United Parcel Service raised its rates for most domestic air express and ground delivery services by 2.5% effective Feb. 8, saying the increase is its smallest in 11 years. Residential deliveries will continue to cost $1 more than commercial ground rates. Rates for international services from the U.S. will not change.
FAA says it disagrees with a statement by David Ellenbogen, chairman of Vivid Technologies, that thus far no explosives detection system has been able to demonstrate that it meets FAA standards under "realistic" airport operating conditions (DAILY, Dec. 22).
The U.K. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) proposal to privatize National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is in its third and final month of public comment. When the comment period closes, Jan. 31, DETR will develop legislative proposals to carry out its "preferred option" - selling off 51% of NATS to the private sector, including NATS employees - or "other innovative financing options" developed through public comment.
National Air Transportation Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association endorsed FAA's new administrative enforcement process. NATA President James Coyne said "it is evident that FAA Administrator Jane Garvey took the aviation industry concerns seriously" by revising the program to meet industry objections. He noted that the revised program eliminates the on-the-spot issuance of warning notices. Instead, information is mailed to an alleged violator, who has seven days to respond.
FAA - In Federal Register dated Dec. 18...Issued an airworthiness directive on Saab 2000 aircraft requiring replacement of parts of the standby pump of the No. 2 hydraulic system...Issued an AD on Douglas DC-9 series aircraft requiring inspection of the forward passenger doorjamb...Proposed an AD on Airbus A300-600 aircraft to require removing the fuel level sensing amplifier of the trim tank system...Revised a proposed AD on certain Douglas MD-8-/90 series aircraft concerning the evacuation slide pins.
DOT - Approved a two-year exemption renewal for Delta to provide scheduled foreign combination service between Atlanta and Cancun and Dallas/Fort Worth and Cancun and integrate the exemption with other exemption and certificate authority...Approved a two-year exemption renewal for Amerijet International to provide scheduled foreign combination service between Los Angeles and Mexico City, Guadalajara and Merida and to integrate the exemption with its authority to serve Mexico from Miami and Fort Lauderdale...Approved emergency authority for Air Aruba to operate three round
National Air Traffic Controllers Association says 84% of the candidates it endorsed in last fall's congressional elections were winners. The union said it contributed $591,000 to 217 campaigns - about $2,725 apiece, on average - and 178 of them "culminated in victory." NATCA attributed this success to a "high turnout of union voters" on election day.
National Transportation Safety Board yesterday released factual reports of its investigation into the May 12, 1997, inflight upset involving an American A300 near West Palm Beach, Fla. The board said the aircraft carried 155 passengers and nine crew when, at about 16,000 feet, it experienced a "substantial departure from controlled flight, including rapid roll rates, pitch oscillations and unusually large acceleration excursions.
Middle East Airlines will reduce fares 27-60% Jan. 20-Feb. 20, the period of Lebanon's third annual Shopping Festival, when shops, restaurants and sightseeing companies throughout the country offer discounts of as much as 50%. MEA's front-class (business) fare comes down to #585 (US$930) from #900 ($1,431) and economy drops to #225 ($358) from #308 ($490), plus taxes. Outbound travel must occur by Feb. 20 and return travel by March 5.
Delta, requesting a waiver of 90-day dormancy requirements on its seven U.S.-Japan frequencies for proposed Portland-Osaka nonstops, assured DOT that it remains committed to launch the service and continue development of Portland as a gateway to Asia. The carrier said it delayed launching the service due to economic conditions in Asia but has "firm plans" to begin serving the market in June 1999. Delta was awarded the frequencies in May, with a proposed startup date of Oct. 28. It began Portland-Osaka nonstops Oct. 29. (Docket OST-98-3419)
An Air Transport Association official yesterday tentatively endorsed the new administrative ticketing program FAA will introduce next June (DAILY, Dec. 23). Robert Frenzel, senior VP-aviation safety and operations, said the airlines have not seen the actual ticketing policy but from press releases, "it appears that [FAA Administrator Jane] Garvey did take industry concerns into account." The new policy has dropped "on-the-spot action" and now permits an appeal, Frenzel said. "This appears to be a step in the right direction."
Iridium LLC reached an agreement to buy Claircom Communications Group Inc., an inflight telephone services company, from AT&T and Rogers Cantel for $65 million in cash and debt, Iridium executives said yesterday. "We believe that Iridium having a presence in the airline industry is of critical importance to us globally." Leo Mondale, Iridium senior VP, said in a telephone conference.
American has signed a code-share agreement with Air Pacific to put the AA code on flights from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji. Air Pacific operates the route four times a week using 747s.
The City of Fort Worth will appeal DOT's declaration that federal law governing Love Field pre-empts conflicting local agreements and laws limiting routes or services of certificated airlines. "I think DOT prejudged the issue in June," said Fort Worth attorney Dee Kelly. "We think these are judicial issues that should be decided by the courts of Texas." In November, Texas District Judge Bob McCoy of Fort Worth denied a claim by Legend Airlines that Fort Worth was using a double standard in opposing Love Field service while developing Alliance Airport (DAILY, Nov.
Raytheon Premier I entry-level business jet made its first flight Dec. 22 from Beech Field in Wichita. The aircraft has an all-composite fuselage and wing skins made from a single piece of aluminum.
Gate Gourmet, Swissair's catering subsidiary, is moving into two new airport markets in Europe and the Far East. New services, operated jointly with Manila Integrated Airport Services and Kuwait Aviation Services, opened at Manila Airport last week, and on Jan. 1, Gourmet and partner Iberia will open a third joint flight kitchen in Spain at Barcelona Airport. The site employs 240 people and initially will provide meals for 140 daily flights.
Air Guadeloupe has taken delivery of the second ATR-42-500 turboprop it ordered in July. The airline's fleet of five ATR aircraft operates with merger partner Societe Martinique Aeronautique.
Malaysia Airlines is offering for sale through Fortis Aviation two 747-400s and one 747-300. The 747s are combis, with the -400s powered by CF6 engines and the -300 with JT9s. Fortis said several other aircraft also are available. MAS has experienced the same kind of financial problems as several other major Asian carriers due to the economic crisis in the region.
Canadian Airlines is marketing holiday fares, with discounts up to 85% for last-minute domestic and transborder travel on Christmas Day and beyond. Dates of travel include Dec. 25-Jan. 1 (except Dec. 29-30) and Jan. 5. Sample roundtrip fares are $299 Vancouver-Toronto, $389 Calgary-Honolulu and $219 Ottawa-Boston.
SAS is postponing a planned long-haul jet order because of weak market forecasts and stalling talks with unions. Airbus and Boeing have been competing for several months to win the favor of SAS, which is considering replacing its 14 767-300s with 777 or A330-A340 aircraft. A decision was expected at the end of the year, but an SAS spokesman said "it is not necessary to make a decision in 1998. If we want to, we can fly our 767s for several more years." Like many other large airlines, SAS expects traffic growth to slow down in 1999.
The Fedex Pilots Association (FPA) board voted 15-3 to recommend ratification of the latest tentative contract agreement. FPA President Frank Fato, in a recorded message to pilots, said the board met for more than 12 hours on Tuesday to review the tentative deal reached between FPA and the company last week. Fato said board members asked "specific and pointed questions" on each of the contract sections and side letters, especially on scope, work rules, scheduling, retirement, insurance, training and compensation.
