National Transportation Safety Board Director Jim Hall told the House aviation subcommittee yesterday he hoped to finish the investigation of the July 17, 1996, TWA flight 800 disaster by yearend. But NTSB still has to complete its questioning of eyewitnesses, since the organization did not have access to eye witnesses' accounts until 18 months after the crash, according to an agency official. Hall admitted NTSB was at fault for allowing the FBI to take the lead in the investigation. "I think I failed...in asserting our interest and authority," he told Congress.
Sun Country Airlines is offering passengers who purchase roundtrip tickets through May 17 for travel May 15-Aug. 31 a coupon valid for 50% off their next roundtrip purchase to any domestic Sun Country destination. The "Get to Know Us" coupons are good for travel Sept. 1-March 31. Sun Country will become a scheduled carrier June 1.
BWIA CEO Conrad Aleong said his carrier is engaged in "serious" alliance discussions with Continental and one or two other airlines.The carrier, which lost $15 million in the three years prior to Aleong's tenure, earned a $9 million profit in 1998 -- the first in BWIA's 58 years.
Jeff Plungis, transportation reporter for Congressional Quarterly's Weekly Report, discusses pending FAA reauthorization legislation, the passenger bill of rights and other aviation-related measures in an interview on Aviation News Today, to air Sunday on Washington's NewsChannel 8 at 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Midwest Express and Skyway Airlines are offering travel professionals who charter an aircraft for travel between June 1 and Aug. 31 bonus commissions, ranging from 6% for a single charter to 10% for six or more. Corporate travel planners who charter an aircraft will receive a complimentary ticket for two to any Midwest Express destination. For each charter booked, the travel planner's name will be entered in a drawing for a Midwest Express Vacation package.
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) says it will defend five Alaska Airlines ticket agents who were fired this week for allegedly instigating an April 16-17 sickout that forced the airline to cancel 22 of its 500 daily flights. Alaska spokesman Jack Evans said two agents were terminated in Las Vegas, one in Seattle, one in Portland and one in San Diego. Evans said the company had evidence that the five employees pressured other agents to join the sickout. About 125 employees called in sick in Seattle and 50 in Portland.
US Airways is offering low fares for off-peak travel to and from Florida. Customers must purchase tickets by May 11 and complete travel by June 24. Roundtrip tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance and travel must include a Saturday night stay. The fares are good for Florida-bound travel Monday-Thursday and return trips Tuesday-Friday. Customers who purchase tickets online at www.usairways.com will earn 1,000 bonus frequent flyer miles for each online reservation.
U.S. National Carriers Productivity, In Revenues And Expenses Per Employee, Fourth Quarter 1998 Total Total Operating Operating Revenues Expenses Total (000) (000) Employees AirTran Airlines 105,718 130,504 2,974 Aloha 53,144 53,621 2,265 American Trans Air 198,679 193,197 5,065
UniCapital Air Group acquired 36 jet aircraft valued at $1.32 billion from GE Capital Aviation Services, and the companies have formed a partnership that could lead to more aircraft transfers to UniCapital. The move doubles the portfolio of UniCapital's fleet to 70 and triples its total dollar value to $1.6 billion. The 36 aircraft are currently on lease to 23 lessees in 13 countries. The portfolio includes 737s, MD-83s, DC-10s, A310s, A320s and 767s, averaging 4.7 years of age.
The Flight Service Headquarters of Taiwan's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport will discipline an air traffic control officer for an incident that resulted in a near miss between two China Airlines planes on April 18. The two aircraft were both on training flights when they came within 1.5 nautical miles of each other with a vertical separation of less than 100 feet. According to reports, only the quick reaction of the two crews prevented a possible collision.
Northwest flight attendants, represented by the Teamsters, will call for a strike vote within the next week in response to management's refusal to engage in what they consider constructive contract negotiations. The two sides met with the National Mediation Board and its chairwoman, Maggie Jacobsen, from last Thursday through Monday evening. NMB has said it will not release the two side from mediation. Talks are scheduled talks to resume June 7-8. Flight attendants say they want the company to address wage, retirement and international flying issues.
