European Center for the Aerospace and Aviation Industries will hold a conference on building a united European aerospace industry July 2-3 in Toulouse. This meeting will precede a ministerial meeting on the issue July 9 in Paris. John Battle, U.K. minister for science, industry and technology, in a visit earlier this month to British Aerospace, said that it is "vitally important to the U.K., and its European partners that the restructuring process continues apace so that the U.K. can continue to compete globally." Battle said the U.K.
United has entered into an exclusive joint marketing agreement with Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems to provide UNIX-based electronic ticketing systems for airlines around the world. The partnership will use United's e-ticketing knowledge and information technology system and Siemens Nixdorf's UNIX expertise to open, deliver and install systems.
China has agreed to buy 10 next-generation 737 aircraft, Boeing said yesterday. Bai Zhi Jian, president of China Aviation Supply Corp., said the aircraft will enable airlines of China to expand their short-range fleet. Boeing said the agreement adds to the 50 airplanes China committed to buy last October. The combined value of the aircraft is about $3.4 billion, Boeing said, adding that over the past three years, one in 10 of its airplanes has been delivered to China.
National Transportation Safety Board, citing several incidents, recommended that FAA designate at all Part 139 airports a radio frequency for direct communication between airport firefighting/rescue personnel and flightcrews during an emergency. The board also recommended development of a universal set of hand signals for use among fire/rescue personnel, flightcrews and flight attendants for situations in which radio communication is lost.
The sale of 50% of Iberia's capital is scheduled to take place in the first half of 1999, according to Chairman Xabier de Irala. American and British Airways are holding talks with the state-owned carrier and the government, each with the aim of purchasing 5% of the Spanish airline.
All Nippon Airways yesterday received its first 777-300. ANA was one of the launch customers of the 777 series, and has taken delivery of 12 777- 200s and has eight more on order, all powered by Pratt&Whitney engines.
AAR Corp. named Seamus O'Donnell president of AAR Allen Aircraft. Air Express International named Martin McDonnell VP and corporate controller. Airport Systems International named Anthony Bommarito VP-engineering. Arinc hired Michael Ramirez as director of marketing for the Caribbean and Latin America. Avscat appointed Brendon Docherty director of worldwide sales. BAA confirmed that Lawrence Urquhart will become chairman and Marcus Agius deputy chairman.
Korean Air applied at DOT to display Northwest's designator code to carry U.S. mail for Northwest on San Francisco-Seoul, Chicago-Seoul and Los Angeles-Seoul flights under a code-share agreement that "contemplates service in other markets."
BAA plc confirmed last week the appointment of Deputy Chairman Lawrence Urquhart to succeed Brian Smith, who is retiring, as chairman following the July 9 annual meeting. Marcus Agius, who has been a non-executive director since 1995, will become deputy chairman.
International Association of Airport Executives accepted Gerry Bruno, Vancouver International Strategic Services, as a professional member of the association.
Air Transport Association has published its yearend 1997 statistics, including profit and traffic data for ATA's 28 member carriers. The 1998 Annual Report costs $20 and is available via phone, 301-490-7951, or fax, 301-206-9789. The association offers the report free to members and the media.
Eight airlines that have fought a fare war since Jan. 1 for passengers between Kuala Lumpur and 23 popular destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe are expected to stiffen their battle this week with the start of the summer schedule. The carriers - Malaysia Airlines, British Airways, Thai International, Royal Brunei, Lufthansa, Gulf Air, All Nippon and Garuda - are slashing prices by as much as 40%, making certain flights to destinations like Medan, Phuket, Bangkok, Jakarta and Chiangmai cheaper than domestic ones.
American is discovering that putting automatic external defibrillators on jetliners is good for its bottom line as well as its passengers. Not only does onboard heart-shocking equipment improve dramatically a heart attack patient's odds of survival, it also gives caregivers aboard an aircraft a way to confirm that a heart attack is not happening, thus avoiding costly diversions, American's medical director, Dr. David McKenas, told DAILY affiliate Aero Safety&Maintenance.
TWA pilot union leadership, complaining about the pace of contract talks, has pledged to begin informational picketing at pilot domiciles on both coasts this week. Pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have been holding informational picketing outside TWA headquarters in St. Louis.
FAA last week approved a 25-year passenger facility charge program totaling more than $1 billion to fund a third runway, major terminal improvements and other work at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Among the terminal projects are demolition and reconstruction of Concourse A and refurbishment of the people-mover system connecting the main terminal with satellites. The Port of Seattle expects to issue bonds backed by the PFC revenues next month.
Approved a two-year initial exemption for Alaska Airlines to provide scheduled combination service between the terminal points Los Angeles and La Paz, Mexico...Approved a two-year exemption renewal for Alaska Airlines to provide scheduled combination service between the terminal points Phoenix and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and on a seasonal basis between the terminal points Phoenix and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico...Approved a two-year exemption renewal, which the carrier had requested for an indefinite term, for American to provide scheduled combination service between the te
The Allied Pilots Association (APA) says American is violating its scope clause by continuing to place its code on certain Canadian Airlines flights. APA asked American to remove its code from certain routes that did not carry the code before Jan. 1 (DAILY, April 28). Although management agreed to comply, it continues to fly selected frequencies that APA claims violate the scope agreement. Management rejected an APA request for a provision that would have entitled Canadian to fly 50% of all American's coded passengers.
Kiwi International Airlines will begin nonstop Newark-Miami, Miami- Aguadilla, and Miami-San Juan service July 21. One-way fares between Miami and the Puerto Rico points begin at $138, and Newark-Miami starts at $99. There are no roundtrip or Saturday-night stay requirements.
Critics and supporters of DOT's competition policy both rallied around an amendment reported to the House floor last week calling for airline competition studies and DOT review of domestic alliances, but its true impact depends on the political environment when DOT is ready to implement the guidelines (DAILY, June 26). The bill is subject to a House vote, reconciliation in a House-Senate conference committee and approval by President Clinton. Senate aviation leaders were studying the proposal last week, and whether support for it will develop is not known.
Weather delays at nine hub airports cost airlines $346.8 million last year, according to Jack Ryan, Air Transport Association VP-air traffic management. Delays cost most at Atlanta, $52.5 million, followed by Chicago, $49.6 million; St. Louis, $45 million; Dallas, $37.2 million; Los Angeles, $30.8 million; Denver, $29.7 million; San Francisco, $29.2 million; Detroit, $26.2 million; Newark, $25.1 million, and Minneapolis, $21.5 million.
Eastwind Airlines will introduce a new schedule Aug. 1 with all-jet service from Rochester, N.Y., offering two daily nonstop flights to Boston and Washington Dulles, with one-way introductory fares of $39, and two daily direct flights to Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, N.C., and Trenton, N.J., with introductory fares of $59 one way.
New Jet Aircraft Deliveries March 1998 Last 12 Months Carrier # Type Engines Delivery Aero Lloyd 2 A321-200 V2533-A5 - Air Canada 1 A319 CFM56-5A5 20 Air France 1 A321-200 CFM56-5B3/P 2
Lufthansa's operating results during the first five months of 1998 were more than 20% better than those of the same period in 1997, which turned out to be a record-profit year, the company said at its annual general meeting in Hamburg. This year's goal is to surpass the pre-tax profit "barrier" of 2 billion Deutschmarks (US$1.1 billion), Chairman Jurgen Weber told shareholders.
Vanguard Airlines is offering a $44 one-way fare sale for the July 4th holiday on nonstop and connecting flights. Tickets must be purchased by July 4 and travel must be completed July 3-8.
