Goodrich recently completed installation and FAA certification testing of its Universal Transient Suppression Device at Southwest Airlines. The FAA certification and approval as an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) covers Boeing 737 classic models equipped with Goodrich analog or digital fuel quantity indicating systems.
Qantas will increase its Sydney-Auckland service Oct. 27 by 15 flights a week to 37, while Sydney-Christchurch will go up from 17 a week to three daily, using Boeing 767-300 and 737-400, respectively. The Rome service also will see an additional flight for a total of four a week, using 747-400s.
Mesaba Holding's second quarter earnings fell more than 66% yesterday to $1.6 million, partially due to a one-time loss associated with a WorldCom investment. The Northwest Airlink carrier said yesterday it realized a $2.7 million loss from bonds invested in WorldCom, which is now operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The bond loss resulted in a $1.9 million non-operating loss of $1.9 million for Mesaba and a reduction of earnings of five cents per share. Mesaba still managed to post a 5.5% operating margin, and its results topped analyst expectations.
The Transportation Security Administration would have to "deploy a fully trained baggage screener every 11 minutes" to meet the Dec. 31 checked-baggage explosive screening deadline, according to Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas). Her proposal to extend the deadline is in the House-passed homeland security bill. TSA has conducted site studies at 24 airports but would have to "complete an airport security site plan every ten hours," she said, and install an explosives detection machine every 35 minutes to install the 6,600 machines TSA says are needed.
U.K. airport operator BAA yesterday reported passenger traffic of 32 million for the quarter ending June 30, down 1.7% from last year. Its before-tax profit was 143 million pounds, down 5.9% from last year. Investment in U.K. airport infrastructure was up 29.7%, due primarily to preparatory work on Heathrow's terminal five.
Embraer last week donated $500,000 to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's new companion facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The contribution was given to museum director Jack Dailey at the Farnborough air show. The Udvar-Hazy Center is being built at Washington Dulles and will open in December 2003. More than 200 aircraft and 135 large space artifacts will be displayed in the 710,000-square-foot facility.
Delta last Friday was hit with about 500 delayed flights because of a Worldspan hardware failure. The problem disrupted DeltaMatic, Delta's reservations system, and connectivity to the Operations SupportSystem for about 90 minutes. Delta Technology, working with Worldspan, was able to recover systems late Friday afternoon. As a result, Delta experienced flight delays but no cancellations, the carrier said.
The newly elected French government is moving ahead with plans to sell stakes in major French companies, among them Air France and EADS. As a consequence of the strategic decision, the government will reduce its 54.4% stake in Air France but will keep a significant stake in the company -- according to agency reports around 20%. The finance ministry said in a statement privatization would give Air France "more freedom to accelerate its fleet modernization, consolidate alliances and develop partnerships."
KLM had to cancel nearly 45 flights during the weekend as the company's maintenance engineers launched a wildcat strike on Saturday. An emergency court ruling outlawed the strike the same day. Traffic was scheduled to resume normally from Sunday evening, but KLM said some 6,000 passengers were stranded at Schiphol Airport, and the strike cost it some EUR15 million (US$14.7 million).
Transportation Security Administration will have to report fiscal 2002 funding reprogramming to Congress by Aug. 9, House and Senate conferees said in approving supplemental funding. The supplemental bill, awaiting President Bush's signature, includes hiring and contract oversight reporting requirements.
BMI British Midland will pull out of its home base East Midlands by the end of the summer timetable and transfer operations to its low-fare subsidiary Bmibaby. The decision follows the successful start of Bmibaby, currently serving nine destinations with two Boeing 737s from the Airport. Bmibaby will open a second base at Cardiff airport in November. The carrier's East Midlands fleet will grow from two to nine aircraft with two additional 737s being based in Cardiff.
Mexican landholders from Atenco opposing construction of a new airport in Texcoco renewed their protests last Friday with fiery speeches and battle cries against the government at the funeral of Jose Enrique Espinosa, one of their leaders. Espinosa died Thursday as result of head injuries received in the first violent confrontation with the police on July 11 (DAILY, July 26). "Our land and dignity are not negotiable," said Ignacio del Valle at the funeral, and another protest leader added, "We will keep on fighting."
Creation of a Homeland Security Department won approval of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives late Friday on a vote of 295-132, just before the House recessed until early September.
The Association of Flight Attendants is calling on the government to grant United's request for federal loan guarantees and reiterating its support for the restructuring plan of current management. However, this does not change AFA's stance regarding concession negotiations with the airline.
Atlas crewmembers yesterday ratified a tentative contract agreement reached in June with the airline. Of the 531 pilots eligible, 93% voted, with 82% voting in favor of ratification. The agreement includes higher wages plus favorable scheduling and job security clauses.
SkyWest yesterday posted an $18.9 million net profit, an increase of 7.1% thanks a jump in revenues despite capacity growth. The airline's available seat miles soared 62.2% due the carrier's increased regional jet operations but SkyWest's traffic grew 80% leading to a load factor increase of seven points. SkyWest reported an operating margin of 14.9%, only 1.8 points lower than a year ago. "SkyWest's earnings demonstrate the durability of contract flying even under the most trying economic conditions," said Merrill Lynch analyst Michael Linenberg.
"After weeks of intensive negotiations and analysis of various options available in the market," AeroMexico said Friday it would replace 15 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s with Boeing 737-600 jets. Airbus also was considered. The MDs became ineligible to operate to the U.S. at the beginning of 2002 as new noise regulations went into effect, followed by similar disqualification in Mexico. AeroMexico's current fleet numbers 70 aircraft, mostly Boeings, with an average age of 11 years.
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has banned discounted fares on all routes covering the domestic market, effective immediately. To enforce its ban, CAAC plans to impose a fine on any Chinese airline that breaches the ruling. CAAC's move is another attempt to stabilize the domestic market with the hope of improving yields. The ban, introduced in October 1998 during the height of the Asian financial crisis, was lifted early last year. This led to cutthroat prices again and heavy losses for the smaller carriers.
Swiss CEO Andre Dose plans to meet today with pilot union CCP, representing the former Crossair pilots, in an effort to resolve an ongoing dispute over pay, seniority and other issues. The meeting is scheduled for the afternoon, but it is unclear if CCP will show up. The union has stated it will come only if several conditions are met, but Swiss said it would not accept preconditions. The former Crossair pilots want to be paid the same as their ex-Swissair colleagues flying the Airbus A320/321 medium-haul fleet. -JF
Midwest Express flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, told the National Mediation Board Friday that they have declined binding arbitration in their contract dispute with the airline setting the stage for a 30-day cooling-off period. The union made the decision after four days of "fruitless negotiations." The NMB is expected to set the dates for the 30-day countdown early this week, according to the AFA.
CSA Czech Airlines this year plans to launch service from Prague to Columbo, Sri Lanka. The carrier will operate the service two days per week, starting Oct. 29, with an Airbus A310-300. The flight will stop in Dubai in both directions.
US Airways' leasing division recently advertised 33 Boeing 757-300s for sale or lease as the airline attempts to reduce capacity on many routes. The oldest aircraft was made in 1987. US Airways also is making available for sale or lease four 737-300s, three 737-400s and four 767-200 ERs. Separately, Delta is offering nine 737-300s for lease.
