United Parcel Service is fighting an unexpected bid by United for all-cargo service to France, available under the new U.S.-France accord. United is asking for the authority as a new entrant in the all-cargo market, claiming that since UPS already operates in direct transatlantic service between the U.S. and Cologne, Germany, and points in the U.K., its U.S.-Cologne-France service is merely an extension of an existing route. United's Chicago/New York-Paris service would provide new transatlantic capacity and a new all- cargo competitor.
North and South Korea last week put into full-time operation an accord allowing airlines of all nations to fly across North Korean airspace and the boundary with South Korea, IATA said. "The new airway between Asia and North America is regarded as only the first of a network in North Korea that will provide airlines with long-sought-after flight efficiencies in that part of Asia," said IATA Director General Pierre Jeanniot. IATA will collect overflight revenues, which North Korea will use to operate and develop civil air traffic control facilities, he said.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he will ask the General Accounting Office for a report on the competitive implications of industry consolidation given the American-US Airways and potential United-Delta alliances. Along with the Northwest-Continental alliance, the actions "only heighten our zeal to move forward with pro-consumer legislation to promote new airline entry."
United and Delta together controlled 35.5% of U.S. capacity in the first quarter, while American and US Airways managed 24.2% and Continental- Northwest 19.5%. In contrast, All Nippon Airways controlled 51.2% of Japan's domestic market last year.
Northwest selected Unisys weather processing systems to automate weather tracking and analysis at its Pacific Operations Control facility in Japan. Data come from the Japanese Meteorological Association and Northwest.
United management and representatives of its 22,000 flight attendants are holding a two-day meeting on how the airline will restructure on-board service. The flight attendants have concerns about how to handle extra duties.
FAA denies word circulating at DOT that the agency will not bring up any new civil penalty cases this fiscal year following the loss of revenue from foreign overflight fees, which it had been using to adjudicate the cases. FAA says the number of enforcement cases "is consistent with last year."
Independent Pilots Association, which represents pilots at UPS, criticized the administration's newly announced safety agenda Friday for not requiring that the "large and growing fleet of all-cargo aircraft" be equipped with traffic alert and collision avoidance systems.
Airbus Industrie has become the first manufacturer of large aircraft to commit itself to install AlliedSignal's enhanced ground proximity warning system as standard equipment on "every aircraft we make after 1999," according to Alain Garcia, Airbus VP-engineering.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund -- Income Statement October 1, 1997 - February 28, 1998 RECEIPTS (Revenues) Current Month CY To Date Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas 80,851,000.00 289,442,780.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 428,860,000.00 3,297,499,000.00 Use of International
- In Federal Register dated April 17...Issued an airworthiness directive on Twin Commander 500/600/700 series aircraft requiring access holes in both wing leading edges...Issued an AD on certain Pilatus PC-7 aircraft requiring inspection of the elevator and rudder attachment brackets...Issued an AD on AlliedSignal KSA 470 autopilot servo actuators requiring replacement of the actuator...Issued an AD on Aerospatiale TB10 and TB200 aircraft requiring inspection of the wing rear attachment fittings...Issued an AD on Douglas DC-9 aircraft requiring inspection of the forward
FAA has not corrected deficiencies in security guard contract administration uncovered in a 1991 audit, the DOT Inspector General said last week. Files at six facilities did not contain required evidence of investigations of personal suitability for security guard positions, certifications of firearm training and proficiency, or certifications of physical fitness on any of 92 guards, the IG said.
Midwest Express re-elected four directors: Samuel Skinner, retired president of Commonwealth Edison; John Bergstrom, chairman and chief executive of Bergstrom Corp.; Frederick Stratton, chairman and chief executive of Stratton Corp., and John Weekly, chairman and chief executive of Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Co.
Aviation Information Resources Inc. will hold the third of its six 1998 pilot career seminars, job fairs and airline forums May 16 near the United Airlines Training Center in Denver. Recruiters from 25 carriers, including American, America West, Alaska, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, United and US Airways, will participate. Regionals, crew leasing companies and cargo airlines also will interview prospective applicants. The seminar is designed to help civilian, commercial and military pilots pursue airline careers.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport launched its 1998-2003 expansion program with the start of construction to enlarge its central lounge and D Pier, the airport's busiest. The five-year program, part of a 20-year master plan, will increase capacity to 44 million passengers per year. The initial construction phase has a total budget of 2.9 billion guilders (US$1.44 billion), of which NLG 150 million (US$74.3 million) will be spent on the central lounge, roughly doubling its size and offering space for new shops.
DOT Assistant Secretary Charles Hunnicutt declined comment last week on an issue DOT may be pinned down on eventually - slot sales at London Heathrow Airport. European Union Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert says American and British Airways may not be paid for Heathrow slots they give up in return for approval of their alliance.
House Transportation aviation subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow on international agreements and the impact of alliances, Room 2167 Rayburn, 9:30 a.m. Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee examines the Airport Improvement Program and National Civil Aviation Review Commission legislation in an April 30 hearing, Room 253 Russell, 2 p.m.
The 10:45 a.m. London Gatwick arrival slot offered US Airways for its prospective daily Charlotte nonstop service is "perfectly viable," a U.K. government official told The DAILY, and the carrier is "quite lucky to get it." A US Airways official said using that slot would require a Charlotte departure at 9:50 p.m., and the carrier has postponed the start of service indefinitely beyond its original target of May 7 (DAILY, April 23). British Airways leaves Charlotte at 5:30 p.m. and arrives at 6:25 a.m., and Continental leaves at 4:55 p.m. and arrives at 7:55 a.m.
Load factors for a sampling of 14 regional airlines increased an average of 3.2% during March, from 53.4% a year ago to 56.6% in the month just ended. American Eagle Airlines led the pack with 61.8%, but that was down 1.7 percentage points from the same month a year ago. Gulfstream International followed with 61.4%, a 7.7-point improvement. Delta Connection Comair followed closely with 61.4%, up 4.3 points. The only other carrier to top the 60% level was United Express Air Wisconsin, down 5.8 points to 61.2%, the biggest drop for the group.
AlliedSignal's first quarter net income increased 16% to $300 million while sales rose 10% to $3.6 billion. Sales in aerospace units grew 23% to $1.7 billion and net income jumped 51% to $149 million. The company said the results reflected "continued strong demand for original equipment as well as aftermarket parts and services." Lawrence Bossidy, chairman, said the pending FAA mandate for enhanced ground proximity warning systems will "dramatically benefit sales." AlliedSignal has the only certified units.
Opponents of the American-British Airways alliance filed a joint motion this week asking DOT to suspend processing of the applicants' antitrust immunity case until the department decides whether documents from the US Airways suit against BA are relevant. DOT asked BA recently to turn over certain documents from the court case, stemming from the breakup of the US Airways-BA alliance, and US Airways suggests they are relevant.
