National Business Travel Association supports adoption of a competition policy by DOT to combat rising business fares and market consolidation, but it said the department's proposal does not address competition issues or set clear enforcement standards (DAILY, June 24). NBTA said its 1,800 corporate travel manager members at more than 1,000 companies control budgets representing more than a third of the $156 billion a year spent on business travel.
Spanair is offering 50%-off companion fares to travelers who buy full-fare coach or business-class tickets for flights between Washington Dulles and points in Spain. The deadline for completing travel is March 31, 1999. Spanair operates five times per week between Dulles and Madrid, using 767- 300 aircraft with 18 seats in business class and 241 in coach.
Summary of U.S. National Carriers Systemwide Traffic Fourth Quarter 1997 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (Miles) (000) Change American Trans Air 1,199 31.78 1,609 1,928,147 29.14
Delta and its Air Line Pilots Association unit reached a tentative agreement on pay for flying the new-generation 737 aircraft. The deal sets industry-leading pay rates and creates efficiencies in training and cross- utilization of aircraft, the union said. Delta spokesman Todd Clay said the carrier has firm orders for 72 737-800s, with deliveries expected to begin next year. It also has options on 340 737-300G, 737-600 and 737-700 aircraft.
Charles Gabeler Jr., 76, former executive of Air America, died of pneumonia June 16 in McLean, Va. It was an open secret that the CIA owned Air America and operated it in Laos in the 1960s and 1970s.
Several Asian carriers have approached American about potential equity investments, "but so far, we have resisted," Chief Financial Officer Gerard Arpey said yesterday.American is awaiting word on its Aerolineas Argentinas investment and is considering buying part of Iberia.
Arinc has introduced SkyLink, an automated weather dissemination service for airports and state aviation agencies. The system provides a communications link for the Automated Weather Observing System weather data to FAA. SkyLink currently is providing service to North Carolina under a state contract, and service is now being set up for Georgia, Minnesota, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
El Al will receive six additional Boeing aircraft next year to support planned transatlantic and regional expansion. The carrier will take delivery of its fourth 747-400 and five 737-700s and -800s during 1999, its 50th-anniversary year. El Al said it chose Boeing for competitive prices and its ability to meet 1999 delivery dates. The airline plans to add nonstop service to the U.S. and increase flights to Far East and regional destinations.
Northwest is making weekly travel bargains available through electronic mail. Customers can register at www.nwa.com to have weekly CyberSaver fares e-mailed to them on Wednesday afternoons. The carrier has extended its summer fare sale through Saturday. Off-peak one-way fares include $39 for Chicago-Detroit, $109 for St. Louis-Washington and $199 for New York- Aspen.
Canadian and American are offering low fares on service between Vancouver and points in the western U.S. Sample roundtrip fares from Vancouver include $130 to Las Vegas; $151 to San Diego, and $122 to Seattle. Tickets are available through July 17. Restrictions apply.
Delta has moved from Concourse A at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to the new 26-gate Concourse D. An automated transportation system will deliver passengers to the new concourse from the ticket counters.
A proposed $3 million airport lease payment to the City of Norfolk, Va., from the Norfolk Airport Authority for the 12 months beginning July 1 would violate FAA policy on use of airport revenues and the airport's grant assurances, an FAA official said last week. In an effort to generate funds for other purposes, the city planned to exercise an option July 1 to revert title to the airport back to the city and lease the facility back to the authority for rent, which would be set at $3 million for the first year.
Hong Kong, joining Singapore, introduced a travel card for frequent business travelers that speeds immigration and eliminates the need for frequent visas. Hong Kong visitors can received a five-year "APEC" card enabling multiple visits and streamlined immigration. Details are available at Hong Kong Immigration Department's web site, www.info.gov.hk/immd.
Alaska Airlines will launch three-times-daily nonstop service to Las Vegas from Los Angeles Airport on Oct. 4. Las Vegas will be Alaska's 12th destination from L.A.
Kansas City, Mo.-based Vanguard will take over its own ramp operations from TWA at Kansas City Airport on Monday. TWA currently provides water and lavatory service and baggage handling, said Vanguard spokeswoman Lynn McAdoo. Vanguard also rents equipment from TWA, and TWA performs some maintenance and de-icing work on an ad hoc basis. Vanguard will take over all those functions, hiring 60 new ramp employees to do so.
Cathay Pacific Airways will operate the first nonstop flight from New York to Hong Kong using a northern polar route next month. The 747-400 flight, Polar One, will launch July 5, leaving New York Kennedy at 3 a.m. as part of the airline's opening of Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok on the morning of July 6. Flying time will be 15 hours 30 minutes, compared with more than 20 hours on the current one-stop route through Vancouver. The flight will become a regular nonstop in Cathay's system next year.
E-Reserve Inc. and Genesis Travel Distribution System have signed an agreement by which E-Reserve will invest $1.5 million in the first phase of a working Genesis prototype. E-Reserve, a consortium of Bell Professional Services, ADP Systems, Quantum Objective and ExpediaCom Global Inc., will escalate develop-ment and deployment of Genesis, according to Bruce Bishins, president of the United States Travel Agent Registry (USTAR).
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic The Year 1997 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles % (000) Change (Miles) (000) Change Alaska 11,538 3.94 829 9,570,492 5.36
American and its Allied Pilots Association (APA) have settled out of court a dispute in which management allegedly prohibited pilots from handing out literature opposing a new contract (DAILY, May 19).
European Union Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert will ask United, Lufthansa, American and British Airways to "reduce their frequencies" between the U.S. and Frankfurt and London Heathrow "for a period of six months," the commissioner told members of the European Parliament in Brussels.
Ryanair launched the first phase of its employee share option campaign this week, issuing this year's options at 5.00 Irish pounds (US$7) per share, the mid-market price on June 22. The allocation, worth more than 20 million punts ($28 million), is valid for five years.
Dragonair flew the first of its two on-order A320 aircraft to a maiden landing at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport last night. The second aircraft is scheduled for delivery in mid-2000, and the carrier holds options to buy five more. In a lease deal with International Lease Finance Corp., it will replace its current leased A320s with upgraded A320s and A3221s, configured for two classes rather than all-economy. It will take delivery this fall of its sixth A330-300.
SITA has named new presidents for four regions - Nick Morrell for the Americas; Peter Heath for north, east and central Europe; Jacques Rondeaux for Asia/Pacific, and Giovannie Strigari for south Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They will report to Paul Whitwam, senior VP-commercial operations.
FAA has issued a request for information on digital aeronautical data link communications services, including all air-ground and ground-ground communications in the en route environment. A demonstration network will be required in 1999 with initial operating capability to follow in 2001.
