Southwest reached a tentative agreement with its pilots early yesterday, a pact that addresses pilot concerns about a proposed reduction plan for Boeing 737-200 aircraft. The main points of the agreement have all 737-200s based in Houston and Dallas, and 737-200 pilots will receive a 7% pay increase. Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association President Jon Weaks said the agreement will be sent to the SWAPA board for approval and will then be sent to pilots for ratification. Both sides hope the agreement can be implemented by Sept. 1.
JetBlue yesterday reported a $13 million first quarter profit and a 17.5% operating margin thanks to soaring revenues. In the airline's first earnings report since its initial public offering two weeks ago, JetBlue tried to prove that its financial performance can meet the high expectations discussed prior to its IPO. The airline's profit was up 92.7% from the same period last year, when it flew a much smaller operation.
National Guardsmen will begin transitioning out of U.S. airports May 10, with complete replacement of the National Guard by local law enforcement to be completed by May 31, according to a Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman. TSA will pay the cost for airport police presence, which eventually will be replaced by TSA law enforcement.
FLEETWATCH - Japan Transocean Air and Westjet Japan Transocean AircraftApril April 1997 2002 737-200 8 0 737-400 3 15 767-300 0 1 YS-11 4 0 TOTAL 15 16 Ryanair Aircraft April April 1997 2002 737-200 4 23
The bankruptcy of Sabena will have a negative impact of 65% on the Belgian gross domestic product in 2002, estimated Belgium's Federal Planning Bureau in a study sent this week to a parliamentary committee looking into the collapse of the national carrier. In spite of the creation of a new airline, some 17,000 jobs will be lost this year, stressed the planners.-MT
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act requirement that all checked baggage be screened for explosives by the end of 2002 will be met by a combination of explosive detection systems (EDS) and explosive detection trace (EDT) equipment, DOT Secretary Norman Mineta said this week at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce cargo security conference.
Southwest reached a tentative agreement with its pilots early yesterday, a pact that addresses pilot concerns about a proposed reduction plan for Boeing 737-200 aircraft. The main points of the agreement have all 737-200s based in Houston and Dallas, and 737-200 pilots will receive a 7% pay increase. Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association President Jon Weaks said the agreement will be sent to the SWAPA board for approval and will then be sent to pilots for ratification. Both sides hope the agreement can be implemented by Sept. 1.
Pressure increased for insolvent aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier after a group of former U.S.-based employees filed petitions for involuntary bankruptcy of two fully owned U.S. based subsidiaries, Fairchild Dornier Corp. and Dornier North America. The move comes after Fairchild Dornier laid off basically its entire U.S.-based staff early this month. At the time, the Germany-based company filed for insolvency under German law. To save money, the court-appointed administrator Eberhard Braun laid off all U.S.
WestJet's first quarter profits jumped 22.4% to C$7.1 million, partially due to a 48.6% jump in revenues to C$137.1 million. WestJet's yield fell 3.6% to 21.4 cents, largely due to the airline's increased stage length. After opening new markets, WestJet's load factor was 68.2%, down 1.2 points. Unit costs fell 4.4%. "With the success of our new market launches in the past four months," CEO Clive Beddoe said the airline is "well poised" to accept delivery of nine more 737-700s this year. The profit was WestJet's 21st consecutive quarter of profitability. -SL
AirTran yesterday reported a $3 million net loss for the first quarter, but executives predicted that the carrier would be profitable in the second quarter and for the full year. The loss was slightly less than analysts expected but worse than the $8.8 million profit in the same 2001 period. The airline took a $5.6 million non-cash credit due to the change in value of its fuel-related derivative contracts and a $0.8 million income tax benefit. Without these, AirTran would have lost $9.4 million.
Air Jamaica signed a deal to take three new Airbus A321s and one new A320 from leasing giant International Lease Finance Corp. The A321s will be delivered in February, May, and June of next year, while the A320 will arrive in November 2003. All four planes are powered by CFMI CFM56 engines and on 10-year leases. Air Jamaica's fleet includes three Airbus 340-300s, two A321s and an A320 on lease from ILFC.
