LanChile will start nonstop Guayaquil-New York flights independently of flights on the same route undertaken with code-share partner Ecuatoriana. On Dec. 15, LanChile begins its own daily nonstop with a three-class Boeing 767-300s.
JetBlue will launch a frequent flyer program in the first quarter 2001, CEO David Neeleman told The DAILY. JetBlue plans to give retroactive credit to customers who flew the airline since its inception. It will send free tickets to customers when they reach award levels.
Virgin Atlantic last week launched the largest recruitment drive in its history aiming to hire 1,700 additional staff by the end of 2001. Chairman Richard Branson the campaign was necessary due to its aggressive network and growth plan. The carrier noted that new routes such as Toronto, and increased frequencies to destinations such as Delhi and Cape Town and new aircraft, "all mean new staff." Branson said there will be openings for pilots, cabin crew, ground crew and airport staff based both at Gatwick and Heathrow airports as well as office based staff.
French aviation authorities Friday grounded all Pratt&Whitney-powered Airbus A330s ordering an immediate safety check on the engine mounts. Within the past 10 days, Korean Air and Malaysia Airlines both found cracks on no more than two of the four nuts installed on the aft engine mount of their A330s. The engine manufacturer consulted with Airbus and the French authorities and subsequently ordered an immediate inspection of the engine rear mount nuts. Airbus said that part is "easily accessible" and any defective nut and bolt can be replaced in several hours.
KLM Cargo recently extended the availability of its Select 100 urgent cargo product to shipments of more than 100 kilograms. The carrier lifted the 100 kg weight restriction worldwide on the Select 100 time-definite product in response to increased demand. Select 100 shipments are given performance -- flown on first available flight out -- and full money-back guarantees. Shipments of less than 100 kg will continue to be guaranteed capacity on first flight out and full money back as before.
National Airlines became the second U.S. startup carrier to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the past week after it succumbed to mounting bills and soaring fuel prices. Unlike Dallas-based Legend Airlines, which suddenly grounded all flights on Sunday, National vowed to continue operating uninterrupted service during its reorganization.
Gulf Air yesterday signed a new $6.2 million agreement with Sabre, which includes the implementation, customization and maintenance of four additional Sabre products. Under terms of the deal, Gulf Air will use Sabre WiseVision, E-Commerce Reservation Tool, AirOps and AirCrews. Sabre claims the use of the products is expected to streamline the airline's IT operations "by radically transforming" the way Gulf Air manages its sales force, passenger reservations, aircraft and crews.
Fortis Aviation, acting for El Al, sold a 747-200 convertible to Hydro Air, Silverton, South Africa. The aircraft, built in 1975, had been in service with El Al since new.
Angel Air's plan to start a Bangkok-Taipei service with four flights a week using wet-leased China Northern Airlines (CNAL) Airbus A300-600R have run into a technical snag. Under Taiwan's current Civil Aeronautics Administration's regulations, China-registered aircraft are not allowed to operate commercial flights into any of Taiwan's airports. Angel has leased two A300s for international flights from CNAL.
FAA's New York LaGuardia slot lottery held this week took its first victim as Comair plans to suspend service between Manchester, N.H., and LaGuardia after Dec. 31. The route operates four times daily, and the Delta Connection carrier attributed the cut directly to the slot lottery. Delta Connection will have to slash the number of daily flights by close to 80% to 20, which means it will "no longer have slots to service some communities."
United this week launched an electronic upgrade product and new premium boarding passes that aim to speed the check-in process at the gate and allow for more efficient boarding. Electronic upgrades will be added automatically to members United E-Upgrade accounts as soon as they are earned.
Vanguard Airlines this week received notice that Nasdaq has scheduled a hearing Dec. 19 to review its continued listing on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The airline currently fails to comply with the net tangible assets, market capitalization and net income requirement, specified in the Nasdaq rules.
CSA Czech Airlines became a Delta SkyMiles partner Dec. 1, allowing SkyMiles members to earn miles on all CSA-coded flights and redeem miles on all CSA-operated flights. CSA in October was invited to join SkyTeam, and Delta and CSA will begin code-share flights March 25.
Startup airlines, two of which failed this week, need at least $100 million to launch and those starting with little cash, depending on bridge financing or having poor business plans will most likely fail, industry experts agree.
CIT Aerospace entered into a sale and lease-back agreement with LTU International Airways for two Airbus aircraft. The airline will lease one new A330-200 with Pratt&Whitney PW4168A engines and one new A320-200 with CFM56-5B4 engines. The A330-200 is planned for delivery in May 2001 and the A320 in February 2001. LTU currently operates a fleet of more than 25 aircraft.
China has forecast that the number of passenger aircraft operating domestic and international flights by Chinese airlines would increase from the current 520 to 911 by the year 2009. According to a study carried out by the planning and marketing division of the China Institute of Aeronautic Systems Engineering (CIASE), this need would include 704 large and medium aircraft and 207 smaller planes operated by 15 carriers or fewer.
AIRCRAFT TRANSACTIONS FOR SEPT 19 - 20, 2000 Seller/ New Type / Previous Operator Owner Engine Operator Embraer Continental Sampa Gold Embraer Express ERJ145/ AE3007A1/P Airbus US Airways First Security Airbus A319
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), the departing chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds FAA introduced a bill to establish an independent commission to review the agency. Wolf said the commission would focus on the critical need to improve aviation safety and reduce airline delays. The bill was introduced Tuesday in the final days of his tenure as chairman of the House transportation appropriations subcommittee. Introducing a bill in the final days of a Congress is usually done to gauge reaction and assess its prospects in the new Congress.
U.S Major Carriers Productivity, In RPMs And ASMs Per Employee Second Quarter 2000 Revenue Available Passenger Seat Miles Miles Total (000) (000) Employees Alaska 3,047,421 4,210,102 9,310 America West 5,028,717 6,824,187 12,430
U.S Major Carriers Productivity, In Revenues and Expenses Per Employee Second Quarter 2000, In Dollars Total Total Operating Operating Revenues Expenses Total (000) (000) Employees Alaska 446,414 437,858 9,310 America West 609,805 560,528 12,430
President Clinton, in a late-term effort to reduce air traffic delays, yesterday announced three actions to improve domestic air service -- a new air traffic organization (ATO), a board to advise the ATO, and a review of impediments to congestion pricing at airports that would include a move from excise taxes to cost-based fees paid by commercial users. Clinton issued an executive order establishing a performance-based ATO within, but separate, from FAA.
