Pollock is chairman of the US Airways unit of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). He replaces Chris Beebe, now VP-finance and treasurer with ALPA's national office.
Aerolineas Argentinas traffic increased 49.59% in the first 11 months of 2002, according to a report issued last week by IATA affiliate Monthly International Statistics (MIS). LanChile's traffic rose 19.51% and Varig's 2.26%. Other results were negative: TAM Brazil down 5.23%, Mexicana 11.37%, TAM 11.37%, AeroMexico 14.16%, LAB 21.57% and Cubana 33.39%.
