Flughafen Wien, the operator of Vienna International Airport, announced that it was leading an international consortium aiming at purchasing 40% of Malta International Airport from the Maltese State. The other partners of the consortium, which will have a 65-year concession for the operation of the airport, are Canadian engineering and construction group SNC-Lavalin and Maltese firm Bianchi & Co. (1916) Ltd. The transaction is expected to take effect at the end of May 2002 pending approval from the Maltese Parliament.
Northwest pilot leadership is expected to vote today on a tentative contract extension reached Saturday that includes two pay raises over the next 18 months. The deal also requires that negotiations for a new contract begin in January, with the goal of achieving agreement by September 2003. Pilot representatives say the agreement enables them to negotiate the new contract when the airline is in better shape financially.
The shareholders of Italian regional airline Volare voted in favor of flotation at the Milan stock market last week in an attempt to finance the development of new operations. The flotation, which was expected last year, is scheduled to take place in the next months, depending on market conditions. Italian entrepreneur Gino Zoccai owns 80% of Volare after purchasing a 49.9% stake held by Swissair Group. Last year, Volare intended to float some 35% of its capital.
American yesterday told officials from Long Beach, Calif., that JetBlue's current slot agreement with the city violates federal law it is "prepared to vindicate our rights," if the issue is not resolved.
SN Brussels Airlines flew to Africa for the first time on April 26, as the new Belgian airline attempts to re-enter a market lost by Sabena, the defunct Belgian flag carrier. SN Brussels Airlines Flight SN 471 served Entebbe, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya. In total, SN Brussels Airlines plans to serve 11 African destinations. The routes will be operated by Birdy Airlines, a new carrier created by the founders of bankrupt CityBird. Birdy, which obtained its operating certificate from Belgian authorities April 25, plans to operate three leased Airbus A330-300s.
Crossair's traffic rose 67% in the first quarter, the carrier's last three-month period as a regional airline. The airline carried 1.9 million passengers. Crossair said the increase is due mainly to the incorporation of former Swissair European routes from Zurich and Geneva. The load factor for the quarter improved to 50.9%, up from 46.2% in 2001.
Charles Keegan, who manages FAA's Operational Evolution Plan (OEP), has been appointed by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to succeed Steven Zaidman as FAA associate administrator for research and acquisition. Keegan will continue managing OEP implementation while assuming responsibilities for modernizing the U.S. airspace system, including research, acquisition, integration, development and deployment of air traffic control systems.
Sabre, as part of a new "empowering agenda" for travel agents, unveiled several new products that will be available starting next month. Sabre developed the plan to "champion the travel agent in response to the rate of change" in the travel industry, such as airlines' decision to eliminate base commissions. "Agencies need to make the hard decisions and take the appropriate actions to ensure they control their own destiny," said Eric Speck, group president of travel marketing and distribution.
Air Canada has begun using wireless mobile IBM self-service kiosks in a trial program to speed passenger check-in at Toronto Pearson Airport. The mobile kiosks are the first jointly developed system from the partnership formed by IBM and Air Canada. The system comprises 142 kiosks at eight Canadian airports and cut check-in time by about 80% during peak periods. Air Canada agents wearing computer and mobile printers attached to their belts swipe the passenger's credit card or frequent flyer card through the printer, check the passenger in and print a boarding pass.
Air Canada has begun using wireless mobile IBM self-service kiosks in a trial program to speed passenger check-in at Toronto Pearson Airport. The mobile kiosks are the first jointly developed system from the partnership formed by IBM and Air Canada. The system comprises 142 kiosks at eight Canadian airports and cut check-in time by about 80% during peak periods. Air Canada agents wearing computer and mobile printers attached to their belts swipe the passenger's credit card or frequent flyer card through the printer, check the passenger in and print a boarding pass.
