Delta filed at DOT for U.S.-Cyprus authority that it wants to operate under code share with Czech Airlines (CSA), seeking to enter the market, which receives limited service to the U.S. The two carriers filed for blanket code-share authority (DAILY, Oct. 30, Nov. 2), intending to begin joint service about March 25. CSA is scheduled to become SkyTeam's fifth member March 28, joining Delta, Air France, Korean and AeroMexico.
Schiphol Group, which last week formed a broad alliance with Flughafen Frankfurt, said it plans to invest 3 billion guilders (US$1.2 billion) in an effort to increase its annual passenger capacity to 55 million by 2006, up from 39 million today. Schiphol plans a fifth runway, the expansion of the West Terminal and construction of two new piers, which will provide gates for 17 small and medium aircraft and four jumbo jets. Schiphol is subject to severe noise limitations and recently has been fined twice for breaching them.
America West signed a contract to use Honeywell's Aircraft Maintenance and Operations Support System (AMOSS) to help the carrier reduce delays and improve the efficiency of its aircraft problem diagnosis. America West is the first U.S. airline to select the system following its roll-out at Ansett Australia. AMOSS will be installed at nine stations, including the airline's main maintenance bases in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Columbus. The agreement covers support for the airline's fleet of more than 100 aircraft.
U.S. and fellow Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation partners Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore will be in close contact in the coming days to conclude a first multilateral open-skies agreement by mid-November, when APEC leaders meet in Brunei, according to a senior U.S. official. Talks ended late Thursday without an agreement, which U.S. officials earlier had expected during three days of meetings in Hawaii. Negotiators "worked very hard and made a lot of progress" on several issues, the source said. A pact may be possible by the Nov.
The pilot of the Singapore Airlines 747-400 that crashed on takeoff Oct. 31 in stormy Taipei weather was lined up incorrectly on a runway -- 5 Right -- that was closed for construction, Taiwan's top investigator says. But Kay Yong, managing director of Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council investigating the crash, stressed Friday in a prepared statement that a combination of bad weather, poor visibility and bad markings all might have played a role in the mishap, and that it is too early in the investigation to conclude that the crash was the pilot's fault.
Names being bandied about as top choices for the next DOT secretary should the Democrats retain control of the White House include Jane Garvey, whose five-year term as FAA administrator ends August 2002; Nancy McFadden, former DOT general counsel and now working for Al Gore, and Norman Mineta, Commerce secretary.
Airbus reports that its fly-by-wire aircraft have accumulated more than 20 million flight hours and carried more than 1.1 billion passengers, with the A320 series alone flying nearly 14 million hours since entering service in 1988.
Namibia's flag carrier Air Namibia has launched a twice-weekly Boeing 747-400 Combi service between Windhoek and Munich. The move follows a decision on behalf of Lufthansa to pull out of the Germany-Namibia market. The Air Namibia service continues on to Frankfurt. The third Frankfurt frequency is linked to a weekly London-Heathrow flight. Air Namibia said it is looking at acquiring an additional 747-400 Combi if it can work out an agreement with the government of Uganda to operate services to London and Dubai.
Lufthansa is studying the introduction of a new fleet of medium-haul aircraft for routes between 2,000 and 3,000 nautical miles. The airline told The DAILY that the Airbus A330, Boeing 767 and 757-200 are under consideration. Lufthansa's medium-haul operation has undergone significant changes recently. The airline is replacing its A300-600s on routes to CIS states, Africa and the Middle East with A340-200s.
FAA's Management Advisory Council held its first meeting last week, spending more than four and one-half hours with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and acting Deputy Administrator Monte Belger receiving a series of briefings that covered the agency's lines of business, funding stream and historical relationship with DOT. As its name suggests, the MAC plans to concentrate on improving management within FAA, rather than focusing on policy issues. The MAC plans to meet again in mid-November and early December.
