Guizhou Airlines, with 23 domestic routes out of Guiyang, China, has become the sixth airline to come under the control of major carrier China Southern Airlines. China Southern has acquired the same stake in Guizhou, 60%, that it owns in all its subsidiaries. The remaining stake was bought by Guizhou Xiangfei Industrial Co. Ltd., part of the local government.
Swissair is attempting to reduce systemwide consumption of jet fuel by 3% to save more than $9 million. A recent study by Swissair and Flight Sciences Corp. identified several actions that, if taken, could cut overall fuel consumption. Leading the list is an effort to reduce the weight of aircraft and improve operating procedures. Swissair will lower weight by revising catering items, inflight sales stocks and other cabin equipment. The airline plans to modify climb procedures and route selection methods.
Cathay Pacific last week began double-daily, nonstop service between Hong Kong and Los Angeles, enabling it to offer daylight and nighttime departures seven days a week. The airline, which is operating both flights with three-class 747-400s, believes business travelers will welcome the choice of a transpacific flight arrival either late at night or early in the morning. Today, when the first flights land at the new Hong Kong International Airport, the city's departure tax will drop 50% to US$7 per person.
The European Commission has approved the acquisition by Deutsche Post AG, Germany's state-owned postal authority, of a 22.5% stake in DHL International Ltd., giving Deustche Post, Lufthansa Group and Japanese Airlines Co. Ltd. joint control of DHL. The EC attached conditions to the approval barring cross-subsidies or the use of Deutsche Post's dominant position in Germany to favor DHL.
Approved a two-year exemption renewal for American to provide scheduled combination service between various points in the U.S. and various points in Mexico under code share with Aero California...Approved an exemption authority extension through Sept.
Switzerland's supreme court, Tribunal Federal, last week ordered a new environmental impact study for the Zurich Kloton Airport expansion project. The decision is expected to delay the start of construction six to 12 months. The project, estimated to cost 2.1 billion Swiss francs ($1.4 billion), includes a new terminal, parking space and railroad infrastructure.
Air France has decided to postpone by one year the conversion of two options on Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft into firm orders, airline Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said last week in Paris. The aircraft now are expected to be delivered in 2001 instead of 2000. Spinetta said he decision was linked to poor market conditions in Asia as the 777s were meant to operate on Asian routes. The delay does not mean Air France is reconsidering its order for 10 777s plus 10 options, Spinetta added.
Hong Kong authorities arranged a dramatic "lights-out" ceremony for live television broadcasts at the close of Kai Tak Airport, which generated a wave of nostalgia as operations moved to the successor facility at Chek Lap Kok. Local residents, some of whom became so attached to Kai Tak over the years that they adopted its chapel as their home church, began flocking there in recent days to take memorial photographs. Police debated special crowd-control plans for the airport's final hours of operation.
National Aeronautic Association President Steve Brown will become deputy associate administrator for air traffic services at FAA. James Washington, currently deputy for air traffic services, will become director of air traffic system requirements. The acting head of air traffic system requirements, Charles Keegan, will become head of Free Flight Phase One. Brown was with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association before joining NAA.
Tom McSweeny, director of aircraft certification service at FAA, is backed by Tony Broderick to take Broderick's old job as associate administrator for regulation and certification after Guy Gardner leaves the position, according to a source.Two former FAA executives, LeRoy Keith and Bill Ashworth, also are under consideration for the job.
Singapore Airlines will launch a frequent flyer program that expands benefits and brings the carrier closer to its alliance partners. The move follows a decision by SIA, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines to discontinue their joint frequent flyer program, Passages, and launch individual efforts. Passages began in 1993. "At that time, a joint frequent flyer program was the most feasible solution because it achieved substantial economies of scale," said Huang Cheng Eng, SIA director of marketing planning.
US Airways is looking at its policy of buying meals for pilots who fly six hours without a chance to eat, and might decide to spring for one meal per day instead. A pilot union representative alleged that when discussing the issue a US Airways representative responded, "When I go backpacking, I bring food with me." US Airways told the union it is considering the issue carefully but has no firm plan to cut back the meal subsidy.
