Association of Flight Attendants members held a protest yesterday at FAA headquarters in Washington to "encourage" the agency to pass rules to protect passengers and flight attendants from oversize carry-on bags. AFA says the heavy bags cause "thousands of injuries each year" to flight attendants and passengers. AFA advocates a carry-on bag rule limiting passengers to about 13 pounds.
Northwest, United and Federal Express moved quickly to answer each other's applications for U.S.-China frequencies available now and April 1, 2000, under the amended bilateral. Eight frequencies are available this year and nine next year, and the three carriers, designated for the market, applied last week for nearly twice as many (DAILY, April 23). Northwest, United and FedEx are the only U.S. carriers authorized to serve China, and FedEx, which currently holds four frequencies, complained that it alone lacks daily service to China.
Delta has introduced electronic ticketing on itineraries that include any of its three Delta Connection carriers - Atlantic Southeast, Comair and Sky West. E-ticketing will be expanded to Business Express and Trans States soon.
China Airlines reported a passenger load factor of 71.3% and a cargo load factor of 83.5% for the first quarter of 1999. Based on first quarter results and improving prospects for a continuing economic recovery, a company official said CAL will easily achieve its 1999 targets of NT$62.4 billion (US$1.87 billion) in revenue and NT$1.72 billion (US$51.65 million) in pre-tax profit.
United, which has been building its operation at Los Angeles for a number of years, this week declared LAX an official hub. The statement coincided with the completion of a two-year, $240 million upgrade of its facilities, used by more than 25,000 passengers daily. "For all intents and purposes Los Angeles has been operating as one of our hubs for at least a year," said Mark Liberman, VP-North America, in an internal communique.
U.S. Major Carriers Advertising Expense Fourth Quarter 1998 % Of Total Advertising Passenger Revenues Alaska 5,464,000 1.68 Domestic 4,991,000 1.69 Latin 473,000 1.64 America West 6,301,505 1.36 Domestic 6,285,351 1.39
Boeing said it has bolted new, highly backswept wingtips temporarily on the first 767-400ER to verify installation procedures and ensure that the hardware meets engineering specifications. The new wingtips improve overall aerodynamic efficiency of the wing, providing about the same range as alternative wingtip designs that would lengthen the wingspan by 10 feet, Boeing said. The first 767-400ER is scheduled for delivery in May 2000.
Access Air is offering low fares geared to youth, seniors and families in groups of five or more. The Des Moines, Iowa-based airline is offering a $99 one-way family saver fare for travel from Des Moines, Moline/Quad Cities and Peoria to New York and $119 to Los Angeles. Fares are for youths 2-25 years, seniors 62 or over and family groups that include at least one member under 25 or over 62, and groups of five or more traveling together.
Continental paid an average of 38.62 cents per gallon for jet fuel during the first quarter, not 43 cents (DAILY, April 20). Forty-three cents is the airline's second quarter forecast for jet fuel cost per gallon.
Cathay Pacific and South African Airways yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines a long-term partnership between the two carriers. The pact will include code sharing, joining frequent flyer programs and ground-handling. Cathay began flying to Johannesburg in 1991 and operates three weekly flights from Hong Kong. The link is SAA's second this year with an Asian carrier -- it began code sharing with Singapore Airlines in April.
Rep. William Lipinski (Ill.), ranking Democrat on the House aviation subcommittee, next week plans to introduce his Aviation Bilateral Accountability Act of 1999, a Lipinski aide said yesterday. The bill would require congressional approval of bilateral aviation agreements. Lipinski, in a House speech Tuesday, appealed for support. He said his aim is not to criticize the new U.S.-China aviation agreement but to point out that the accord, which spells out U.S. carrier service to China for three years, was concluded without an official congressional role.