Emirates has accused the Australian government of obstructing its efforts to increase flights to Australia. According to Emirates Group Managing Director Maurice Flanagan, the airline has applied to launch daily flights between Dubai and Sydney and four weekly flights each to Perth and Brisbane. Authorities told Emirates, however, that its request was deferred while the government considers its policy on the future its bilateral air agreements.
A full-scale virtual airport tower that can simulate events without endangering lives was installed at NASA Ames Research Center in California. The Silicon Graphics tower will support NASA and aviation industry efforts to combat airline accidents and reduce airport gridlock. It is designed to help reduce the high cost that traffic delays cause travelers, airlines and airports. NASA officials said the virtual tower is an accurate replica of real air traffic control towers found at the largest airports.
A House Transportation Committee spokesman agreed yesterday with Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott's assessment that another short-term FAA authorization extension will be needed (DAILY, May 5). FAA is operating under a two-month extension that expires May 31. The spokesman said there are too many differences in the Senate Commerce Committee and House Committee bills to resolve in conference by May 31. The House Transportation bill still is on the schedule for House floor action in late May, the spokesman noted.
American reported a systemwide 1.4% increase in traffic on 1.2% more capacity for April 1999 compared with the same 1998 month, which grew the load factor 0.1 percentage points. American flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles and 12.9 billion available seat miles, creating a 71.5% load factor. Domestic RPMs and ASMs both dropped 0.2% - RPMs totaled 6.3 billion and ASMs 8.8 billion, leaving the load factor flat at 71.3%.
U.S. and Pakistan have reached an open-skies accord, DOT announced yesterday. The agreement, which extends open skies to South Asia, was concluded through an exchange of notes.
U.S Major Carriers Productivity, In RPMs And ASMs Per Employee, Fourth Quarter 1998 Revenue Available Passenger Seat Miles Miles Total (000) (000) Employees Alaska 2,748,670 4,203,831 8,710 America West 4,033,754 6,237,061 11,455 American 26,512,203 38,822,755 82,470
KLM's board will reduce the company's number of outstanding shares by a maximum of 25% through a reverse share split and a capital redemption to shareholders. The transaction results in part from the sale of KLM's stake in Equant and the proceeds expected from the sale of its stake in Galileo International.
Foreign ownership of airlines and related issues could be resolved by multinational treaty, KLM Director Rutger Jan toe Laer suggested yesterday at the 8th International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix.His proposed "Treaty of Phoenix" would require open-skies agreements as prerequisites and would be a "face saver" for countries opposing foreign ownership. KLM is discussing the idea with Dutch aviation authorities and supports it in the European Union. A treaty "would make impending U.S.-EU negotiations a success," he said.
ARINC received FAA certification as a repair station for its San Diego engineering center. The shop can remove, inspect, test, repair and install radio and radio navigation equipment in all airframes. VP Stewart Baily said the license is an "important step toward becoming a full spectrum provider of avionics engineering, repair and installation services."
First Aviation Services is exploring the sale of its National Airmotive Corp. unit, a leader in gas turbine repair and overhaul. NAC registered record sales and profits in its most recent quarter. Management expects NAC to have sales of about $110 million and operating income of $10 million in the current fiscal year, he said.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall said yesterday they will co-sponsor a committee to examine how new flight data technology can help maintain the currently level of safety into the crowded skies of the future. Such technology, Garvey told an NTSB symposium in Arlington, Va., "could mean immediate access to critical information" for future accident investigators. The committee will be on an accelerated track, with a final report expected next spring. It will draw members from U.S.
AirTran Holdings Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer Richard Schroeter will leave the company at the end of June and move back to Minneapolis to be with his family, the company said yesterday. President Robert Fornaro will assume the additional duties of CFO.
