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.
A Chicago O'Hare watchdog group, Aviation Integrity Project, formed at the behest of Chicago's suburban mayors "to investigate waste and corruption" at the airport, is accusing Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) of taking $140,752 in campaign funds from contributors with contracts or economic interest in the airport. Durbin introduced the National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act to expand O'Hare, which is strongly opposed by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.).
Mexicana, responding to the need for major Mexican airlines to renew their aging fleets, will replace 11 aircraft and reduce their average age from 10 to eight years in the next 10 months, the carrier said. Its current 58-aircraft fleet comprises eight Boeing 757s, 11 727-200s, 13 Fokker l00s, 12 Airbus A320s and four A319s. Between 2002 and 2003, the 11 727-200s are to be replaced with Airbus equipment -- six A320s and five A319s.
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.
Air Anatolia will lease two Boeing 757-200s from IEM Airfinance. Teams of the lease were not disclosed. The Turkish charter carrier also operates two 737s and three Airbus A300B4s.
LanChile, through its code share with American, has introduced service from five U.S. West Coast cities through its hub in Los Angeles to a number of destinations in South America with just one ticket and through-check to final destinations. The new gateways are San Jose, Oakland and San Diego, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz., and Las Vegas, Nev.
A strike at Bombardier's three Montreal-area plants entered a third week yesterday with little activity after just-restarted talks fell apart late last week, when the company balked at the union's latest proposal. The talks, the first since the strike began April 15, were triggered by the Quebec government's appointment of an arbitrator in an effort to get things moving.
Air Transportation Stabilization Board Executive Director Joe Adams is expected to resign from his position as early as tomorrow, sources told The DAILY. His departure comes roughly three months after he joined the ATSB after taking a one-year leave from New York-based Brera Capital Partners. A spokeswoman would not comment, but ATSB Managing Director Dan Montgomery is now expected to oversee the office.
Air Transportation Stabilization Board Executive Director Joe Adams is expected to resign from his position as early as tomorrow, sources told The DAILY. His departure comes roughly three months after he joined the ATSB after taking a one-year leave from New York-based Brera Capital Partners. A spokeswoman would not comment, but ATSB Managing Director Dan Montgomery is now expected to oversee the office.
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.
A strike at Bombardier's three Montreal-area plants entered a third week yesterday with little activity after just-restarted talks fell apart late last week, when the company balked at the union's latest proposal. The talks, the first since the strike began April 15, were triggered by the Quebec government's appointment of an arbitrator in an effort to get things moving.
