British Airways claimed to be the first airline in the world to successfully transmit "live human data" from a commercial flight over the Atlantic Ocean to ground stations. The trial occurred on a flight from London to Newark May 9 and used a recording from a cardiac monitor to transmit a heart rate reading to Medlink medical experts on the ground. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded using a Biolog 3000 cardiac monitor manufactured by Micromedical Industries.
Two regional carriers are set to begin operations in Chile -- Aeromet with British Aerospace Jetstream 31s and 32s, flying from Puerto Montt to Chaiten, in southern Chile, and Servicios de Transportes Aeroregionales (STAR) with one leased de Havilland Twin Otter and three Commander 500s.
BWIA West Indies Airways posted its second consecutive net profit last year, but its earnings fell 59% from 1998 due to aggressive competition in the region and higher fuel prices. The airline showed a net profit of $3.7 million and has produced annual profits following privatization in 1995. The carrier previously lost money during its first 57 years. "What I am extremely pleased about, is that this profit was achieved despite new charter competition which cost us US$12 million in lost revenues in 1999," said Chairman Lawrence Duprey.
Caribbean Star, bankrolled in Antigua by Texan businessman Allan Stanford, has received an IATA code number and is awaiting delivery of eight 50-seat de Havilland Dash 8 aircraft to launch operations to several Caricom countries.
Jet fuel spot prices in New York ended last week at $0.84 per gallon, up 16.0% from the beginning of the week and up 93.1% from a year ago, according to Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown. Crude oil futures for June continued their climb, closing yesterday at $29.38 per barrel, nearing its highest price in two months, but still down from a nine-year high of $34.13 on March 7.
KLM's operating profit dropped 51% to NLG209 million (US$86 million) in the fiscal year ended March 31, the airline said yesterday. KLM said the drop was caused by "near-record-level fuel prices" resulting in a NLG261million ($107.4 million) or 22% increase in fuel expense, and excess industry capacity, which produced a profusion of low fares in the market, particularly in the first half of the fiscal year. The Dutch airline also said that currency effects boosted operating income by NLG95 million.
Delta, US Airways and American Trans Air are all planning route expansions in Latin American and the Caribbean that could eat away at American's long-time dominance in the region. Delta yesterday said it intends to dramatically boost service to 13 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean with 19 new daily flights beginning in July. Delta will file soon for code-share service with partner Air Jamaica as well to serve two additional Caribbean destinations.
FAA ordered inspection of a wire bundle in the flight engineer's station of all DC-10 series aircraft following a report of smoke coming out of a circuit breaker. This was followed by circuit breakers popping and panel lights going out.
FlightSafety Boeing Training International (FSB) yesterday opened in Miami what it called the "world's largest" airline training hub. FSB said the facility is convenient to customers throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the southeastern U.S. Programs will be offered for several types of aircraft from Boeing, Airbus, Douglas and Fokker. There will be 14 classrooms and up to 20 full-flight simulators. The hub expects to provide training for 7,000 pilots and 3,000 mechanics annually.
Correction: The DAILY incorrectly quoted Mexicana Executive VP-Marketing and Sales Antonio Martinez Salinas on May 10. Contrary to what was written, besides alliance partners for AeroMexico and Mexicana, other unidentified carriers could invest in the two airlines. This would not affect the current alliances of AeroMexico and Mexicana. Salinas believes it is clear that the Star Alliance is concerned about the situation, but he feels that Mexicana has chosen to join the strongest alliance. The DAILY regrets the errors.
American Trans Air, expected to grow its 2000 scheduled capacity by 18%, plans to unveil a revamped web site in July in conjunction with implementation of several new high-tech gadgets. Even though the airline has fallen behind its larger competitors, in three years' time, "there won't be an airline in the business that will be more technology-savvy than ATA," said Bill McKnight, executive VP of marketing. ATA, along with the other U.S. airlines, intends to participate in the explosive growth of Internet bookings.
SITA said it has joined with AirTV, a global media satellite service for the airline industry, to offer Internet access and e-mail services to airlines. SITA said that by the last quarter of 2002, airlines will be able to use the services to provide passengers entertainment and information, including live television, video and audio as well as e-mail and Internet access.
Korean Air revealed further restructuring plans of its operations division with the addition of U.S. safety expert George Snyder as managing VP, the replacement of four of the five current VPs and the addition of nine chief pilots. Korean Air's Chief Operating Officer David Greenberg, former Delta VP-Flight Operations, made the changes after joining Korean Air in January to accelerate the airline's safety reforms (DAILY, Jan. 14). Snyder most recently was VP of safety and regulatory compliance at US Airways in Pittsburgh.
DOT tentatively granted extrabilateral requests by Aer Lingus to operate Dublin/Shannon-Baltimore nonstops, which the carrier plans to fly three times a week starting Sept. 6, and to display American's code on flights between Dublin/Shannon and Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. American gained authority to serve New York-Ireland; it holds the rights from the other U.S. points.
A senior Boeing executive said it is time to start thinking of Boeing Commercial Airplanes as not just an aircraft manufacturer, but as a "total customer solutions" provider. Seddik Belyamani, executive VP, told The Economist Global Airlines Conference in London that "today, and increasingly in the years ahead, industry leadership means more than just supplying airplanes. The Boeing strategy is to offer customers total solutions for the dynamic, complex air travel years ahead.
Jeffrey Shane joined Hogan&Hartson as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office, where he will be a member of the law firm's aviation group. Shane, following federal government service that included several posts at DOT, including assistant secretary for policy and international affairs, and at the State Department as deputy assistant secretary for transportation affairs, most recently was a partner at Wilmer, Cutler&Pickering.
The Malaysian government has directed its Department of Civil Aviation, Malaysia Airport Holdings and other government agencies to review and step up security at the Malaysia Airlines Cargo Complex at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. This follows the theft of luxury goods totaling more than US$4 million from the complex since the opening of the airport on June 28, 1998. Minister of Transport Ling Liong Sik said he asked all parties for a report on the security requirements and the problems faced by MAS in tracking cargo that had arrived.
Although their recent agreement of operational cooperation is being questioned by antitrust authorities in Brazil, Transbrasil will drop eight roundtrips in the Rio de Janeiro-Sao Paulo shuttle and instead code share on TAM's flights between the two points. Transbrasil, with a view toward long-term cooperation with TAM, will return six leased Boeing aircraft and not lease three more this year.
Athens-based regional Aegean Air has joined the Europbyair.com Flight Pass and Internet Sales programs, the second Greek carrier to sign on. Aegean, which recently merged with Air Greece, operates Avro RJ 100 jets in a 100-seat configuration and ATR turboprops. Greek carrier AXON Airlines recently announced it was joining Europebyair.com.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has given Qantas until Friday to address a list of problems turned up at its Sydney bearings and seals shop, but it stopped short of following FAA's lead and pulling the shop's certification. The safety authority found shortcomings in several areas, including parts storage and technical manual updates, following an audit this month, DAILY affiliate Aero Safety&Maintenance reported. An agency spokesperson confirmed Qantas must address six immediate-action items and eight recommendations.
The board of Varig, Brazil's leading carrier, on Tuesday replaced President and CEO Fernando Pinto with Ozires Silva. Silva, 69, had been working as an adviser to Varig and was chairman of VPTA, which controls Varig's domestic subsidiary airlines Rio Sul and Nordeste.
