United's November traffic rose 5.6% to 9.3 billion revenue passenger miles on capacity that gained 3.4% to 13.7 billion available seat miles, raising the load factor 1.4 percentage points to 67.8%. Domestic traffic grew 7.4% on 0.8% more capacity; Atlantic traffic increased 13.9% on 20.2% more capacity, but Pacific traffic fell 1.3% on 3.1% more ASMs. The Pacific load factor dropped 3 points to 67.9% and Atlantic loads declined 3.8 points to 68.5%. The carrier posted an all-time, single-day record Nov. 30 with 301,408 passengers.
European Union Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert fixed new rates for antitrust fines last week in Brussels. Current rules specify only that fines can run up to 10% of the worldwide revenues of companies found guilty of restricting competition and not willing to abide by the European Commission's orders. That ceiling was mentioned frequently when the EC was reviewing the Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger.
The Association of Flight Attendants unit representing America West's approximately 2,200 cabin crew says it has an action plan in place in the event members fail to ratify a tentative contract agreement. AFA last week took the tentative contract on the road, where flight attendants voiced anger because, they said, it reduces holiday pay and vacation days, changes the way sick leave is accrued, and does not provide the kind of pay raise they had hoped for (DAILY, Dec. 3).
Principality of Monaco has become the 27th country to join Eurocontrol, the pan-European air safety and navigation group based in Brussels. Monaco, which first applied for membership in October 1996, already is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Civil Aviation Conference.
America West flew 1.2 billion revenue passenger miles last month, a 0.5% traffic rise from November 1996. The carrier reported a 3.4% increase in capacity and a 1.7 percentage point drop in load factor, which was offset by a significant rise in the average fares, compared with November 1996. Year-to-date traffic rose 6.9% with a 9.8% increase in capacity, resulting in a 1.9 point drop in load factor. Nov 97 Nov 96 11 Mths 97 11 Mths 96 RPMs 1,231,171,000 1,224,822,000 14,905,777,000 13,938,089,000
AirTran Airlines Senior VP-Finance and Chief Financial Officer Stephen Nevin will leave the airline at yearend. Nevin, who has been with the company, formerly ValuJet, since 1994, is leaving because he does not want to move to AirTran's new Orlando headquarters, a company spokeswoman said. Nevin declined interviews on Friday, but the company said he will remain in Atlanta to pursue other career opportunities.
Spain is among the countries where the U.S. is seeing the chance for "substantial strides" toward open skies next year, Mark Gerchick, DOT deputy assistant secretary, said at last week's Airports Council International conference. Gerchick and others from the U.S. held informal talks with their counterparts last month in Spain.
Larry Risley, Mesa Air Group chief executive, said Friday he will retire April 30 or when his successor is named, whichever comes first. In his 17- year tenure at Mesa, Risley, 53, built the carrier from a single-engine aircraft operation to the largest independently owned regional carrier in the world, flying to 168 cities with a fleet of 187 turboprops and jet aircraft, Mesa said.
TWA said Friday it will conduct its own investigation of a pilot and a flight attendant charged by the FBI in connection with "unauthorized activities" involving evidence from TWA Flight 800. TWA said it suspended Capt. Robert Stacey and the flight attendant, Elizabeth Sanders, is on leave.
The DAILY Dec. 1 incorrectly reported a statement on fare trends by Standard&Poor's analyst Phil Baggaley. With demand more inelastic for business fares than for leisure fares, the gap between highest and lowest fare has widened, making some fares more attractive, Baggaley said.
The Dutch cabinet of national ministers has given its qualified support for further growth of air traffic at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In a joint letter last week to the lower house of parliament, the ministers for transport, economic affairs and the environment said Schiphol will continue to have priority over new locations as The Netherlands grapples with expanding demand in European aviation.
Boeing, in a campaign to win five 737-700 orders from El Al, has launched a special Internet site. El Al is asking the public in an advertising campaign to voice its preference between the 737 and the Airbus A320. The Internet site touts the aircraft builder's relationship with the Israeli carrier dating back 50 years. Boeing says it is getting about 3,000 hits a day.
Austria joined the "Schengen Group" - European Union countries that have abolished border checks for passengers traveling among them. Austria's membership became effective last week. Other Schengen members that have abolished border checks include Germany, France, Portugal, Spain and the Benelux countries. Their decision required the reorganization of passenger flows at airports.
Worldspan has introduced a booking incentive for travel agents that increases Productivity Pricing credits awarded for tours. Retroactive to Nov. 1, Worldspan is awarding five credits for tour bookings that contain one to five passengers and 10 credits for bookings with six or more passengers.
American Eagle operator Simmons rejected United arguments against the American commuter's application for a 60-slot exemption for operations from Chicago O'Hare. Simmons said United opposes the bid because Simmons is an American corporate affiliate, because American dropped certain services it launched with 100-seat aircraft from O'Hare earlier this decade, and because United Express commuters plan to file a competing application.
Northwest is relaxing advance purchase requirements on special fares for travel Dec. 28-Jan. 5, and Dec. 18, 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Some restrictions apply. Roundtrip fares start at $272 between Minneapolis and New York and $184 between Detroit and Washington.
TWA posted a 1.6% November traffic gain to 1.7 billion revenue passenger miles on 9% less capacity - 2.8 billion available seat miles - which boosted load factor 6.8 percentage points to 65.6%. It boarded more passengers in November - 1.83 million - than in any November in seven years. TWA's load factor was its highest November figure since deregulation in 1978. Domestic traffic increased 10.6% on 2.5% less capacity, which raised the load factor 7.7 points to 65.2%.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall announced yesterday the appointments of Peter Goeiz as NTSB managing director and Jamie Finch to succeed Goeiz as head of the Office of Government, Public and Family Affairs.
