United Airlines posted a 1.9% gain in system-wide traffic on 0.8% less capacity for November compared to the same 1998 month, which boosted load factor 1.9 percentage points to 70.3%. Atlantic service saw the biggest rise in traffic, 13.8%, on 1.8% more capacity, which pushed load factor up 7.6 points to 71.7%. North America traffic rose 3.6% and capacity 1.7%, pushing load factor up 1.3 points to 70.3%. Pacific traffic and capacity slid 9.5% and 8.2% respectively, which caused load factor to drop 1.1 points to 71.3%.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic Second Quarter 1999 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (miles) (000) Change Alaska 234 9.94 1,121 262,237 11.32
National Transportation Safety Board said the U.S. Navy is beginning salvage operations for the wreckage and human remains from EgyptAir 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Oct. 31, killing all 217 aboard. Recovery efforts will take place at depths of 240 to 270 feet in areas of less than one square mile.
Boeing Chairman Phil Condit reiterated his stance that in order to achieve an "integrated global aviation system" the industry needs to address four key areas of improvement. Speaking at DOT's open-skies summit in Chicago yesterday, Condit presented the same speech that was given at George Washington University's Global Summit on International Aviation Infrastructure in Washington last month (DAILY, Nov. 4). Condit called for a Chapter 4 engine noise rule after worldwide discussion.
Great Lakes Aviation reported its highest November load factor ever, 52.1%, or 3.3 percentage points higher than the same period 1998. The higher load factor resulted from a 3.7% drop in traffic on 9.7% less capacity. Passenger boardings rose 8.4%.
Airbus Chairman Noel Forgeard said the European A3XX superjumbo project was "complete" and "convincing" in an interview with French daily Liberation. But Airbus partners will refrain from deciding the commercial launch of the aircraft at their meeting today in Toulouse. "I want to make sure that the market meets our expectations," he said. "I intend to go and see some airlines of reference and verify their true intention to purchase this aircraft.
Delta, IBM and Modem Media are developing and testing a new wireless service that gives customers up-to-date flight arrival and departure information, same-day gate information and worldwide flight schedules through hand-held personal digital assistant devices and next-generation cellular phones. Select U.S.-based Delta customers are testing the new service, which will be available nationwide next year. Delta plans to expand service next year to allow travelers to purchase tickets and change flight schedules.
Attorneys for SabreTech said yesterday they plan to appeal guilty verdicts against SabreTech on counts related to hazardous materials violations and training. The company, which no longer exists, was found guilty on nine of 23 charges related to handling of oxygen canisters placed aboard a ValuJet DC-9 in 1996 which was involved in a fatal crash. A federal jury in Miami returned the convictions, but found not guilty former SabreTech mechanics Eugene Florence and Danny Gonzalez.
Canadian Airlines' pilots support the company's decision to endorse the Air Canada bid to buy the airline because no other alternative was proposed. But the pilots say there are "numerous unanswered questions with regard to the specifics of the deal" that leaves them "guarded and attentive to Air Canada's activities." The full ramifications of the plan still are unknown, said the pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association. Air Canada Chief Executive Robert Milton has assured pilots that their jobs and routes would be protected.
DOT granted Air Jamaica a one-year initial exemption for scheduled Montego Bay-Phoenix service. The carrier plans three weekly nonstop roundtrips in the market, using Airbus A320 aircraft configured for 150 passengers in two classes (DAILY, Nov. 12). It had requested that the authority be effective for one year beginning June 1, when it plans to start the only nonstops on the route. (Docket OST-99-6436)
America West's traffic grew 14.8% and capacity 6.1% in November, which caused load factor to grow 5.3 percentage points to 70.5%. The carrier also announced new service to Boise, Idaho, beginning March 6 with three daily nonstops from Phoenix using Boeing 737-300s.
TAMPA, a Colombian all-cargo airline, wants to add fifth-freedom rights to its Colombia-Miami operations. The carrier, which operates Colombia-Miami service via Caracas, wants to "implement its long-pending plans" to add Valencia, Venezuela, as an intermediate point with traffic rights. Colombian carriers were restricted to service-in-place when DOT reassessed the country's aviation safety as Category 2 in November 1995. But following FAA's upgrading of Colombia to Category 1, airlines may expand services to the U.S. (DAILY, Dec. 1). TAMPA is expanding its U.S.
