Swiss regional Crossair lost a record CHF314 million (US$187 million) in fiscal 2001. The airline said that the loss was attributable to Sept. 11 effects and -- most significantly -- the bankruptcy of its former majority shareholder SAir Group.
Kansai International Airport on March 31 will reduce landing charges by 50% in an effort to lure back airlines that have pulled out from the facility because of high user fees. The reduction, valid only for a year, is applicable to airlines introducing new services or increasing frequencies.
Japan Airlines' regional subsidiary J-Air next month plans to start daily code-share flights between Tokyo Narita and Nagoya. The new services will start April 18 in conjunction with the opening of the new second runway at Narita. Hiroshima-based J-Air will operate 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200s on the route and boost JAL's Nagoya-Narita schedule to two daily roundtrips. JAL already offers one mainline daily roundtrip. J-Air operates two CRJ-200s and has three more on order in addition to three Jetstream 31 turboprops.
Aero Club of Washington will hear from Washington Post transportation reporter Don Phillips, speaking on "Will Aviation Ever be Fun Again?" at its March 26 luncheon. Sen. Jay Rockefeller is scheduled to address the club at its April 23 luncheon. For reservation information, call 703-327-7082; web site address is aeroclub.org.
Taking bailout money from the U.S. government could turn out to be the "biggest mistake in the history of the universe," Darryl Jenkins, executive director of The Aviation Institute at George Washington University said yesterday. Speaking at the FAA Forecast Conference in Washington, D.C., Jenkins said that while Congress pulled together post-Sept. 11 funds to save the industry from bankruptcy, politicians on Capitol Hill will not soon forget service cuts airlines were forced to make as they scaled back capacity.
Hopes and expectations of impending changes in the regulatory environment are altering the way British Airways approaches "aeropolitics," BA CEO Rod Eddington said in a speech last week at a British American Business dinner. While the European Union is ready and willing to open markets with "other like-minded liberal regimes," such as Australia, the key market to be opened is with the U.S., with an agreement "unwrapping the North Atlantic to truly open skies," Eddington said.
Air traffic delays that the U.S. aviation system was facing prior to Sept. 11 could reappear at some airports this summer, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said yesterday at the 27th Annual FAA Forecast Conference. She admitted that it is quite possible, too, that DOT will not be able to name a chief operating officer (COO) for FAA's new air traffic control organization (ATO) before her five-year term expires on Aug. 4.
British Airways' German subsidiary Deutsche BA is expected to announce a major strategic shift, including a move to a new name and new direction when it talks to the media on Friday. The airline, which operates 17 aircraft mainly on German domestic routes, is likely to announce a move into the low-fare sector targeting the Internet as its main distribution channel. The move could lead to the airline being sold eventually, whenever the new concept is firmly established, industry sources said.
Sabre's GetThere subsidiary and Rosenbluth International reached a deal to provide GetThere's online corporate reservation system as a "preferred offering" for Rosenbluth's small and medium-sized clients. The new offering allows business travelers to make reservations on line while still adhering to corporate policies.
The European Commission yesterday proposed a draft regulation that could lead to penalties for airlines from non-European Union countries that benefit from state subsidies and translate them into unfair pricing practices (DAILY, March 11). The draft regulation I subject to approval by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers before becoming law.
United, despite earlier plans to reinstate capacity on a fairly equal basis across its three domestic hubs, yesterday released its summer schedule, which puts a disproportionate amount of its flight reinstatements at Chicago O'Hare. At the same time, Northwest is already looking ahead to its fall and winter schedule as it will likely pull down domestic capacity to match a dip in demand.
The Rwanda government has approved plans to improve Kigali International Airport with funds provided by the European Development Fund and European Investments Bank. The upgrade will involve the resurfacing of the runway, taxiways and other pavements at the airport to enhance efficiency and safety. Installation of new navigation/communications equipment also will be part of the upgrade program.
