Northwest's pilots can expect to find strike ballots in their mailboxes next week. Northwest Air Line Pilots Association leadership, complaining about stalled negotiations and the company's decision to outsource regional jet flying to Mesaba, plans to send out ballots April 15. The ballots are a first step toward asking the National Mediation Board to release the parties into a 30-day cooling-off period.
Star Alliance partners United and Air Canada have teamed to put U.S.- Canada flights on sale, with a joint promotion in transborder markets. Sale fares can be purchased through April 16 for travel from April 21 through June 30. Sample roundtrip fares for Monday through Thursday travel include US$144 for Los Angeles-Vancouver, $311 for Denver-Toronto and $371 for Chicago-Vancouver. Tickets are non-refundable and require a 14-day advance purchase and Saturday night stay.
Atlantic Coast Airlines, which operates in the eastern U.S. as United Express, will begin 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jet service June 10 between Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., and Washington Dulles Airport.
Mesaba Airlines' traffic soared 102.3% and capacity jumped 88% in March, bumping the load factor up to 57.3%, 4.2 percentage points over that of March 1997. The Northwest Airlink affiliate reported 87.6 million revenue passenger miles and 153.1 million available seat miles for the month. Passengers boarded rose 83.9% to 342,000. RPMs were up 108.5% for the first three months of 1998 and ASMs rose 92%, boosting the load factor 4.2 points. The number of passengers boarded increased 88.7% to 902,000.
Canadian Airlines added nine international destinations - Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Auckland, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Monterrey, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Bangkok - to its spring fare sale. Fares are nearly 50% off the full economy fare for more than 175 domestic, transborder and international destinations. Sale fares are available until April 16 for travel in North America by June 30 and for international travel by June 23. Sample roundtrip fares include $379 Vancouver-Toronto, $729 Toronto-Honolulu and $1,131 Montreal-Buenos Aires.
Comair, which operates as a Delta Connection carrier, will begin 50- passenger Canadair Regional Jet service June 1 between Dayton and New York LaGuardia Airport. The service will be the only jet nonstops in the market, according to Charles Curran, Comair seniorVP-marketing.
France and the U.S. yesterday initialed a bilateral aviation agreement that largely liberalizes air service between the two countries after a five-year phase-in period of comparable, equitable rights for U.S. and French carriers. Negotiators extended the last round of talks through the weekend to achieve the agreement. The accord falls short of open skies, as fifth-freedom passenger service is not included. French Transport Minister Jean-Claude de Gayssot, speaking at a joint news conference in Paris with U.S.
The Greek government, faced with fierce opposition from unions, has decided to soften the drastic restructuring plan it put forward to rescue state-owned carrier Olympic Airways. The plan was to have been voted on today in Parliament, and after the vote, Olympic employees would have had five days to accept it or be forced to leave the company with minimal compensation. Greek Transport Minister Tassos Mandelis lifted that threat yesterday in Athens and said a $225 "food grant," which was to have been abolished to cut costs, would be maintained for ground staff.
Korean Air has begun a marketing tie-in with American Express and Hyatt. The deal gives a business-class upgrade to passengers who buy an unrestricted coach ticket with an American Express card. The upgraded boarding pass gets a passenger a better Hyatt hotel room in Asia.
United's traffic in March declined 3.5% on 1.2% more capacity, which pushed the load factor down 3.4 percentage points to 70.6%. The airline's Pacific division posted a sharp 18.6% drop in traffic on 9.4% less capacity, which caused the load factor to plunge 7.6 points to 67.2%. United President John Edwardson said he was "pleased with traffic growth" in the Atlantic and Latin American division, even though the Latin America load factor dropped even more than the Pacific.
Observing its 75th anniversary, Sabena is offering June weekend packages for two traveling together from Atlanta or Newark to Brussels for $750 roundtrip, including airfare, hotel, breakfast and taxes.
Delta traffic increased 1.8% in March on 2% more capacity, which pushed the load factor down 0.1 percentage points to 74.6%. International traffic rose 8.4% on 7.7% more capacity, boosting the load factor 0.5 points to 77.4%. Domestic traffic increased 0.1% on 0.5% more capacity, lowering the load factor 0.3 points. Delta, which carried 104 million passengers last year, carried 24.6 million in the first quarter, up just 486 over the 1997 quarter. March 1998 March 1997 3 Months 1998 3 Months 1997 Rev. Psngr
Congress approved FAA's request to transfer $24.9 million in fiscal 1998 funds from other programs into the Year 2000 Program, recognizing the priority of the effort. The House Appropriations Committee approved the request March 24 and the Senate Appropriations Committee followed suit last Friday.