Hundreds more FAA employees have voted to join a union, representing what one union official called a "new brand of unionism for federal workers and professional workers." Some 510 staff in the Office of Regulation and Certification, Office of Airports, Office of System Safety and Office of Civil Rights voted Dec. 2 to become part of Council 26 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Carl Goldman, Council 26 executive director, said there is a "movement to listen less and take more from federal workers."
Northwest plans daily Detroit-Rome and -Milan nonstops beginning April 2 as part of an increase of nearly one-third in its international service from Detroit for the summer 2000 season. The carrier will code share beyond Rome and Milan with new alliance partner Alitalia, which will place its code on Northwest's transatlantic flights to Italy. The carriers plans extensive code sharing and frequent flyer and airport lounge programs under their immunized alliance, pointing to similar arrangements each has with KLM.
European Space Agency yesterday signed a contract for the GalileoSat study, which will be its contribution to the definition phase of the Galileo satellite navigation program agreed to last May. The European Commission this week is expected to give its approval to four major contracts with industry, also covering the definition phase. The European Union's Council last June approved (Continued) proceeding with the definition phase. The decision by the ESA and the EC to proceed with the definition phase of Galileo reinforces European distrust of the U.S.
Charges associated with the planned elimination of up to 30 Beech B1900 19-seat turboprops caused Mesa to end its fiscal fourth quarter with a net loss of $24.2 million, the company said yesterday. Mesa faced $29.2 million in non-recurring charges from eliminating the aircraft plus a write-off of goodwill associated with certain Beech/Raytheon operations. Mesa reported fourth quarter earnings of $5 million before the charges. Total operating revenues for the quarter reached $104.4 million, up from $97.9 million year-over-year.
The world's aviation authorities need to aggressively work toward more open-skies agreements to increase capacity for future aviation demand, said United Chairman Jim Goodwin. "We need to ensure that inconsistent regulatory requirements don't stifle the ability of these networks to deliver new value to passengers and shippers," Goodwin told DOT's aviation summit in Chicago. He called for "better cooperation" between governments on a "host of issues." Goodwin also hinted at United's future expansion in the U.K. market.
Pan Am International Flight Academy has acquired Air Safety International in Vero Beach, Fla. ASI trains approximately 120 pilots per year. Under the agreement, the Academy acquired the training assets, which include aircraft and simulators located at Vero Beach Airport. The Academy plans to significantly expand the operation and relocate the business to Fort Pierce, Fla. Executive VP-Business Aircraft Training Wally David said ASI complements Flight Safety's recent acquisition of Westwind Aviation Academy in Phoenix.
DOT Secretary Rodney Slater held "informal talks" with U.K. aviation authorities at this week's summit in Chicago.He told The DAILY the two sides look to renew talks "in a couple of weeks" and the issue of restoring service to Pittsburgh will be the "primary objective." Slater also had a "very good meeting" with new EU Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, in addition Slater's talks with transport ministers from "all regions of the world."
DHL International has established a central Asia hub in Hong Kong and a partnership with Cathay Pacific to provide air transportation throughout the region. The hub will operate from the Express Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong airport beginning next March. Cathay Pacific will provide 32 overnight cargo and passenger flights a week between Hong Kong and Osaka, Seoul, Taipei and Singapore.
Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson remained vague about the possibility of his airline joining a large alliance group. "It's possible something will happen," Branson told The DAILY yesterday. "We'll see what happens, but my comments are being watched closely." Branson confirmed he received permission from all the necessary regulatory agencies to launch his unnamed Australian airline July 1. The operation will use Boeing 737s.
Summary of U.S. National Carriers Systemwide Traffic Second Quarter 1999 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (miles) (000) Change AirTran Airlines 1,763 17.31 534 941,692 12.44
AeroMexico will offer the only daily direct service between Los Angeles and Monterrey, Mexico, effective Dec. 13. The new flight will make a brief stop at Hermosillo, using 125-passenger MD-83 aircraft.
TWA and Royal Air Maroc gained extra-bilateral approval from the government of Cote d'Ivoire to code share between New York Kennedy and Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, for which the carriers already secured rights from DOT. TWA, which places its designator code on RAM's New York-Casablanca flights and beyond to other points in Morocco, will add beyond service to Abidjan under the carriers' code-share agreement. No date has been set to start the Abidjan code share, according to a TWA spokesman.
Varig said it rose from 28th to 14th position in global operating performance among airlines, according to a Warburg Dillon Reed study. The firm, which works for Varig, prepared a report comparing Varig to other international carriers. Accounting for profit before amortization, depreciation, interest and aircraft leasing, Varig's rating approached that of Delta, Continental and United.
