Midwest Express and Skyway Airlines last week lowered the minimum age at which passengers are eligible for senior citizen fares from 62 to 55 years. The change is effective immediately, and senior citizen fares now offer an extended maximum stay of 180 days, up from the previous maximum of 30 days. "While some airlines have raised the eligibility age to 65 for senior citizen fares, we've decided to offer ours to a wider audience," said Thomas Vick, chief marketing officer.
GE Frankona Re recently formed a new London-based Aviation Unit that will focus on providing hull and liability reinsurance to smaller airlines, minor aviation-product manufacturers, airports and re-fuelers in addition to the general aviation business. This unit "will be able to maintain closer contact with brokers than before, thus providing the necessary expertise right upfront," the company said. Senior Underwriter Greg Dawson will lead the new unit.
JetBlue CEO David Neeleman believes his airline is well prepared for the aggressive attacks already under way by JetBlue's larger competitors. "We're ready for the challenge," Neeleman told The DAILY. Already posting the highest operating margin in the industry, Neeleman believes JetBlue's low costs and strong product offering give it a definite advantage over the majors. "Things are pretty nasty out there," he said, "but we seem to be outperforming our competitors."
New York jet fuel spot prices ended last week at $0.73 per gallon, up 0.3% from the beginning of the week and up 6.0% from a year ago, according to Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.
US Airways recently signed a deal with the American Automobile Association to become a preferred travel supplier. Under the agreement, US Airways will provide reduced fares and promotions to AAA's more than 45 million members.
Lufthansa will introduce twice-weekly services to Abuja, Nigeria, on Oct. 28. The airline will increase frequencies to the country's capital Lagos from four to six weekly flights and fly the aircraft onward to Abuja. Lufthansa plans to deploy Airbus A340s on the route.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air signed frequent flyer and code-share agreements with Helijet International, a North American scheduled helicopter service. Both agreements will start Sept. 8 pending government approval. The partnership will provide connections through Vancouver Airport for Alaska, Horizon and Helijet customers. As a result of the new deal, Helijet and Alaska plan to introduce service operated by Helijet aircraft between Vancouver and Whistler Resort once approval is received.
Yearend deadline for bag screening is neither realistic nor achievable, declared James Wilding, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO. The deadline "wasn't realistic the day it was set and becomes less so as time goes on," he said at a Center for National Policy symposium in Washington. If the deadline is extended, the industry has a "sporting chance that the money will be spent the right way."
Air Jamaica last week signed a deal with Sabre to modernize technology systems that oversee reservations, airport check-in and departure control operations. The new agreement is valued at more than $10 million, and the systems will take about six months to implement. "Our goal at Air Jamaica is to achieve profitability in the short term," said Keith Smith, VP-IT Services. "We intend to do that by offering our customers unmatched ease in shopping, ticketing, checking in and boarding our flights."
Ethiopian Airlines last week reached a deal to acquire 12 short- and long-haul Boeing aircraft over the next four years, giving the manufacturer a significant win over rival Airbus. The airline plans to introduce six 737-700s and six 767-300ERs into its fleet, to replace its older 737-200s and 767-200s. Delivery of the aircraft is slated to begin in six to nine months.
To list an event, fax information to Donna Thomas at 202-383-2438. (Blue-faced type indicates new calendar listing.) AUG. 5-22 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Center for Aerospace Safety/Security Education (CASE), Safety Certificate program, Prescott, Ariz., Campus, Prescott, Ariz., 386-226-6186, [email protected], www.avsaf.org AUG. 21-23 -- 2002 Virginia Aviation Conference, Aviation's Evolution From Cloth to Composites, Ramada Plaza Resort Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, Va.
Delta's board declared a cash dividend of 2.5 cents per common share at its regular meeting in Atlanta. The dividend is payable on Sept. 1 to shareowners of record on Aug. 7.
Delta recently started cooperating with Air France to let Delta's BusinessElite passengers use Air France's new arrivals lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The complimentary arrivals lounge for Delta's BusinessElite passengers is located at CDG Terminal 2C, next to check-in Zone 2 and is open from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. All BusinessElite passengers arriving in Paris will have the option to use the lounge. Similar to facilities in London, the Paris lounge offers breakfast, showers, a television lounge and a business center.
Southwest last week at Dallas Love Field introduced its first self-service Rapid Check-In kiosks. The airport has 18 kiosk stations at the ticket counter for customers with or without baggage. In some airports, Southwest will install the kiosks on concourses and in gate areas for customers without baggage or for those connecting to other Southwest flights. The airline will deploy 200 kiosks at its largest airports within 90 days.
United this week revealed plans to start a second daily flight between Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita if it can secure rights under a new U.S.-Hong Kong air service agreement. The U.S. and Hong Kong governments have held discussions to liberalize air services, but there are no new talks scheduled. If the flight is granted, United would operate a Boeing 747-400 on the route. United already holds the necessary route rights from Japan to operate a second daily Hong Kong-Tokyo flight, the carrier said.
Boeing research shows four-engine aircraft are twice as likely as twin-engine jets to cause delays for mechanical reasons, said Boeing's VP-Marketing Randy Baseler, commenting on Airbus's marketing efforts to "count the engines" on its four-engine A340 family.
Air Slovakia bought a Boeing 737-200 in a deal concluded by Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, as trustee on behalf of beneficiaries controlled by Equis Financial Group.
U.K. no-frills carrier EasyJet plans to launch two new routes to Spain on Sept. 4. The airline will fly daily services from London Gatwick to Madrid and Alicante.
Amerijet International named Warren Kroll senior director-business development. BMI British Midland named Bill Schachte director-sales, U.S. East region, based in Washington. DHL Airways appointed Gary Hammes director-maintenance and engineering. MarketPlace Redwood appointed Dana Alderfer manager-specialty leasing and marketing. United named Peggy Dedo VP-engineering and technical support. US Airways named John Prestifilippo senior VP-maintenance.
30 years ago July 31, 1972 -- U.S. sky marshals, who took to the air in September 1970 to deter hijackers, have been largely reassigned to ground station duty. The program was never intended to be permanent, FAA security director James Murphy said, noting that FAA, in light of the limit of 2,000 marshals and customs officials, wants local authorities and airports to take over security. 20 years ago
KLM posted a mostly unexpected operating profit for the quarter ended June 30. The airline made a EUR11 million (US$10.8 million) net profit with an operating profit of EUR41 million ($40.5 million). Analysts had expected a loss of around EUR10 million ($9.8 million) for the quarter. Passenger traffic was 8% lower than last year, but because of 6% higher yields, revenue held at a relatively stable minus 2%.
Sonic Cruiser Program Manager Walt Gillette said Boeing wants the interior cabin design of the aircraft to have the same effect on passengers as the proposed exterior design. Gillette also said the engine technology needed for the Sonic Cruiser would require a "two-generation jump" from current standards.
