Just days after he took over the reins of Aerolineas Argentinas, former American Airlines executive David Cush signed a deal with newly formed AeroVip S.A., an Argentine Jetstream 32 carrier. AeroVip, led by Chairman Bartolo Cuffia, will operate six aircraft to feed Aerolineas in Cordoba, according to Miami-based Aviation Management Services. The proposed startup date for the feeder operation is Feb. 28. AeroVip, which has been negotiating with Aerolineas and its Austral subsidiary for 12 months, will operate the J32s in Aerolineas's livery.
The Air Transport Association of Canada will conduct its 64th annual general meeting Nov. 15-17 in Victoria, British Columbia. Sessions will focus on industry efforts to prepare for the Year 2000, safety, flight operations, engineering and maintenance and airport user charges. Aircraft and system manufacturers and other suppliers will exhibit at a trade show. ATAC also will present its annual report.
Community leaders will join Northwest flight attendants at rallies scheduled today at 12 locations, the union said. Flight attendants will appear in uniform with signs, distributing flyers to the public. At most events, flight attendants, represented by the Teamsters, will make donations to local food banks, battered women's shelters and other charities. The union said community groups, religious leaders and elected officials are expected to turn out in support of the flight attendants, who have been trying to negotiate a new contract for more than two years.
Best Western International has joined Delta's frequent flyer program. Delta SkyMiles members can earn at least 250 miles for each qualified stay at a Best Western hotel in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, South America or Central America, and 500 bonus miles for three non-consecutive stays at Best Westerns in the U.S., Canada or the Caribbean Nov. 1-Feb. 28.
The Sabre Group will provide a Year 2000 compliance support program for travel agencies under an agreement with CompUSA. All Sabre-connected travel agencies in North American may contact Comp-USA to receive free consultation on the Y2K readiness of their non-Sabre hardware and software systems. CompUSA is offering Y2K support services at reduced rates to Sabre-connected agencies, complementing the Y2K-ready hardware and software that Sabre provides its agency customers.
Dow Chemical and United Technologies Corp. are selling their 50-50 joint venture, Dow-United Technologies Composite Products Inc., to GKN Westland Aerospace. The unit had revenues of $80.2 million in 1997. Operating in more than 40 countries, GKN produces flight-critical structures, systems and equipment. The joint venture company manufacturers composites for complex aircraft structures and engines.
Willis Lease Finance reported record third quarter net income of $2.5 million, up 71% from a year earlier. Revenues rose 40% to a record $20.1 million. For the year to date, net income before extraordinary items increased 76% to $6.6 million and revenues grew 34% to $53.5 million.
Great Lakes Aviation, operating as United Express, reported a record third quarter net profit of $4.9 million, up from a loss of $1 million last year when it reduced service levels after a midyear shutdown. Passenger revenue increased to $30.5 million in the 1998 quarter from $18.2 million, while expenses were $30.4 million versus $20.1 million. The quarter was the best in the airline's history. Public service revenue jumped 159% to $4.2 million and cargo, charter and other revenue grew 152% to $1.5 million.
Qantas will begin its first direct flights between Brisbane and Rome, via Bangkok, and reintroduce service to Paris, the carrier said yesterday. The new Brisbane-Bangkok leg, which started yesterday, also will connect with service from Bangkok to both London and Frankfurt. Brisbane-Rome will operate twice weekly. Service to Paris departs Australia three times a week and operates via Singapore. Paris is Qantas's fourth European destination. Both new flights use Boeing 747s.
Boeing 747 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Second Quarter 1998 B747-100 United Total Number of Aircraft Operated 6 6 Total Fleet Operations Departures 10 10 Block Hours 57 57
American Eagle requested exemption from the high-density rule at Chicago O'Hare for three slots to operate three daily nonstops to Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. The carrier, which plans to begin the service in January 1999 using 50-seat Embraer 145 aircraft, said it "will provide three additional slots of its own" to complete the service pattern. Travel from Greenville/Spartanburg to O'Hare has involved "highly circuitous" service with inferior connections, Eagle said.
