Frontier launched an Internet booking engine that gives full access to its inventory. Customers can view inventory and availability of schedules and prices. The upgrade is the result of advancements made by EDS, which provides Frontier's reservations system.
Air Carrier Association of America Executive Director Ed Faberman called on DOT Friday to step up its campaign to end predatory practices by major carriers against new and niche airlines. Faberman and executives from some of the ACAA carriers met Thursday and Friday with DOT and Congressional leadership. Faberman said they were "asking Congress to turn the pressure up on DOT" to act on its predatory practices guidelines, which may not happen until the summer. He suggested the department take the same interest in ensuring competition in the U.S.
Taiwan's cabinet-level Aviation Safety Council (ASC) plans to establish a laboratory to analyze information contained on flight voice and data recorders. The so-called "black boxes" record data essential to determining the cause of accidents. An ASC spokesman said the analysis center should greatly reduce the problems resulting from language differences. Until now, Taiwan has sent its black boxes abroad for decoding. In many cases, the spokesman said, transcription has been delayed by translation problems.
FAA - In Federal Register dated March 22...Issued an airworthiness directive on CFM International CMF56-5 engines to reduce the low-cycle fatigue retirement lives for certain high-pressure turbine rotor front air seals...Issued an AD on certain Boeing 747-400 aircraft requiring modification of certain panels of the cabin pressure control system.
Piedmont Airlines has ordered nine 37-seat Dash 8/Q Series 200 aircraft from Bombardier. The order will increase to 93 the number of Piedmont Dash 8 aircraft carrying US Airways Express livery and to 115 the number of Dash 8s operating US Airways Express services. Dash 8/Q Series aircraft delivered and on order total 581, including 87 of the Q200 model.
America West said it will pay eligible employees $22.1 million in cash incentive compensation and annual merit increases this week following its record 1998 financial performance. About 4,800 employees who participate in the A Ward Pay Plan will receive bonuses equal to 12.65% of their 1998 earnings, and about 400 employees of The Leisure Company will receive 10.43% under a different compensation plan. An additional merit increase averaging 4% of qualifying payroll will go out to eligible America West Holdings employees over the coming year.
AEI said it has expanded operations in Laredo, Tex., in response to "explosive" growth in cross-border trading between the U.S. and Mexico. AEI Laredo moved into a new facility that nearly quadruples its capacity and is equipped to offer a full range of logistics services. AEI will provide electronic transfers of information and customs duties to Mexican Customs.
Aviation negotiators from the U.S. and Poland held open-skies talks last week in Warsaw. A DOT spokesman reported "substantial progress" toward a transition to open skies. The spokesman said the two sides hope to meet "within three to five months" in Washington.
Dutch carrier Transavia Airlines said last week it carried three million passengers in one year for the first time. The milestone was reached five years after the airline reported two million passengers carried in 1994. Transavia, part of the KLM group, operates four 757-200 aircraft, 14 737-300s and three 737-800s with an average age of less than five years. In 1995, Transavia ordered eight 737-800 aircraft, of which the first arrived June 17, 1998, followed by two more during the summer.
Lufthansa Cargo and Singapore Airlines will launch a joint program Thursday to increase the number of destinations in their route networks that receive their express products. The initiative will expand Lufthansa's "td.flash" express service to 16 stations in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. SIA will extend its "Swiftrider" express service to 16 points in Europe. Lufthansa Cargo said it will expand its time-definite services to 63 more stations, beginning next month, for a total of 163 worldwide.
Virgin Express posted a net loss of 53 million Belgian francs (US$1.4 million) for the fourth quarter of 1998, improving on the BEF 74 million loss in the year-earlier period. For 1998, the airline earned BEF 47 million ($1.3 million), far lower than the BEF 497 million in 1997. Revenue increased 15% to BEF 2.36 billion ($63.6 million) for the quarter and 14% to BEF 10.5 billion ($282 million) for the year. The load factor for the December quarter rose 4.4 percentage points to 72.1%, indicating that breakeven is still higher.
Boeing Co. named several officials to new financial positions to increase focus on business planning, said Debby Hopkins, chief financial officer. Robert Stone, formerly assistant treasurer, was named to the new position of VP-financial planning and analysis. Laurette Koellner, formerly VP-general auditor, was designed VP and corporate controller. Gale Andrews, director of internal audit at Boeing Commercial, will succeed Koellner.
Southwest said yesterday it will add 48 flights to its schedule in June, July and August. The list includes 20 new nonstop flights between cities that previously had no such service.
Singapore Airlines yesterday confirmed earlier speculation and announced plans to buy 50% of Ansett Holdings for A$500 million (US$320 million) from News Limited. The purchase is subject to several conditions, including Air New Zealand's pre-emptive right to buy the shares. SIA did not acquire shares of Air New Zealand, which owns the other 50% of Ansett.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will speak at an International Aviation Club luncheon April 13 at 12:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington, D.C.
SkyWest, operating as United Express, will launch service April 4 between Seattle/Tacoma and Spokane, Wash., with six daily roundtrips. The carrier also will increase its service between SeaTac and Yakima, Wash., to seven daily roundtrips from the current six. SkyWest will use its 30-passenger Brasilia turboprops.
Regional jets are gaining popularity fast, but turboprops will retain a significant portion of the market for at least the next 20 years, especially in developing countries, industry officials told the FAA Aerospace Forecast Conference in Washington yesterday.
Legend Airlines President Allan McArtor told the Aero Club of Washington yesterday that major carrier oligopolies, lack of competition and a focus that's shifted away from consumers are just a few of the evils that have stalled deregulation. McArtor asserted that DOT does not need more regulations to control the airlines, it needs to use the power it already has. "Our industry doesn't need guidelines so much as our Congress and the DOT need the guts to take firm action....The DOT must interpret and enforce interstate commerce laws.
United's machinists and pilots unions said yesterday they are pleased with the appointment of James Goodwin as chairman and chief executive. UAL Corp.'s board yesterday elected Goodwin, a United employee of more than 30 years, to succeed Gerald Greenwald, effective in July. The Air Line Pilots Association and the International Association of Machinists praised Goodwin's experience and honesty.
Royal Brunei Airlines will purchase new aircraft to replace aging equipment and expand its fleet. Chief Executive Sheikh Jamaluddin said RBA has ordered two A319s to replace two F100s for regional routes and will refurbish its four 757-200s. RBA has six 767-300s, and an evaluation of new widebody aircraft for long-haul routes to Europe is in progress. Sheikh declined to identify the candidate aircraft, but The DAILY was told that the choice is between the Airbus A340 and the Boeing 777.
Delta said yesterday it is selling 119 727-200s that the new owner will convert to freighters. The carrier said it has reached an agreement with Pratt&Whitney to sell the aircraft and up to 39 spare engines over the next six years as they are retired from its fleet. Pratt is working with Republic Financial Corp. of Denver on marketing the aircraft after they are converted. Engines not required in the conversion will be used to satisfy airline requirements for JT8D-15/15A support.
China Airlines and EVA Airways are reported to be conducting talks with potential partners for separate projects to manage air cargo terminals planned at Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek Airport following privatization of the air cargo industry. As the two carriers were said to be finalizing their short-lists of prospective partners, sources in Taipei said the most likely candidates are Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. Officials at both CAL and EVA declined to comment.
