To list an event, fax information to Donna Thomas at 202-383-2438. (Blue type indicates new calendar listing.) JUNE 17-18 -- Commercial Aviation Events, 8th Annual Global Air Cargo Industry Conference , Adams Mark Hotel, Memphis, 44-1932-893-860, fax 44-1932-893-893, e-mail [email protected], www.commercialaviationevents.net JUNE 18-20 -- American Association of Airport Executives, Airport/Airline Security in the New World, Le Royal Meridien, Bangkok, Thailand, 703-824-0504, www.airportnet.org
New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) recently approved a grant assistance package of $11.7 million for runway construction and extension at Manchester Airport. Most of the funding is federal money, while the remaining $1.1 million is split between the state and city of Manchester. The project is expected to be finished in June 2003.
Rationalizing its fleet to two highly compatible families is a key part of Swiss International Air Lines' blueprint for success, the airline's top executive said. The carrier's business plan includes a fleet of 104 aircraft -- 52 Airbuses and 52 Embraer regional jets. While the exact model mix may change, the types will not, CEO Andre Dose told The DAILY in Washington.
US Airways last week blasted a proposal introduced by a several Philadelphia city council members that would limit the number of gates the carrier could use at one of its main hubs. Councilman James Kenney introduced the amendment to an existing Philadelphia ordinance that proposes that no single air carrier or its affiliates may have an exclusive lease or agreement to more than 40% of the available gates. US Airways currently holds about 75 of the airport's total gates and would lose about 20 gates if Kenney's proposal is accepted.
Air New Zealand appointed Shane Warbrick chief financial officer. Atlantic Coast Airlines named Caroline Devine, a fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, to the board. FlightSafetyBoeing named Bill Gardner VP-Asia, based in Seoul, South Korea. Rockwell Collins named Clayton Jones chairman in addition to his current titles of president and CEO. Universal Air Travel Plan appointed Emily Carter VP-marketing and industry relations.
Vought, a member of Boeing's Sonic Cruiser materials technology development team, has assembled a sub-team of its own to help with the effort. Alcoa Inc., ATK Composites Co., Cincinnati Machine, Cytec Engineered Materials, Nova-Tech Engineering, and Parker Aerospace will join Vought, each providing expertise in composites and advanced materials design, manufacturing, and assembly, as well as aerospace systems design. Preliminary Sonic Cruiser designs include a high percentage of composites -- as much as 60% of the plane's weight, Boeing executives say.
The Transportation Security Administration announced a new rule last week that will impose passenger-screening requirements on the operators of narrowbody charter aircraft for the first time.
Aluminum giant Alcoa is more cautious than aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus in their delivery forecasts for the short and medium term. Alcoa predicts in its aerospace outlook that 2002 that output levels will not be regained until 2006, and deliveries will hit bottom in 2005.
Israel Aircraft Industries is poised to begin design work on a dedicated regional cargo turboprop aimed at an unfilled niche. DAILY affiliate Aviation Week & Space Technology reported that IAI would make two sizes of the new aircraft, with the larger able to carry four typical shipping containers up to 500 nautical miles. A go-ahead decision for the cargo project is slated for later this year.
Northwest confirmed last week it will not apply for a federal loan guarantee. Management cites its current liquidity position and access to other credit, combined with onerous terms for the loan guarantees, as factors in the decision. It is also unlikely that such a guarantee would win approval.
Grupo Taca will start nonstop service between Boston and San Salvador, El Salvador, continuing to San Jose, Costa Rica, with three weekly flights using Airbus 319s. "Thus a new, more direct link has been opened for New England's vacationers and business travelers to visit Central America," said Grupo Taca spokeswoman Claudia Arenas, "and for Latin Americans to enjoy New England's cultural and historic heritage." Boston is Grupo Taca's ninth gateway in the U.S. -LZ
Emirates ordered two Airbus A330-200s, raising its commitment to the Airbus twins to 29, including 22 in service. The two newest orders are slated for delivery in June and October next year. One plane will have 34 business-class seats and 251 economy seats, while the other will have an 18/42/183 configuration, including first class.
Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary this week sold shares in the airline worth GBP30 million. He was followed by the Ryan family, which, like Ryan, sold 7 million shares. O'Leary has said in the past that he would sell large parts of his stake in the airline in the coming years. He still holds 19 million shares.
Wall Streeters are bracing for airline revenues to weaken a little this fall, as a slower recovery combines with reluctance to fly near the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. Deutsche Bank analysts figure airline managements will decide by mid-summer how they'll adjust capacity, but say their bias is "downward."
Major union officials said yesterday that United CEO Jack Creighton was overly optimistic when he indicated this week that the airline is making progress in reaching agreement on employee concessions. Although United is close to finalizing an agreement with its pilots, the airline's ramp workers, mechanics and flight attendants are refusing to enter concession negotiations.
Airbus will use Rockwell Collins' avionics communications router (ACR) to support A380 datalink capabilities, the supplier said. The ACR is an onboard system that connects aircraft and ground-based systems and both manages and supports data traffic through various communication tools, including the airborne communications addressing and reporting system.
Justice Department today publishes an interim final rule that would slow initial and recurrent training of non-U.S. citizens seeking certified training on large aircraft. Effective immediately, the rule would require "nearly" all U.S. flight schools to comply with Aviation and Transportation Security Act reporting provisions. Also covered are schools outside the U.S. awarding U.S. licenses, certificates and ratings under FAA authorization.
American yesterday lost its Chief Financial Officer Tom Horton, who resigned to become senior executive VP and CFO of AT&T. Horton joined American in 1985 as a financial analyst and served in a number of senior positions in finance, treasury and accounting -- as well as VP-Europe -- before being named CFO in January 2000. Horton was a key player in AA's decision to acquire TWA.
BMI British Midland as of today is completely revamping its fare structure. The airline will abolish the traditional system used by almost all European airlines and revert to a fare structure closely resembling those of low cost carriers. BMI's fares are now always based on one-way trips, tickets are changeable for a fee and not limited by conditions -- except availability of the respective booking class on a particular flight. Excluded from the changes are, BMI's two daily transatlantic flights to Chicago and Washington and all routes to Germany.
American Eagle's announcement yesterday that it is adding regional jet service to routes in the Northeast shows how airlines are using RJs to compete, aviation consultants say. Eagle yesterday said it is increasing service at Boston as of July 2. All 10 daily roundtrips between Boston and Bangor, Maine, will be flown with 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135s, replacing turboprops. Eagle will offer all-RJ service from Portland, Maine, to Chicago O'Hare, New York LaGuardia and Boston.
Lufthansa Technik and Air Malta launched a joint venture, Lufthansa Technik Malta, to do heavy maintenance on Airbus and Boeing 737 narrowbodies at Malta's Luqa International Airport. Starting next year, the facility will do C-checks on A320-family and 737-series jets for Lufthansa, Air Malta, and third-party customers. The German company holds 51% of the venture, while Air Malta holds 49%.
Italian rivals Alitalia and Volare have agreed on an alliance deal that includes code sharing and cooperation in the maintenance fields. Under the agreement, Alitalia will put its code on all Volare flights, while the Volare code will be on Alitalia flights where the airlines compete directly. Also, Volare is giving Alitalia maintenance work on its 28 aircraft and will send staff to the state-owned company's training center. The deal takes some of the pressure away from Alitalia, which continues its struggle for survival.
