Air Transport Association's (ATA) request to extend the deadline for comments on DOT's competition policy as it relates to airports is another anti-consumer attempt to defeat it, according to the Air Carrier Association of America (ACAA), which filed in opposition to ATA's petition. ATA also filed a freedom of information request for documents backing DOT assertions about leasing practices, gate allocation and other competition issues.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana this week dismissed most efforts by American Trans Air to recover charges for bogus bookings through the Sabre computer reservations system, dismissing the bulk of ATA's call for summary judgment against Sabre. Discovery procedures will go forward to determine whether Sabre has illegally favored carriers other than ATA in billing disputes. The parties also will go to trial to settle who pays for bogus bookings entered without a legitimate Airlines Reporting Corporation or IATA number.
Horizon Air on Sept. 27 will offer all-jet flights to its seven Montana destinations and increase service on many of its northwest routes. Horizon will nearly double the number of seats from Seattle to both Butte and Helena when it upgrades the aircraft on its three daily flights from 37-seat Dash 8s to 69-seat Fokker F28 regional jets. Horizon now offers jet service from Seattle to Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula, Mont.
American and Continental signed an agreement yesterday on use of two gates at Dallas Love Field. American will use Gate 41 and Continental Express Gate 42 "primarily," but American spokesman Mark Slitt said each airline will use the other's gate at times. Continental developed the gates, but Dallas airport authorities ordered it to share them with American under the provisions of its Love Field lease.
Debonair, the U.K.-based low-fare airline, will launch flights from London Gatwick Airport to Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 25, complementing daily departures from London Luton. Fares will start at #80 (US$127) one way and #114 ($181) roundtrip. Debonair will be based at Gatwick's South Terminal and share counter facilities with code-share partner AB Airlines. Since June 2, the two independent carriers have operated code-share service from Gatwick to Nice, Lisbon and Berlin, resulting in a steady traffic increase, particularly in the London-Nice market.
Mesa Air Group, as expected, has decided to move its Farmington, N.M., headquarters as well as its human resources and training facilities in the Dallas area to Phoenix. The carrier recently signed a new six-year code-
Alan Ota, transportation writer for Congressional Quarterly, will discuss pending aviation legislation on Aviation News Today, to air Sunday on Washington's NewsChannel 8 at 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Avteam, a supplier of aftermarket engines, parts and airframe components, said this week its second quarter net income doubled to $1.7 million and net sales rose to $21.1 million from $10.5 million, compared with the same quarter last year. Headquartered in Miramar, Fla., the company focuses on the purchase and resale of Pratt&Whitney JT8D engines and components. It recently expanded to include CMF56 engines.
Air China has added a fifth weekly flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Beijing, using either an Airbus A340 or a Boeing 747 Combi. The airline's cargo business at CDG is handled by Globe Air Cargo System. At the same time, China Eastern Airlines has awarded a contract to CDG-based Societe de Fret et de Services to handle new twice-weekly Paris-Shanghai A340 flights.
America West and its Air Line Pilots Association unit have reached an agreement on implementing major portions of their 1995 labor contract, ending a three-year impasse. The move, which comes after four months of negotiations, allows for implementation of preferential bidding, a computerized pilot scheduling system. The pact will now go before America West ALPA members for a ratification vote. Ballots will be mailed next week.
British Airways yesterday launched a two-for-one "Europe For Free" promotion that enables two U.S. passengers to reach several cities in Europe for as little as $468 roundtrip from Boston, New York or Newark. The fares, higher in BA's other 19 gateways, cover flights to Britain and to Paris, Rome, Nice, Madrid, Milan, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The fares are on sale through Sept. 3 and are valid for travel Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. BA said travel during November and December is available at "slightly lower prices."
Delta requested an exemption to engage in scheduled foreign combination service between the U.S. and Cotonou, Benin, giving DOT a 30-day notice in the same filing of its intention to code share with Sabena in the market under the carriers' blanket authority. Delta wants the exemption for an indefinite period, or at least two years. The carrier plans to list its designator code on Sabena flights between Brussels and Cotonou, beginning Sept. 6. Sabena operates three weekly roundtrips on the route using A330s.
Air Tahiti Nui said yesterday it will begin operations Nov. 20 on the Papeete, Tahiti, to Los Angeles route with three weekly flights. The Tahitian islands' first international airline expects to increase capacity on the route by 80%, using 286-seat Airbus A340-200 aircraft in a unique economy configuration. Business class will feature 2-2-2 seating, while economy class will use three aisles and a 2-2-2-2 configuration. The airline will play "a significant role in strengthening Tahiti's leading industry, tourism," said Nelson Levy, chairman.
City Airline of Sweden has taken delivery of its first Embraer ERJ- 145ER, a 50-seat regional jet powered by Rolls-Royce/Allison AE3007 engines. City Airline has the same ownership as the Salzburgerhoff hotel group in Austria. It was founded to offer nonstop jet services from Gothenburg to major European points.
Brussels-based Virgin Express yesterday reported second quarter net profits of 147 million Belgian francs (US$4 million), down from BEF168 million ($4.5 million) a year earlier due to higher operating expenses. The airline, confirming earlier speculation, said it is pursuing an Irish air operator's certificate and intends to operate under Irish rules by yearend. The change in corporate status is one of several moves Virgin Express is undertaking to improve its cost structure.
Aspen Mountain Air, despite assurances that it continues to serve all present destinations following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Aug. 7, has nevertheless agreed to a schedule for the return of its nine Fairchild Dornier 328s to the manufacturer, The DAILY has learned (DAILY, Aug. 11). The carrier also operates six Metros under the Lone Star Airlines banner.
The Boyd Group is repeating its warning that small airports will rebel against substandard regional airline service in the name of major-airline partners.
Las Vegas Airlines will take on dominant American Eagle in the Caribbean. Investor group Hermaton Co. recently acquired 51% of Las Vegas plus its certificate and will establish a new carrier - Virgin Islands International Airlines (VIIA) - in St. Thomas this fall. VIIA will operate three 34-seat Dash 8-100s from St. Thomas to St. Croix, Antigua and San Juan. Later expansion is planned for Northern California and "other locations to be determined." The company will continue its Grand Canyon airtour business with a fleet of eight-seat Navajos.
FAA is zeroing in on cost-accounting steps that will enable it to charge overflight fees based on the cost of providing the service, according to DOT's Office of Inspector General. FAA confirmed yesterday that "by mid-August we intend to have the initial data required to do the economic evaluation for a proposed rulemaking regarding overflights.
Fifteen regional airlines reported an average jump in traffic of 26.5% in July. Capacity was up an average 19.9%. United Express Atlantic Coast and Northwest Airlink Mesaba Holdings, which added to their regional jet fleets, topped 80% in traffic growth. ACA traffic shot up 85.1% versus an increase in capacity of 67.5%; Mesaba's traffic jumped 81.1% against a 75.1% hike in capacity.
British Airways, which suspended three weekly flights to Seoul in March, plans to stop service to Nagoya, Japan, in November, according to a securities filing.The carrier also will reduce frequencies to Osaka.
The International Association of Machinists (IAM), representing 27,000 Northwest workers, has asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release it from mediation and allow a 30-day cooling-off period that could lead to a strike. The carrier's machinists rejected four of five tentative contract agreements with the company (DAILY, Aug. 6) and voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a new settlement is not achieved.
Delta and Sabena will widen their code-share cooperation to cover a daily nonstop flight between Atlanta and Guatemala City, starting Aug. 24. Sabena will sell seats on the aircraft, a Boeing 757 operated by Delta.
