Turkish Airlines posted a 3.8% rise in revenue passenger kilometers in November, and its year-to-date traffic increased 1.9%. Freight volume soared 36% for the month and was up 15.5% for the first 11 months. The airline's passenger count rose 2.4% in November to 774,000 and reached 9.8 million for the year-to-date.
Austrian Airlines, planning to begin daily Chicago-Vienna nonstops this summer, asked DOT for two slots at Chicago O'Hare. FAA said it is "highly unlikely" that it will be able to grant the carrier's pending request for the slots. Austrian noted that, as a follow-up to its decision to join the Star alliance, it plans to apply with United for reciprocal code-share rights. The carriers would offer online services between points in the U.S. and Austria and beyond. (Docket OST-99-6672)
SR Technics of Switzerland said it has signed an agreement to purchase a hangar in Palmdale, Calif., and will offer aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services through a subsidiary, SR Technics America. The company initially will focus on DC-10 to MD-10 conversions, which its president, Hans Beyeler, described as an "extension of the excellent relationship" with Boeing. He said MRO services on Douglas, Boeing and Airbus aircraft will be offered. The initiative is part of a global expansion, he said.
Standard&Poor's revised its outlook on Fine Air Services to negative from positive. In addition, the company affirmed its single-'B' corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings, as well as the single-'B'-plus bank loan rating.
US Airways' Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council postponed action on a proposed letter of agreement allowing American Eagle to take up routes abandoned by Trans States on the West Coast. The MEC, which was slated to act on the proposal last week, said it will do so this month. US Airways declined to confirm that American Eagle is its choice to replace Trans States, which dropped its code share with the major and will concentrate on flying in the Northeast.
LanChile Cargo has taken delivery of a new Boeing 767-300F, which it said consolidates its position as the "main international cargo handler in the Latin American market."
Mexicana wants authority for Cancun-Orlando service. The carrier plans to begin serving the route Jan. 13, using Airbus A320 or Boeing 727 aircraft configured for 150 passengers. (Docket OST-99-6710)
American Trans Air asked DOT for a two-year exemption to operate Los Angeles-Cancun nonstops, starting May 14 with L-1011-500 aircraft. Mexicana operates the only nonstops on the route, code sharing with United. ATA offers Indianapolis-Cancun service. (Docket OST-99-6690)
Raytheon Aircraft Services received the National Air Transportation Association's Certificate of Recognition for the company's participation in NATA Safety 1st Professional Line Service Program.
Crystal Airways officials met with a representative of Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) and the airport's marketing group, The Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, in Orlando last week to discuss the airline's proposed service to the BWI market. The startup is exploring nonstop service from BWI to several California cities, including San Diego and San Jose, in addition to Seattle and Portland. The airline's proposed fare for all markets is $570 one way. The fares will be good any day of the week, any time of day, every seat, on every flight without restrictions.
Grupo TACA introduced a new base travel agency commission of 6% for domestic and international travel purchased in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, effective Jan. 1. The new commission rate, which applies to tickets and upgrades, follows airline trends to reduce distribution costs.
A group of airports known as USA-BIAS wrote DOT Secretary Rodney Slater asking him to commit to its "Clear Skies" initiative to further liberalize international aviation. The group, whose initials stand for United States Airports for Better International Air Service, is pushing a strategy that combines a multilateral approach on aviation rights and the removal of cross-border restrictions, such as cabotage and foreign ownership of airlines. USA-BIAS started publicizing its aims during the aviation ministerial conference called by Slater in early December. In its Dec.
The year 2000 is going to be "the year of labor unrest and success," predicts airline industry consultant Mike Boyd of The Boyd Group.He said unrest at Comair and American is only the beginning, and airlines can expect more work-to-rule slowdowns in protest against regional jet flying, outsourcing and weakened scope clauses. Boyd noted that the Transport Workers Union, against which American sought a temporary restraining order for an alleged work slowdown last week, is "a very docile union. When they get militant, you can imagine what the Teamsters and IAM will do."
U.S. Major Carriers Pacific Share of Service, Third Quarter 1999 Total Revenue Departures American 918 Continental 369 Delta 909 Northwest 6,108 United 4,808 Total 13,112 Average Number of Seats Per Departure American 234
Impulse Airlines, an Australian regional carrier with 12 Beech 1900s, plans to start low-cost domestic service this year. According to local media reports, the carrier is moving closer to a purchase of 10 Boeing 717s to serve Australia's larger cities. Impulse could join Virgin Atlantic and Spirit, which both plan to start no-frills 737 service this year to compete with Qantas and Ansett in domestic markets.
Fairchild Aerospace Corp. has been acquired by New York investment company Clayton, Dubilier&Rice Inc. (CD&R) and Allianz Capital Partners in a deal worth $400 million. The two investors now own "more than 90% of Fairchild," according to CD&R's chairman, Joseph Rice. Carl Albert, until now 56% owner of Fairchild, will step down as but will remain on the board and retain a small stake in the company. The management team will be offered to buy stakes in the company. Fairchild President Jim Robinson has left the company.
The failure of Congress to enact a short-term authorization for the Airport Improvement Program before adjourning for the year last month means that FAA will have slightly more than $134 million available in entitlement funds for all new requests, an FAA spokesman said. Ongoing projects will not be affected so long as they have previously received entitlement funds from FAA. Until Congress authorizes at least a portion of the fiscal 2000 funding limitation of $1.95 billion for grants-in-aid for airports, no new funding beyond the $134 million can be approved by FAA.
Alaska Airlines confirmed an order for two 737-700s, Boeing said. Boeing also identified eight additional airplanes for Alaska, previously disclosed by the airline, that were listed as being from an "unidentified customer" in order totals Boeing released Dec. 15.
Mesa Air Group promoted Kay Chi sholm to VP-customer service/airport operations and appointed Greg Stephens president of subsidiary Air Midwest, David Trumble director-corporate communications and Lorin Carr director-properties and facilities.
World Airways dispatchers, represented by the Transport Workers Union, last week rejected a tentative contract agreement. Chairman and Chief Executive Hollis Harris said he was disappointed but will seek to reopen discussions this month. The deal covers fewer than 10 employees, whose contract became amendable in July.
