Alaska Airlines' traffic for February increased 4.8% on 5.4% more capacity, resulting in a 64.9% load factor, down slightly. The load factor for the first two months of 1998 rose 0.5 percentage points to 63%. Subsidiary Horizon Air's traffic grew 14.1% to 73 million revenue passenger miles on 13.3% more capacity. The load factor was 60%, up from 59.6%. February 1998 February 1997 2 Months 1998 2 Months 1997 RPMs 762,000,000 727,000,000 1,529,000,000 1,449,000,000
Jouve Data Management said it was awarded data conversion projects in recent weeks by Air Canada, American, Delta and FedEx. The carriers are expanding the scope of their digital data programs to add out-of-production aircraft documentation by subcontracting to Jouve the conversion of paper manuals to Air Transport Association standard format, the company said.
Hawaiian Airlines and the Bank of Hawaii have been given the green light to sell Hawaiian Airlines interisland coupons via automated teller machines. Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner said the carrier is "moving ahead" with the project and anticipates startup "later this month" (DAILY, Jan. 16).
An RTCA task force co-chaired by Tony Broderick and Edward Stimpson will look at FAA's certification process. Broderick is former associate FAA administrator for regulation and certification and Stimpson is chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said the task force will review the way FAA departments work and use its findings to define acceptable performance standards for operational systems and suggest improvements.
Senate Commerce Committee postponed indefinitely its hearing on National Civil Aviation Review Commission outcomes. The hearing was scheduled March 11, but the committee is awaiting DOT legislative proposals based on NCARC recommendations.
Asian carriers need help on safety, says Morten Beyer&Agnew consultants.According to MBA, 13 Asian airlines have experienced 14 fatal accidents involving 856 deaths in the last 10 months. Controlled flight into terrain was the major cause. MBA asks whether industry "could form a task force to review qualifications and training of Asian airmen."
Spanair will increase service between Madrid and Washington to six flights per week from four, effective May 1. The route has "exceeded expectations" since it began Nov. 20, said Bartolome Mercadal, marketing manager. Spanair has extended its introductory $299 roundtrip fare until April 30.
Britannia Airways leased a 757-200ER from International Lease Finance Corp. The Rolls-powered aircraft will be delivered in April 1999. Britannia has leased 23 Boeing aircraft from ILFC since 1977.
British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets (AMJ), celebrating its fifth anniversary, reported $1.3 billion in revenues for the period and announced new sales, leases and technical upgrades to aircraft in its portfolio. The British Aerospace sales and leasing arm's new general manager, Rory Fisher, said AMJ sold 22 BAe 146s and 10 Fokker 100s for cash and negotiated 235 leases during its first five years.
Birmingham Airport, the U.K.'s fourth-largest international airport, plans to offer merchandise at tax-free prices to passengers flying to Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle, starting in April. Tax-free sales currently account for 6% of the airport's total sales.
The five Central American airlines of Grupo Taca have joined American Airlines' AAdvantage frequent flyer program in a move American hopes is the prelude to their code-share alliance. Final action by DOT on its preliminary approval of the code share, with restrictions, is pending. The Central American carriers entering into the reciprocal frequent flyer agreement, effective immediately, are Taca International of El Salvador, Taca of Honduras, Aviateca of Guatemala, Nica of Nicaragua and Copa of Panama.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic Third Quarter 1997 Total Operating % Passenger Freight Revenues Change Revenues Revenues Alaska 408,497,000 9.93 355,912,000 18,090,000 America West 455,743,850 9.24 421,569,577 6,783,260 American 2,712,648,000 3.53 2,485,574,000 45,344,000
FAA said it plans to fine Black&Decker $318,000 "for shipping improperly packaged battery-powered lawn mowers by air." The agency said the batteries had not been properly secured. FAA said it also plans to fine ITW Surfaces&Finitions of France $60,000 "for improperly offering hazardous materials for shipment by air into the United States."
Hawaiian Airlines lost $1 million in 1997, a slight improvement from the $1.5 million deficit in 1996. Revenue increased 5.1% to $404.2 million from $384.5 million. Hawaiian President Paul Casey said that in addition to focusing on marketing and revenue development, the airline continued to invest in operating systems. "During the fourth quarter, the company began implementation of a multimillion-dollar upgrade of the airline's information systems," he said.
Reno Air Chief Financial Officer B.J. Rone resigned yesterday, the first major change since new Chief Executive Joe O'Gorman took the helm two weeks ago. No new CFO was named. Rone, who did not have airline experience, had held the position since July. "We really don't view it as a negative; it's part of a changing of the guard," said Philip Platek, analyst with Forum Capital Markets. The new lead financial person will have several immediate tasks, analysts say.
Bundeskartellamt, the German antitrust authority, formally cleared the acquisition of transport and tourism group Hapag-Lloyd by Preussag this week in Berlin. The transaction will create Europe's largest tour operator, controlling about 30% of the German tourism market. To avoid antitrust problems, German bank WestLB, which controls Preussag and tour operator TUI, pledged to dispose of its 34.3% holding in charter airline LTU.
Continental's board approved spending up to $100 million to repurchase its common stock or convertible securities. The company has 51 million Class B shares and 8.4 million Class A shares outstanding.
Aero Lloyd of Germany took delivery of its first A321, a 210-passenger aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines. Aero Lloyd's fleet eventually will comprise 16 A320s and A321s.
Canadian low-fare airline WestJet, in operation two years, has brought about a Southwest-style market stimulation in Western Canada. Passenger volume has increased as much as 76% in the airports it serves since it began flying 737s.
Aer Lingus and AB Airlines of London will code share on Shannon- Birmingham and Shannon-London Stansted routes, starting May 22. The code share is the first for AB Airlines, which recently announced its intention to float shares on the London Stock Exchange. AB, which will launch the routes, has operated between Shannon and London Gatwick since 1995.
B/E Aerospace was selected by Delta to supply premium cabin seating on international aircraft. An order valued at $10 million will cover the first 20 shipsets for new 777-200s, with deliveries beginning in May 1999.
FAA has selected Raytheon and a Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team to demonstrate and test a new civilian secondary radar system as part of the agency's Air Traffic Control Beacon Interrogator competition. The teams will demonstrate their systems at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, N.J., beginning this month. The operational capabilities testing phase of the competition will continue through June or July. At the same time, FAA will ask both bidders to submit technical specifications and costs.
DOT granted a joint request by Mexicana and Aeroperu to allow Aeroperu to display Mexicana's code on Mexico City-Los Angeles flights as part of Aeroperu's Lima service. In approving the authority for 60 days and deferring action on operations beyond then, DOT noted that the U.S. has been "moving towards a more positive aviation relationship with Peru" and is pursuing an open-skies agreement. Talks with Peru continue this week in Washington (DAILY, March 4).
