Boeing announced a new spate of aircraft orders as 1999 drew to a close, and the company said yesterday deliveries for the fourth quarter totaled 165 and for the full year 620. One of the latest deliveries was Emirates' second 777-300 on lease from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise, Boeing said. Boeing confirmed orders from Air Berlin for six 737-800s and from Alaska for two 737-700s. Boeing said that for the year it ended up delivering 12 717s, 42 737 classics, 278 next-generation 737, 47 747s, 67 757s, 44 767s, 83 777s, 26 MD-80s 13 MD-90s and eight MD-11s.
American yesterday said it has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and Sabre to upgrade its reservations office in a multi-year, $70 million deal. Sabre recently announced plans to spin off from AMR Corp. and pursue new outsourcing contracts with industry alliances (DAILY, Dec. 15). American's upgrade project is expected to reduce by nearly 25% the length of time it takes to search and book a trip for customers calling its reservations offices, and American expects to realize significant cost savings.
Raymond Hilton, 65, director of air traffic control at the Air Transport Association and a former FAA expert on ATC issues, has died in Silver Spring, Md.
Precision Standard appointed former America West executive Ronald Aramini its president and chief executive, effective immediately. Aramini was senior VP-operations for America West and previously worked as CEO of Allegheny Airlines. Aramini replaced Precision Standard founder Matthew Gold, who left "to pursue other interests." Precision Standard, with executive offices in Birmingham, Ala., and facilities in Alabama, California and Florida, performs aircraft maintenance and modification for the U.S. government and commercial customers.
Gulfstream International Airlines is in discussions with Northwest to serve as an Airlink partner later this year, Gulfstream President and Chief Executive Tom Cooper told The DAILY. Following an announcement that Continental will purchase a 28% holding in Gulfstream, Cooper said it plans to use the cash infusion to expand and replace its aging Beech 1900s with new aircraft. Gulfstream operates on a code-share basis for Continental, United and TWA and plans to work with Copa of Panama.
The U.S. radionavigation policy for satellite-and ground-based systems is in disarray, according to critics, who blame meddling by the Office of Management and Budget, foot-dragging by DOT and lack of congressional commitment for FAA program funding. The 1998 Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP), which outlined DOT and Defense Department radionavigation policies and plans, still has not been published.
In anticipation of this week's round of U.S.-U.K. negotiations, Northwest filed an application at DOT yesterday for nonstop service to London Heathrow from its Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul hubs. "It is our understanding that during these meetings the U.S. and the U.K. will consider entering into a limited new accord," said Elliott Seiden, Northwest VP - government affairs. "Should such negotiations transpire, we have asked the U.S. to secure sufficient new rights to enable Northwest to implement nonstop Detroit-Heathrow and Minneapolis/St.
The airport in East Timor's capital reverted to civilian control yesterday, several months after a rampage by Indonesian troops and their local allies stopped commercial flights. According to the Associated Press, officers of the international force that arrived in East Timor to restore order on Sept. 20 handed over control of Dili's Komoro Airport to U.N. officials. The first flight to arrive was a Merpati Fokker 28 carrying Indonesian government officials. Commercial flights are reported to begin serving the airport by the end of the month.
Northwest yesterday filed a lawsuit against its flight attendants, represented by the Teamsters, for allegedly conducting a sickout that started Dec. 30 and led the airline to cancel more than 300 flights. Northwest claims the sickout is an attempt to force management to reach a tentative contract agreement. The two sides have been in contract talks for more than three years, and last fall the rank-and-file rejected a tentative offer.
Express I Airlines, which flies as Northwest Airlink, reported a 0.7% rise in traffic on 2.1% more capacity for November, compared with the same 1998 month. As a result, the load factor fell 0.9 percentage points to 59.6%. Passengers flown declined 5.8%.
Big Sky will introduce service between Billings and Bozeman, Mont., and Denver on Feb. 14. President and Chief Executive Kim Champney said the new flights will provide "an alternate service option for Montana business people who need to travel to and from Denver." The flights will be operated with 19-passenger Fairchild Metro IIIs or Metro 23s.
