DOT Secretary Rodney Slater yesterday named Susan McDermott deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, filling a critical career aviation position at DOT left vacant for nearly a year, since the September 1999 departure of Patrick Murphy. McDermott, who in 1978 began her career as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, worked for the Civil Aeronautics Board for five years before joining DOT's Office of International Aviation, where she has been assistant director of negotiations since 1988.
Air Tahiti Nui will become of a partner in American's AAdvantage frequent flyer program, effective July 25. AAdvantage members may redeem their mileage awards for travel on Air Tahiti Nui, but no mileage may be accrued by AAdvantage members while traveling on the carrier. Air Tahiti Nui offers nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Papeete three times per week using Airbus A340s.
Air Transport Association Cargo Traffic May 2000 Revenue Ton Miles (000) May May % 2000 1999 Change Domestic Freight 880,288 832,429 5.7 Mail 169,181 164,653 2.8 Total 1,049,469 997,082 5.3 International
US Airways plans to introduce two more of its new Airbus A330-300s on routes from its Charlotte hub early next year. The A330 will be launched between Charlotte and Frankfurt on Jan. 21, 2001, and between Charlotte and London Gatwick on March 4, 2001. The airline currently operates one daily nonstop flight in each market. US Airways is expected to have eight A330s in service when it launches its Charlotte-London Airbus service.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain's (R-Ariz.) criticism of DOT assistant secretary nominee Francisco Juan Sanchez yesterday left in disarray the latter's nomination to fill the long-dormant lead U.S. aviation post. In a hearing yesterday before the committee, McCain derided Sanchez, nominee for assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, because the latter had no clear position on precisely how many major airlines the U.S. should have to maintain competition and whether Washington National's perimeter rule should be abolished.
FAA, seeking ways to prevent another TWA 800 accident, sees "significant" potential in the ground inerting of aircraft fuel tanks, agency officials said yesterday. Flight-testing of the process on a Boeing 737 will begin next month, said Elizabeth Erickson, Aircraft Certification Service. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to hold its probable cause hearing into the accident Aug. 22-23.
Flight attendants at US Airways, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, will not support a merger with United unless negotiations result in a ratified contract that offers the best working conditions, pay rates and benefits in the industry, US Airways flight attendant leaders told a special antitrust subcommittee this week.
National Air and Space Museum has not made a formal announcement, but officials plan to name the new Dulles Center facility in honor of Steven F. Udvar-Hazy. Udvar-Hazy, the founder, president and CEO of International Lease Finance Corp., pledged $60 million last year toward construction of the Dulles Center complex. The total fund-raising goal for the Dulles facility -- which will house nearly 200 aircraft and 100 spacecraft -- is $130 million. Through the end of June, the museum said it received $97 million in donations and pledges.
Delta told DOT that American is mistaken in its argument that Delta's designation for U.S.-India third-country code sharing would become dormant when it ceases its relationship with Swissair.
Europe is ripe for consolidation, but any planned mergers or acquisitions will move much more slowly than many believe, according to outgoing Swissair CEO Jeff Katz. He believes that European regulatory challenges and strong cultural and nationalistic ties in each country likely will slow the efforts of major carriers that hope to merge.
Fixed-base operators and other companies that provide fueling services at Part 139-certified airports will have to meet new training standards under FAA's new proposal for airport certification. FAA currently requires an aviation services company to provide FAA-approved fire safety training for one supervisor, who is then responsible to train other company employees involved in fueling operations. The proposal released last month, however, calls for recurrent training every two years for the supervisor and annually for employees.
American put in its bid for 14 U.S.-France frequencies, proposing daily nonstops to Paris from Chicago and San Jose, Calif., beginning April 1, 2001, when seven additional U.S.-France frequencies become available. It would operate service on both routes with Boeing 767-323ER aircraft configured for 204 seats in three classes. Eight frequencies operated by Tower Air "should be reallocated to other carriers in light of Tower Air's cessation of service," American told DOT.
Boeing expects to announce 28 more firm orders for the Boeing 717 this year. The program's director of product marketing, Rolf Sellge, told The DAILY that the manufacturer has signed preliminary purchase agreements with four airlines, one of which is believed to be Cebu Pacific (Philippines). Sellge believes sales will begin to pick up now with several major campaigns on the horizon. The two most important ones coming up are for Alitalia with a fleet of MD-80s and Northwest Airlines, which plans to replace a large number of DC-9s.
Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has named FAA National Resource Specialist for Air Carrier Operations Thomas Imrich as the 2000 Admiral Luis de Florez Award winner. FSF cited Imrich's significant and numerous contributions to many safety-critical programs developed during the past two decades.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer confirmed it will build a new manufacturing plant in Gaviao Peixoto in the inland region of the state of Sao Paulo. The new construction calls for investments of more than $125 million over the next 10 years. It will be the center of a new large industrial park being created by the public and private sectors of Sao Paulo. The new plant should be finished by September 2001.
Northwest requested an exemption for Detroit-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, service. The carrier wants to operate seasonal flights in the market beginning this winter, planning a weekly Saturday roundtrip using an Airbus A320 configured for 16 first-class and 132 economy-class seats. (Docket OST-00-7605)
ARINC said it was awarded a US Airways contract to provide satellite and voice data services for new Airbus A330 aircraft. The carrier is taking delivery of seven this year and offering telephones and laptop power ports at every seat.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic Fourth Quarter 1999 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (miles) (000) Change Alaska 256 3.90 1,178 301,720 6.92
The SAirGroup, together with the Qualiflyer Group of airlines, will substantially boost its Internet presence this year when the carriers launch a pan-European online travel portal to be called Beyoo. Scheduled to go live this fall, the Europe-based web site will offer services to book flights, hotel rooms and rental cars.
FAA said yesterday it plans to change noise certification standards for jet aircraft as part of an agreement with the European Joint Aviation Authorities to harmonize regulations. The changes, proposed in the July 11 Federal Register, will "provide nearly uniform noise certification standards for airplanes certificated in the United States and in the JAA countries," FAA said. "The harmonization of the noise certification standards would simplify airworthiness approvals for import and export purposes." The FAA asked for comments by Oct.
DOT granted BWIA an exemption for expanded U.S.-Caribbean service, which it plans to operate under reciprocal code share with United. BWIA gained rights for Trinidad and Tobago-Chicago/Denver service, via intermediate points Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts and St. Lucia. The carrier may co-terminalize Chicago/Denver with its other U.S. gateways.
Swissair raised selected fares 3% yesterday to compensate for higher fuel prices. The carrier said fuel costs are roughly double those of a year ago and account for about 15% of total operating costs. The 3% fuel surcharge is for flights from Switzerland to "various" European destinations and also applies to most business-class tickets to all destinations. Fares not subject to the surcharge include those in the "lower price segment" and those featured in current sales.
DOT Inspector General plans to evaluate how well FAA is managing two key weather systems -- the Weather and Radar Processor and the Integrated Terminal Weather Systems -- with respect to cost, schedule and performance.The OIG also will examine how FAA will use the systems to improve the flow of air traffic and lessen the impact of adverse weather on flight operations.
SAirGroup concluded negotiations yesterday between Volare and Air Europe to merge the two Italian carriers into a single parent company to expand their networks and develop further links with the Qualiflyer Group.
