Skymall and TheTrip.com, an Internet travel service for business travelers, are kicking off a three-month promotion awarding one million ClickPoints from ClickRewards to one customer. To enter, users must fill out a profile at www.thetrip.com/skymall by Sept. 30. The winner will be selected from the profiles. One million ClickPoints can be redeemed for one million frequent flyer miles on participating airlines or other prizes offered by ClickRewards.
DOT extended Great Lakes Aviation's obligation to continue its current essential air service (EAS) at Fairmont, Minn., Norfolk, Neb., and Yankton, S.D., through Aug. 24. Great Lakes, which earlier filed notices at DOT of its intention to terminate its subsidized United Express EAS at the communities, has informed DOT that it is preparing a proposal.
The boards of directors of the U.S. Travel Agent Registry (USTAR) and its international counterparts will hold a Genesis Worldwide Travel Agency Association Summit in London Sept. 22-23 to share information about the progress of the not-for-profit computer reservations system. Directors of CSTAR in Canada, ESTAR in Europe and ASTAR in Australia will join with USTAR, chief executives and senior officials from travel agency associations worldwide to review the development and strategic growth plan for Genesis.
General Electric's newest CT7 turboprop the CT7-9C3, which will power CASA's CN-235-300, has received FAA certification. The engine offers a baseline power increase of about 5% and improved hot/high altitude takeoff performance compared to current CT7-9 models and is "fully interchangeable with existing installations," said Program Director Bill Coon.
Las Vegas Airlines has begun trading its common stock on NASDAQ's OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "LASV," the carrier announced. The company, whose Nevada subsidiary has operated charter and commuter flights at Las Vegas for 23 years, announced in May that it would begin commuter service in the U.S. Virgin Islands through its subsidiary V.I. International Airlines in October 1998. Las Vegas Airlines holds the operating certificate under which V.I. Airlines will provide inter-island flights.
As promised when first outlined, the European Commission this week published in its Official Journal its detailed conditions for the American- British Airways and United-Lufthansa-SAS alliances (DAILY, June 18). Airline officials are just beginning their analysis for a 60-day comment- and-answer period, but American's VP-government affairs, Will Ris, said yesterday a first look shows the proposals remain "excessive and in some particular cases anticompetitive themselves."
Boeing 727-200 and 737, Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day, First Quarter 1998 B727-200 American Continental Delta Number of Aircraft Operated 78 33 129 Total Fleet Operations Departures 272 106 679 Block Hours 662 274 1,163 Flight Hours 550 227 930
Reno Air, recovering from an $8.6 million loss in the first quarter, reported a $1.04 million second quarter profit after restructuring charges of $725,000. Operating revenue increased 1.4% to $98.8 million and operating expenses totaled $95.7 million. Unit cost dropped from 8.4 cents to 8.1 cents as Reno operated fewer aircraft in fewer markets, said Chief Financial Officer Steve Jackson. Fuel costs fell from $16.8 million in the second quarter last year to $13.3 million. Yield rose from 11.4 cents to 12 cents.
Taiwan domestic carriers Uni Air, Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways have completed their merger, with the new Uni Airways becoming the island's second largest domestic airline. Meanwhile, however, Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) announced that it will place the newly merged company on a special watch list following a series of incidents in which at least four Uni aircraft experienced mechanical failure within a single week. Three of the incidents involved BAe 146-type aircraft.
Toronto-based Orenda Recip has won a manufacturing certificate from Transport Canada for the OE-600A liquid-cooled V-8 aero engine, the manufacturer announced this week. The engine recently won Type Approvals from Transport Canada in March and the U.S. FAA in May. The manufacturing ticket paves the way for a production start, Orenda noted.
Debonair Airways, U.K.-based low-fare airline, will add special services for all passengers this fall, including complimentary light meals, dedicated check-in and Fast Track service for the 8,000 members of its new frequent flyer club. Chairman and Chief Executive Franco Mancassola confirmed his carrier will retain its low-fare policy but added that it is appropriate "to enhance what is already a quality product." More than 50% of Debonair's passengers fly on business, which prompted the launch of the frequent flyer program.
Rolls-Royce said it won an order from Arkia Airlines of Israel for RB211- 535 engines to power two firm and two option 757-300 aircraft. Rolls valued the order at up to $60 million. First deliveries will be in early 2000.