- In Federal Register dated June 26...Proposed an airworthiness directive on Douglas MD-80 series aircraft to require inspection for corrosion on the hinge plates of the vertical-to-horizontal stabilizer. - In FR dated June 30...Withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking concerning occupant protection standards for commuter category aircraft.
Dallas Morning News has added a section to its web site, www.dallas news.com, on new Love Field service and related lawsuits. The newspaper is offering in-depth stories with graphics on the airport and surrounding roads, overlapping approach patterns with Dallas/Fort Worth, noise effects of Love Field service additions and other features. A Dallas judge is expected to rule by Thursday on longer-haul service from Love Field.
United's board has approved spending $103 million to install enhanced ground proximity warning systems and predictive windshear systems on most of its aircraft. Proposals to install the systems originated in United's operations department.
FAA Friday ordered immediate inspection of the CFM56-7B engine accessory gearboxes on Boeing's next-generation 737-700s and 737-800s. FAA's emergency airworthiness directive follows two June 26 inflight engine shutdowns, one on Transaero Airlines, Russia, and the other on Braathens Airlines, Norway, both without injuries. FAA said that in both incidents, the accessory gearbox starter gearshaft failed due to "inadequate fatigue capability caused by high stresses introduced during the manufacturing process. A lack of shotpeening...
Talks between Northwest and its Air Line Pilots Association unit recessed last week with no appreciable progress, and the union said Thursday it still considers the negotiations at an impasse. At the request of the National Mediation Board, the union declined comment on the substance of the talks. Northwest ALPA spokesman Paul Omodt said he did not know when or if NMB would resume negotiations. The airline confirmed only that the talks were in recess.
Marubeni Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to become a risk-sharing partner in Rolls's new Trent 500 engine for the Airbus A340-500/600. Marubeni will take at least a 5% stake in the Trent 500 program, gradually increasing its holding to 10%. Marubeni's stated objective is to join in a low-risk, prosperous project while becoming a bridge between Rolls and Japanese industry. Since 1992, it has supported Rolls with sales and marketing campaigns in Japan and recently extended the effort to cover Taiwan.
Midwest Express became the first established airline to respond individually to DOT's proposed unfair competition policy. In comments filed last week at DOT, the carrier opposed the policy as being "inconsistent" with deregulation principles and urged DOT to withdraw it.
US Airways pilots, perturbed by scheduling problems in June that hauled them out of bed at 4 a.m. and forced them to work on vacation days, will file a grievance with the company, said US Airways Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Master Executive Council Chairman Jon Bryan. He said the company knew in early June of the crew shortage. US Airways spokesman Rick Weintraub said the problem was caused by bad weather that stranded crews and delayed flights, not by a crew shortage.
Summary of U.S. National Carriers Systemwide Revenues and Expenses The Year 1997 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Passenger Freight Revenues Change Revenues Revenues American Trans Air 746,167,115 4.20 369,235,914 -- Carnival 203,943,714 (22.50) 162,729,059 2,095,452
South African Airways will increase frequencies to Miami from Cape Town, with continuing service to Johannesburg, starting Sept. 7. SAA will offer six weekly flights from Miami and add service from Cape Town to Johannesburg. The airline will make further capacity additions in the fall, when a regular Wednesday flight from Miami to Cape Town begins Nov. 25, bringing daily service to the route.
Coltec Industries named Barry Levoir VP-engineering at Menasaco Aerospace Oakville. Consolidators International promoted Peter Lamy to executive VP. FlightSafety Boeing Training International appointed Wakelee Smith president. Galaxy Aviation of Palm Beach named Brad Kost general manager. Raytheon Engineers and Constructors named Shay Assad chairman and chief executive, replacing Charles Miller, who has resigned.
Hong Kong authorities rushed to put the final touches on the opening of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, scheduled to begin commercial operations today, although its first formal departure was Thursday by Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who left in a 747 with his staff after participating in opening ceremonies. President Clinton was the airport's first arrival Thursday evening, not counting test flights, as he wrapped up his state visit to China.
America West last week began offering international electronic ticketing for customers traveling to and from Mexico. America West serves seven Mexican destinations from Phoenix - Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Acapulco and, seasonally, Manzanillo.
