DOT extended the comment period on its proposed airport rates and charges policy yesterday from Dec. 30 to Jan. 31.The department acknowledged that industry groups, already attempting to reply to its proposed airport competitive practices by Dec. 31, need more time.
The European Commission approved a grant of 2.6 million European currency units (US$3.1 million) for the reconstruction of Sarajevo Airport. The funds will be used for the rehabilitation of the interior of the airport terminal, which was severely damaged during the war in Bosnia Herzegovina. Repairs are scheduled to be completed by April 1999. In total, the European Union will grant approximately ECU6.9 million ($8.1 million) for the rehabilitation of the facility.
TWA has named John Stelzer to the newly created position of senior VP-planning, subject to election by the TWA board of directors at its next meeting. Stelzer previously was VP-airline planning. He will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Gerald Gitner and will oversee revenue management and pricing, schedule development and implementation, and airline planning and forecasting. Stelzer was instrumental in setting up negotiations with Boeing and Airbus, a spokesman said.
FAA, which achieved its landmark contract agreement with its air traffic controllers this year, still considers labor relations one of its top priorities, according to Administrator Jane Garvey. "We still have a lot to do in this area," she said.
Dutch courier TNT has assumed total control of French courier Jet Services for an undisclosed amount. "We were at risk of becoming a dwarf in the European battlefield" for courier express services, said Roger Caille, Jet Services' founder. The takeover, announced last week, is another step in the gathering consolidation of the Europe's express mail market. The European sector was worth about 850 billion Belgian francs last year (US$510 million), of which the French market equaled BF180 billion ($108 million).
Continental was named one of the 100 best companies to work for in the U.S. by Fortune 500 magazine in a study conducted with the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco. The airline pointed to several activities that have improved worklife at the company since 1994, among them: - It has distributed more than a quarter billion dollars in profit-sharing and on-time bonus payments. - Absenteeism fell 31%. - Employee turnover dropped 52%. - On-the-job injuries were down 48%.
Continued reductions in mail carried by scheduled airlines produced a 1.2% drop in total cargo traffic of Air Transport Association members in October, ATA said. Freight and express traffic was up 0.1% from October 1997, to 1,728,226 revenue ton miles, but mail was off 12.2% to 193,888 RTMs. Domestic cargo fell 1.5% and international cargo 1%. Although the U.S. Postal Service is expanding ground transport and relying more on dedicated aircraft, freight and express traffic are growing steadily, ATA President Carol Hallett said.
A joint survey of members by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) on Year 2000 computer problems shows that "our segment of the industry has got their hands around this issue," Christopher Tebo, director of regulatory affairs for AAAE, told The DAILY yesterday.
DOT granted American a waiver, through March 29, 1999, of the 90-day dormancy provisions on its New York-Cuzco, Peru, frequencies. The carrier, which holds seven U.S.-Peru weekly combination frequencies, suspended service in the market Sept. 30. It told DOT it plans to resume service when economic conditions improve.
Boullioun Aviation Services said its purchase by Deutsche Bank from Sumitomo Trust&Banking of Tokyo was finalized yesterday after gaining regulatory approval. The $120 million purchase marks Deutsche Bank's entry into the commercial aircraft leasing business.
Northwest, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air said yesterday they have extended their marketing partnership agreement, in effect since 1988. The partnership includes code-share service, frequent flyer reciprocity, use of one another's airport lounges and "seamless" airport check-in and transfer service, Northwest said. The renewed agreement extends Alaska's partnership commitment with Northwest partners KLM and Air China. It also calls for Alaska to begin frequent flyer plan cooperation and code-share service with Northwest partner Continental.
Vanguard Airlines is adding two Denver-Kansas City roundtrip flights for a total of six daily roundtrips, beginning March 15, a move the Kansas City-based carrier hopes will help restart marketing partnership talks with Frontier. The new service will start up in conjunction with delivery of Vanguard's 10th 737-200. Vanguard VP-Marketing and Planning Russell Winter noted that "these additional flights will not only provide more low-fare connecting service between Denver and Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Minneapolis/St.
