EVA Airways said yesterday it has inaugurated cargo services directly linking Taiwan and Texas with three flights a week between Taipei and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. DFW is EVA's 17th cargo destination and its second in the U.S. this year, following the January launch of Chicago service. DFW carriers exported $365 million in semiconductors and $267 million in aerospace products to Asia last year. Foreign flag cargo between DFW and the Asia-Far East corridor increased 58% last year.
Virgin Express October traffic jumped 28.3% on 20% more capacity, boosting the load factor 4.9 percentage points to 75.5%. The airline carried nearly 230,000 passengers, 55,000, or 31.2%, more than in October 1997. Charter block hours fell 18.8%.
FAA said last week it will propose that foreign carriers flying to and from the U.S. operate under security measures that are "identical" to those imposed on U.S. airlines serving the same airports. FAA has required "similar" levels of security since 1991, but Congress mandated in 1996 that the measures be identical. FAA said it will use the civil aviation security standards in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation as a baseline. FAA said all carriers flying into and out of the U.S.
Northwest yesterday become the sixth carrier - behind United, Delta, Continental, American and Canadian - to cut travel agent commissions on tickets purchased in the U.S. and Canada for international travel to 8% with a $100 cap on roundtrip (C$140) and $50 on one-way travel (C$70).
The Independent Association of Continental Pilots (IACP) has withdrawn from the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA). In a letter to CAPA Chairman Michael Cronin, IACP President Bill Borrelli said the IACP board decided it will not officially affiliate with CAPA, "thus we cannot adopt, nor be a signatory to, CAPA's Proposed Statement of Solidarity Principles or the proposed constitution and bylaws.
Air France traffic for October rose 9.1% to 6.7 billion revenue passenger kilometers, while capacity grew 8% to 8.6 billion available seat kilometers. The load factor was 78%, up 0.8 percentage points. Cargo traffic fell 4.4% to 441 million freight ton kilometers.
DOT should not grant slot exemptions to United and its affiliated carriers until American and American Eagle have achieved slot parity, American Eagle argued in a filing at DOT last week. American Eagle is seeking slot exemptions to provide nonstop service from Greenville/Spartanburg. The carrier filed in reply to United and United Express's opposition to awarding the slots to American Eagle.
Boeing Business Jets delivered its first aircraft this week, one to its partner General Electric and one to an undisclosed customer. Borge Boeskov, president of BBJ, said the order book stands at 46.
US Airways and its Association of Flight Attendants unit have reached a tentative contract that covers US Airways Shuttle flight attendants and their integration with mainline operations. The agreement is subject to the approval of the union's Master Executive Council and the membership.
American asked DOT yesterday to allot it seven weekly combination frequencies to fly Chicago O'Hare-Rome, and it proposed a carrier selection proceeding. American faces competition from Delta and US Airways, which also filed for frequencies to serve Italy. American wants to start Chicago-Rome service April 1 using 767-323ER aircraft. In its filing, the carrier said it holds underlying authority to serve the route.
America West yesterday turned down a request by its Association of Flight Attendants unit for arbitration of its contract dispute. AFA said it will immediately ask the National Mediation Board for release from mediation.
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) has surrendered her House Transportation Committee seat to fill a Republican vacancy on the House Appropriations Committee. Emerson and Rep. John Sununu (R-N.H.), both starting their second terms in the new Congress, were named to Appropriations by the Republican Steering Committee. Appropriations subcommittee assignments may come next month or in January, when the new session starts, at the discretion of the chairman, committee sources said. Rep.
Philippine Airlines lost 6.09 billion pesos (US$150 million) in the six months to Sept. 30, nearly three times the net loss of 2.12 billion pesos in the first half of fiscal 1997, according to Reuters. Revenue fell 33% to 11.74 billion pesos ($296 million) from 17.58 billion. Newspaper reports from the region during the weekend suggest that the staggering loss could scuttle a rescue effort by Cathay Pacific.
