United will officially launch its redesigned web site today. The site -- ual.com -- was first launched in 1997 and has since been upgraded with "customer-focused functionality," including the ability to redeem and book frequent flyer award travel and check real-time flight data.
Aerospace Industries Association elected Daniel Burnham, chairman and chief executive of Raytheon Co., chairman of the AIA board and Karl Krapek, president and chief operating officer of United Technologies, vice chairman. John Douglass was re-elected AIA president and chief executive and George Copsey was re-elected secretary-treasurer.
Bombardier said that Nagasaki Airways of Japan has placed an order for one Q200 turboprop for its regional airline operations. The aircraft is to be delivered in the first quarter of 2001.
American Trans Air named Bill McKnight executive VP-marketing and sales; Peter Wilander VP-inflight services, and Dan Ryan president of subsidiary Chicago Express.
EasyJet plans on taking some time before its planned initial public offering late this year. The carrier planned for an early 2000 IPO of a minority holding but now wants time to adjust its low-cost operation after a year of rapid expansion. When it does decide to proceed with the stock flotation, analysts believe there will be stiff competition among banks to advise the carrier.
United filed for an additional waiver, through April 24, of the deadline for DOT action on the carrier's complaint against theEuropean Commission. The EC proposed conditions regarding the carrier's alliance agreements with Lufthansa and SAS that would deny United's bilaterally negotiated rights. The new EC, in place since September, is reviewing the issues that prompted United's complaint, filed July 8, 1998. High-level U.S.-EC discussions are scheduled in the next two months, United noted. DOT last extended the deadline through Jan. 25 (DAILY, Nov. 1, 1999).
House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) has not changed his position in support of an increase in the passenger facility charge from $3 to a maximum of $6 and is not considering a change, a spokesman for Shuster said.
Legend Airlines wants to begin selling tickets immediately for flights it plans to begin operating at the end of February. The carrier said it is "nearing completion" of its FAA certification and expects to start flying next month. "In light of the extraordinary efforts to stop Legend from operating, it is imperative that Legend be permitted to begin advance ticket sales for its initial flights and thereby increase the likelihood of success of its start-up service," the carrier told DOT.
FAA's Free Flight agenda tops the Inspector General's listing of 12 priority management issues at DOT. FAA's milestones are "aggressive" for both the Center-TRACON Automation System and the Conflict Probe, the IG says. CTAS is experiencing technical problems, and concerns exist about contractor performance that may have cost and schedule impacts. There are no strong incentives for contractors to control costs and "all risks are with the government."
Cheap Tickets named Paul Halstead to the newly created position of chief technology officer. He will be responsible for the development of new products on the company's Internet site, www.cheaptickets. com, and in its call center operations. He will report to the company's president, Sam Galeotos. Halstead joins Cheap Tickets from Bass Hotels&Resorts, Atlanta, where he had been senior VP-corporate systems since May 1998.
U.S. National Carriers Financial Results Third Quarter 1999 Third Quarter 1999 Operating Operating Revenues Expenses (000) (000) AirTran Airlines $ 143,483 113,913 Aloha 59,923 59,516 American Trans Air 276,467 244,855 Frontier 85,453 72,089
Boeing last week sweetened its contract offer to members of the Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) union, whose leaders said they will recommend approval when ballots are mailed to members tomorrow. Boeing said it made "significant concessions on issues identified as unacceptable by the union" in its previous contract offer.
Peruvian carrier Aviandina started operations last month between Lima and Iquitos, Peru, with three Boeing 727s. It also serves Cusco, Arequipa, Juliaca and Piura from Lima.
All Nippon Airways and Japan Air Systems have decided to cut costs and improve efficiency by cooperating in ground-handling contracts for Yamagata and Okayama airports, where each carrier operates a small number of flights.
Frontier Airlines named Capt. Terry King VP of flight operations, effective immediately. In this newly created position, King will oversee the airline's flight operations department and will report directly to Executive VP of Operations Jim Wyche. King has worked for the airline since 1994 in a variety of capacities, including chief pilot, check airman and captain.
Northwest and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) want antitrust immunity for their alliance agreement, planning to begin code sharing April 1. The carriers said their alliance, which could be the first with immunity in Asia, could replicate in the region the "success" of competition from similar arrangements in Europe and Latin America. Malaysia and the U.S. signed an open-skies pact in June 1997.
Atlantic Coast Airlines will benefit from US Airways' plans to cut MetroJet service from Washington Dulles to Columbus, Milwaukee and St. Louis, said Merrill Lynch analyst Candace Browning. ACA serves only Columbus, but the other two cities were potential markets until MetroJet moved in. US Airways Express also is cutting frequencies in some Dulles routes and withdrawing Dulles-Indianapolis service completely, both major ACA markets.
Atlantic Southeast has chosen Edelman Public Relations Worldwide as its public relations firm. ASA President Skip Barnette said the airline has made "significant investments and improvements during the last year of operations" and hired Edelman to communicate those improvements. ASA became a wholly owned Delta subsidiary in April 1999.
In Federal Register dated Jan. 7...Superseded an airworthiness directive on Boeing 747 aircraft concerning tests of the thrust reverser control and indication systems. * In FR dated Jan. 10...Proposed an AD on Airbus series aircraft concerning the Global Positioning System.
City of Nashville in 1999 posted a 9.2% jump in operations and a 10.6% gain in seats, more than double the average national increases, according to Washington consultants GKMG. Growth was spurred by Southwest adding service to five new destinations from Nashville and resumption of Tri-Cities-Nashville service. Overall, Nashville saw an increase in weekly frequencies in 13 nonstop markets.
Dominican Republic's Enterprise Agency said 14 international airlines or companies are interested in acquiring 50% of grounded Dominicana Airlines, according to DAILY affiliate Aviation Latin America&The Caribbean. The target date to launch "born-again-airline" with new owners is Aug. 16. Not having operated since 1997, Dominicana has some $300 million in liabilities and less than 10% of that amount in assets.
