Caracas-based Aeropostal Airlines has become a participant in the Airlines Reporting Corporation. Aeropostal operates 13 aircraft, including DC-9- 51s, DC-9-32s, 727-200s and A310s.
Use of alcohol by a pilot or co-pilot has been involved in 69 fatal crashes of aircraft larger than 12,500 pounds gross takeoff weight since 1990, according to Flight Safety Foundation. In some instances, both pilot and co-pilot showed alcohol use, as measured by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory.
British Airways traffic for June increased 9.8%, its strongest monthly growth rate since December 1996, but the load factor for the group, including subsidiaries, was 75%, down 1.4 percentage points. U.K./Europe growth of 8% got a boost from last month's strike at Air France. Intercontinental traffic increased 10.3%, led by the Americas region. Traffic at subsidiaries Deutsche BA and Air Liberte grew 9.7% on a capacity decline of 4.7%, increasing the load factor 8.9 points to 68.2%.
The Dallas Love Field expansion controversy cannot be resolved by negotiation, the court-appointed mediator in the Love Field-Dallas/Fort Worth lawsuits told attorneys for both sides. Commenting that "success could never come into play" outside the courtroom, mediator Ruby Kless Sondock of Houston said the cases should go to trial and be decided by the judge, State District Judge Bob McCoy of Fort Worth, rather than a jury. Sondock said she sees "no reason" to met again on July 23, the next scheduled mediation date.
Newark-based Kiwi International Airlines will launch Newark-Miami service July 21 with fares starting at $99 one way. The service will be available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Also on July 21, Kiwi will start Miami-San Juan and Aguadilla flights, with fares starting at $127 one way.
Korean Air says IATA has ranked its cargo operation second only to Lufthansa Cargo for the second consecutive year, this time with 5.7 million freight ton kilometers compared with 6.5 million. Korean Air says it is closing the gap - it increased traffic nearly one million FTKs over the previous year.
U.S. government this week allowed resumption of direct charter flights to Cuba, as announced by the Clinton administration after Pope John Paul II's visit to that nation. The U.S. embargo against Cuba continues, and only authorized visitors, including journalists, humanitarian personnel and exiles with relatives, can legally travel there. The direct charters were suspended two years ago when Cuban military jets shot down a small civilian aircraft flown by Miami-based Brothers to the Rescue.
United is promoting its new daily nonstop service from Chicago O'Hare to Osaka by offering double frequent flyer miles, enabling passengers to accrue 26,000 miles roundtrip. The offer also applies on flights to Osaka from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu. Travel must be completed by Sept. 30.
U.S. National and Regional Carriers Traffic June, 6 Months 1998 June June % 1998 1997 Change Air Wisconsin Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 87,304 54,938 58.9 Available Seat Miles (000) 119,575 78,528 52.3 Load Factor (%) 73.0 70.0
Continental VP-Marketing Programs Richard Metzner was named one of the top 100 marketing professionals in the country by Advertising Age magazine. Metzner's department last year spearheaded the marketing effort to bring traffic to the carrier's Newark hub.
US Airways has named Mark Schwab VP-international. Schwab, who worked at United and American, will oversee sales and marketing functions and daily operations for US Airways' growing international operations. His appointment is effective July 27. He will be based in London.
Vancouver-based Mercury Scheduling Systems signed a letter of intent yesterday to buy Airline Software Inc. (ASI) for $3.5 million. Mercury, a specialist in crew management software, said the acquisition will be the first of several that will position the company among the leading medium-
Bombardier Aerospace has selected a modular Potable Water System from the BFGoodrich Aerospace Ice Protection Systems Division as standard equipment for the Canadair Regional Jet Series 700 aircraft, BFGoodrich Aerospace said.
American is offering "Beat the Heat" fares from Dallas/Fort Worth to selected nonstop markets for $99 each way, based on roundtrip purchase. The fares, available tomorrow through Aug. 1, require a three-day advance purchase and a Saturday night stay, and they must be used for travel Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Destinations include Nashville, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Appleton, Wis.-based Air Wisconsin reported a 58.9% jump in traffic to 87.3 million revenue passenger miles and a 52.3% increase in capacity to 119.6 million available seat miles for June 1998 over June last year, which boosted the load factor three percentage points to 73%. June 1998 June 1997 6 Months 1998 6 Months 1997 RPMs 87,304,000 54,938,000 353,921,000 295,779,000 ASMs 119,575,000 78,528,000 566,765,000 471,635,000
FAA's congressionally mandated drug interdiction support program will suffer as a result of this week's Civil Air Patrol withdrawal from the program (DAILY, July 15), the agency said yesterday. CAP's actions drew praise from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, however.
Aerolineas Argentinas began daily nonstop service this week between New York Kennedy and Buenos Aires. The carrier, currently operating from American's terminal at JFK, offers the only 747 service on the route.
AirTran is offering discount fares for summer travel to selected cities. Tickets must be purchased by July 23 for travel July 21-Sept. 29. Sample one-way fares include Atlanta-Jacksonville, $39; Newport News-Jacksonville, $89, and Richmond-New Orleans, $95.
America West is marketing discount fares of $99 on roundtrip purchases for travel tomorrow through Dec. 6. Destinations include Phoenix-Seattle, Tucson-Portland, Ore., Omaha-Sacramento, San Antonio-San Diego, and El Paso-San Jose.
Cathay Pacific is enhancing its All Asia Pass program, which offers travelers 17 cities in Asia for a flat fee, by adding 14 optional destinations, including Beijing, Guilin, Shanghai and Wuhan in China. Cathay also will include Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland and the Thai resort Phuket. These optional destinations, plus Johannesburg and Istanbul, cost US$200 extra each.
New Regional Aircraft Deliveries, April 1998 Last 12 Months Carrier No. Type Engines Delivery Air Georgian 1 Beech 1900D PT6A-67D 4 Air Malawi 1 Cessna 208B PT6A-114A - American Eagle 1 AA ATR 72-200A PW127F 8 American Eagle 2 EMB RJ-145 AE3007A - Atlantic Coast 1 Canadair RJ200 CF34-3B1 7
Alaska Airlines is offering getaway fares to selected destinations in Mexico, starting at $199 roundtrip. Roundtrip fares from Los Angeles or San Francisco include Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo for $199, or $299 from Seattle, Portland or Spokane. Two-night package vacations from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta cost $270, and $272 to Los Cabos, $289 to Mazatlan and $336 to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo.
St. George, Utah-based, multi-affiliated SkyWest Airlines carried 409,395 passengers last month, a 66.6% increase from June 1997. The regional, which operates as a feeder carrier for United, Delta and Continental, reported a 29.9% jump in traffic to 84.3 million revenue passenger miles and a 17.5% increase in capacity to 142.3 million available seat miles, boosting its load factor 5.6 percentage points to 59.2%. June 1998 June 1997 6 Months 1998 6 Months 1997 RPMs 84,280,846 64,891,917 393,675,148 366,319,345
The European Commission this week authorized Maersk Air, Denmark, and Finnair, Finland, to operate joint Copenhagen-Stockholm service. The approval was a formality: Finnair and Maersk started their operation in April 1997. The EC noted that before that date, "one carrier" - SAS - "enjoyed in practice an almost monopoly position, and the level of prices was high."
