The European Commission recently launched a consultation process for the definition of "air transport service quality indicators." These indicators are meant to help in drawing up reports that will give passengers the possibility to compare different companies in terms of punctuality, information on delays and overbooking. The European Commission's consultation paper is available on the Internet at europa.eu.int/comm/transport/themes/air/english/at_en.html
Airport and Airway Trust Fund -- Income Statement October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2000 RECEIPTS (Revenues) September 2000 Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas 91,081,000.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 1,112,298,000.00 Use of International Travel Facilities 195,699,000.00
Four Republican members of the House Transportation Committee have emerged as the leading contenders for the House aviation subcommittee chairmanship in the new Congress, which starts Jan. 3, congressional sources said. They are Thomas Petri (Wis.), Wayne Gilchrest (Md.), Stephen Horn (Calif.) and John Mica (Fla.). Of the four, sources said, Mica probably is the most interested in chairing the aviation subcommittee, but he has the least seniority of the members of Transportation, a key factor.
National Mediation Board has suspended contract talks between American and its Association of Professional Flight Attendants. The two sides have been in mediation since Sept. 7.
U.S.-Senegal negotiators made good progress during open-skies talks held last week in Dakar, U.S. officials told The DAILY. Senegal's transport minister, Madieyna Diouf, expressed a strong determination to conclude the framework of a fully liberalized aviation accord with the U.S. by yearend. Diouf will be in Washington the week of Dec. 18 to move the process forward. Main issues to be resolved are designation of the financially troubled, multi-state-owned Air Afrique and matters relating to transitioning to open skies. The U.S.
All Nippon Airways has joined Emirates' Skywards frequent flyer program effective immediately. Emirates connects at Singapore, Bangkok and Mumbai with ANA service to Tokyo and Osaka, and offers through check-in for passengers changing flights.
Aviation Sales agreed to allow current 23% stockholder, LJH Corp., to increase its stake to up to 30% of Aviation Sales' outstanding common stock. LJH is wholly owned by Lacy J. Harber of Dennison, Texas. The two companies entered their original agreement in March and the original deal remains in effect. Aviation Sales provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Following this week's announcement in Madrid that Iberia would not participate in the $650 million recapitalization of Aerolineas Argentinas, analysts in Buenos Aires revealed a rift between Iberia and SEPI, which owns 53.84% of Iberia. Analysts said SEPI wanted all along for Iberia to participate in Aerolineas' recapitalization. Iberia wants to exit any involvement in Aerolineas, which according to one analyst has always been trouble for Iberia and brought it to the brink of bankruptcy in 1995.
FAA and the Joint Aviation Authorities have certified Boeing's first major upgrade of the 717's flight control computer and flight management system. The updated FMS now includes GPS capability, fuel predictions and vertical guidance. The autoflight system updates include a reactive windshear function.
GE Aircraft Engines CEO Jim McNerney is leaving GE to take over as head of Minnesota's giant consumer-goods conglomerate 3M. GE veteran David Calhoun, who has been serving as GE Aircraft Engines' chief operating officer since July, will succeed McNerney, who was expected to leave the company. Last week, GE named Jeffrey Immelt president and chairman-elect to succeed Jack Welch when he retires at the end of 2001 (DAILY, Nov. 28). McNerney also was considered for the top spot at GE.
Northwest's Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) said yesterday it will abide by a temporary restraining order but said it remains hopeful that the courts will confirm that the union has not promoted or condoned any type of job action. "We will honor the preliminary injunction imposed today on both parties, NWA and the union," AMFA President O.V. Delle Femine said. "Finally, we urge NWA to return to the bargaining table immediately so that we can resolve our differences and focus entirely on serving the flying public."
Madrid-based Amadeus Global Travel Distribution said it will raise charges for airline reservations by 6.9%, up from an average of $3. Charges for most other services to airlines will be increased by an average of 6.5%. Amadeus said the hike would be effective in January. The extra revenue will be used to develop travel management and distribution systems, Amadeus said.
Ferdinand Schmidt, the new chairman of Austrian carrier Lauda Air, rejected the pilot's contract that links the former car racing champion to the airline he created himself in 1979. "He [Lauda] will not be appointed as long...as there is no new contract," said Schmidt in an interview published yesterday by the Austrian daily newspaper Die Presse. "We are still willing to negotiate on this issue," added a Lauda Air spokesman. "This is the final attempt to destroy me. I don't want to discuss this and I accept it", Niki Lauda told Die Presse.
US Airways this week received final DOT approval to launch a fourth wholly owned subsidiary airline that is slated to become DC Air if the United-US Airways merger gains regulatory approval. The new carrier, known as Potomac Air, is expected to start service in the next 30 days, pending final FAA approval. Potomac Air will operate as a US Airways Express carrier from Washington National, providing short-haul service in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions with de Havilland Dash 800Qs.
SITA last week signed a contract with Atlantic Coast Jet (ACJet) to provide VHF Aircom air-ground data communications to its all-jet fleet. The system will go live in March, and the agreement includes an integrated system for flight operations, aircraft maintenance and engineering, air traffic control and cabin administrative communications. ACJet will use SITA Aircom to transmit operational data between aircraft and airline operations centers concerning weather, on-and-off times, weight-and-balance figures and air traffic control departure clearances.
American yesterday converted purchase rights on eight new Boeing aircraft, ordering two 757-200s for delivery in the first half of 2002, four 737-800s in 2002 and two 777-200ERs to be delivered in 2003. "This will allow for some modest growth," said CEO Don Carty. "These aircraft will support further opportunities that were already in the plan." The order gives American a total of 113 outstanding aircraft set for delivery, plus 55 additional purchase rights with Boeing for deliveries through 2003.
Vanguard Airlines plans to carry through on its promise to boost capacity in Kansas City with the addition of three new nonstop routes, beginning Jan. 7. The airline will launch twice-daily flights between Kansas City and Austin-Bergstrom and add service to Buffalo, N.Y., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. Vanguard will provide the only nonstop service between Kansas City and the three cities. Since Aug. 1, Vanguard has added nonstop service to seven cities from its Kansas City hub, including Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York LaGuardia. Beginning Jan.
Going beyond previous fire-safety improvement themes that targeted specific system or design flaws, Canadian safety investigators probing the crash of a Swissair MD-11 this week called for fundamental changes to how inflight fire emergencies are handled. A probe of more than a dozen cabin-area fires since 1967 that led to crashes, ditches or forced landings -- including the 1998 Swissair 111 crash -- convinced Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) that inflight firefighting systems and procedures are "inadequate."
Crude oil futures dropped below $30 per barrel yesterday for the first time since last summer, boosting airline stock prices. Crude oil prices for January closed down $1.69 at $29.53 per barrel. AirTran's stock jumped more than 13% yesterday, closing at $5.94 after a hitting a new 52-week high earlier in the day. More than 1 million AirTran shares were traded, also up on the news of its New York LaGuardia slot lottery gains. American's stock rose more than 8%, closing at $36.75.
Tenzing Communications yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Thomson-CSF Sextant In-Flight Systems that allows the companies to combine commercial inflight products and services. The Tenzing system, which provides inflight web content and Internet connectivity, will be integrated with the Thomson-CSF Sextant In-Flight end-to-end service package that links cabin, cockpit, air and ground communications.