DOT yesterday approved the code-share agreement between American and Swiss first signed last month. The two companies plan to introduce their code-sharing agreement to the first 35 destinations in the U.S. and Europe on May 15, according to Swiss. Swiss and American plan a broad code-sharing arrangement that will apply to 128 Swiss and 234 AA destinations. They also will collaborate on frequent flyer programs.
Although Delta pilots are disappointed at the Wednesday night rejection of their grievance against management's use of a force majeure clause to override contract provisions, they say an arbitrator has left the door open for the future review of management's furlough actions. The dismissal is seen as a bad sign not only for another force majeure grievance Delta pilots have filed, but also for similar challenges mounted by pilots from other carriers.
International Airline CEO Conference next month will have a record number of CEOs in attendance, according to organizer Bob Booth. There are 25 CEOs expected, and 33 airlines signed up for the May 12-14 event, held in Key Biscayne, Fla. For more, contact Norma at 305-870-7550, www.ceoconference.com
All Nippon Airways and Asiana yesterday expanded their partnership to include reciprocal frequent flyer mileage accrual and award redemption. Starting May 13, members of ANA's Mileage Club will be able to earn miles of ANA code-share flights operated by Asiana and vice versa. The partnership will cover 91 code-share flights a week on five routes. Asiana is close to an agreement with Star Alliance, sources said, of which ANA is a member (DAILY, April 5).
Correction: Canada's newly implemented reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace is not the first domestic RVSM airspace in the Western Hemisphere (DAILY, April 24). Some of Europe's domestic RVSM airspace is in the Western Hemisphere.
Delta plans to start first-time code-share service to Antigua beginning June 20, operating three times a week, and Curacao beginning May 21, operating four times a week, to and from Air Jamaica's hub in Montego Bay. Both flights will operate with Air Jamaica aircraft.
Transportation Security Administration awarded contracts to three firms that will each design a "roll-out strategy and operating plan" for the conversion of airport screening operations to federal employees, legislatively required to be completed by Nov. 19. Fluor Enterprises, Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and Lockheed Martin will, under separate competitively procured contracts with an $8.9 million total value, each produce a master plan, TSA said. TSA will select "one or more of the companies" for implementing the plan or plans ultimately selected.
Delta plans to start first-time code-share service to Antigua beginning June 20, operating three times a week, and Curacao beginning May 21, operating four times a week, to and from Air Jamaica's hub in Montego Bay. Both flights will operate with Air Jamaica aircraft.
FAA is seeking comments on a draft order that, if adopted, would clarify when its Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) can approve repair and alteration data for aircraft not registered in the U.S. The draft order and instructions for comments can be viewed at http://av-info.faa.gov/dst/dernotice.htm.
Although Delta pilots are disappointed at the Wednesday night rejection of their grievance against management's use of a force majeure clause to override contract provisions, they say an arbitrator has left the door open for the future review of management's furlough actions. The dismissal is seen as a bad sign not only for another force majeure grievance Delta pilots have filed, but also for similar challenges mounted by pilots from other carriers.
Correction: Canada's newly implemented reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace is not the first domestic RVSM airspace in the Western Hemisphere (DAILY, April 24). Some of Europe's domestic RVSM airspace is in the Western Hemisphere.
FAA is seeking comments on a draft order that, if adopted, would clarify when its Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) can approve repair and alteration data for aircraft not registered in the U.S. The draft order and instructions for comments can be viewed at http://av-info.faa.gov/dst/dernotice.htm.
WestJet's first quarter profits jumped 22.4% to C$7.1 million, partially due to a 48.6% jump in revenues to C$137.1 million. WestJet's yield fell 3.6% to 21.4 cents, largely due to the airline's increased stage length. After opening new markets, WestJet's load factor was 68.2%, down 1.2 points. Unit costs fell 4.4%. "With the success of our new market launches in the past four months," CEO Clive Beddoe said the airline is "well poised" to accept delivery of nine more 737-700s this year. The profit was WestJet's 21st consecutive quarter of profitability.