Pratt&Whitney PW4060 engines were selected by Boeing Capital Corp. and Ansett Worldwide to power nine 767-300ER aircraft. Pratt valued the contract at $185 million.
Association of European Airlines Traffic January 2002 January 2002 Passenger Data % % Pts. RPKs Change ASKs Change Load Change Region (Mil) 02/01 (Mil) 02/01 Factor 02/01 SHORTHAUL Europe 7,947.1 -12.3 14,703.2 -15.6 54.1 2.0
Virgin Blue founder Richard Branson yesterday inked a deal to sell a 50% stake in the low-cost carrier to Australian logistics and cargo company Patrick Corp. for A$260 million (US$136 million). An additional payment could be made in the future depending on the company's financial performance over the next three years. The deal is subject to shareholder approval, but Branson believes that the new funding will enable Virgin Blue to "cement its position as the nation's leading domestic airline," based on a low-fare operating model.
FLEETWATCH - AEROCALIFORNIA and AIR 2000 AircraftMarch March 1997 2002 DC-9-10 11 11 DC-9-30 8 11 TOTAL 19 22 Air 2000 Aircraft March March 1997 2002 757-200 10 12 767-300ER 0 3
Naples Airport, Fla., implemented its ban on Stage 2 business jets, the subject of a long dispute with FAA that is not yet resolved. Earlier attempts to overturn the ban on Part 161 grounds failed in court, but FAA has said the ban appears to violate grant assurances. The agency says it is still examining the issue and declined further comment.
South African Airways' somewhat surprising purchase of Airbus narrowbodies last week will not alter the carrier's plans to operate its leased Boeing 737s until their terms expire in the 2005-2010 timeframe. The airline plans to replace 737-200s with 11 Airbus A319s in 2005 when the Boeing planes come off lease, according to Mark Ellinger, executive VP-Americas. Sixteen 737-800s on lease will fly in SAA colors through 2010, and then the carrier will phase them out as 15 A320s arrive from Airbus.
Delivery of Embraer regional jets to Midwest Express subsidiary Skyway Airlines are being delayed by one year to January 2004, CEO Tim Hoeksema said yesterday. He said the current industry environment would not support the simultaneous introduction of two new aircraft types at the carrier and its regional subsidiary. Skyway is already taking delivery of Fairchild Dornier 328 Jets that will bring the fleet to 12 aircraft by December. Hoeksema vowed that he remains "committed" to the Embraer regional jet program.
Nav Canada has completed its upgrade of the Gander Automated Air Traffic System (GAATS) to Version 21, the culmination of a two-year effort that brings computer-based, automated capabilities to non-radar airspace, enabling controllers covering oceanic airspace to use geographic displays.
FAA's budget is growing but not as fast as some big-ticket costs. The fiscal 2003 budget is 5% higher than FY 2001's, but agency operations must grow 6.5-6.8% next year "just to retain current services," said outgoing FAA Budget Director Brian Riley. Air Traffic Services funding rose 6.2% this year, but salary costs -- which make up 94% of FAA's budget -- climbed 9.9%.
At Friday's extraordinary shareholders meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the employers' holding entity, Ruben Berta Foundation (RBF), which controls Varig, decided by 97% of voting participants to sell part of its equity to a new partner or partners that could acquire control. The "pulverization" of Varig common stock would pave the way for an IPO before June with the aim of restructuring and reducing the company's $900 million debt.
FedEx Corp. yesterday became the second aviation company in a week to drop Arthur Andersen as its independent auditor. Ernst&Young will replace Andersen. The decision "was not the result of any disagreement between the company and Andersen," FedEx said. Delta, a long-time Arthur Andersen client, last week dropped the firm and appointed Deloitte&Touche.
Alcoa Aerospace and Aviation Equipment Inc. are teaming up on a cockpit door design that meets so-called Phase II standards. FAA certification "is in process," they said.