Major U.S. airlines are unsure how much Tuesday's authorization to call up 33,000 reservists to active duty will affect operations. Airlines yesterday were asking pilots and mechanics to tell them whether they were called up to assist in NATO operations in Kosovo. United and American both expect minimal effect, but some flight cancellations could occur if many pilots flying one type of aircraft are called up en masse. United has 850 reservists among its 10,000 pilots, and American's total is 800 of 9,400
No major airline has made an advertising push to sell its tickets over the web, but it's only a matter of time before one of them does, according to "e-Commerce: Virtually Here," a Merrill Lynch report on electronic commerce. The report says airlines have been reluctant to advertise their web ticket offerings because they worry about handling the volumes and further alienating travel agents.
Thomas O'Leary, 74, died April 17 at his home in Venice, Fla. O'Leary held executive positions with TWA, Mohawk, Pan Am and the Civil Aeronautics Board, where he helped set up service to small communities.
InVision Technologies said it has obtained FAA certification for its next-generation CTX 9000 DSi explosives detection system. The EDS was "unconditionally certified at a baggage throughput rate of 542 bags per hour, making it the fastest certified EDS in the world," the company said. "Now that the CTX 9000 DSi has passed certification tests, we expect that the FAA will purchase several machines for installation and operational testing at airports in the U.S.," said Sergio Magistri, president.
Recent reports that Boeing is again considering a very large aircraft in response to Airbus Industrie's proposed A3XX program are being challenged by an investment firm. Lehman Brothers Aerospace&Defense Research says Boeing is not likely to offer "a very large aircraft in the over-500 passenger category" but will be forced to respond to the A3XX, and that response could be costly to its shareholders.
US Airways has chosen the Sony Trans Com P@ssport in-seat video system for its transatlantic fleet of new Airbus widebody aircraft. Every seat in the seven A330-300s joining the fleet in 2000 will have the state-of-the-art entertainment system and personal video screen. Passengers will be able to select from a library of movies and audio programs.
Jet fuel and aviation gas consumed in the U.S. during fiscal 1997 totaled 19.2 billion gallons, with domestic carriers using 71% of jet fuel, or 13.4 billion gallons, and international using 4.8 billion. General aviation used just 1.5%, or 642 million gallons, according to the National Business Aviation Association.
Major European hub airports are using 93% of their terminal capacity, according to Salomon Smith Barney, with Madrid, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf all at 100% or more of design levels.London Heathrow and Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Zurich and Munich are at 97% or more.
American will increase service to 12 markets from the West Coast this summer, including international flights to Paris and Tokyo. The carrier will begin Boeing 777 service from San Jose and Seattle to Tokyo Narita. The previously announced Los Angeles-Paris service will begin June 1. In total, the airline will begin seven new nonstop routes and add service to 12 destinations. American will add 20 flights, with the first to start May 1.
Las Vegas-based National Airlines is conducting routine safety checks with FAA in preparation for its first flight May 27. The startup has acquired two 757-200s for its first service from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and Chicago Midway. "We're currently going through the final phase of FAA certification, which includes monitored proving runs and cabin crew evacuation checks," said Chief Executive Michael Conway in an interview. "This is all routine, and we've done our planning, so we expect it to go smoothly."
The European Union Council of Industry Ministers will adopt the European Commission's proposed hushkit regulation today in Luxembourg, but it will delay the rule's entry into force until May 1, 2000. The decision represents a partial victory for the U.S. in its hushkit dispute with the EU - Europe will start phasing out hushkitted aircraft next year instead of on April 1, 1999, as intended originally, a top EC official said yesterday. "We're not very proud of this," the official said.
Air Canada and Mexicana yesterday formed a code-share and marketing partnership between Canada and Latin America, effective May 13. Seats will go on sale May 6. The carriers will link hubs in Montreal, Toronto and Mexico City, with plans in July to put Air Canada's code on Mexicana's flights to Guadalajara, Cancun, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta and Mexicana's code on Air Canada service to Winnipeg, Quebec City, Vancouver and Calgary. They also plan to link their frequent flyer programs.
