Mexicana seeks a DOT exemption of at least two years to engage in scheduled combination service between Acapulco and Miami, to be operated with 727-200 aircraft configured for 150 passengers. (Docket OST-99-5585)
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics said FAA granted certification for its head-up guidance system for the Boeing 737-800 and the Boeing Business Jet. For the latest approvals, Flight Dynamics completed validation of the HGS with sensors for instrument and microwave landing systems and the Global Positioning System
TNT, which provides mail, express and logistics services, said it will start a cargo airline, to be called TNT Airways. TNT said the move will increase the speed, flexibility and efficiency of its express network. All existing airline activities will be brought under one umbrella in Liege, Belgium, site of TNT's European Express Center hub. TNT, which operates 33 aircraft, said TNT Airways will begin operations in the fourth quarter and become fully operational by 2002. The company plans to acquire 14 A300s over the next three years to replace 727s.
New Air projects an operating loss of $5.6 million in its first year of operations but expects to be in the black during its last five months, according to pro forma operating and income statements in the certificate application the carrier submitted Friday to DOT (DAILY, May 3). With investments totaling $128.2 million committed by Dec. 31 - nearly $32 million has been paid in so far - New Air estimates $14.8 million in pre-
Mesa Air flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, have reached a tentative agreement on their first contract with the airline. Flight attendants failed to ratify a tentative deal six months ago. Mesa AFA said the current contract is stronger and offers better wages. Ratification ballots will be counted in June.
Reno Air has begun to expand its service on the West Coast by introducing five nonstop daily Orange County-San Francisco roundtrips. It also added one roundtrip each in Los Angeles-San Jose roundtrip and Los Angeles-San Francisco markets, increasing total daily nonstop roundtrips in both city-
Delta Express began Allentown, Pa.-Orlando service over the weekend with a daily nonstop roundtrip. The carrier operates a dedicated fleet of 737- 200s.
Hawaiian reported a profitable first quarter yesterday, citing $9.8 million revenue growth in the first three months of 1999 and predicting more for the full year as it increases capacity 20%. Hawaiian earned $1.5 million from operations and $780,000 net during the quarter, up from losses of $1.9 million and $1.1 million in the year-earlier quarter, as revenue increased 9.7% to $110 million.
Chief executive officers of the Star Alliance carriers, meeting yesterday in Sydney for the second anniversary of the partnership and the formal admission of Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand to it, said Star airlines will be ready for Year 2000 operations that they control and will not compromise safety if organizations outside their control fall short.
Eagle USA Airfreight said net income for its second quarter ended March 31 jumped 39% to $5.5 million. Revenues rose 48% to $133.7 million, and operating income increased 38% to $8.4 million. Shipments were up 35% to 324,399, while the average weight gained 14% to 634 pounds.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) have not been able to resolve their differences over adding flights at Washington Reagan Airport and, in the words of one source, "have agreed to disagree" when the committee's two-year FAA reauthorization bill reaches the Senate floor this month. Prospects for the House-Senate reauthorization conference late this month, as the May 31 expiration of the current authorization approaches, are equally uncertain.
AirTran is offering its Grade "A" fares for travel May 10-Sept. 30. A seven day advance purchase is required, and tickets must be purchased by May 20. Some blackout dates apply. Sample one-way fares include $39 Atlanta-Savannah/Hilton Head; $99 Houston-Orlando and $59 Greensboro-Tampa.
FlightSafety said it is building a major aviation training facility at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The two-story building will enclose more than 110,000 square feet on a 6.8-acre site, halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth.
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark yesterday approved the settlement deal between Kiwi International Air Lines and FAA that the two sides signed April 17. Under the settlement, Kiwi will begin the process of revalidating its operating certificate on an expedited basis. FAA did not impose any fines or penalties. FAA in March pulled Kiwi's operating certificate, claiming it operated its aircraft in an unairworthy condition, failed to perform adequate maintenance and did not follow up on safety issues that FAA brought to its attention (DAILY, March 26).
Continental Express, the wholly owned regional carrier of Continental, has reported that more than 50% of its available seat miles are provided by the Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet, up from 30% at this time last year. Continental Express later this month will be operating 42 of the RJs, accounting for 54% of its ASMs. It will take delivery of new ExpressJets throughout the year as it moves toward an all-jet fleet, and it will take delivery of its first Embraer ERJ-135, the 37-passenger RJ, in July.
American's lead in Latin America will shrink over time as Atlanta and Chicago "suck up some of the traffic that has traditionally gone through Miami," Merrill Lynch analyst Candace Browning said yesterday at the International Airline CEO Conference in Miami. While U.S. carriers added 21% capacity to Latin America last year - compared with 9% to Europe and minus 5% to Asia - the competition will lower American's market share in the next five years, she said.
A consortium headed by China Airlines (CAL) has submitted a detailed operating proposal and qualifying documentation to Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration in a bid to win operating rights for the Taipei and Kaohsiung air cargo terminals following their first stage of privatization. Other partners include Far Eastern Air Transport, UPS, Everterminal Corp., Taoyuan International Airport Services Co., Taiwan Airport Service Co. and six domestic air freight forwarders.
National Air Transportation Association said it disagrees with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation calling for terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) on all turbine-powered aircraft seating six or more passengers. VP Andrew Cebula said that the benefits of such a requirement for aircraft operated under Part 135 and Part 91 have never been analyzed. The importance of an analysis is "heightened by the costs small operators would incur with a TAWS requirement," he said.
Atlantic Coast Airlines, which flies in the eastern and midwestern U.S. as United Express, officially opened its regional airline concourse at Washington Dulles Airport on Sunday. The 70,000-square-foot facility was built specifically to accommodate regional jets and other ACA aircraft. The concourse has 12 gates, each with three separate doors, for a total of 36 aircraft positions, occupied solely by ACA/United Express. The "A" concourse, located in the midfield area, is connected to "B" concourse by a sky bridge.
Team of Lucas Aerospace, Solihull, England, and Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke, Speyer, Germany, was selected by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus, Hamburg, Germany, to supply the cargo mechanical system for the new Airbus A340- 500/600.
Pilots of Northwest subsidiary Express I ratified a six-year contract on Friday on the first vote. The agreement was unusual in the airline business since it was finalized 17 months before the expiration of the company's existing contract. Most labor accords are reached after the existing contract expires. The new agreement took effect May 1 and will expire April 30, 2005.
New York-based New Air Corp. filed Friday with DOT to launch commercial service in January using its just-ordered fleet of Airbus A320s.The company expects to announce the airline's name shortly.
