Iowa-based Access Air will begin service to Colorado Springs June 1 with one nonstop roundtrip daily to Los Angeles and one to Des Moines, which continues to the Quad Cities/Moline and New York LaGuardia. The airline plans to expand the service June 9 with two roundtrips each to Los Angeles and New York when it takes delivery of a third 737. On June 24, Access Air will boost the service to three daily roundtrips with the addition of a fourth aircraft.
American has ordered three additional 146-seat Boeing 737-800s as replacements for three aircraft from the Reno Air fleet that will not be integrated into American's fleet. The new jets are to be delivered next year and are in addition to previous American orders for 100 "Next Generation" 737s.
United Airlines Cargo this week opened a cargo consolidation center at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to expedite freight shipments between Texas and markets in Asia, Europe, South Pacific and Latin America. The center will operate a dedicated trucking service from Dallas to other cities in Texas and Oklahoma and United hubs in Chicago and Los Angeles. The trucking service initially will operate to Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
New Air has selected the V2500 engine for its new fleet of A320 family of aircraft with an order valued at $900 million to International Aero Engines. New Air has placed firm orders for 25 A320s plus 25 options and 25 purchase rights on A320 family aircraft scheduled for delivery starting in 2000.
Air-India has discontinued flights to Rome, Frankfurt, and Manchester as part of its route rationalization program. Rome service first began in March 1950, while Frankfurt has operated since April 1960 and Manchester since November 1995. Frankfurt service had been reduced to three weekly flights, and Manchester and Rome to four per week. "The aim is to utilize our resources in more profitable sectors," said a senior AI official, denying that the European services weren't profitable.
Delta Crown Room Club members as of June 1 will have access to United's Red Carpet Club Lounges in the U.S. at point of origin and all connection points on the day of travel when the member's itinerary includes at least one segment on a United-operated flight. United has 32 Red Carpet Club lounges in 25 U.S. airports. United became a partner in Delta's SkyMiles program last September.
Alaska Airlines' allegations of an organized mechanic slowdown that is causing flight cancellations are false, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association says. AMFA President O.V. Delle-Femine said problems stem from a general shortage of mechanics. Alaska has more than 700 mechanics, but in some areas 40% of crews are new hires. He said the airline has only seven trainers and much of the training is on the job until there is an opening in a class. "You can see they're really backlogged on training," he said.
Singapore Airlines invited Lufthansa to join it in bidding for Thai Airways International after SIA realized it stood no chance for a stake on its own, sources in Bangkok tell The DAILY. Thai was impressed with the presentation, sources said, but no details were disclosed. An SIA official in Singapore confirmed that the airline will continue its joint bid with Lufthansa, but SIA's interest in Thai has no direct bearing on its entry into Star Alliance. SIA intends to join the alliance Oct. 1.
EVA Air yesterday ordered three Boeing 747-400 freighters, after years of using the MD-11 as its main freighter platform. Deliveries will begin next year. The airline operates seven MD-11Fs and has two more that will be delivered this year. EVA also operates three MD-11 passenger aircraft, five 747-400s, 10 747-400 Combis, four 767-300ERs and four 767-200s. With this order, Boeing has received requests for 1,296 747s.
Alaska Airlines' traffic was up 7.9% and capacity 4.3% in April from the same month a year earlier, which pushed the load factor up 2.4 percentage points. Sister carrier Horizon Air's RPMs jumped 31% and ASMs 26.5%, lifting the load factor 2.1 points. Year-to-date, Alaska's RPMs climbed 9.3% on 7.3% more ASMs, resulting in a load factor gain of 1.2 points. Horizon's RPMs grew 29.6% and ASMs 27%, and the load factor was up 1.2 points.
Tower Air reported a 4.2% gain in traffic on 5.5% less capacity for April 1999 compared with the same 1998 month, which caused a 7.1-percentage-point increase in the passenger load factor. Total block hours flown dipped 6.7%. Year-to-date revenue passenger miles climbed 10.8% and available seat miles 7.9%, boosting the load factor 1.9 points. Total block hours fell 7.9%.
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.