SN Brussels Airlines flew to Africa for the first time on April 26, as the new Belgian airline attempts to re-enter a market lost by Sabena, the defunct Belgian flag carrier. SN Brussels Airlines Flight SN 471 served Entebbe, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya. In total, SN Brussels Airlines plans to serve 11 African destinations. The routes will be operated by Birdy Airlines, a new carrier created by the founders of bankrupt CityBird. Birdy, which obtained its operating certificate from Belgian authorities April 25, plans to operate three leased Airbus A330-300s.
The European Commission is looking into a $90 million three-month credit facility for Fairchild Dornier, a Commission spokesman said yesterday. The rescue package includes state guarantees granted by Germany's Federal and Bavarian governments. The state guarantees could qualify as "rescue aid," which the EC authorizes, provided it has limited scope and duration and is subject to interest payments at financial market conditions. The commission has asked for additional information on the credit line, the EC spokesman said.
Three Air France pilot and flight engineer unions, including the majority pilot union Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne, called for a four-day strike starting May 2 in an attempt to push through wage demands. They request a revision of the wage agreement signed last December by three other unions, which sets an average 4% salary increase. Air France indicated on April 29 in Paris that it was still too early to foresee the likely consequences of the stoppage. -MT
Three Air France pilot and flight engineer unions, including the majority pilot union Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne, called for a four-day strike starting May 2 in an attempt to push through wage demands. They request a revision of the wage agreement signed last December by three other unions, which sets an average 4% salary increase. Air France indicated on April 29 in Paris that it was still too early to foresee the likely consequences of the stoppage.
Charles Keegan, who manages FAA's Operational Evolution Plan (OEP), has been appointed by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to succeed Steven Zaidman as FAA associate administrator for research and acquisition. Keegan will continue managing OEP implementation while assuming responsibilities for modernizing the U.S. airspace system, including research, acquisition, integration, development and deployment of air traffic control systems. -AL
Sabre, as part of a new "empowering agenda" for travel agents, unveiled several new products that will be available starting next month. Sabre developed the plan to "champion the travel agent in response to the rate of change" in the travel industry, such as airlines' decision to eliminate base commissions. "Agencies need to make the hard decisions and take the appropriate actions to ensure they control their own destiny," said Eric Speck, group president of travel marketing and distribution.
CCAIR, in an expedited ratification vote, yesterday accepted a contract proposed by management. A tentative agreement was reached between the Air Line Pilots Association's CCAIR Master Executive Council and the airline on April 17. In a statement, CCAIR MEC Chairman Brian Billups said the vote indicates that CCAIR pilots "are willing to make sacrifices to keep CCAIR alive."
House Transportation Committee Chair Don Young (R-Alaska) and transportation subcommittee Chair John Mica (R-Fla.) today will introduce a bill authorizing the arming of pilots in the cockpit. The law is aimed at giving Transportation Security Administration a push in clarifying regulations allowing pilots to carry weapons in the cockpit.
Baltimore/Washington Airport, to be the first U.S. airport with a fully federalized security screener work force -- starting today with federalization at one or two piers -- will benefit from the Transportation Security Administration's use of the airport as a test bed on passenger flow and process in Pier C. Argenbright, which had continued to handle screening at Piers A and B, is slated to be replaced by federal workers, with all five piers to have federal employees, on TSA's payroll and trained to TSA's requirements, by June, sources confirmed.
The shareholders of Italian regional airline Volare voted in favor of flotation at the Milan stock market last week in an attempt to finance the development of new operations. The flotation, which was expected last year, is scheduled to take place in the next months, depending on market conditions. Italian entrepreneur Gino Zoccai owns 80% of Volare after purchasing a 49.9% stake held by Swissair Group. Last year, Volare intended to float some 35% of its capital. -MT
Crossair's traffic rose 67% in the first quarter, the carrier's last three-month period as a regional airline. The airline carried 1.9 million passen gers. Crossair said the increase is due mainly to the incorporation of former Swissair European routes from Zurich and Geneva. The load factor for the quarter improved to 50.9%, up from 46.2% in 2001.
