Intrepid Aviation Partners, Memphis, said it will buy 16 727-200s from Triton Aviation. The aircraft currently are on lease to American Trans Air, Air Micronesia, Sun Country and Continental, and Ron Anderson, president of Intrepid, said the leases will continue and in some cases will be extended. In other cases, the aircraft may be leased or sold to other users, he said. With the Triton transaction, Intrepid will have purchased 29 727s in the last 40 months.
Orally approved initial authority for American to display South African's designator code on flights between Miami and Seattle/Tacoma, in conjunction with South African's South Africa-Miami service, co-extensive with one-year authority granted for code-share service to several American U.S. markets...Orally approved a two-year initial exemption for Continental to provide scheduled foreign combination service between U.S.-Mexico terminal points Houston-Merida, Houston-Tampico and Houston-Veracruz...Orally approved a one-year exemption renewal for Abaco Air Ltd.
FAA has granted Sextant Avionique/Thomson-CSF a technical standard order for Sextant's VHF data radio (VDR) transceiver. British Airways has ordered retrofit of the VDRs to comply with the 8.33 KHz European requirement, which became effective Jan. 1. Other European and Asian airlines have ordered the Sextant equipment for both Airbus and Boeing airliners. The transceiver offers 8.33 and 25 KHz channel spacing capability to Arinc and ICAO specifications for CNS/ATM data link communications.
Boeing Commercial said Friday it has reached agreement with customers on the design of the 767-400ER, and engineers can begin releasing design information to factories and suppliers. "This initiates fabrication of parts, tools and assemblies for the new derivative airplane," the company said. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in mid-2000 to Delta. The aircraft will have an upgraded flight deck with six flat-panel displays laid out like the 777's, including a programmable feature similar to that of the next-generation 737.
US Airways suggested the U.S. adopt a European Commission rule requiring a reasonable relationship between services and prices charged for computer reservations system transactions, warning that DOT must "come to grips" with the fact that booking fees continue their upward spiral. Asking DOT to accept its late-filed comments on CRS rule revisions, the carrier suggested companies providing Internet booking ability be given the option of complying with anti-bias rules or notifying consumers that they do not.
The Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA) is fighting Hawaiian Airlines' plan to sell coupons for interisland flights through Bank of Hawaii automated teller machines (ATMs) (DAILY, Jan. 6). ARTA President John Hawks said he challenges the bank's right to engage in the travel business. Hawks sent a letter to Hawaiian Airlines asking it to ditch the plan because it "violates the spirit of U.S. banking regulations that expressly prohibit banks from engaging in the sale of non-financial commercial products and services such as travel."
Superior Air Parts appointed Jerry Farley VP and chief financial officer; Robert Williams VP-sales; Gary Greenwood director-purchasing; Dave Rogers international sales manger; Bob Lanford western regional sales manager, and Ray Burdsall eastern regional sales manager.
American Eagle transferred 7 million passengers to American in 1997, which the carriers said was the equivalent of filling more than 100 757s per day for one year. Eagle carried 12.1 million passengers, about the same as Singapore Airlines.
Increases in greenhouse gases are related to global temperature warming trends that now exceed one degree Fahrenheit per 100 years, according to Tom Karl, senior scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Karl said yesterday that 1997 was the warmest year of the 20th century, and nine of the past 11 years have been the warmest on record.
Korean Air will raise domestic air fares 19% on Jan. 15 due to the rapidly climbing price of jet fuel in the struggling country. Although fuel prices worldwide have remained relatively steady, most airlines pay in U.S. dollars. The Korean won plummeted 46.5% against the dollar in 1997, and dollar-bought jet fuel is now that much more expensive for Korean carriers. In addition, since Dec. 15 Korean Air has cut back on domestic inflight beverage service. It no longer serves soft drinks and juice but still offers coffee, tea and water.
U.S.-Japan talks starting Jan. 20 in Washington will be followed Jan. 23 by code-share discussions with Mexico in Mexico City. U.S. officials are moving closer to liberalization talks with Ghana and Senegal, the latter likely in February, and a Vietnam round is probable in March. Key events awaiting dates include talks on liberalization with Russia and open skies with Italy and Peru. French negotiations are expected late in February or early in March, followed that month by talks on further Canadian liberalization.
British Airways reported December traffic growth of 1.6% on 8.7% more capacity, which forced its load factor down 4.6 percentage points to 64.5%. The airline said fare increases improved yield, offsetting the adverse affects of currency exchange rate fluctuations. Cargo traffic jumped 14.1%. U.K.-Europe passenger traffic was up 2% on 9.1% more capacity, resulting in a 56.4% load factor, down 3.9 points. Intercontinental traffic rose 1.5% on 8.6% more capacity, lowering the load factor 4.7 points to 66.5%.
Rolls-Royce said it received engine business worth $395 million from International Lease Finance Corp. for Trent, RB211 and V2500 engines. The eight Trents will power a mix of 777s and A330s, the RB211s two 757s and the V2500s 40 A320 series aircraft. Separately, ILFC confirmed that Air Transat, Canadian tour operator, will take delivery of two Trent-powered A330-200s early in 1999.
APCO Associates named Mark Gerchick, former DOT deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, senior VP and director- aviation services.
International Aircraft Investors said it acquired a 757-200ER "only six weeks" after completing an initial public offering totaling $26 million. The aircraft is on lease to Air Transat, Canadian charter carrier. The acquisition brings IAI's portfolio to 10 aircraft valued at $183 million. The company leases to airlines in Asia, Europe, North and Central America and the South Pacific.
DOT rejected AirTran Airways' Sept. 2 application for new-entrant slot exemptions at Washington National Airport to operate two daily roundtrips to Knoxville, Tenn. TWA, Delta, US Airways and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority filed in opposition to the request, which was supported by local parties in Knoxville. As pointed out by opponents, DOT said in its dismissal that the law bars the department from granting the exemptions at National, unlike the situation at Chicago O'Hare, New York LaGuardia and New York Kennedy.
The Teamsters union has filed a claim on behalf of Northwest's nearly 10,000 flight attendants, alleging the company is requiring them to fly as much as 13 hours per day. Billie Davenport, president of the Teamsters Local 2000 at Northwest, said a "hectic 13-hour day" is detrimental to passenger safety because it leaves flight attendants tired and not at their most alert in an emergency. Northwest allegedly increased flight attendant flight time after FAA adopted a safety regulation that did not limit it.