Jerry Murphy has resigned as president and chief executive officer of Kiwi International Airlines, a position he has held since September 1995, the company said yesterday. Chairman Charles Edwards will be interim chief executive, and Jimmie Player, chief financial officer, has been named interim president. Edwards said Kiwi was "saddened" by Murphy's departure. "In addition to keeping the company together during bankruptcy in 1997, he contributed significantly to Kiwi's improvement in 1998.
AeroMexico traffic for October grew 3.7% to 892 million revenue passenger kilometers, while capacity gained 9.1% to 1.4 billion available seat kilometers. For the first 10 months, traffic increased 8% and capacity 6.6%.
Kiwi International Airlines reported a 56% jump in traffic on 36% more capacity for the third quarter 1998, compared with the third quarter last year, which pushed the load factor up 9 percentage points to 67%. Kiwi flew 226.5 million revenue passenger miles on 339 million available seat miles. Passengers carried climbed 23% to 211,572.
Memphis-based Express I Airlines, which flies as Northwest Airlink, posted a 23.7% decline in traffic on 13.5% less capacity in October, compared with October last year, which depressed the load factor 7.4 percentage points. The downturn was caused by the 15-day Northwest pilot strike in September, said Chief Executive and President Philip Trenary. Express flew 24.6 million revenue passenger miles and 44.6 million available seat miles, creating a 55.2% load factor. Passengers flown declined 8.3% to 111,158.
Reno Air reported a 10.1% drop in traffic on 8.5% less capacity in October, compared with the same month last year, causing a 1-percentage-point drop in the load factor. Reno, to be acquired by American (DAILY, Nov. 20), flew 224.4 million revenue passenger miles and 371.3 million available seat miles, creating a 60.5% load factor. Passengers boarded declined 12.6% to 404,280. Year-to-date RPMs were down 2.1% on 0.4% fewer ASMs, lowering the load factor 1.1 points. Passengers flown declined 3.7%.
Northwest will double its seasonal Tokyo-Anchorage flights during the peak 1999 summer season. The carrier will operate two weekly roundtrips from May 30 to Oct. 3, using 281-seat DC-10s. Northwest operated a weekly 747 during summer 1998. The airline estimates that its service to Anchorage contributes $21 million to Alaska's economy. The service connects with Northwest's flights from Tokyo to Asia and partner Alaska Airlines' flights from Anchorage to other points in Alaska.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic Second Quarter 1998 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (Miles) (000) Change Alaska 3,108 6.53 850 2,640,718 9.48
FAA yesterday certified the eXaminer 3DX 6000 explosives detection system (EDS), manufactured by L-3 Communications of New York. The new EDS joins the CTX 5000 and 5500 systems made by InVision Technologies. Both firms' systems work on computed tomography (CAT scan) technology to detect a wide range of explosives. Cathal Flynn, FAA associate administrator for civil aviation security, said the eXaminer 3DX advances the agency's goal of providing competition among EDS manufacturers.
WestJet Airlines posted record third quarter pre-tax earnings of C$6.5 million (US$4.2 million). The profits were on revenues of C$38.7 million ($28.5 million), giving the carrier a pre-tax margin of 16.8%. Total revenue was up 60%, and charter and other revenues more than doubled to C$1.8 million. Net profit rose 6.7% to C$3million ($1.9 million). The record levels were remarkable in that WestJet grew year-over-year capacity 73% and spent C$12.5 million in the quarter for deposit agreements to purchase four additional aircraft.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic Second Quarter 1998 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (Miles) (000) Change Alaska 213 8.18 1,107 235,569 12.79
Air Canada named Douglas Port senior VP-corporate affairs and government relations. Port was senior VP-international. He will be succeeded in that position by Danielle Poudrette, previously senior director-integrated customer solutions.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey yesterday appointed William Davis deputy associate administrator for Civil Aviation Security, Nick Lacey director of Flight Standards Service and Elizabeth Erickson director of Aircraft Certification Service. The Davis and Erickson appointments took effect immediately and Lacey will join FAA in January. Tom McSweeny, associate administrator for Regulation and Certification, said the appointees "were selected for their technical expertise and their leadership skills." McSweeny, who was named to his post Oct.
