CAAC together with the Ministry of Transport and the relevant air transport authorities are in the process of assembling a 2200-strong airline police unit, to be known as marshals. A CAAC official said the move is in line to enhance security throughout the industry in China. "We were not affected by the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, which caught everyone off guard. We are already operating under extremely tight surveillance and the move is to enhance our system," the official said.
Midwest Express has changed the passwords accessing its frequent flyer program and has taken steps to ensure customer data protection after a screenshot of data captured from the carrier's test server -- not its actual website -- was posted on the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command website, which immediately removed the web page.
The Emirates Group reported a 13.5% increase in net profits to $164 million for its fiscal year 2001-02. Revenues grew by 12.9% to $2.1 billion in the 12 months ending March 31. Of the group net profit, Emirates' airline profits rose 11% to $127 million. "We only briefly and marginally reduced our schedules, redoubled our efforts in our markets, severely restrained costs, and kept to our plans," said Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. Passenger numbers grew by 18.3% to 6.8 million, with load factor down 0.8 points to 74.3%.
Association of European Airlines (AEA) is pushing for "Eurotime" to be set up as a third-party war-risk insurance. Chief Executives of the AEA members at their latest meeting opted in favor of Eurotime, which is intended to resemble the U.S. equivalent "Equitime." AEA wants Eurotime eventually to replace temporary cover provided by the individual European Union members states and said it would also fit into a multilaterial ICAO-based solution.
Seoul Incheon International Airport (IIA) plans to install a state-of-the-art system to disperse fog from the airport and improve operating safety at the facility. Several systems from the U.K. and Germany are currently being evaluated, and a decision is expected soon. Located 36 miles outside Seoul and 15 kilometers offshore from Incheon's coast, the Category IIIA facility allows aircraft to take off and land in all types of weather conditions down to 200 meters visibility.
United yesterday launched a new effort to improve its transatlantic premium meal service that it claims will add no additional cost. "Transatlantic service is a highly competitive market where United has grown significantly over the past 10 years," said Teri Fujiwara, senior staff representative-food and beverage Planning. "To remain competitive and meet our customers' expectations, we need to continuously look for innovative ways to allocate our meal service dollars."
The Emirates Group reported a 13.5% increase in net profits to $164 million for its fiscal year 2001-02. Revenues grew by 12.9% to $2.1 billion in the 12 months ending March 31. Of the group net profit, Emirates' airline profits rose 11% to $127 million. "We only briefly and marginally reduced our schedules, redoubled our efforts in our markets, severely restrained costs, and kept to our plans," said Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. Passenger numbers grew by 18.3% to 6.8 million, with load factor down 0.8 points to 74.3%.
Sen. Robert Smith (R-N.H.) today plans to introduce legislation that would, within six months, establish a training program for arming pilots in the cockpit. Smith will make the announcement along with members of the Coalition of Airline Pilots (CAPA). Details of Smith's proposed legislation were not available yesterday, but the bill has bipartisan support, including Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), who recently spoke to the National Rifle Association in favor of arming pilots.
Northwest pilot leadership approved a tentative contract extension late Tuesday night, and have recommended that membership accept the deal. Members are scheduled to vote on the contract extension from May 20 to June 3.
Mesa Air yesterday reported a first quarter $5.2 million net profit thanks to its regional jet expansion and cost-cutting efforts. The profit easily topped analyst expectations and compares with a $12.9 million loss last year. CEO Jonathan Ornstein said the airline's "numbers this quarter were terrific." He added that the results "surprised us to a degree," and he predicted that Mesa's growth rate next year would be roughly 40%, "the highest in the industry," thanks to new deliveries.
Leading pilot groups are following different strategies as they step up pressure on the White House, airlines and Congress to support regulations allowing pilots to have weapons in the cockpit. Today the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) is expected to announce that it has gathered about 50,000 signatures on its petition calling for the arming pilots. Meanwhile, the Air Line Pilots Association has distanced itself from this petition but has organized a letter-writing campaign aimed at airline management.
WestJet converted two options for Boeing 737-700s and will take a third three months earlier than planned. The new orders will arrive in April and July 2003, while the rescheduled aircraft will be delivered in October 2003 rather than January 2004. The moves mean that WestJet will add 11 planes next year.
Baltimore/Washington Airport is on its way to becoming the first U.S. airport with a federalized screening force following installation of Transportation Security Administration employees as screeners at two of five passenger security screening checkpoints.
Baltimore/Washington Airport is on its way to becoming the first U.S. airport with a federalized screening force following installation of Transportation Security Administration employees as screeners at two of five passenger security screening checkpoints.
United's recovery plan, including labor cost concessions, will likely be completed within the next two months, according to CEO Jack Creighton. Only hours after the carrier announced plans to start a search for his successor, Creighton vowed to continue working full-time to improve labor relations and lower costs, key components of United's recovery. In Washington yesterday to lobby for the Chicago O'Hare expansion bill, he said he has worked 55-hour weeks at United and "will continue to do that until a replacement is found."
Association of European Airlines (AEA) is pushing for "Eurotime" to be set up as a third-party war-risk insurance. Chief Executives of the AEA members at their latest meeting opted in favor of Eurotime, which is intended to resemble the U.S. equivalent "Equitime." AEA wants Eurotime eventually to replace temporary cover provided by the individual European Union members states and said it would also fit into a multilaterial ICAO-based solution.
ILFC will lease a CF6-80C2-powered Boeing 767-300ER (serial no. 27136) to Air Holland for six years and place a CFM56-3C1-powered 737-448 (serial no. 24521) with Kiev-based Aerosvit for an unspecified amount of time. Both planes are slated to be delivered this month.
Virgin Atlantic Airways plans to add 300 staff by the end of the year to cope with increased frequencies and the addition of the first Airbus A340-600s to the fleet. The airline said it is looking mainly for more ground staff and cabin crew and will contact employees who went on unpaid leave late last year. Virgin Atlantic plans to increase frequencies to Lagos, Shanghai, New York and Orlando this summer. "This recruitment drive is an endorsement of our decisive action last September.
World Airways signed three deals that will bring in about $8.5 million this year, the carrier announced. One deal, valued at $3 million, is for weekly DC-10-30 flights between New York Kennedy and Dakar, Senegal from mid-May through September. A second contract, worth about $1.5 million, calls for twice-weekly MD-11 services between Kenney and Port of Spain, Trinidad from late June through September. World also signed a $4 million deal with Homeric Tours to operate an MD-11 services between Kennedy and Athens.
The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) are exploring cooperation that could lead to joint efforts in several areas, including procurement and support services. The organizations will study options and hope to have a plan by year's end.