FAA plans to begin next June using a new, administrative ticketing program, a concept that has drawn vehement protest from nearly all segments of industry and unions. Administrator Jane Garvey said yesterday the "streamlined administrative action process" addresses the concerns expressed by aviation interests, however. For example, FAA's earlier proposal did not include provisions for appeal. The current plan allows seven days to respond.
United Express affiliate Air Wisconsin will introduce regional jet service from Madison, Memphis, Jackson and Fargo to Denver, United said yesterday. The new service will begin in February and March using 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets. Madison-Denver service will include two daily CRJ flights, beginning Feb. 1. United currently offers three daily flights with 737 jets and five daily United Express flights with BAe-146s. Two new daily CRJ Memphis-Denver flights will begin Feb. 11.
Dutch airline Transavia has signed an agreement with KLM and independent carrier Air Greece to offer a daily service to Amsterdam from the islands of Crete and Rhodes. Currently, Transavia offers two frequencies a week from the islands and KLM three daily flights from Athens, all to Amsterdam. The agreement with Air Greece will enable passengers from Crete and Rhodes to connect to KLM's Athens services for a small extra charge. Transavia predicts the agreement will boost its sales from Greece by at least 50%.
Horizon Air yesterday said it plans to acquire 25 new 70-seat Canadair Regional Jet Series 700 aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace. Deliveries of the $580 million order are to begin in the second quarter of 2002. The aircraft have a top speed of 530 miles per hour and a range of 2,283 miles. President George Bagley said they will replace Fokker aircraft.
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has asked President Clinton to support legislation to end statutory protection from antitrust laws for the airline industry. The ASTA letter supports one by TWA asking Clinton to repeal airline antitrust immunity and noting that TWA has had to struggle against competition by government-sanctioned alliances between U.S. and foreign carriers (DAILY, Dec. 9).
Boeing said yesterday it has established firm delivery dates for 25 aircraft in 1999 and 2000 to support Delta's fleet modernization program and provide for "modest" growth. The aircraft comprise 14 737-800s, eight 757-200s and three 767-300ERs. Boeing also confirmed 24 orders Delta announced previously, including 16 737-800s, six 757s and two 777-200ERs. The new aircraft will replace equipment being retired, including 727s. They will be replaced with 737-800s by 2005, and the 767s will replace L-1011s.
Private express couriers operating in Europe are up in arms at the German postal authority's latest move into their territory and want European Union competition authorities to review what they call "a very serious threat to the goal of fair competition in a fully liberalized European postal market." The European Express Organization (EEO) says the European Commission should prevent Deutsche Post AG (DP) from buying the Switzerland-based international freight forwarder, Danzas.
US Airways yesterday introduced an Air Travel Card that offers corporate travelers enhanced benefits and more travel information capabilities. including: - management reports to summarize travel patterns and itemize costs; - simplified record-keeping, payment and cost accounting data; - customized billing statements to detail and track air fare expenses; - flexibility to choose how and when to receive monthly billing statements as well as the number of statements to be received;
European Union competition authorities have approved the first of a two-step operation creating a joint venture to manage Eurostar Ltd., the company that offers high-speed train services between England and continental Europe. The services compete directly with European airlines for medium-distance travel between London and destinations across the English Channel. The European Commission has authorized the creation of of the Inter-Capital and Regional Rail (ICRR) joint venture to manage the Eurostar company.
FAA said it plans a $233,000 fine against Northwest for allegedly installing brakes improperly on two A320s that were subsequently used in revenue service. FAA said earlier this month it planned to fine the carrier $375,000 for alleged improper installation of a cable on a DC-9 wing assembly and then operating the aircraft. In the latest incident, FAA said maintenance personnel discovered a brake had been installed without the required modifications.
