Delta has named Vicki Escarra executive VP-customer service. She was senior VP-airport customer service. Delta also named Elizabeth Mogenesen manager of reservations and sales for Caracas, Venezuela.
Prevention of unfair exclusionary behavior by airlines "can and should be addressed through the enforcement of our nation's antitrust laws on a case- by-case basis," Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) said this week in a letter to DOT Secretary Rodney Slater. "DOT should enforce those laws rather than trying to rewrite them via an administrative procedure." Watts sits on the aviation subcommittee as a member of the House Transportation Committee, which last week amended H.R.
B/E Aerospace said yesterday it has received $58 million in new seating orders from Delta, International Lease Finance Corp., Air China, Malaysian Air Systems and an "unidentified European customer." The latter is Swissair, the carrier confirmed to The DAILY. Swissair becomes the launch customer for B/E's private-compartment, "lie-flat" sleeper seats, which will be installed in 20 widebody international aircraft.
Business Travel Coalition President Kevin Mitchell yesterday blasted a study by George Washington University Prof. Darryl Jenkins that concludes bad management and poor route planning, not predatory practices by major carriers, contribute to new-entry airline failures (DAILY, July 1). BTC accused Jenkins of trying to turn the focus away from major carriers, from which he has previously accepted funds. "BTC views the study as yet another scheme by major airlines to attempt to shift the debate," Mitchell said in a prepared statement.
When U.S. businesses think of an airline, they most often think of Delta, according to a survey by Landor/Harris Imagepower, which created Delta's new livery. Landor/Harris found that of nine major carriers, Delta is the leading airline brand in the minds of U.S. business. One-quarter of those surveyed said they had the highest regard for Delta of all the airlines, followed by Southwest, United and American. TWA came near the bottom, just ahead of America West and behind more established competitors.
Brazilian Air Force commissioned the first PAR-2000 precision approach radar landing system produced by ITT Gilfillan, giving it what the company described as the "first advanced technology active aperture radar system in daily operation anywhere in the world." The radar provides controllers with digital color displays. Training on the system requires "two short weeks," the company said.
Atlas Air said yesterday it has reached an agreement with Boeing to accelerate into 1999 the scheduled deliveries of two new 747-400s on order. Atlas's revised schedule calls for five firm deliveries in 1998, four firm deliveries in 1999, one firm delivery and four options available in 2002 and six more options available thereafter. "The world's leading international airlines have already shown their strong interest in the increased range, fuel efficiency and cargo capacity offered by GE-powered 747-400 freighters," said Michael Chowdry, chairman.
United, noting the continued growth in Asia despite economic difficulties, is adding capacity to Tokyo, Osaka and Hong Kong. The airline just began year-round nonstop service to Hong Kong from Chicago, operating the world's longest scheduled flight. At the same time, United is starting a second daily nonstop to Tokyo from Chicago, raising capacity 130% from the previous six weekly frequencies at the start of the year. On July 8, United will start daily nonstop Chicago-Osaka service, bringing to 280 the number of weekly flights to Asia in 11 countries.
US Airways will celebrate the launch of MetroJet at Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville airports with ribbon-cutting ceremonies July 6. The first MetroJet aircraft will land in Tampa at 9:05 a.m., in Miami at 12:03 p.m. and in Jacksonville at 7:32 p.m. Members of MetroJet's employee task force are expected to attend the ceremonies.
Continental's business-class service has been named Best Transpacific and Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S. carriers by Conde Nast Traveler's Business Travel Awards Poll. Entrepreneur magazine has awarded Continental Best Transatlantic Business Class in its 1998 Business Travel Awards.
American Chief Executive Don Carty, in a speech last week, gave a small clue to his airline's plans for using its new fleet of Boeing 777s. His description of the 777's capabilities included only one factor - American's ability for the first time "to fly nonstop from DFW, Chicago or the West Coast beyond Japan to the principal cities of Asia."
The Sabre Group is still trying to find the reason behind a software failure that struck its data center in Tulsa, Okla., about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. The outage left Sabre's 48 multi-host users without a reservations system, said spokeswoman Jennifer Hudson. She said it was "a software problem. We do know that the system lost the ability to create new reservation records and caused it to shut down." Service was partially restored by about 8:45 p.m. and returned to full functionality by 10:50 p.m.
Southwest has selected jeTech Data Systems, Inc.'s labor management system, Enterprise Labor. The system automates time and attendance and other labor management functions.
The European Commission said yesterday it has approved creation of a joint venture, The London Cargo Centre Ltd. (LCC), to provide cargo-handling services at London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. LCC, jointly controlled by Lufthansa Airport and Ground Services GmbH and Menzies Transport Services Ltd., will take over Lufthansa's existing cargo-handling facilities at Heathrow. MTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Menzies plc, which has holdings in media distribution, cargo-handling, freight forwarding and landside/airside cargo trucking.
Tower has applied at DOT for a new certificate or to amend its existing certificate to include indefinite-term authority to operate foreign combination service between the U.S. and France, directly and via intermediate points, and to points beyond France. The carrier currently operates its service to France under exemption. Tower separately applied to renew its exemption for New York-Paris service and to amend that authority to add Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston as additional U.S. gateways, which it plans to begin serving in June 1999.
American's total traffic for June rose 1.7% on 1.1% more capacity, inching the load factor up 0.4 percentage points to 73.7%. For the first half of 1998, traffic was up 1.3% on 0.6% more capacity. Domestic traffic fell 0.1% on 2.1% less capacity, resulting in a 1.5-point gain in load factor to 74.9%. On Pacific routes - American's smallest division - traffic rose 17.9% on 40.5% more capacity, resulting in a 70.7% load factor, down 13.5 points. Even though American added extensive capacity to Japan last month, the Pacific remained 2.4% of systemwide capacity.
Aviation Industry Stock Performance June 1998 Closed Closed Monthly Change Symbol 6/30/98 5/29/98 ($) (%) Alaska Air Group ALK 54.563 46.313 8.250 17.8 America West (Class B) AWA 28.563 28.313 0.250 0.9 AMR 1 AMR 83.250 153.938 (70.688) (45.9)
TWA has a new web site at www.twa.com with a cleaner, more graphically attractive format. It provides web users with a method of booking travel, reserving seats and obtaining flight arrival and departure information online. The page also is designed to create awareness of TWA, said VP- Sales and Reservations Joe Vilmain. He said the carrier plans to add enhancements to the site over the next several months including redemption of frequent flyer miles and the ability to book vacations.
The nations of Africa will have a "dedicated partner" in the U.S. as they set aviation safety and security goals, DOT Secretary Rodney Slater told The DAILY this week. Slater is preparing for a follow-up trip to Africa next week, building on a visit during the spring when he accompanied President Clinton. The administration tasked DOT with working with African leaders, international aviation organizations and private-sector groups, including carriers.
Delta and Korean Air will start code sharing on flights from Boston and Newark to Seoul on July 5. The service, using Korean Air's 747s, brings to nine the number of U.S. cities served jointly. The two carriers continue to discuss improving ties, including sharing facilities and joint handling at common airports.
Air France has placed firm orders for 20 more A319s and A321s and has taken options on another 20. Deliveries will begin next May to the carrier, which has been operating A320s for over 10 years and was Airbus's first customer. Its A320s are powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.
