AirTran is discounting fares to promote its new service to Newardk, beginning July 1. Sample fares from Newardk to 21 cities are $79 to Atlanta, $89 to Fort Lauderdale and $135 to Moline/Quad Cities, Ill.
American and its code-share partner Canadian have become the first carriers in the industry to implement an agreement that enables them to issue electronic tickets to each other. Customers will be able to use e-tickets when their itinerary includes travel on the two airlines or on code-shared flights. The pact covers American's regional division, American Eagle, and Canadian's regional affiliates.
-- In Federal Register dated June 11...Superseded an airworthiness directive on Boeing 737-200C aircraft concerning inspection of the lower lobe cargo compartment...Issued an AD on certain AlliedSignal VN411B VHF navigation receivers...Issued an AD on certain Raytheon 1900D aircraft requiring replacement of passenger oxygen containers and masks...Proposed to supersede an AD on all Boeing 737-600/700/800 aircraft concerning inspection of the power distribution panels...Proposed an AD on certain Dornier 328 aircraft to require tests of the flight idle backup system...Revi
Iberia has begun flights under a code-share agreement with Deutsche BA. Iberia officials said the arrangement will increase the number of flights between Madrid and Munich, and the number of Madrid-Munich-Berlin flights also may be expanded in the near future. As of June 1, Iberia passengers could accumulate frequent flyer points with all flights on Deutsche BA.
Sikorsky has launched a fractional ownership program - Sikorsky Shares - which it called the first such program offered directly by a major helicopter manufacturer. Sikorsky Shares makes the S-76 helicopter available for "as little as $2 million a quarter," the company says. This entitles the share owner to 290 trips or flight units per year in the eastern U.S.
Boeing said it received orders for 19 jet transports from four customers - Tarom for four 737-700s and four 737-800s, Lauda for one 767-300ER, Delta for six 737-800s, one 757-200 and two 767-300ERs, and Hapag-Lloyd for one 737-800. Tarom will serve expanding markets in Europe and the Middle East. Delta plans for modest growth.
Continental last Friday ended discussions to purchase a stake in AeroPeru, only days before the debt-ridden carrier was to resume flying. Sources told The DAILY that Continental's top executives met with Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori last week requesting a six-month moratorium on new approvals for pending startup airlines in the country, and they were refused.
Northwest plans to convert options on 30 A320 family aircraft into firm orders. The decision affects options agreed to as part of a 1997 purchase agreement and calls for 18 A319s and 12 A320s. Northwest, with a total of 150 orders for A320 family aircraft, of which 70 have been delivered, is the largest customer for the type.
Airline Tariff Publishing Co. elected Aleks Popovich, general manager-revenue management of British Airways, chairman, and Henry Sienciewicz, ATPCO VP-computer services, an officer of the company.
Air Transport Association said domestic yields fell 3.1% in May, which analysts found discouraging but was in line with Wall Street expectations. Domestic capacity rose 4.7%, compared with a 3.5% increase in April. The lower yields are particularly frustrating to the nation's airlines in light of three fare increases this year. PaineWebber analyst Sam Buttrick believes Continental and Delta fared better in May than other majors, while Northwest and US Airways were underperformers.
Airbus will assemble "a certain number of A319s" in Toulouse, in addition to Hamburg, said Airbus President Noel Forgeard. The move "is a very good compromise" following the decision to build the A318 in Hamburg.
Air-India is looking for an investor, possibly an Asian carrier, to buy a stake in the airline as part of its privatization plans. The Indian government wants to reduce its stake in the carrier to 49% or less. An official of the Civil Aviation Ministry told The DAILY that the process to privatize the carrier, already under way, is expected to be completed by early next year. The official said the badly managed state carrier needs a foreign partner to keep it afloat.
Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan Friday granted a motion brought by attorneys against Northwest on behalf of passengers stranded on Northwest flights during a snowstorm last winter. The judge certified about 8,000 claims brought by Charfoos&Christensen, P.C., charging negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and breach of contract. Northwest spokesman Jon Austin said he was not surprised by the judge's decision. "It does not change our expectations going forward about the case."
Several more customers will step forward to buy the 107-seat A318 in the next two months, Airbus says. Airbus will consider CFM engines for the Pratt&Whitney-powered twinjet. "Today, it is one engine. We are considering CFM," said Airbus VP-Marketing Colin Stuart at the Paris Air Show. "It's not an exclusivity contract."
Flight Physiology and Human Factors for Aircrew, 2nd edition, by Richard Reinhart, senior FAA aviation medical examiner. Tells pilots what they need to know to be fit for flight and how to read the warning signs of incapacitation, however subtle. Iowa State University Press; $27.95. To order, call 800-862-6657.
Midwest Express is counting on its reputation for outstanding customer service to help it go head-to-head with United and MetroJet at Dulles. Midwest Express is launching nonstop Dulles-Milwaukee and one-stop Kansas City-Dulles service Sept. 1. In a recorded message to employees, Chairman and Chief Executive Timothy Hoeksema said the company is "in for some healthy competition" and success depends on its ability to "wow" new customers and outshine competitors.
House Appropriations Chairman Rep. C. W. Young (R-Fla.) said Friday that when the Appropriations Committee-approved transportation money bill is on the House floor this week - probably Wednesday - he will offer an amendment to cut transportation appropriations below last year's level. The move could jeopardize fiscal 2000 House appropriations increases over the Senate Appropriations level for FAA operations, facilities and equipment and Airport Improvement Programs.
DOT, finding that each of the three carriers eligible for 17 U.S.-China frequencies "submitted a credible proposal," issued a show cause order Friday tentatively allocating the frequencies "as equally as possible" to Northwest, United and FedEx. The incumbent carriers in the market wanted eight frequencies available to them under the amended U.S.-China bilateral (DAILY, April 9) as of April 1 and nine available April 1, 2000.
Grupo Taca revised jet service connecting Miami with Belize City, Belize, and Flores, Guatemala, for the summer months. It offers morning service to Belize from Miami with a late afternoon return and provides connections to European and domestic U.S. flights. The service continues from Belize to Flores, the entry point to the Mayan ruins of Tikal and Guatemala City. Flights will be operated with a two-cabin Grupo Taca Boeing 737.
U.S. National and Regional Carriers Traffic May, 5 Months 1999 (000) May May % 1999 1998 Change Air Wisconsin Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 88,130 72,070 22.3 Available Seat Miles (000) 144,482 112,266 28.7