The State of Maryland yesterday asked DOT for extra-bilateral authority for one year under the Cities Program to operate Baltimore-Dublin/Shannon service. The state made the application at the same time Aer Lingus applied for code-sharing rights. "Maryland understands Aer Lingus is anxious to operate between Dublin/Shannon and Baltimore...[and] wishes to state its support for Aer Lingus's application" for code sharing. The state noted that the new service would enhance Baltimore Washington Airport's limited transatlantic service and would not infringe on any U.S.
Continental reported a record 73.3% systemwide load factor for the full year 1999, 1.1 percentage points above the previous record, set in 1998. Continental Express also had its highest full-year load factor ever of 62.6%, up 3.4 points from its 1998 record. Continental's systemwide traffic was up 11.3% for the year, outpacing its 9.7% capacity increase. In December, Continental reported a systemwide load factor of 67.9%, 0.1 point below the record set for December 1998.
FAA allowed foreign individuals, including Chinese nationals, without security clearance, to work on Y2K computer problems in some of the most important systems supporting the air traffic control system, according to a General Accounting Office report released yesterday. By not following sound security practices, GAO said, FAA increased the risk that "inappropriate individuals" may have gained access to its facilities, information or resources.
International Lease Finance Corp. said yesterday it has concluded new aircraft leases with Air France and deliveries with Sabena. Air France committed to four Airbus A330-200s and took firm "lease options" for two more, all to be delivered in 2002-2003. Powered by General Electric engines, the aircraft will replace A310-300s and Boeing 767-300ERs. Air France now leases 12 A320 family aircraft, three 777-228ERs and four A340-300s from ILFC. Sabena took delivery of three A330-200s powered by Pratt&Whitney engines.
Iberia Chairman Xabier de Irala was named chairman of the Association of European Airlines for a one-year term. De Irala replaced Alitalia Chairman Fausto Cereti as chairman of the group.
Todd Curtis, a safety engineer for Boeing who runs a private web site with no connection to Boeing, had rated Compania Cubana de Aviacion, the Cuban state-owned and operated airline, as "one of the most unsafe in the world," even before its two crashes in less than one week last month that claimed 47 lives. On Dec. 21, a DC-10 leased by Cubana crashed on the runway in Guatemala City with 25 fatalities, and on Dec. 25, a Yakovlev Yak-42 went down in a rugged mountainous area near Valencia, Venezuela, killing 22.
Spirit Airlines posted a 59.8% jump in traffic and 59% more capacity for November, compared with November 1998 levels, growing load factor 0.4 percentage points to 71.2%. Boardings rose 48.2%.
Legend Airlines, pointing to American's efforts to keep out competition in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, asked DOT not to act on American's bid for an antitrust-immune alliance with Swissair and Sabena (DAILY, Nov. 22, 1999). "American's campaign against federal law and the Department of Transportation and its management has created a new level of anti-competitive conduct that cannot be rewarded with antitrust immunity," Legend told DOT.
Northwest named Thomas Momchilov to the newly created position of senior VP-human resources, reporting directly to Chief Executive John Dasburg. Momchilov will be responsible for Northwest's worldwide human resources functions, including staffing and training, benefits administration, compensation, diversity and employee relations. Separately, labor relations will continue to report to Doug Steenland, Northwest executive VP and chief corporate officer.
Columbia, Mo.-based Ozark Air Lines has signed an interline agreement with American that will enable travelers to make seamless connections to cities served by American through its Dallas/Fort Worth hub. "The agreement will make Ozark Air Lines the mid-Missouri connection for American Airlines," said Ozark President John Ellis. Ticket offices and travel agents will be able to book reservations for passengers traveling on connecting routes on one ticket.
America West plans to introduce service to Hartford, beginning April 1, offering one daily nonstop roundtrip flight between its Phoenix hub and Hartford with an Airbus A319. America West will likely compete with Southwest, which offers direct and one-stop service on the same route.
