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.
American subsidiary Bonanza Acquisitions has acquired a majority of shares in Reno Air, completing a major portion of the merger between the two airlines. American spent more than $111 million in cash to acquire 84.5% of Reno's common stock and 99% of preferred shares. "Now that we have the majority of the shares, we'll work to acquire the remainder," said American spokesman Tim Kincaid. "The next step is to consummate the merger - all the many details." When completed, American will spend $124 million for Reno.
Merrill Lynch lowered its fourth quarter earnings estimates for American, Delta, United and US Airways, following earlier downgrades for Continental and Northwest. The investment firm cited weak unit revenue performance due to Northwest's post-strike sales, the lack of a U.S. fare increase and effects of upheavals in financial markets.
New Aircraft Orders And Options September 1998 Last 12 Months Firm Orders Options Orders Options Carrier # Type # Type Engines Del. Dates # Type # Type Air New Zealand* 1 747-400 - CF6-80C2 Sep98 3 737-300 - Air New Zealand - - - - 1 747-400 -
Delta and its Air Line Pilots Association unit will begin talks in February on pay and work rules for Boeing 777 aircraft, said Master Executive Council Chairman Chuck Giambusso.The union named negotiators recently and adopted a plan stipulating pay increases and work rules for flying the new equipment - and job actions if the pilots and the company can't reach a deal.
United is offering holiday fares through its Internet site, www.ual.com. Customers must click on the E-Fares page. Discount fares are available for $69-$299 roundtrip in designated markets. Outbound travel must occur Dec. 24 or 25 and return Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. Sample roundtrip fares are $69 Tuscon-Los Angeles, $99 Des Moines-Chicago and $299 Phoenix-Washington Dulles.
Creditors for Philippine Airlines, including aircraft lessors, have rejected a proposed financial reorganization that would have injected $150 million into the airline but given little money to the companies that have been keeping the airline afloat. The latest setback for PAL could be its last, since creditors involved in this week's decision lease more than half the 22-jet fleet that is currently operational. Creditors, who lease 12 Airbus A330s and A340s to the carrier, were represented by French bank Credit Agricole Indosuez.
Jack Schenendorf, chief of staff to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, discusses the panel's agenda for 1999 on Aviation News Today, to air Sunday on Washington's NewsChannel 8 at 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Raleigh/Durham-based Midway Airlines will begin two new daily nonstop jet flights to New Orleans Feb. 4 instead of Feb. 8 as previously announced. Service will be aboard a new Canadair Regional Jet. Senior VP-Marketing and Sales Mark Coleman said the service was pushed up to accommodate passengers going to New Orleans early for Mardi Gras Feb. 16.
TAM Brazilian Airlines, which recently began Miami-Sao Paulo nonstop service, is adding flights from Sao Paulo to Recife and Fortaleza, in northern Brazil. The flights use A330-200s and connect with TAM's Super Shuttle service, including 20 daily flights from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro and 11 to Belo Horizonte.
Carriers may operate "largely unrestricted service" from Dallas Love Field as long as they use aircraft with no more than 56 seats consistent with the Shelby Amendment, DOT said late Tuesday in a declaratory order aimed at resolving legal issues in local disputes. Operations at the airport are subject to federal law, which "does not permit the local restrictions as presently constituted," DOT said. Ruling on federal issues regarding Love Field operations, DOT cited U.S.
U.S. Carriers Labor Expense Third Quarter 1998 Major Carriers % Of Total Labor Operating Expenses Alaska 126,185,000 34.14 America West 107,125,999 23.92 American 1,196,359,000 32.19 Continental 464,467,000 26.14 Delta 1,066,491,000 32.11
TAP Air Portugal posted a 9.2% rise in revenue passenger kilometers for October and an 8% year-to-date increase. The airline carried 382,000 passengers in October, up 8.2%, and 3.9 million in the first 10 months, up 9.7%.
Travelocity.com is offering discounts on tickets on TWA for customers who book travel through the web site. By purchasing an electronic ticket, customers can receive up to $100 in savings for travel on TWA within the U.S. and to Toronto. Discounts depend on the price of the tickets, which must be purchased by Dec. 30. A maximum discount of $30 off fares of $150 or more is available to customers who purchase their e-tickets for travel originating in St. Louis. Travel must be completed by March 31. Discounts are valid for travel Monday through Thursday and Saturday.
Air Line Pilots Association and DHL Airways yesterday ratified a new five-year labor contract after a relatively painless set of negotiations. The agreement, approved by 93% of DHL pilots, provides for better job security and scheduling and improves compensation and retirement benefits. "In this tumultuous era of acrimonious airline labor negotiations, we have proven that an environment of cooperation really does work, and benefits all parties involved," said Captain Dan Brannan, chairman of the ALPA unit at DHL.
Washington-based Harbor Air has launched an updated and enhanced web site at www.harborair.com. The new site offers more information on the carrier, its history and its services, including up-to-date flight schedules, route system and photos of the fleet.
Nuance Global Traders, SAirGroup's travel retail subsidiary, has negotiated more favorable business terms for its operations at two airports hit by the downturn in Asia's economy. At Hong Kong's new Chek Lap Kok Airport, Nuance Global and its Asian-based retailing partner, Watson, have agreed with airport authorities on improved concession fees for 25 sales outlets. The outlets started operations in July with the airport's opening. Nuance also struck improved rental and concession terms with Vancouver Airport.
Austrian Airlines, aiming to become a smoke-free carrier in 1999, will ban smoking on all flights within Europe and to Northern Africa, starting Jan. 1. Currently, it prohibits smoking only on transatlantic flights. The final phase will start March 28 with the carrier's summer season, when all services will become smoke-free.
Northwest as of midday yesterday was forced to cancel about 64 departures and 68 arrivals in Memphis because of weather. Memphis experienced severe icing on runways, ramps and aircraft surfaces. Northwest said it expects further cancellations and delays, and a spokeswoman said travelers should contact the airline's web site at www.nwa.com or call 800-225-2525 for information.
United and Air Canada will expand their code share in January by adding flights to Mexico City and Auckland. Air Canada's code will be placed on United's flights between Los Angeles and Auckland and between Chicago and Mexico City. United said it is a "significant step" for the alliance, since the partnership initially was designed to capture additional traffic between the U.S. and Canada. Code sharing on Los Angeles-Auckland will start Jan. 17 and Chicago-Mexico City Jan. 25.
Air France denied American's claim that it controls Paris airport slot allocations "any more than American controls, or is involved in, the reciprocal FAA slot allocation process." Slot allocation procedures in France are consistent with European Commission regulations, Air France told DOT. American, unsuccessful in seeking slots at Paris Orly Airport for Los Angeles service, charged that Air France has strong links to the slot allocation authority - it is headed by a former employee who is expected to return to the carrier (DAILY, Dec. 21).
