TWA pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, are asking the National Mediation board to investigate the representation election process involving ALPA and American's Allied Pilots Association. TWA's ALPA Master Executive Council wants NMB to hold off certifying the election results pending an investigation into alleged interference by AA. ALPA accuses AA of entering an agreement with its Allied Pilots Association by granting "substantial windfall gains in seniority" to AA pilots at the expense of TWA pilots.
Delta Connection is offering new service between Halifax and Boston, starting May 1, with three daily roundtrip regional jet flights. Service will be operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines using Fairchild Dornier 328JET regional jets.
American Trans Air named Chet Fuller to the newly created position of VP-operations productivity and analysis. Fuller most recently was director-strategic planning.
SAS plans to introduce its new website on May 28, offering new booking capabilities and the ability to check in online. The carrier's aim when designing the new site was "simplicity and speed." The web check-in service can be used 22 hours before departure and enables customers to select their seat assignments at the same time.
The House will seek $10 million in funding for NASA's Quiet Technology Program for Stage 4 aircraft, a boost of 50%, said Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). Kirk and Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.), both on the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, plan to attach the request to Lipinski's version of Sen. Richard Durbin's Chicago O'Hare expansion bill, Kirk told The DAILY.
Worldspan signed an agreement with Cayman Airways to host a reservations and departure control system for the airline. Worldspan also is introducing electronic ticketing for Cayman Airways flights. The agreement extends a partnership that started in 1996.
FlightSafety International named George Ferito manager-Fort Worth Learning Center and Mike King manager of the company's two training centers at St Louis Lambert Airport.
America West last week eliminated its base travel agent commissions for tickets in the U.S. and Canada but unveiled an alternative pay-for-performance program to appease agents. Like all other U.S. majors except Southwest, AWA's base commission elimination takes effect immediately and applies to all tickets except those purchased outside the U.S. and Canada. At the same time at it cut base payments, AWA started the "Agency AWArds" program for travel agents. The program is similar to frequent flyer plans, with agencies categorized and compensated based on performance.
New cockpit door standards adopted by ICAO suggest that regulators mandate new, stronger doors by Nov. 1, 2003, but FAA fully expects airlines flying into the U.S. to comply with an earlier deadline established for U.S. carriers.
Last year was the worst for air cargo since 1970, Boeing Cargo Marketing Regional Director Tom Crabtree said, citing a deep dip in demand that was exacerbated by the post-Sept. 11 downturn. Global cargo traffic fell 9.7% last year, with major routes to the U.S. posting double-digit declines.
United plans to recall 1,300 employees in the ramp service, customer service and cabin service categories in hub markets. Pilots said they have not been informed whether they will be part of the recall, but rumblings of more pilot furloughs continue. The recall will affect Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. The airline said earlier this month it planned to recall employees to meet its schedule in June (DAILY, March 13). United also will recruit about 900 new hires.
President Bush last week submitted a $27.1 billion emergency FY 2002 supplemental appropriations budget request to the Office of Management and Budget that seeks $4.7 for DOT, including $2.4 billion for the TSA for the rest of FY 2002.
KLM Engineering&Maintenance (KLM E&M), pushing hard to expand its third-party revenues, last week signed its most lucrative maintenance contract ever, a six-year, EUR200 million (US$176 million) deal covering 12 Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400s. Work will include airframe, engine and component maintenance, as well as engineering modifications, interior work and painting. The deal extends a relationship that began eight years ago, when Virgin first went to KLM E&M for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services.
FAA selected Adacel Systems Inc. to upgrade eight 3-D visual simulators to air traffic control training simulators at the agency's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.
40 years ago March 26, 1962: FAA's new "general policy" on regional airports, which airport officials call rulemaking without proper industry participation, says new-airport location, communities served and scheduling will be factors in federal aid grant determinations. 20 years ago March 24, 1982: U.S. must decide whether to impose sanctions on JAL -- which would result in retaliatory action against U.S. carriers -- following collapse of talks with Japan over Tokyo landing rights for United. Five years ago
Delta's business jet subsidiary, Delta AirElite, continues to make money for its parent company and will continue to grow slowly, according to Delta CEO Leo Mullin. He told The DAILY last week that the operation "is going really well," but noted that AirElite "will never be a blockbuster kind of profit contributor" to Delta's bottom line.
Mexicana plans to start four weekly nonstop flights from Denver to Mexico City, beginning May 2. As of November, Mexicana will operate the flight on a daily basis. In addition to the Mexico City route, Mexicana will add nonstop service from Denver to Zacatecas as of May 4. Flights to both Mexico City and Zacatecas will operate with Airbus A320 equipment. Mexicana will continue to serve Los Cabos with a twice-weekly nonstop flight.
House Republicans on the Transportation Committee last week introduced an amendment to the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act extending the liability limit on damages caused by the Sept. 11 attacks.
Global Distribution Systems will need to rethink their booking fee structure to keep airline suppliers on board, predicts Forrester Research. "Rising fees make it possible for major airlines to pull out of GDSs in the next 18 months if they're unable to secure more favorable business terms," said analyst Henry Harteveldt. He noted that airlines are stepping up investments in direct-connect technology designed to bypass GDS reliance.
There is neither a fare war nor a capacity war occurring among U.S. major airlines, according to UBS Warburg. Analyst Sam Buttrick said recent press reports about fare wars are "wholly overdone," noting that there is significant discounting, but it has not intensified. The recent American/Northwest skirmish is "not material and a bit silly." Capacity is coming back at 1-1.5% pwr month.
Regional aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier has rolled out the first 728-100 at its Oberpfaffenhofen headquarters but is desperately looking for an investor that could provide it with additional cash and credibility in the marketplace. Fairchild Dornier Chairman Chuck Pieper made clear that "the sense of immediacy is real" and that the company needed an "indication of interest" as soon as possible. Pieper said the company was in "productive discussions with several potential partners," but he declined to reveal their identity.
German Transport Minister Kurt Bodewig said the country would extend war risk coverage for German airlines by 60 days until the end of May. The previous commitment will end March 31. The European Union said it would approve of the measure if other member states follow.
