TACA Peru, slated to start operations from Lima to the U.S. and South America July 19, and Lan-Peru, which has been flying some of these routes for the past few months, have a public relations and legal battle in Lima about the process followed by the Peruvian government in granting routes to TACA Peru, especially those formerly flown by bankrupt Aeroperu. The Ministry of Transportation will rule on these objections by July 19.
Argentine President Fernando de la Rua last week criticized the rescue plan for ailing Aerolineas Argentinas, especially regarding job reductions and the scant investments it proposes. "There are two very different things. One is our plan, now being analyzed by the relevant government sectors, and another the plan proposed by Aerolineas, which we do not like because it involves cutting jobs. This is unfair.
The name SkyTeam was chosen by the alliance's members from a list of 850 possibilities that was whittled down to 10 a few months ago. SkyTeam was "tops across all criteria," said Tim Mapes, Delta's managing director-worldwide marketing communication. Having "team" in the name is "more human and welcoming" than the word alliance, which sounds "militaristic," he said.
Airbus partners European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and BAE Systems announced Friday in Paris the transformation of their consortium into an Airbus Integrated Company (AIC) and agreed to give the authorization to offer the A3XX double-decker, twin-aisle aircraft. "This is a historic day for Airbus," said Philippe Camus, co-chief executive of EADS, which will hold 80% of the new company.
House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) last week indicated a reluctance to go beyond the 1998 Aviation Medical Assistance Act and require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at airports. The defibrillators are required on commercial airlines. Duncan told The DAILY after a hearing on the 1998 law that he was not convinced of the need to require the devices at larger airports.
Lufthansa will hold its first live auction for U.S. members of its frequent flyer program on June 27 and 28 at www.lufthansa-usa.com. Frequent flyer members will use their miles to place real-time bids on single or parts of roundtrip economy- and business-class tickets to destinations including Barcelona, Athens, Milan and Berlin. Lufthansa has been holding similar Internet auctions in Berlin since 1998.
After two weeks of hearings by four congressional committees on the proposed United acquisition of US Airways, Congress ends its formal role and its next steps are unclear. One likely course of action is a letter writing campaign expressing members' points of view to the Justice Department, sources said, but they did not see any legislative attempt to thwart the merger until Justice rules. Some inescapable conclusions emerge from the hearings, however.
Emirates named Fanny Fernandez senior sales executive in New York; Sean Campbell manager-reservations and sales support in Long Island City, and Liz Anderson sales executive-Southern California.
John Fowler, executive VP-technical operations and systems controls for Alaska, said Friday he is taking early retirement. Fowler cited the difficulties the company has faced since a fatal accident five months ago and said a "change needs to occur in order for this great company to turn the corner and move forward." Fowler, at the request of Chairman John Kelly and President Bill Ayer, will "stay around to help with a transition, to keep our FAA action plan on track, and also to be available for various other FAA and NTSB matters."
Worldwide capacity share will decline in the U.S. and Asia/Pacific markets, a study by BACK Aviation Solutions projects. The U.S. is a mature market, growing at a slower rate, and Asia/Pacific's large market share is attributable to distances within the region. Europe will gain market share due to liberalization within the European Union. Passenger yields worldwide will continue to slide as competition increases, stimulating demand for more capacity.
American has converted 500 aircraft -- 87% of its two-class domestic fleet -- in its program to provide more legroom in coach class. The carrier is making its cabins roomier by removing seats at a rate of about 30 aircraft a week and expects to finish the revamp of the nearly 600 aircraft by October. Following that, American plans a total coach cabin reconfiguration of its three-class international fleet -- almost 100 aircraft -- to be completed by early next year.
GE On Wing Support has opened its newest facility at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. The GE unit provides on-wing engine maintenance and repair by dispatching "rapid response" teams to airline customers. The Phoenix facility provides quick "hospital shop" and line maintenance repairs to GE, CFM, IAE and Pratt engines. There are plans for at least 20 locations worldwide. Wing Support facilities are currently operating in the U.S. in Cincinnati, Kennedy, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami.
FAA plans to fine Home Depot $60,000 for allegedly improperly offering a box containing a one-gallon metal container of flammable paint to UPS. Ground-handling employees opened the package to verify an address and discovered the shipment, FAA said.
FAA Friday ordered modification of the Position 1 flap screw jack on Airbus A310 aircraft. The order is intended to prevent "fracture of the lead screw of the Position 1 flap screw jack, which could result in failure of the tie bar and possible disconnection of the flap structure from the airplane," FAA said. It estimated that 41 aircraft of U.S. registry are affected. FAA also ordered inspections and repairs of aft pressure bulkheads on some Boeing 747 aircraft.
Delta is still in a "study mode" to determine its competitive response to the proposed United-US Airways merger, CEO Leo Mullin told The DAILY. The transaction "came as no surprise, and we've all done our contingency plan for such an occasion." When it comes, Delta's response will be "thoughtful" and "very carefully considered," Mullin said, but "there is no time frame."
Vanguard will initiate twice-daily service to New Orleans Aug. 2. The flights from Kansas City will provide direct service to New Orleans, Denver and Minneapolis with connecting service at Chicago Midway. Fares from Kansas City will start at $89 each way.
FAA is launching a study on reducing the effects of non-military helicopter noise in densely populated areas. The agency, which must report its findings to Congress, says the major goal is to pinpoint the type of helicopter operations that "elicit negative responses" from people. It will look into ATC procedures and noise generated by law enforcement, news-gathering, sightseeing, emergency medical services and corporate helicopters.
Air Transport Association said cargo traffic increased 7.4% in April from the same month in 1999. International cargo was up 13% and domestic cargo 2.4%.
Inventory Locator Service has launched BidQuest, an addition to ILSmart.com, one of the industry's Internet commerce sites. BidQuest is an online request for bids procurement product to help buyers get the best price, and it matches vendors with ready-to-purchase customers, ILS said. Suppliers around he world list more than five billion parts on the ILS database, which is accessed more than 27,000 times each business day, the company said.
