The federal security director (FSD) for New York Kennedy Airport, named Friday by Transportation Security Administration head John Magaw, is William Hall, who comes to TSA from a 31-year career with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Hall was most recently the authority's chief of police and directed search and rescue operations following the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. FSDs are the TSA's lead federal law enforcement officials, overseeing federal security operations at U.S. airports.
Massport named Craig Coy as the authority's executive director and CEO following an international search to fill the post, which oversees beleaguered Boston Logan Airport. The facility has been under scrutiny in the wake of security shortfalls brought to light following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Traffic at the British Airport Authorities (BAA) seven UK airports has decreased by 2.2% in the financial year ended March 31. The airports handled 121.9 million passengers, but suffered from the effects of the foot and mouth disease, the economic downturn and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. With low-fare airlines continuing their growth, Stansted traffic for the year was up by 14.9% and totaled about 14 million passengers. Traffic at London Heathrow and Gatwick was down 6.1 and 5.1%, respectively.
Alaska Air has no plans implement innovative airport security technology ahead of its peers. While the carrier is proud of its proactive use of high-tech tools throughout the customer experience, Treasurer Amber Post said in New York that individual carriers can't solve the security challenges by themselves. "We don't expect to be a leader this time."
U.S. airlines this week are expected to report a total net loss of about $2 billion for the first quarter.While better than the deep fourth quarter deficit, the result will be the second-worst in industry history, according to UBS Warburg. "All vital signs are improving, though some patients may still seek life support," said analyst Sam Buttrick. Southwest is the only major expected to be profitable.
Three key TSA positions -- critical to ensuring aviation security -- lead the list of job vacancies posted on the Transportation Security Administration's website -- including the top TSA aviation post, associate under secretary for aviation operations. Kevin Houlihan, named to the position early this year, has stepped down from that lead role. He made a personal decision due to medical considerations, a TSA spokesman affirmed to The DAILY.
Midwest Express' yields in March fell 12.8% from last year and is off 14.5% for the quarter. As a result, unit revenues fell 9.8% in March. The carrier also reported decreases in traffic and capacity compared with March. Traffic at the carrier was down 2.9% on a 6.4% decrease in capacity. Capacity is expected to decrease 4-6% in the second quarter and increase 2-4% in the third quarter, the airline said. The third quarter comparison reflects the negative impact of the events of Sept. 11.
America West Hub Profile Phoenix Origin and Destinations, Segment Summary and Top Nonstop Markets Origination and Destination Data 12 Months 12 Months Ended June Ended June 2001 1997 Phoenix Total (All Carriers) O&D Passengers 20,964,400 19,695,640 6.4% Passengers Per 28,718 26,980
Transportation Security Administration, soon expected to name as many as two dozen federal security directors for the largest U.S. airports, begins doing so today, when TSA head John Magaw announces the FSD for New York Kennedy. DOT Secretary Norman Mineta will be in Dallas on Sunday to introduce the FSDs for Dallas/Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field and in San Francisco on April 18 to announce FSO's FSD. Next airports likely to have FSDs named are Boston Logan, Orlando and Washington Dulles.
Alaska Air this week launched a new television advertising campaign that highlights the carrier's 70-year history. The ads began airing in Portland but will be broadened in May and June when they air in Seattle and throughout Alaska on network and cable stations. The 30-second spots are tagged with the line, "70 years of Alaska Spirit." One of the messages is that the airline has been around for decades, "a fact that many folks just know," said Greg Latimer, director-advertising and promotions.
U.S. airports are expected to issue more than $30 billion in new debt over the next five years, a total almost identical to pre-Sept. 11 estimates, according to a new Fitch report that discusses the capital improvement plans of 64 U.S. airports. Despite the industry downturn, Fitch estimated $85 billion in airport capital needs and also believes that this number "is possibly low," as new airport security requirements could present expenses that are higher current estimates. "Post-Sept.
NTSB wants more money and more composites expertise for the next fiscal year because it is concerned about the use of composite materials in aircraft structures. Airbus A300s, like the American Flight 587 aircraft that crashed in November 2001, have been flying since the early 1970s, and composites are being used progressively in all aircraft structures, both military and commercial, including the Boeing 777.
FAA, Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities and Transport Canada gave the Airbus A340-600 a common type rating with the A340-300, meaning pilots can fly either model with minimal transition training. The type rating was the first by three agencies simultaneously.
After voting Wednesday to reject a management contract offer by a very slim margin, CCAIR pilots say they are willing to return to the negotiating table. CCAIR management has said it is willing to bargain, but its plans to close the airline remain unchanged.
The International Association of Machinists came away from a meeting yesterday with the National Mediation Board without the release from mediation it was seeking for the United ramp and public contact workers. IAM is "renewing its call for a release from mediation," IAM spokesman Joseph Tiberi told The DAILY. Even though the union was hoping NMB would grant the release during yesterday's meeting, it may still do so at a later date, Tiberi said. "It is totally in their hands." A scheduled negotiation meeting for April 25 still stands.
American has decided to accept four "temporary" mainline bank slots in order to start new twice-daily service from Long Beach, Calif., to Chicago and New York. The carrier already started selling seats on the MD-80s that it plans to start June 15, but the airline has yet to be granted the official approval from the city for the bank slots, an airport spokeswoman told The DAILY. She noted, however, that the slots are temporary and JetBlue officials promise that all of its 27 slots will be in use by May 2003.
Atlantic Coast Airlines, Air Line Pilots Association, and FAA will join to participate in the Aviation Safety Action Program, the voluntary safety information reporting effort launched two years ago. ACA's program is called the Joint Safety Action Program and will be conducted initially as part of an 18-month renewable demonstration period.
Bombardier workers in Canada will vote on a new contract April 13 after staging a one-day strike last week to get managers back to the bargaining table. The April 1 strike shut down three Bombardier plants where Challenger and regional jet aircraft are assembled.
American and TWA pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association, yesterday announced they are joining other pilot groups in petitioning the Bush administration to allow pilots to be armed. According to the APA, the petition will be presented May 2.
U.S. airlines this year are expected to continue adding back capacity to their networks, but total available seat miles still will be down 6.3% from the year before. According to the new Salomon Smith Barney (SSB) Fleet Handbook slated for release next week, 2002 capacity is actually similar to the 1997 level, and 5.5% capacity is expected to be added back in 2003, bringing the total to 1999 levels. For 2004 and 2005, however, SSB forecasts "relatively stable capacity growth" of about 3.3% and 3.2%, respectively.
The SkyTeam alliance recently inked a widespread deal with Coca-Cola that will result in Air France switching primary soft drink providers. More than 40 million Air France passengers consume about 15 million liters of soft drinks, water and juices annually. The five other SkyTeam member airlines -- already offering Coca-Cola products on their flights -- will now increase their beverage selections under the new deal, the first of its kind between an alliance and a beverage company.
The Italian government has authorized the Economy Ministry to inject EUR883 million into ailing carrier Alitalia as part of a EUR1.43 billion capital increase. Alitalia said it was confident the injection did not constitute illegal state aid. The Economy Ministry holds 53% of the airline.
