Qantas last week introduced several improvements to its web site aimed at expanding the online services for its frequent flyer members. The new services claim to provide a greater range of redemption flights, as well as allowing them to update their frequent flyer details in real time. Qantas is one of a few airlines that offers frequent flyers the ability to book reward travel through the web site, said General Manager-Marketing Sandra McPhee.
Delta offers both Spanish and English inflight programming on all flights to and from Latin America. For flights from the U.S. to Latin America, the airline offers El Mundo de CNN en Espanol, which also will be dubbed in English. In addition, Destinos, De Modas, Ecologica as well as other comedy shows, will be available. The programming has been expanded to provide more hours of shows and movies for long-haul flights. Delta flies to 17 cities in 10 countries within Latin America, with 29 daily flights.
AIRCRAFT TRANSACTIONS FOR OCT 20 - 22, 2000 Seller/ New Type / Previous Operator Owner Engine Operator Airbus Sabena Sabena Airbus A319/ CFM56- 5B6/P Raytheon Northrop Northrop Beech
Embraer adopted a bold five-year development program with investments of $1.75 billion to manufacture jet aircraft seating 70 to 108 passengers. Its long-term objectives are to replace Canada's Bombardier as the world's third-largest manufacturer of jet aircraft and to compete with giants Boeing and Airbus. In announcing the plan at yearend, President Mauricio Botelho aimed a barb at his main rival, "We are gaining market share because we invest in quality and not in lobbying against the competition."
Northwest has completed its yearlong program of equipping its fleet of more than 400 aircraft with LIFEPAK 500 automated external defibrillators and Biolog 3000 electrocardiograph monitors supplied by Medtronic Physio-Control. The airline also equipped its aircraft with expanded medical kits containing supplies and medication for emergency treatment of heart failure, breathing difficulties, seizures and other medical emergencies. Northwest also is installing the AED units in its staff facilities and plans to train employees to use the machines.
DOT's long-awaited competition policy guidelines may come out before the end of the Clinton administration, as DOT Secretary Rodney Slater told The DAILY yesterday that he intends to continue working on departmental initiatives until his last day in office."Based on our own analysis we have strong views on the importance of problems identified in our initial proposal, and we will have a lot to say on this subject within the next 10 days."
Avolo has established its first international subsidiary, Avolo.com Technologies, Ltd. Initially, the company will handle the development of Java programming for the company. Eventually, it will expand to include other Avolo projects, encompassing other emerging technologies. "Since this type of work can be done virtually anywhere in the world, we chose Vancouver because of its very talented resource pool," said CEO Andrew Fedak. "There will be no shortage of talent in that facility."
Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings finalized an order for Fairchild Dornier 328JETs. It also increased options for its United Express and Delta Connection carriers, bringing its total orders and options for the aircraft to 145 valued at $1.75 billion. Under the contract, ACA placed a firm order for 32 for Atlantic Coast Airlines, its United Express operations, which will join 30 already ordered by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Coast Jet. Options were increased to 83 from 30 that can be assigned to either carrier.
All potential investors withdrew from bidding for a stake in Hungarian flag carrier Malev, the Hungarian Privatization and State Holding Company (APV) said yesterday. "The financial and market positions of the major airlines and the increased pressure from investors, as well as the large oversupply in the number of airlines offered for sale, have significantly dampened investor sentiment," said APV CEO Gyula Gansperger.
House Transportation Committee ranking Democrat Rep. James Oberstar (Minn.) said yesterday that American's intention to acquire TWA suggests that the wave of mergers expected following the United-US Airways merger has begun. Oberstar said the details of the proposed American-TWA merger are preliminary and that much remains to be learned. "What we do know about this proposed merger so far, however, illustrates the problems which I and many of my colleagues have raised" about the United-US Airways merger.
United plans to add a third daily flight between San Francisco and Kahului, Maui, effective Feb. 15. The new flights will be operated in Boeing 757 in a two-class configuration. United also provides three daily flights between Los Angeles and Kahului. Last fall, the airline announced it would drop its nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare and Honolulu on Feb. 15. After the changes, United will operate l9 daily flights from the U.S.
Airbus will begin operating as an integrated company by the end of February, with an effectiveness date of Jan. 1. It is expected to generate annual synergies of 350 million euros (US$333.3 million) per year, shareholders of the European consortium said yesterday in London and Amsterdam. Until now, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and BAE Systems, which will own respectively 80% and 20% of the new company, organized their Airbus activities through a "European Interest Grouping," set up under French law in 1967.
Pilots and mechanics at American and TWA heard about American's plans to take over TWA through media reports and the grapevine, unions said yesterday. Frank Larkin, spokesman for the International Association of Machinists which represents about 16,000 TWA flight attendants, mechanics and related and passenger service employees, said the union as of yesterday afternoon had not received official word from management about the acquisition proposal.
TWA tomorrow is expected to file for its third Chapter 11 bankruptcy that could lead to a chain of complex business deals - American buying TWA, American taking a minority holding in DC Air, American acquiring 86 US Airways aircraft and increasing the chances that a United-US Airways merger will be approved.
British Midland will unveil a new livery and brand identity Feb. 1 at an event in London, The DAILY has learned. The carrier is expected to portray itself as a more international carrier with new advertising and marketing. British Midland will launch its first transatlantic flights from Manchester, U.K., to Washington Dulles on April 30 and to Chicago O'Hare on May 21. Both flights will be operated as code shares with Star Alliance partner United.
North American Airlines over the holidays became the first carrier to fly directly from New York Kennedy Airport to Crown Point Airport in the tourist haven of Tobago, bypassing its sister island of Trinidad. During a three-month test, charters from New York to Tobago will be operated on Fridays in conjunction with New York-based tour wholesaler Travel Span Vacations.
Congressional sources say the 0.22% cut in FAA funding enacted in the omnibus appropriations act amounts to about $30 million of $12.6 billion in aviation appropriations for fiscal 2001, the budget year that began Oct. 1. They expect minimal impact on programs since reductions will be made across the board, rather than concentrated in one or two activities. This is less of an adjustment than a year earlier, when appropriators in their final cut trimmed nearly $100 million in aviation appropriations.
ICAO said that at the end of 2000 it had audited 131 of its 185 member states under its Universal Safety Oversight Program and plans to audit all its members before the 33rd ICAO Assembly convenes in September. The program was launched at the beginning of 1999 to help member states identify and correct possible safety problems in civil aviation agencies. The next assembly could expand the program to cover air traffic services, airports and aircraft accident investigations.
Boeing Airplane Services (BAS) President Joseph Gullion plans to leave the company and will be replaced by Robert Avery, VP-sales for BAS parent Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, DAILY affiliate Overhaul&Maintenance has learned. The move, part of a major shakeup by Boeing Commercial Aviation Services Executive VP Thomas Schick, was announced internally last week and "was a surprise," said a Boeing spokesman. Avery will take the title of BAS VP.