UPS Chairman and CEO Jim Kelly told analysts yesterday in Atlanta that the MD-11 will be the next long-range widebody jet freighter for UPS Airlines, which will acquire 13 used aircraft from Boeing over the next four years. The deal also includes options for another 22, which Kelly said could bring the value of the agreement to more than $2 billion. The optional aircraft would be delivered between 2005 and 2010. Boeing will convert the aircraft to freighters, which UPS plans on use on flights to Europe and Asia.
Mesa Airlines, which recently announced an expanded agreement with US Airways (DAILY, Nov. 2), yesterday said it also entered an agreement with Midwest Express under which the latter will provide connecting service between Kansas City and 14 Midwestern cities. Under the agreement, which will take effect the first quarter 2001, Midwest Express will provide service to and from Kansas City, and Air Midwest, a subsidiary of Mesa which flies 10 Beech 1900Ds, will offer service to code-share cities.
United's mechanics and related workers, yesterday suspended contract talks with the company, saying there are no company negotiators at the table with the power to close a deal. Frank Larkin, spokesman for the International Association of Machinists which represents United's 15,000 mechanics and related workers, said negotiations have been moving along successfully since they began late in December 1999, and both sides reached agreement on many work rule issues. Talks have been taking place under a federal mediator.
German regional carrier Eurowings is increasing frequencies between Stuttgart and Munster/Osnabruck from two to three daily roundtrips. The airline will upgrade its flights from Dortmund to Munich to three daily frequencies operated with BAe 146s. Eurowings is increasing capacity between Saarbrucken and Berlin by replacing the currently used ATR 42 with an ATR 72. The changes are effective immediately. Following the extension of the runway at Eurowings' homebase in Dortmund, the airline will use its Airbus A319s from there on charter flights for the first time.
Runway incursions and operational errors are increasing by both percentage and absolute numbers, DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead said. Despite FAA's focus on runway incidents, they have risen 60% since 1994, when there were 200. Last year there were 321 and this year's 322 so far indicates a yearend total above 400. Operational errors -- mostly mid-air separation incidents -- have risen over 50% in the past four years.
Star Alliance yesterday introduced a Europe-wide travel pass aimed at individual leisure travelers who want the flexibility to explore multiple European destinations. The Star Alliance European Airpass, which went in sale Wednesday, enables economy-class travelers to add a minimum of two stopovers to their European travel itineraries. The offer is available on 14 airlines that serve 200 destinations in 43 countries. All European Star members, as well as a number of their regional partners, are participating in the program.
Two major GPS manufacturers, Garmin and Honeywell, have added localizer-DME waypoints to their GPS databases, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The change will permit pilots to use an IFR-certified GPS receiver in lieu of DME on all localizer, localizer back course, ILS or any other localizer-type procedure that requires DME, said Dennis Roberts, AOPA VP-technical affairs.
Northwest has made a bid to buy out the entire 20.3 million publicly held shares of partner Mesaba Airlines for $13 per share. Mesaba's board appointed a special committee of independent directors to deal with Northwest on behalf of Mesaba and its shareholders.
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) said it will continue to try to persuade the U.S. of the advantages of a Transatlantic Common Aviation Area (TCAA). The AEA members' CEOs met in Madrid to discuss industry topics and come together with European Union Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio. AEA Chairman Xabier de Irala said, "The task remains to convince the U.S.
AIRCRAFT TRANSACTIONS FOR AUGUST 23 - 24, 2000 Seller/ New Type / Previous Operator Owner Engine Operator Laker Emery Polaris Douglas Airways Worldwide Holding DC-10- Company 30(F)/ CF6-50C2R
Amsterdam Schiphol Group and Flughafen Frankfurt/Main yesterday unveiled the name "Pantares" for their broad alliance, which initially was announced December 1999. "This is the first alliance between two major international airports," Schiphol said. Both companies will cooperate in passengers, retailing, ground-handling, cargo, real estate development, facility management, information technology and international activities.
