United's operating performance dropped an average of seven percentage points last week, compared with the week before due to a series of summer storms. The numbers remained about even for departure completion but dropped in terms of departure and arrival measurements. The airline told employees that last week was "challenging" from coast to coast in the U.S. with thunderstorms and low clouds surrounding many major cities. There was a 103% increase in flow control and air traffic control delays last week.
Copa Airlines has finalized orders for four Boeing 737-700s and two 737-800s that were previously listed to an undisclosed customer in the manufacturer's order log. Total seat count on the -700s will be 124 -- 12 in business and 112 in economy -- and the -800s will have a seating capacity of 155 -- 14 in business class and 141 in the main cabin. Estimated value of the order is $325 million. Copa also has options for four -700s and two -800s.
US Airways maintenance training specialists yesterday ratified a concession agreement proposed by the airline. This is the first employee group represented by the International Association of Machinists to ratify its concession proposal. Ramp workers and mechanics are scheduled to vote by tomorrow.
Japan Airlines and Emirates signed a deal to begin code-share flights between Osaka and Dubai, starting Oct. 1, subject to government approval. Under the agreement, JAL will code share on Emirates' four weekly nonstop flights between Dubai and Osaka Kansai Airport. All four flights will be operated with Emirates' Boeing 777-200s. The code-share deal also includes JAL domestic connecting flights to and from Kansai between Tokyo, Fukuoka and Sapporo -- with through check-in on days of the JAL-Emirates' Osaka-Dubai operation.
Airbus engineers are developing larger screens for the A380's cockpit, designed to provide flight crews with more real-time flight management tools. "There's more real estate," said John Lauber, VP-safety at Airbus North America. "The challenge is maintaining family commonality while taking advantage of new technology." Eight 6-inch by 8-inch flat panel screens will display air traffic control data links, takeoff acceleration and vertical situational awareness not currently available on existing Airbus models.
Boeing announced last week a dispatch reliability record for its 717-200s. The aircraft had 99.6% reliability for the week ending Aug. 11, and it has had a monthly reliability rate of 99% year-to-date. About 165 of the aircraft are in service.
Mexicana plans to add nonstop service between Mexico City and Vancouver, beginning Dec. 14. The five weekly services will be flown with Airbus A319s in a two-class configuration. "Since we started service to Canada in 1996, we have experienced sustained traffic growth, and believe that Vancouver is a natural progression for us in our coverage of this important market," CEO Fernando Flores.
Bombardier last week announced its yearly profit would be lower than expected. The company said it wouldn't meet its 10% earnings growth, and its share price would be $.70 instead of the original $.89.
Varig and subsidiaries RioSul and Nordeste have increased domestic airfares 5-10% on certain routes, following the example of TAM and low-cost Gol Airlines. On the Rio/Sao Paulo shuttle, the fare went up from 219 to 239 reals. This is attributable to the 11.2% increase in fuel prices as a direct result of the latest devaluation of the real.
United CEO Jack Creighton confirmed yesterday that the airline plans to file its amended loan guarantee application with the federal government by Sept. 16. At the same time, the airline plans to submit proposals for deeper concessions to all its union groups by the end of this week. United faces an uphill battle, however, as Creighton told employees in his weekly message that the airline's executives "continue to prepare for the possibility of a Chapter 11 filing."
John D. MacDonald and John L. Phillipe, both with more than 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, have just set up MacDonald Associates, a consulting firm based in Miami with associate offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Orlando, San Francisco, Lima, Montevideo, Caracas, and Santo Domingo. The headquarters staff is fluent in English, Spanish and German.
United Express partner Air Wisconsin will start flights from Denver to Winnipeg Oct. 8, operating two daily flights with 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets in cooperation with United's Star alliance partner Air Canada. This summer, United and United Express offer more than 360 daily flights from Denver, with nonstop service to 81 destinations across North America.
Top FAA officials plan to meet with representatives from airlines and manufacturers tomorrow to emphasize the agency's commitment to the April 9 deadline for getting upgraded cockpit doors installed, and they will urge industry to do whatever is necessary to meet the timeframe. "The bottom line is, the deadline is April 2003, and we do not see that changing," an FAA spokesperson told The DAILY. "We want to make sure that resources are being dedicated to this...We will re-emphasize that we are dedicating whatever resources are necessary to get it done."
Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) plans to begin new United Express flights in October from Chicago O' Hare to St. Louis and Colorado Springs, and a new flight from Washington Dulles to Toronto, Canada. ACA said it plans to offer three daily flights between Chicago and St. Louis and two to Colorado Springs.
China Southern Airlines has officially started it fleet replacement plan with the delivery of its first Boeing 737-800. The airline has ordered 20 -800s to replace older 737s it currently flies. The planned configuration is 167 seats divided into two classes, eight in first and 159 in economy.
Emirates asked DOT for a foreign carrier permit, planning daily nonstops in the Dubai-New York market, beginning June 1, 2003, using three-class Airbus A340-500 aircraft; it intends to add daily Dubai-Chicago nonstops on Oct. 1, 2003. No U.S. or United Arab Emirates carrier operates own-carrier service between the two countries, Emirates noted. U.A.E. has an open-skies pact with the U.S. and wants to "avail itself of the reciprocal rights" under the accord.
America West has restarted the hiring process for flight attendants. The airline said the move was due to its "continued efforts to maximize staffing levels and to support projected increases in travel demand." The airline is holding an information session for Phoenix employees this week on the recruiting process.
Pakistan International Airline's (PIA) announcement yesterday of its plans to upgrade its fleet with a mix of both Boeing and Airbus widebody and narrowbody aircraft could lead to a significant increase in the carrier's operating costs. "With a complex fleet structure you have crew training expenses and an increase in spare parts," a manufacturing source told The DAILY. "You want to reduce inventory, not increase it. Even if the carrier outsources maintenance, it's still going to be expensive."
Eclipse Aviation yesterday completed the first flight of its new Eclipse 500 jet. Piloted by Bill Bubb, Eclipse's chief test pilot, the Eclipse 500 jet took to the air at 9:18 a.m. MST, flying as planned for about 60 minutes. Flight-testing was conducted in a designated test zone located south of Albuquerque, N.M. The Eclipse 500 is a six-person jet aircraft that sells for roughly $850,000. The first flight of the Eclipse 500 marks the start of a 16-month testing program, involving eight test airframes.
World Airways reported yesterday that its common stock will continue to be traded on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market and, starting today, the stock will trade under the symbol WLDAC. World Airways received an exception from the net tangible assets, stockholders' equity, market, capitalization, net income and the minimum bid price requirements. In order to meet the requirements of the exception, the airline must provide information to Nasdaq on its financial results for the nine months ended Sept. 30, by Nov. 15. By Feb.
Embraer selected the Aircraft Wheels and Brakes division at Goodrich Cooperation as its Best Supplier. The Brazilian manufacturer said Goodrich was the only company out of nine suppliers who had top scores in categories such as quality service and on-time response. Goodrich has supplied wheels and brakes to Embraer for more than 20 years.
Boston residents groups have instigated new court action in an attempt to reverse FAA's approval of Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) plans to construct a new runway at Boston Logan Airport.
A federal court in Charlotte, N.C., tomorrow will hear motions filed by CCAIR asking the court to ratify an agreement pilots and management reached April 16 without the signature of ALPA President Duane Woerth. The airline said ALPA bargained in bad faith after Woerth refused to sign the agreement.
