Canadian Airlines and code-share partner Alitalia will launch Toronto-Milan service this summer, offering five nonstops a week. The service begins June 1, and booking is available immediately.
SonicAir, a UPS Logistics Group company, said yesterday it will expand its repair operation in Louisville, Ky., making it one of the largest material recovery and repair operations in the nation. The move signals a continuation of SonicAir's growth into the service parts logistics market. The company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz.
DOT granted a joint motion by United Parcel Service and Polar Air Cargo, permitting UPS temporary use of two of the 16 Tokyo Narita slots awarded to Polar. The carriers told DOT that Polar "cannot use two of the awarded slots at this time." UPS will use the slots for U.S.-Tokyo-Taiwan all-cargo service. The action is effective through March 26, 2000. UPS received two Narita slots under the order granting the 16 slots to Polar, for the carriers' new all-cargo services under the 1998 U.S.-Japan bilateral (DAILY, Aug. 6, 1998).
The European Union's draft legislation banning hushkitted aircraft will be formally rubber-stamped by the EU's Council of Ministers "perhaps as soon as next Monday," an EU Council spokesman said yesterday in Brussels. The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states, which discusses EU decisions before formal confirmation by the ministers, unanimously agreed to pass through the new legislation "without any debate" at their meeting Tuesday in Brussels, the spokesman said. "No further discussion is required," he said.
FAA has commissioned its Multi-Sector Oceanic Data Link system at the Oakland, Calif., Ocean Air Traffic Control Center, contractor Raytheon Co. said. The commissioning follows several months of testing and controller training, the company said. The system provides controller-pilot data link communications over 18.7 million square miles of oceanic airspace.
Calls for caution about accepting the Global Positioning System (GPS) and its various augmentations as sole means of navigation are on the rise following release of a Johns Hopkins report endorsing the concept. Sieg Poritzky, head of the U.S.
Moody's Investors Service downgraded Aerospatiale's short-term debt rating for commercial paper to Prime-2 from Prime-1 to reflect the decline of the French government's "ownership in and implied support." The company is to be privatized.
Pressing its bid for all 67 additional summer season Chicago-London roundtrip frequencies, United urged DOT to use the same methodology by which it allocated additional winter capacity - progress toward "competitive parity" between American and United. DOT allocated 97 of 129 additional winter frequencies to United and 32 to American, bringing parity to the limited-entry market. American had 422, including its minimum entitlement of 390 under the bilateral, while United had 421, including its minimum entitlement of 324 (DAILY, Oct. 22, 1998).
The National Mediation Board has given America West and its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the green light to enter a 30-day cooling-off period yesterday and ending March 20. NMB on Feb. 8 declared an impasse in contract talks. The board will continue intensive mediation during the cooling-off period. The union is threatening CHAOS (Create Havoc Around Our System), which could mean a mass walkout for days or a week at a time, or flight attendants may walk off individual flights at random.
FAA yesterday issued an emergency directive requiring inspections of certain lap joints on Boeing 727 aircraft to detect fatigue cracking of the lower skin panel. Fatigue cracks could result in rapid decompression.
The Air Transport Association (ATA) board has endorsed a combination of FAA reforms and off-budget status for the aviation trust fund as its program for Congress's "Year of Aviation," Southwest Chairman, President and Chief Executive Herbert Kelleher said yesterday. Speaking at the Wings Club in New York, Kelleher laid out an ATA position that combines elements of the administration's FAA plan (DAILY, Feb. 4, 9), the trust fund proposals of Reps. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) and James Oberstar (D-Minn.) (DAILY, Jan. 7), and recommendations from study groups of recent years.
Southwest has signed a three-year contract with Todays Staffing, a subsidiary of CDI Corp., to provide managed staffing support. Todays Staffing will open an on-site managed staffing office at Southwest's Dallas headquarters March 1 to provide clerical, legal and financial support.
TWA lost money in 1998 for its 10th consecutive year, posting a net annual deficit of $120.5 million yesterday and a worse fourth quarter. The loss compares with a $110.8 million deficit in 1997. During the fourth quarter, losses of $79.1 million more than doubled the $31.2 million in red ink for the fourth quarter 1997. The losses came despite a 22.6% drop in the cost TWA paid for a gallon of jet fuel, which lowered fuel expenses more than $136 million during 1998.
A new study shows that sitting for more than four hours on a long trip, whether by plane, train or car, can raise one's risk of post-travel blood clots, a phenomenon that in rare cases can lead to the clot breaking off and blocking key blood vessels in the lungs.
Sabena will match other carriers and lower travel agent commissions in the U.S., beginning March 1. For U.S.-issued tickets, commissions will be 8%, with a maximum of $100 roundtrip and $50 one way.
A Kiwi International 727 stepped in a tarmac pothole during the weekend at Newark Airport. The jet, loaded with 162 passengers bound for Cancun, sank on pushback into a hole up to five feet wide and the wing nearly hit the ground. Four flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey claims no responsibility for the sinkhole.
Kitty Hawk and Hamilton Aviation said yesterday FAA has approved their alternative means of compliance with an order to modify the floors of 727s converted to cargo aircraft. Kitty Hawk said its modification will allow an aircraft to operate using all effective payload for the life of the airframe. Kitty Hawk said it plans to market its modification package to other cargo operators. Hamilton Aviation And Wagner Aeronautical said their approval will allow 8,000-pound loads to be carried in pallet positions two through six and nine through 11.
Ansett Australia has sold its majority stake of 68.2% in Diners Club Ltd., the Australian firm that operates as a franchise of parent Diners Club International, to raise funds to invest in expansion. Ansett Executive Chairman Rod Eddington said the carrier intends to concentrate on its core business and is evaluating the sale of all other non-airline business to help it embark on a fleet renewal program. All funds derived from the sales will go toward paying for new fuel-efficient, modern-technology aircraft.
British Aerospace yesterday resurrected its BAe146/Avro RJ as the Avro RJX, its offering in the already crowded market for large regional jets. BAe is offering the aircraft with four new AS977 engines from AlliedSignal. Alan Stiley, VP sales and marketing, told aviation reporters in Washington that BAe has authority from its board to offer the RJX conditionally in 70-seat, 85-seat and 100-seat variants.
Malaysia Airlines is offering a free upgrade to business class for North American passengers who purchase a full-fare economy ticket to Asia. Full-fare business-class passengers get the same automatic upgrade to first class, and both premium cabin passengers can receive complimentary chauffeur service to and from the airport. The offer is valid through Nov. 30.
TWA is offering Elite and Elite 1 members of its Aviators program unlimited domestic upgrades, beginning March 1. Platinum-level members already are entitled to the upgrades. The new policy eliminates the need for Elite and Elite 1 members to earn, purchase or carry upgrade certificates.
Denver-based Frontier reported a 38% gain in traffic on 31.7% more capacity for January, compared with the same 1998 month, which boosted the load factor 2.6 percentage points to 55.9%. Frontier flew 143.1 million revenue passenger miles and 255.9 million available seat miles. Boardings grew 44.1% to 166,322.