British Airways will add service from London Gatwick this winter to 10 points it did not serve last winter. On Tuesday, the airline began its first nonstop service from Gatwick to San Jose, Costa Rica, and it will offer new winter flights to Cancun, Tobago, Denver, Trieste, Ljubljana, Dhahran, Abidjan and Vilnius. BA's service to Buenos Aires/Santiago will operate daily except Tuesdays. London-Orlando will have daily service, and the carrier is adding a weekly nonstop flight to Mauritius.
United and China Southern Airlines have signed a connection marketing agreement that the Chinese carrier said provides "the framework for a mutually beneficial marketing and operational relationship." China Southern has a marketing and code-share agreement with Delta, signed in April 1997. "This is a level down from a full alliance," said United spokesman Joe Hopkins, noting the absence of frequent flyer linkages and code sharing. The pact will give China Southern greater visibility in both United's timetable and computer reservations displays.
Texas startup carrier Legend Airlines, in a meeting with FAA officials, officially applied for a Part 121 certificate, the final step in its certification process. Legend President and Chief Executive Allan McArtor said, "Legend has already passed one rigorous test by receiving its preliminary fitness certificate from the Department of Transportation.
Northwest and Air China yesterday began code sharing across the Pacific and explained how they intend to divide their U.S. focus, with Northwest in the eastern U.S. and Air China in the West. In May, the carriers signed a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement that also includes Alaska Airlines, Continental and America West. The team now offers marketing access for Air China to "virtually 100%" of cities in North America, said Mike Levine, Northwest's senior VP-marketing and international.
Vanguard Airlines is offering a fare sale for three days only. Customers must purchase tickets by tomorrow, and travel must be completed by March 31. Sample one-way fares for nonstop flights include $39 Atlanta-Myrtle Beach or Chicago Midway-Kansas City and $59 Atlanta-Kansas City.
American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is asking the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) to postpone implementing its new mandatory test for Certified ARC Specialists (CAS) until low-cost, accessible training is available. Beginning Jan. 1, ARC's new rule requires a CAS qualifier for new locations and certain types of ownership changes. ASTA opposes ARC's imposition of CAS testing of current ownership.
Air Tahiti Nui will join the Airlines Reporting Corporation as a participating carrier effective Nov. 9. From its homebase in Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, the carrier will operate nonstop to Los Angeles three times weekly using A340-200 aircraft.
United Express will upgrade its daily Fargo, N.D.-Chicago O'Hare roundtrips from Great Lakes Brasilia to Atlantic Coast Canadair Regional Jet service, beginning Dec. 15. RJ service between Fargo and Denver is planned in the first quarter of 1999. DOT also has approved replacement of two of Great Lakes' four daily O'Hare-Sioux Falls, S.D. Brasilia roundtrips by ACA CRJs.
Boeing 737, Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day, Second Quarter 1998 Boeing 737 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Second Quarter 1998 B737-200 America West Continental Delta Southwest Number of Aircraft Operated 43 70 13 190 Total Fleet Operations
China Airlines has taken delivery of its first 737-800 aircraft, said by Boeing to be "uniquely equipped" with Sony LCD video displays and Sony audio CD players. The Taiwanese carrier configured its initial 737-800 to carry 158 passengers, including eight in business class. The 15 aircraft on order will be used between Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taipei and Okinawa, and Kaohsiung and points in Southeast Asia.
Boeing said yesterday that a second 717, "the only new 100-seat airplane currently in production," has entered the flight test and certification program. This airplane will be used to develop and certify the avionics. Boeing said the first 717, which flew for the first time Sept. 2, has made 55 flights totaling more than 100 hours. A third aircraft will join the program in December, followed by the first production customer model next February. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in mid-1999.
American and regional subsidiary American Eagle are introducing low-cost fares for the Thanksgiving holidays for $108-$318 roundtrip. Outbound travel must begin Nov. 23 or Nov. 26 and return must occur on Nov. 26 or Nov. 27. Tickets are on sale through Nov. 23.
Federal Express and its pilots union, the Fedex Pilots Association (FPA), will resume contract talks today in Memphis, but the two sides still are far apart on important pay and work rule issues, FPA said yesterday. The union, which claims it remains under the National Mediation Board's release from mediation of several years ago when pilots were represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, is committed to an agreement, FPA VP Byron Cobb told The DAILY. He added, however, that the union will not back off from a holiday strike if the talks fail.