Canadian airlines are asking FAA to return $10 million, plus interest, in overflight charges that they paid the agency before a court struck down its authority to charge the fees on Jan. 30. The Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) said that "because the rule has been declared unlawful and completely vacated, ATAC members are entitled to a full refund of those monies." ATAC said the U.S.
U.K. National Air Traffic Services has reduced its charges to airlines at BAA Plc's London airports for the sixth consecutive year and has cut or held its charges at BAA's Scottish airports. NATS reduced air traffic control charges 4.7% at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, 10% at Aberdeen and 1% at Glasgow. The cost at Edinburgh is the same as last year's.
British Midland, the code-share partner of 17 international carriers at London Heathrow Airport, posted record pre-tax profits of #17.3 million (US$28.8 million) for 1997, triple its 1996 earnings. The airline's sales rose 11% to #529.3 million ($880.9 million). British Midland carried 5.7 million passengers last year, up 7%. "This performance has been achieved at a time of unprecedented competition in the marketplace, especially from new low-cost carriers," said Michael Bishop, chairman.
Just three days after 747-400 pilots from All Nippon Airways went on strike, Japan is bracing for two more work stoppages today that for the first time will disrupt domestic passenger service. Some of Japan Airlines' pilots and flight attendants will strike today, but the carrier does not forecast any cancellations. Japan Air System is expected to cancel hundreds of flights, however, turning the domestic market into disarray. JAS is the third-largest carrier in Japan.
Air France and Luxair have agreed to cooperate to develop the Paris- Luxemburg route, offering multiple daily flights using Luxair's Boeing 737- 400s and Fokker 50s. The carriers will use an adjustable business-class separator in the aircraft, varying premium capacity based on demand.
In the wake of yesterday's U.S.-France bilateral agreement, Air France is proposing to start service to two additional U.S. gateways, Boston and Atlanta. The carrier has 81 weekly frequencies to the U.S. and will increase that amount 78% this summer, to 144, and it expects "vigorous growth" across the North Atlantic. It will begin daily service June 19 to Atlanta, home of partner Delta, serving the route with 767-300s with 25 seats in business class and 184 in economy.
America West's revamped revenue management system should produce an annual revenue benefit of $30-$50 million by 2000, said Salomon Smith Barney analyst Julius Maldutis. The airline also will see a $5 million quarterly boost later this year from a new automated scheduling system for aircraft, he said.
Delta Express is offering $69 one-way introductory fares between Columbus, Ohio, and Tampa as it begins daily nonstop service on the route May 1. The fares are available for travel in May except on May 21, 22 and 25. Tickets must be purchased at the time they are reserved, and restrictions apply. Delta Express will offer 21-day, seven-day and walkup fares, assigned seating and the Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program.
AirTran announced yesterday it will begin service to Hartford Bradley Airport May 18 with three nonstop flights from Atlanta. AirTran is offering one-way fares starting at $99 until Saturday. As a special introduction, the carrier will waive the 14-day advance purchase requirement for travel to 19 connecting destinations from and to Hartford. After June 14 one-way fares will range from $99 to $201. First-class seating will be $226 one-way. AirTran previously served Hartford as ValuJet.
10 Fastest Growing U.S. Airports By Large, Medium and Small Hubs The Year 1997* vs. The Year 1992 Large Hubs (Greater Than 1% of Total Enplanements) 1997* Percent Of 1992 Percent Enplaned 1997 U.S. Enplaned Change Rank Airport Code Passengers Enplanements Passengers 97/92 1 Portland, OR PDX 6,093,778 1.01% 3,496,839 74.3%
Northwest traffic fell 0.7% in March on 1.4% more capacity, which lowered the load factor 1.6 percentage points to 75.7%. Domestic traffic ebbed 0.5% on 2.1% more capacity, dropping the load factor 1.9 points to 72.8%. Despite the troubles in Asia, Northwest's international traffic fell only 1% on 0.4% more capacity, resulting in a load factor of 80.4%, down 1.1 points. During the first quarter, the international load factor fell 2.0 points to 75.6%. March 1998 March 1997 3 Mths 1998 3 Mths 1997 Rev.
