Nav Canada last week regained its AA+ credit rating from Standard and Poor's, which had placed the air traffic control provider on CreditWatch on Sept. 21, 2001, following the Sept. 11 attacks. S&P otherwise took no negative action against Nav Canada, although it did so for most aviation-related debt issues due to the unprecedented events and their uncertain impact on the industry.
Harvard Scientific Corp. plans to buy airport access control systems specialist Smart Access, Inc. Harvard is in bankruptcy protection, meaning the deal must be court-approved. Smart Access provides keyless entry systems and other security products to airports and other facilities.
Direct charter flights carried almost 127,000 U.S. visitors to Cuba in 2001, according to initial numbers compiled by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council (USCTEC), compared with 83,000 in 2000. USCTEC pegs the increase to the "substantial number" of Cubans who left Cuba in 1996 without the authority of the Cuban government, which subjects those individuals to a five-year prohibition on returning as visitors, USCTEC President John Kavulich told The DAILY.
Electronic parts marketplace Inventory Locator Service (ILS) said transactions grew by more than 20% in 2001 compared to 2000 as the company's total number of subscribers passed 9,000. An average of 36,000 customers per day accesses ILS inventories via the web or dial-up networks, the company said. "In spite of the downturn in the aviation industry, ILS is up in every major category," said ILS President Bruce Langsen.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority will hold a series of seminars this year aimed at helping management at smaller airlines understand the agency's new systems safety approach. The series, "Flying To Survive," will cover 21 topics and be held at 19 locations throughout the country. Besides systems safety, subjects on the programs include inflight decision-making, outback flying, navigation, maintenance, licensing and chief pilot responsibilities. Industry experts will bolster the panels during each seminar.
The A340-500 completed its first flight yesterday in Toulouse, a five-hour, 52-minute mission that included an array of tests typical of a derivative's first journey. The crew explored the aircraft's flight envelope, tested various slat and flap configurations, and monitored systems performance.
KLM last week signed a code-share partnership with French national railways operator SNCF. The agreement enables a customer to buy an air and rail ticket through KLM reservations. As of March 1, KLM will offer service to 13 French cities beyond Paris, Lyon, Nice and Toulouse. Some of the new destinations are Lille, Angers, Le Mans, Nantes, Rennes, St Pierre des Corps/Tours, Poitiers, Bordeaux, Lyon Part-Dieu and Avignon TGV. Northwest also will have access to the rail reservations.
FedEx reported that its earnings for the third quarter ending Feb. 28 are expected to be "at the top or slightly in excess" of the previous guidance range of $0.25 to $0.35 per share. The company also reaffirmed its fourth quarter earnings predictions of $0.70 to $0.80 per diluted share. "Strong revenue and profit growth at FedEx Ground and continued focus on costs at FedEx Express will improve our profitability this quarter," said Chief Financial Officer Alan Graf.
US Airways Hub Profile Charlotte Origin and Destinations, Segment Summary and Top Nonstop Markets Origination and Destination Data 12 Months 12 Months Ended June Ended June 2001 1997 Charlotte Total (All Carriers) O&D Passengers 5,637,290 4,941,050 14.1% Passengers Per 7,722 6,769 Day Each Way
China Southern plans to launch daily Boeing 777 service between Guangzhou and Tokyo on April 19, the day after Narita opens its second runway. Also starting April 19, China Southern will offer daily service between Guangzhou-Osaka.
The Australian investment group Tesna signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a mix of 30 Airbus A320s and A321s and take option on additional 10 planes. Under the terms of the deal, the deliveries will begin in the second half of the year and will be operated by the resurrected Ansett Australia. Airbus will provide all the training and field service support for these aircraft in Australia, the company said.
Continental plans to cut its aircraft deliveries by close to 60% this year due to its reduced schedule. Under its amended deal with Boeing, Continental will now take delivery of 20 of the 48 aircraft previously expected this year. During the rest of 2002, Continental will take delivery of two 777-200ERs, 10 767-400ERs, two 757-300s, two 737-900s and four 737-800s. To date, the airline has received seven of the 20 aircraft.
Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus Industrie, North America, will speak on "Airbus' View of Commercial Aviation Post-Sept. 11" at the Feb. 19 International Aviation Club meeting. Lunch begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Marriott at Metro Center. More information is available at www.iacwashington.org.
The punctuality of the services operated by the 28 members of the Association of European Airlines improved last year, announced the AEA. But "the figures should be viewed in the context of a very modest increase in movements in the period to September, and a substantial drop in the last three months of the year," warned the association. In 2001, 24.2% of departures suffered a delay of more than 15 minutes, down from 25.5% in the previous year.
The Justice Department Friday temporarily provided a blanket advance consent for non-U.S. pilots to resume recurrent flight training in the U.S. for aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds. The advance consent is a provisional action until DOJ establishes a set of procedures for flight training applicants to undergo a background review. In the Aviation and Transportation Security Act adopted in November, Congress mandated that DOJ conduct a 45-day review of applicants seeking flight training on aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds.
An appeals court, acting in a suit brought by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has ordered FAA to prove why its contract tower program is not illegal. The 61th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati indicated growing impatience with the FAA and ordered it to file a status report within 30 days (DAILY, Jan. 28). It also directed the district court to set a reasonable time limit on the production of the final A-76 study. The district court had ordered FAA to do the study, saying it violated A-76 requirements.
Bangkok's status as a Southeast Asian hub could be in jeopardy should the Thai government go ahead with its plans to operate two airports within the city after the opening of the New Bangkok International Airport (NBIA) in Nong Ngu Hao in 2005. The existing international airport in Don Muang will handle all domestic flights, while NBIA, which is currently under construction, will handle international operations.
Continental plans to start daily seasonal service between Houston and Montreal starting June 1. The flights will mark the first time the cities have been linked by nonstop jet service. The flights will be served with Boeing 737s. Continental also serves Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto from Houston.
Alaska Airlines asked DOT for authority to display LanChile's code on Alaska flights in the Los Angeles-Vancouver/Calgary markets. The carriers intend to begin code sharing on the LAX-Vancouver route, beginning Feb. 28. They "expect to improve their connecting times" at Los Angeles for the Calgary service and then to begin code sharing on the route. Alaska noted that the services are consistent with the U.S.-Canada air transport agreement as amended, as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-based multilateral, to which both the U.S. and Chile are signatories.
Machinist union voters today are likely to reject the terms of a contract with United that were recommended by a Presidential Emergency Board, according to IAM President Thomas Buffenbarger. But he said there will be "hell to pay" if President Bush and Congress intervene and impose a contract on 13,000 mechanics and related employees. "That is not a threat. That is not a promise. It is a simple statement of fact," he said. The outcome is in doubt despite a recommendation by the PEB to raise pay for a top mechanic by 37%.
The new Belgian airline to be built on the remains of bankrupt Sabena won a EUR125 million loan from a Belgian federal investment agency, confirmed Belgian government. At the same time, Delta Air Transport, Sabena's former regional arm, reimbursed a EUR125 million emergency bridging loan granted by the Belgian government, which had to be paid back on Feb. 7.The new loan was granted to SN Air Holding, the company set up by a group of 35 public and private Belgian investors to launch a successor to Sabena.
Mesa's Frontier JetExpress division on April 7 will launch service from Denver to St. Louis and Ontario, Calif., operating three trips each weekday to St. Louis Lambert and two daily trips to Ontario with Canadair Regional Jets. Frontier CEO Jeff Potter said JetExpress would begin service from Denver to San Jose and Houston Feb. 17.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is asking DOT Transportation Security Administration Under Secretary John Magaw and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to clarify airport passenger security screening procedures following complaints and allegations by female passengers and flight attendants of improper contact by male security guards.
