Aircraft emissions at cruise altitude have been identified by the Aerospace Industries Association as one of the top 10 issues of importance for 1998. AIA says this new focus has "joined the traditional regulatory activity concerned with ground-level emissions from aircraft and support equipment."
Anti-pollution advocates weigh in increasingly on alternatives to aviation. Air Transport Association President Carol Hallett said two European Union ministers with aviation concerns suggested to her last year in Brussels that any trip of less than 600 miles should be taken by train. "It's hard to believe that would be feasible in Europe," never mind the U.S., she said. (See story to follow.)
Smaller, traditional forwarders are not being made obsolete by globalization and automation, according to Julian Keeling, president of Consolidators International. Keeling says his roster of forwarder customers increased from 250 to 300 last year. "Many of them are reporting record sales with accompanying solid profitability."
AlliedSignal completed acquisition of British Airways' wheel and brake repair and overhaul business, which it expects to generate revenues of about $150 million over the next 10 years. AlliedSignal is the exclusive supplier of wheel and brake aftermarket support services for BA aircraft.
United will terminate its code share with Mesa Air Group at Denver April 22 but has offered the carrier another code-share pact if it reinstates four routes it dropped last fall. United said it took the action because Mesa's service level dropped when it pulled out of Cody, Wyo., and Lubbock, Amarillo and Midland, Texas, said United spokesman Tony Molinaro. United wants to enter a new six-month code share with Mesa, beginning April 23, and, if Mesa returns to satisfactory service levels, renew the agreement for two six-month periods.
SAS has rejected several offers to buy Radisson SAS Hotels Worldwide, its chain of international hotels. Chief Executive Jan Stenberg said his company will develop the business further, but not through further equity expansion into the sector. Instead, SAS will redirect its subsidiary's focus toward hotel management and operations.
BFGoodrich Aerospace and UPS signed a five-year extension of a maintenance agreement covering C and D checks for 727, 757 and 767 aircraft. About 66 aircraft will undergo maintenance this year.
KLM and partner SLM have reduced fares 10% for their joint service between Amsterdam and Paramaribo, Surinam. Lower fares and new student fares are available to the South American city on three weekly flights.
Northwest Airlines Cargo launched twice-weekly 747 all-cargo freighter service between the U.S. and Manila. The service departs Chicago on Sundays and New York on Wednesdays. Both flights stop in Anchorage, Tokyo and Bangkok en route to Manila.
A three-judge appeals court panel last week overturned FAA's interim final rule imposing overflight fees on aircraft that do not take off and land in the U.S. FAA is studying the decision and had no immediate reaction on Friday. The agency had planned to collect $100 million in overflight fees initially. Sources said FAA faces a funding shortfall of about $72 million in the current fiscal year because of the decision. If the panel's ruling is not overturned, FAA may have to find the extra funding in its operating budget.
Aviation Systems International said it acquired surplus inventory from AlliedSignal Aerospace totaling more than 70,000 items valued at about $40 million. The inventory comprises rotables and repair parts and subassemblies for rotables, ground power units, auxiliary power units and engines for many types of jet transport aircraft and turboprops. Lawrence Rayman, ASI president, said that "much of this material has never been available other than directly from the manufacturer."
L-3 Communications said it will supply flight data and cockpit voice recorders to American for new Boeing aircraft. The order includes 134 firm aircraft and options for 531 aircraft. In addition, L-3 said it will retrofit 650 aircraft with Fairchild Aviation solid-state FDRs.
ECC International said its ECC Simulation unit received a contract for cabin crew training equipment from Airtours International Airways. The equipment includes a 757/A320 emergency evacuation trainer, a 767 door trainer and an A330 door trainer, all with cabin section, main door and slide.
CNF Transportation reported record 1997 net income of $115.7 million, a 57.8% increase over 1996. Revenues and operating income also set records, up 16.5% to $4.3 billion and up 37.9% to $264.9 million, respectively. In the fourth quarter, net income rose to $30 million from $17.4 million while revenues increased 21.3% to $1.2 billion. Emery Worldwide reported record fourth quarter operating income of $32.5 million, up 21.6%, and operating income of $109.3 million, up 39.4%. Revenues increased 17.8% to $644.7 million.
President Clinton's fiscal 1999 budget, due today, is expected to include funding for airport grants at or close to the $1.7 billion Congress adopted for fiscal 1998. The proposal represents a dramatic reversal of the $550 million the Office of Management and Budget floated late in November.
After 11 days of talks in Washington, negotiators initialed a framework agreement Friday for a new U.S.-Japan bilateral, securing new memorandum of understanding (MOU) frequencies, lifting restrictions on beyond rights for incumbents, permitting code sharing for the first time and instituting a safety net if market development does not prod Japan into a more liberalized agreement in four years. But private negotiating between FedEx and the U.S.
Boeing 757-200 and 777 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Third Quarter 1997 B757-200 America West American Continental Delta Number of Aircraft Operated 14 90 21 91 Total Fleet Operations Departures 61 294 54 428
