BWIA signed deals to lease two Airbus A340-300s from ILFC for five years each. The aircraft, serial numbers 88 and 93, will be delivered in June and November.
US Airways yesterday applied to the DOT for route authority to serve the Caribbean island of Providenciales from Charlotte. The airline wants to begin service in November, using Airbus A319s. Under the airline's proposal, Providenciales, located in the western part of the Turks and Caicos Islands, will be served with four flights weekly. The new route will boost the airline's already aggressive expansion to the Caribbean. The new route will increase US Airways' overall Caribbean network to 18 jet destinations.
Alpine Air Express said it settled a U.S. Department of Justice suit against subsidiary Alpine Aviation for $112,800. The suit alleged a breach of contract related to the Transportation Department's (DOT's) Essential Air Service program. "While we believe that Alpine strictly adhered to the terms our contract with the DOT, we have decided that it is in the company's best interest to resolve this issue for the agreed upon settlement, which will have not have a material impact on our operations," said CEO Eugene Mallette.
The six-airline China Eastern Airlines has China Sky Aviation Enterprises Group (CKAEG) is in jeopardy of breaking up following plans by two member carriers, Wuhan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, to seek strategic partners. Wuhan is at the tail end of its talks with China Eastern Airlines to sell 40% stake for 288 million yuan (US$36 million), while Sichuan plans to sell 30%, also to China Eastern. Sichuan earlier had negotiations with Citi Pacific, a local company, to sell the stake, but the effort ended in a stalemate when the parties could not agree on price.
Airlines that have installed self-service passenger kiosks will soon be able to use the devices to generate revenue without adding extra staff. Kinetics, the company that pioneered Internet-based check-in with Northwest and recently signed a large contract with Delta, is working with airlines to automate the financial transactions in the same way banks have done with automated teller machines. "Our products are focused on giving time back to the individual," said Kinetics CEO David Melnik.
Lawmakers yesterday gave further details of legislation they are introducing that would allow pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit, but Congress is divided on the issue. Pilot groups claimed that non-lethal weapons are not sufficient to stop hijack attempts, and that pilots are overwhelmingly in favor of being armed.
Virgin Blue has put the first phase of Sabre's AirPath flight planning and dispatch system across its network. The system helps flight planners calculate and track key factors like payload capability, fuel consumption, weather, and takeoff/landing performance limitations and generates customized flight plans that take them into account. Virgin Blue recently agreed to join Sabre's Global Distribution System, the first time the airline has joined such a network.
Los Angeles Airport and Megadata Corp. this week unveiled a Web-based tool that lets the public view live and historical graphic depictions of air traffic around the airport. Using AirportMonitor, anyone with a computer and web access can monitor traffic in a 96-mile area around LAX. Planes are superimposed over a map of the area, and each aircraft is color-coded to indicate LAX arrivals, departures or en route traffic. Clicking on a plane in the live view gives its altitude and type of equipment.
The Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines have agreed to inject GBP25 million into Virgin Atlantic. The move comes after months of speculation that the airline needs more capital as a consequence of the recent traffic slump that has hit Virgin Atlantic's focus markets --- long-haul routes.
Boullioun Aviation Services Inc. completed a "multi-year" lease deal for one five-year-old Boeing 737-400 with Rome-base Air One earlier this month. Air One flies scheduled services throughout Europe with an all-737 fleet.
Boullioun Aviation Services Inc. completed a "multi-year" lease deal for one five-year-old Boeing 737-400 with Rome-base Air One earlier this month. Air One flies scheduled services throughout Europe with an all-737 fleet.
Airlines that have installed self-service passenger kiosks will soon be able to use the devices to generate revenue without adding extra staff. Kinetics, the company that pioneered Internet-based check-in with Northwest and recently signed a large contract with Delta, is working with airlines to automate the financial transactions in the same way banks have done with automated teller machines. "Our products are focused on giving time back to the individual," said Kinetics CEO David Melnik.
Malaysia Airlines, the only Southeast Asia airline that flies to South America, this week resumed its weekly service from Kuala Lumpur to Buenos Aires via Johannesburg and Capetown, South Africa, after a three-month interruption that started Feb. 3. Operated with a 386-seat Boeing 747, "this service is key to developing service between three continents, Asia, Africa and America," the carrier said. -WD
Navigant software-company Aqua Software Products revealed this week that it is in discussions with Orbitz to create a system that gives travel agents direct access to Internet fares.
US Airways yesterday applied to the DOT for route authority to serve the Caribbean island of Providenciales from Charlotte. The airline wants to begin service in November, using Airbus A319s. Under the airline's proposal, Providenciales, located in the western part of the Turks and Caicos Islands, will be served with four flights weekly. The new route will boost the airline's already aggressive expansion to the Caribbean. The new route will increase US Airways' overall Caribbean network to 18 jet destinations.
DOT Secretary Norman Mineta yesterday told the Senate Appropriations Committee that airports will be able to draw some reimbursement for huge post-Sept. 11 security costs from Airport Improvement Program funds, not from the Transportation Security Agency's supplemental budget, a move that some members opposed, given the infrastructure needs of the nation's airports.
Several U.S. major airlines in April took a step backward in terms of traffic and unit revenues, largely due to the absence of any major holiday periods. Continental's April unit revenue fell 10-12%, more than the March decline of 6.4% and deeper than expected. Traffic was down 11.7% and capacity fell 11%. If Continental's unit revenue continues to decline year-over-year for the next two months, "then we think a profitable June quarter could be a bit of a stretch," said Merrill Lynch analyst Michael Linenberg.
Grupo TACA, responding to increased passenger traffic to Central America during the high summer vacation season, has beefed up its schedules. Weekly frequencies from Los Angeles to Guatemala will increase from seven to 14 June 14-Sept. 2; daily frequencies between San Francisco and El Salvador will double to two; a new daily nonstop between Miami and Tegucigalpa will operate June 14-Sept. 2, and, as of June 14, a second daily flight will be added from Miami to Managua.
Lawmakers yesterday gave further details of legislation they are introducing that would allow pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit, but Congress is divided on the issue. Pilot groups claimed that non-lethal weapons are not sufficient to stop hijack attempts, and that pilots are overwhelmingly in favor of being armed.
Los Angeles Airport and Megadata Corp. this week unveiled a Web-based tool that lets the public view live and historical graphic depictions of air traffic around the airport. Using AirportMonitor, anyone with a computer and web access can monitor traffic in a 96-mile area around LAX. Planes are superimposed over a map of the area, and each aircraft is color-coded to indicate LAX arrivals, departures or en route traffic. Clicking on a plane in the live view gives its altitude and type of equipment.
The six-airline China Eastern Airlines has China Sky Aviation Enterprises Group (CKAEG) is in jeopardy of breaking up following plans by two member carriers, Wuhan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, to seek strategic partners. Wuhan is at the tail end of its talks with China Eastern Airlines to sell 40% stake for 288 million yuan (US$36 million), while Sichuan plans to sell 30%, also to China Eastern. Sichuan earlier had negotiations with Citi Pacific, a local company, to sell the stake, but the effort ended in a stalemate when the parties could not agree on price.
United, an Arthur Andersen client since 1935, yesterday became the latest airline to drop the firm as its independent accountant. United's board has appointed Deloitte & Touche for 2002, effective June 1.