Following Japan's go-ahead for startup carrier Skymark (DAILY, July 28), independent carrier Hokkaido International Airlines (Air Do) hopes to gain its business license soon. Air Do wants to start service Oct. 30 with three daily roundtrips between Tokyo and Sapporo, Hokkaido Island, using a leased 767-300. It plans to lease two more 767-300s to launch Osaka- Sapporo flights within two years. Air Do's proposed Tokyo-Sapporo one-way fare would be 17,000 yen ($US120), compared with 25,000 yen ($177) offered by Japan's three major carriers.
Air Force One was AMR Services' first refueling customer at Hong Kong's new Chek Lap Kok Airport. AMR Services also provides baggage handling at the airport, its first venture in the Asia/Pacific region. It provided a special "secure fuel" for President Clinton's 747 and a backup 707.
Northwest's International Association of Machinists voted yesterday on the latest tentative contract agreement, and IAM's leadership is not predicting the outcome. Ballots will be counted next Tuesday in Minneapolis. Northwest has about 27,000 IAM members at 139 locations.
U.S. National Carriers Productivity, In RPMs and ASMs Per Employee, First Quarter 1998 Revenue Available Passenger Seat Miles Miles Total (000) (000) Employees AirTran Airlines 396,804 761,843 1,920 Aloha 206,776 300,930 2,265
House Transportation aviation subcommittee hearing on DOT Secretary Rodney Slater's African initiative, congressional review of bilateral agreements and the European Commission's position on alliances has been rescheduled from this morning to 1 p.m. today, Room 2167, Rayburn.
The first of the next-generation 737-700 derivative Boeing Business Jets was rolled out Monday from the company's Renton, Wash., factory. BBJ, a joint venture with General Electric, has 29 orders. The derivative combines the fuselage of the 737-700 with the strengthened wings and landing gear of the larger, heavier 737-800, providing a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles. It is powered by CFM56-7 engines and can reach a cruising speed of 0.82 Mach, or 550 miles per hour.
Navia Aviation received a contract from NavCanada to deliver and install a Nova 9000 surface movement guidance and control system at the Toronto Airport. The contract is the Oslo, Norway-based company's first major deal in North America and one of its largest air traffic control contracts. The turnkey contract calls for 10 controller working positions and two X-band surface movement radars.
U.S. National Carriers Productivity, In Revenues and Expenses Per Employee, First Quarter 1998, In Dollars Total Total Operating Operating Revenues Expenses Total (000) (000) Employees AirTran Airlines 70,032 75,535 1,920 Aloha 59,053 56,191 2,265
Major airlines flatly contradict assertions that they are guilty of predatory activity and that DOT is acting within its authority in proposing competition rules. American's argument in comments filed at DOT is typical, stating the policy miscomprehends antitrust laws and cannot be implemented without violating Title 49 U.S. Code Section 41712 - the same section DOT supporters claim legitimizes the department's action.
Galileo International has completed its initial testing to ensure that Galileo and Apollo computer reservations systems can accommodate Year 2000 date logic by the first quarter of 1999. Having completed analysis of Galileo and Apollo host systems and made necessary modifications, Galileo found that, by design, most of the systems are engineered to meet Y2K requirements. Galileo is in Phase 2 of its program, user validation testing, to ensure that no significant functional errors exist on the Galileo or Apollo systems. Phase 2 is expected to continue through August.
Nordam Group has received 56 new orders for 737-200 hushkits valued at more than $75 million from airlines in the U.S., Europe and Africa, VP Jack Arehart said. Carriers are purchasing the hushkits to become compliant with FAA Stage 3 and ICAO Chapter 3 noise limits, with a yearend 1999 compliance deadline, he said. FAA has told airlines it will have little tolerance for operators that miss the deadline. Arehart said the largest of Nordam's most recent orders is from Ryanair of Dublin, for 21 shipsets comprising 16 new kits and five conversions.
Detroit-based ProAir will start "moonlight service" to Las Vegas beginning Dec. 20, offering the first direct flights to the city from Detroit City Airport, the carrier said. Initially, flights will operate only on Sundays and Thursdays, but ProAir will add flights and days as demand grows. The carrier will offer a one-way unrestricted coach class fare of $150 and a one-way unrestricted first-class fare of $225, using 737-400s configured for eight first-class and 138 coach seats.
