National Air Transportation Association yesterday praised authorization of a study of the adequacy of the U.S. airport network but joined the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in opposing proposed order-to-land authority in a Senate measure. NATA President James Coyne said an amendment by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) to the FAA reauthorization bill directs the General Accounting Office to prepare a study of the national airport network and its ability to meet air transportation needs over the next 15 years. The study will include remote airports and relievers.
Southampton Airport, U.K., which offers a network that connects the airport to 20 destinations in mainland Europe, the Channel Islands and major U.K. commercial centers, wants to attract new European business destinations. Its current strategy targets key German cities, including Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Berlin. Subject to slot availability, the new routes will start soon, the airport said.
Air France reported strong growth in traffic during April and May, the first two months of its 1998-99 fiscal year, but the 10-day pilots strike in June reduced the three-month increase to 1.8%. Even so, the load factor rose 0.6 percentage points to 74.8%. Medium-haul service was hit hard by the strike, resulting in a 4.8% drop in traffic on 3.6% less capacity. Long-haul operations showed 4.2% traffic growth on 2.9% more capacity.
A changing regulatory environment, increasing interest in alliances among Asian airlines and "trawling for new partners" by Delta mean the current major international alliance lineups are likely to change, according to a newly published Merrill Lynch analysis.
Belgium-based Delta Air Transport (DAT) still is committed to British Aerospace despite frustration over late deliveries. The current fleet of 26 aircraft - comprising six BAe 146s, 14 RJ85s and six RJ100s - will be boosted by another six RJ100s. Two to be delivered this year and four next year. Late deliveries of aircraft from British Aerospace have now reached a cumulative total of 365 days - a very sore point with DAT's management. The manufacturer blamed sub-contractors for the delays.
Crossair will expand its route network Oct. 25 with the start of its 1998-99 winter schedule. The main focus will be Switzerland-London, which will receive four new daily frequencies, and the carrier plans to launch Basel-Newark (U.S.) service in collaboration with parent airline Swissair. Crossair services between EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and London City Airport will be increased to three flights a day, all operated by Saab 2000 aircraft. Zurich-London City service will grow from three flights per day to four, all using Avro RJ85s.
DOT Inspector General said FAA is making progress in resolving two of the three "most significant deficiencies" in its ethics program for employees who must report on their financial interests and outside business activities. The OIG was following up on recommendations made by the Office of Government Ethics earlier this year. The OIG said FAA has not yet developed a method to ensure that these employees file confidential reports within 30 days of entering covered positions.
Northwest's International Association of Machinists unit, facing a mechanics representation challenge from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, hopes to set up its separate district for mechanics, cleaners and custodians by yearend, enabling the separate groups to elect representatives.Northwest unit spokesman Don Mayer said IAM has appointed a committee to hold meetings around the system in October to get input on the new district.He said the National Mediation Board has not decided the union's request to be released from mediation.
Ron Woodard, 55, former president of Boeing Commercial, will retire from the company Nov. 1. Woodard was replaced as president of the troubled company by Alan Mulally, 53, who had been president of Information, Space&Defense Systems (DAILY, Sept. 2).
U.K.-based Debonair Airways, signaling its intention to enter the small-package transport market, has signed an agreement with Pace Airlines Services to carry freight aboard its own British Aerospace 146-200 fleet throughout its European network. Pace, based at London Heathrow, has offices in Belfast, Birmingham, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kiev and Manchester. The company offers worldwide services and recently signed an agreement to serve five U.S. states - Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
AirTran is holding its first Internet exclusive sale, offering special fares at www.airtran.com. Tickets are available for purchase through Oct. 4 and are valid for travel between Oct. 3 and Dec. 16. Fares range from $39 to $69 one-way. They are not valid for travel on Sunday, Monday and Friday or between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30. They may be combined with regular fares to complete an itinerary. Sample one-way fares include $59 Atlanta-Washington/Dulles and $69 Boston-Fort Lauderdale.
U.S. Carriers Interest Expense Second Quarter 1998 Major Carriers % Of Total Interest Operating Expenses Alaska 3,369,000 0.97 America West 8,263,207 1.84 American 5,865,000 0.16 Continental 27,384,000 1.69 Delta 36,830,000 1.15
AccessAir Holdings asked DOT for exemption from high-density slot restrictions at New York LaGuardia, with the aim of providing nonstop service to LaGuardia from Des Moines, Iowa/Moline-Quad Cities, Ill., and Des Moines, Iowa/Moline-Peoria, Ill., filling what it called a void in a market with no direct service and insufficient indirect service. The carrier filed its application under Docket 97-3087, which DOT lists as "pending" in its Docket Management System.
Air Pacific Airlines, flag carrier of Fiji, took delivery of its first next-generation 737-700. The aircraft will form the nucleus of plans to increase flight frequency between Fiji destinations and major cities in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.
Northwest and KLM customers can receive and redeem discount certificates on Northwest's web site, at www.nwa.com, through upgrades the U.S. carrier implemented during the weekend. The carriers also have expanded booking capability to customers in Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the U.K. and Germany. The upgraded site has new features that ensure compatibility with other tools, such as WinCE and WebTV, that offer better Internet security and privacy guarantees.
Philippine government's decision to allow Cathay Pacific Airways to operate domestic services - made available by the demise of Philippine Airlines (PAL) - without considering local private operators has come under heavy criticism. Two carriers, Cebu Pacific Air (CPA) and Air Philippines (AirP), said the government should have evaluated the possibility of local carriers expanding their services before deciding on Cathay. "We were not even asked whether we had the aircraft to mount additional services.
Boeing Commercial has purchased GE Information Services' Enterprise System, a message manager and corporate gateway solution. Boeing said the system will enable it to exchange and track airplane design and parts information for commercial aircraft over the Internet and private data networks. It plans to use the system for traceability, auditability and accountability of all electronic exchanges of data related to aircraft design and parts between Boeing Commercial, suppliers, design partners and customers.
John Odegard, 57, dean of the University of North Dakota's aviation program, died Sept. 27 of cancer. Odegard founded UND's aviation program in 1968. It was granted status as a college in 1984 and Odegard was named dean.
Carriers, airport and community groups, the Air Line Pilots Association and the Justice Department have notified DOT that they intend to participate in the department's American-British Airways alliance antitrust immunity hearings. St. Louis, Georgia and Atlanta, Newark, Houston, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Denver parties will be represented at the hearing, scheduled Oct. 26-28 in Washington, as will Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and Massport.
Although airlines throughout the world are investing $1 billion collectively to tackle the Year 2000 computer issue, industry suppliers have barely emerged from the starting blocks, according to IATA. According to a presentation to the Interline Sales Marketing Conference yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, IATA's continuing survey of the world aviation business has found that many of the 5,000 suppliers it tracks rate lowest on Year 2000 progress.
Air New Zealand selected Emery Worldwide to handle the transport for its growing engine overhaul business. Emery will transport engines and associated freight for ANZ Engineering Services around the world.
Air Line Pilots Association National President Randolph Babbitt told the Aero Club of Washington yesterday he cannot "fathom why anyone in this country" would support cabotage, and he has concerns about easing restrictions on foreign ownership of airlines. Babbitt noted that no other country allows cabotage. With the U.S. generating about 50% of the world's aviation traffic, domestic airlines should consider whether cabotage would bring any benefits. He said attempts to allow more foreign ownership of domestic carriers could essentially mean handing over U.S.
