Pan Am Airways wants rights to operate flights between points in the U.S. and points in Costa Rica, requesting grant of the authority by May 15. It plans Miami-San Jose daily nonstops beginning July 10, using Boeing 727-200 aircraft in a 149-seat "spacious 'Clipper Class'" configuration. The request is consistent with U.S.-Costa Rica open skies, Pan Am noted in its application. LACSA, American and Iberia fly daily nonstops in the market, with three-times weekly service by Martinair; TACA and COPA offer one-stops via points in Central America.
United in June plans to temporarily suspend its daily service between New York Kennedy and Buenos Aires largely due to weak demand in the region. The carrier currently offers Boeing 767-300 service on the route but will suspend the flight between June 7 and Oct. 31 because of "economic uncertainties" in Argentina, according to a spokeswoman. The airline will continue to offer daily Miami-Buenos Aires flights with 777s. United last year battled other U.S. major airlines to gain additional route authorities to the region.
Southwest recently took delivery of a pair of new Boeing 737-700s, bringing its fleet total to 364. So far this year, the carrier has accepted delivery of 12 new aircraft from Boeing, while retiring three -200s.
Fuel Cost and Consumption U.S. Majors, Nationals and Regionals March 2001 to February 2002 Total Total Cost Cents Per Gallons (Dollars) Gallon 2001 March Domestic 1,239,732,882 985,447,481 79.489 International 466,698,380 389,288,810 83.413
All Nippon Airways' international bookings for its "Golden Week" holiday period are down 12%, largely due to reduced capacity. Golden Week, April 27-May 6, includes a series of national holidays, such as the emperor's birthday, now Green Day, Constitution Day, Citizen's Day and Children's Day. ANA's transpacific flights "continued a recovery" trend as bookings declined 21% in contrast to a 28.5% reduction in available seats. On the domestic front, reservations for ANA and its subsidiaries remained level at about 1.3 million bookings, rising 0.5% from the previous year.
Bombardier's regional jet production lines remained silent yesterday as some 7,400 workers extended their strike to a ninth day. No talks have been held since the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 712 rejected the company's last offer on April 13, and none are scheduled. The union's latest contract expired Nov. 30.
Star Alliance last week at Tokyo's Narita Airport started running an airside transfer bus between Terminals 1 and 2 for the alliance's international-to-international connection customers. Alliance carriers currently serving Narita are United, Singapore Airlines and Varig in T1 and ANA, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Thai Airways, SAS, Austrian and Air New Zealand in T2. The shuttle "Star Bus" will have a logo of the 10 Star carriers in Narita.
Latin America's aviation industry, still under pressure from the aftermath of Sept. 11, will recover in 18 to 20 months and traffic will return to 8.3% annual growth, the highest rate in the world, said Daniel Da Silva, Boeing's deputy VP-sales for Latin America.
US Airways recently added priority airport security lines for frequent flyers at four of its gateway airports -- Boston, Charlotte, New York LaGuardia and Pittsburgh. The expansion follows the airline's development of experimental priority security lines at Philadelphia, which became a permanent feature this month. "We are currently evaluating additional airports in US Airways' network where it would be practical and beneficial to our customers to offer priority lines," said Alan Crellin, executive VP-operations.
FAA wants Boeing to pay $764,250 for production problems uncovered several years ago that affected thousands of aircraft. Boeing discovered in late 1999 that flight deck drip shields and Environmental Control System (ECS) ducts being installed didn't meet FAA flammability requirements.
FAA wants Boeing to pay $764,250 for production problems uncovered several years ago that affected thousands of aircraft. Boeing discovered in late 1999 that flight deck drip shields and Environmental Control System (ECS) ducts being installed didn't meet FAA flammability requirements.
There is no short-term recovery in sight for Mexican airlines, deeply affected by the worldwide aviation crisis, Mexican industry analyst Jose Luis Montemayor Jasso told daily El Universal. Mexico must nonetheless renew its aging aircraft fleet and acquire 391 new aircraft over the next 20 years worth $21 billion.
The Wayne County Commission filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to stop control of Detroit Metropolitan Airport being handed over to a new independent authority. A hearing for a temporary restraining order is scheduled for Tomorrow. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, names the County Executive Ed McNamara, Michigan Gov. John Engler (R), and the FAA. Engler recently signed a state bill that creates a seven-member authority that will take over airport oversight from Wayne County. A spokeswoman for Gov.
Bombardier's regional jet production lines remained silent yesterday as some 7,400 workers extended their strike to a ninth day. No talks have been held since the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 712 rejected the company's last offer on April 13, and none are scheduled. The union's latest contract expired Nov. 30.
More than 100 workers at three Washington-area airports were arrested yesterday for providing fraudulent information that was used to obtain identification that allowed access to restricted areas of the airports.
Cathay Pacific and its wholly owned subsidiary Air Hong Kong this week announced plans to restructure their cargo operations by transferring aircraft and routes to Cathay. Starting July 1, Air Hong Kong will stop serving Brussels, Manchester and Dubai, while Cathay plans to add Manchester and Brussels to its cargo destinations, subject to government approval. Air Hong Kong operates three Boeing 747-200 freighters leased from Cathay, two of which will be returned to resume operations with Cathay.
Nav Canada's newly implemented Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace over northern Canada -- the first domestic RVSM airspace in the Western Hemisphere -- will save airlines some C$14.3 million (US$9.1 million) this year through more efficient routings thanks to an 86% increase in available capacity, Nav Canada executives report.
The functional integration that Avianca and subsidiary SAM, plus Aces, will start implementing in Colombia May 20, will operate under the brand name of Summa Alliance. Meaning "summit" in Latin, Summa has been chosen to convey passengers an optimum travel experience. Summa's own logo, a winged, butterfly-like stylized image serves as umbrella for the smaller Avianca, SAM and Aces logos and will be used in aircraft livery and all alliance communications and documents.
Worldspan offers electronic ticketing functionality for flights booked in Brazil on American, Continental, Lufthansa and United. E-ticketing in Brazil will be extended to additional carriers "in the near future," the company said.
Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) yesterday said the time has come to stand up against Europe's trade restrictions and protest subsidiaries that give manufacturers like Airbus an unfair competitive edge. Speaking to the Aero Club of Washington, Rockefeller, who chairs the powerful Senate Commerce transportation subcommittee, said it's time the U.S.
CHART: Air Transport Association Monthly Airfare Report, March 2002 Air Transport Association Monthly Airfare Report March 2002 Based on a 1,000 Mile Trip First/Business Coach Average Annual Average Annual Domestic U.S Fare Change Fare Change April '01 $256.57 0.3% $128.06 -3.0%
Varig, implementing efforts to interest new investors in a restructured carrier, last week met with BNDES, the government's development bank, to ensure its cooperation in issuing $400 million in new shares to recapitalize the company within the next six months. Varig President Ozires Silva said the relevant business and strategic plans also were submitted to some potential investors with positive results. Other information briefings are planned with banks Fator and Credit Lyonnais, two of Varig's main financial advisers.
American and Northwest this week started interline electronic ticketing, enabling customers to use a single e-ticket when their itineraries include travel on both carriers. American announced similar agreements with United and Continental last month.
US Airways yesterday named Dan McDonald VP-fleet planning as part of its management restructuring. McDonald has spent a decade in airline planning and most recently was director-fleet planning at Delta. The position is a new one at US Airways and will include oversight of all aircraft planning and acquisitions, as well as fleet product management. US Airways also broadened Jeffery McDougle's responsibilities to VP-finance and treasurer, consolidating two officer-level positions into one. Both McDonald and McDougle start their new jobs tomorrow.
