The number of regional/commuter airlines totaled 102 in 1996, down from 105 in 1996 and 124 in 1995, FAA said last week in its annual aviation forecast for fiscal years 1998-2009. "While the number of reporting airlines continues to decline, industry traffic has continued to grow, albeit at rates considerably below the industry's historical long-term trend," the agency said. But 1997 traffic statistics "actually understate the level of growth in enplanements for the regional/commuter industry.
Aerospace Industries Association promoted Joseph Syslo to VP-National Center for Advanced Technologies and Mark Gordon to director-education programs; and named Robert Post NCAT director-technology research.
CityBird named Luis Nunez regional sales director-western U.S.; Donna Pressley regional sales director-southeastern U.S., and Marietta Copeland and Beverley Shine sales representatives in the San Francisco/Northern California and Orlando, Tampa and Northern Florida areas, respectively.
Delta will launch code-share service with Air Jamaica to Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean on April 6 and nonstops between Atlanta and Lima, Peru, under a code share with AeroPeru on July 1. The Jamaica deal involves Air Jamaica service between Atlanta, Miami and New York Kennedy and Montego Bay, Kingston, Barbados and St. Lucia, and Delta service between Atlanta and Boston, Cincinnati, Hartford/Springfield, Memphis and, starting June 1, San Francisco.
Donald Nyrop, former Civil Aeronautics Administrator and chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, has been named recipient of the Society of Senior Aerospace Executives' 1998 Golden Eagle Award. Nyrop, who headed Northwest between 1954 and 1978, will receive the award at a luncheon April 2 at the Army/Navy Club in Washington. For reservations and more information, call SSAE at 301-652-2666.
- In Federal Register dated March 6...Issued an airworthiness directive on all IAI 1121-1124 series aircraft requiring inspection of the trim actuator...Issued an AD on Bombardier CL-215 aircraft requiring replacement of the switching-valve-to-rear-inlet case sealing air tube...Issued an AD on certain Dornier 328 aircraft requiring replacement of certain electrical relays...Issued an AD on certain British Aerospace Jetstream 4101 aircraft requiring replacement of the stringer joint pieces at the left side of the fuselage...Issued an AD on Airbus A310 and A300-600 aircra
Lufthansa is selling seats through Sabre for flights for which the German carrier was denied high-density slots at Chicago O'Hare by FAA and now seeks exemption slots from DOT (DAILY, Feb. 26), American told the department. If Lufthansa does not have the necessary slots, offering such service violates DOT consumer protection policies. If Lufthansa needs slots to operate the daily Chicago-Frankfurt nonstops it proposes to begin May 1, its antitrust-immunized partner - United, which holds more O'Hare slots than any other carrier - should provide them, American said.
A draft of DOT's predatory activity guidelines leaked to the Wall Street Journal Friday "should be called the anti-competition policy," according to Cyril Murphy, United VP-international and regulatory affairs. Edward Faberman, president of the Air Carrier Association (ACA), praised the policy as reported but said he looked for more elements to be included. According to the Journal, capacity dumping is the highest concern.
European airlines have said relatively little in public about European Commission activity on airline alliances, but behind the scenes at least one key carrier reacted with few reservations. Jurgen Weber, Lufthansa chairman and chief executive, wrote Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert that he was "deeply distressed" when he learned of the conditions under which the EC might accept the United-Lufthansa-SAS alliance, which already enjoys U.S. antitrust immunity.
Delta and its pilots union are close to an agreement on flying the airline's new-generation 737 aircraft. Negotiators have resolved all work rule issues, leaving only the rate of pay undecided, according to Delta's Air Line Pilots Association unit. The union seeks industry-leading pay rates. Delta has 70 737s on order and 60 on option, and it will begin taking delivery this spring.
British Midland, thwarted in efforts to operate London-Warsaw flights, has welcomed a decision by the U.K. Department of the Environment and the Regions and the Civil Aviation Authority to hold an expedited hearing on capacity on the route. Saying it is "frustrated by the agreement between British Airways and LOT," British Midland plans to present evidence at the hearing that consumers will benefit from the allocation of some of the U.K. capacity, all of which currently goes to BA.
House Transportation aviation subcommittee Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) wants DOT Secretary Rodney Slater to postpone release of predatory policy guidelines pending subcommittee hearings on the issue next month. Duncan said he agrees that the federal government has a role to play to ensure competition, but "I want to ensure that we do not go so far as to bring unneeded and unwanted federal laws, rules, and regulations to our deregulated airline industry." A draft of the guidelines was leaked last week (see Page 429).
British Airways said Friday it should not be the target of sanctions to resolve London Gatwick disputes. US Airways last week asked the U.S. to suspend a daily BA Gatwick-New York frequency until US Airways is able to exercise its right to fly Charlotte-Gatwick, currently impossible because it has not been able to acquire slots (DAILY, March 13). "US Airways knows full well that BA does not control slots at Gatwick or anywhere else," BA said.
Financier Carl Icahn has pledged to provide $43 million to fund the restart of Pan Am, which ceased scheduled operations when it filed for bankruptcy last month. On Friday, Icahn and Pan Am Chief Executive David Banmiller presented the term sheet to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Miami, and the document will be reviewed in a hearing today. With the approval of the bankruptcy court, Icahn will to buy the Pan Am name and Pan American Airways Corp. operating certificate, along with certain assets, for $8 million.
A Salomon Smith Barney analysis of the 50 largest U.S. airports finds that 33 of them, or 66%, have "excessive amounts" of airline concentration. Six of the biggest 10 showed increases in concentration. The most concentrated were Dallas Love Field, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis.
Women in Aviation International and Aircraft Technical Publishers presented their Technician of the Year Award to Ava Sumpter, a TFE731 engine mechanic at Garrett Aviation Services, Houston.
Eastern Airlines, which hasn't flown since January 1991, still has a political action committee with more than $13,000 in cash on hand. The Miami-based PAC made one contribution last year - $1,000 to Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.).
DOT tentatively found Sky King fit to provide interstate and foreign combination charters and proposed to issue certificate authority to it. Sky King conducts charters for the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team under a long-term agreement and plans to convert its contract operations for the Kings, pending FAA approval, from Part 125 operations using BAC-111 aircraft to Part 121 operations using a leased or purchased 737-200 configured for 36 passengers. It will seek other charter business for its customized aircraft.
Tracor named Rex Tracy VP and program director of Products Business and Dennis Lambell VP and program director of Imagery and Information Systems, both within Tracor Information Systems.
Moody's Investors Service cited Japan Air Systems' tenuous financial situation in assigning its first credit rating to the airline. Moody's Ba3 rating of Japan's third-largest carrier "reflects the weak operating performance and highly extended financial condition of JAS." The airline operates about 100 domestic and three international routes, and 90% of its revenues come from domestic travelers. Northwest has a frequent flyer agreement with JAS and could develop a closer relationship, including code sharing.
Midwest Express promoted Robert Bahlman to senior VP, chief financial officer and treasurer, Carol Skomicka to senior VP-corporate development, secretary and general counsel and Mary Blundell director-human resources.
