The Northwest Europe Loran-C System (NELS) Steering Committee has given its go-ahead to implementing the Loran-based "Eurofix" navigation system on all NELS transmitters. The action, taken Oct. 30, follows successful trials of transmitting Global Positioning System differential corrections using the Loran-C transmitter at Sylt, Germany. Modification of the transmitters, expected to take a year, would enable NELS to provide GPS and Glonass differential corrections throughout Europe.
British Airways has launched a three-month project to track passenger movements in Heathrow Airport's terminals in an effort to eliminate flight delays caused by lost or late-arriving customers. The project, part of a five-year, #35 million (US$56 million) effort to increase punctuality as passenger volumes rise, uses computer chips embedded in boarding passes. Signals from them are detected and relayed by radio stations throughout the terminals to a central tracking station.
Barry Valentine is leaving his job as acting deputy administrator at FAA shortly before Christmas. He was assistant administrator for policy, planning and international aviation until February, when he was named acting administrator, and he became acting deputy when current Administrator Jane Garvey was confirmed. Valentine, who has no immediate plans, also was acting head of regulation and certification after Anthony Broderick left the agency.
Airport company Frankfurt Main Flughafen AG is negotiating to purchase Hahn Airport, a former U.S. military base, from the German Land of Rheinland Pfalz. The company hinted that its move is motivated partly by fears that Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, already attracting German freight business, could invest in Hahn Airport, located about 100 kilometers east of Frankfurt Airport. Hahn has been used since 1995 for freight and some passenger vacation flights in the summer, and it was authorized recently to operate night flights.
Japan Airlines, which reported booming profits last week, is experiencing a steep drop in travel and load factor for service within Southeast Asia, its second largest market. For the six months ending Sept. 30, Asia passenger volume plummeted 11% to 1.5 million passengers. The load factor was 66%, and the region's passengers made up 26.5% of JAL's total, compared with a fiscal 1996 load factor of 74.1% and a passenger count that made up 30% of the total. The airline reported a systemwide average load factor of 72.8%, down slightly from 73.2% last year.
America West flight attendants reached a tentative contract agreement with management Friday. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents the carrier's more than 2,000 cabin crew, began talks in December 1994 and entered federal mediation in May 1997. The five-year tentative pact resolves all pay rate, benefit and working condition issues. Details of the deal were not released pending ratification by the membership.
Aviation Industry Stock Performance October 1997 Closed Closed Majors Symbol 10/30/97 09/29/97 Alaska Air Group ALK 33.375 32.875 America West (Class B) AWA 14.813 14.563 AMR AMR 116.438 110.688 Continental (Class B) CAI.B 43.250 39.375
JAL Express (JEX), the lower-cost version of Japan Airlines, will start operations next July using 150-seat 737s. JEX initially will operate its own routes, those where low demand or lack of profitability is evident, though it also will perform wet-leases for JAL.
US Airways said yesterday it has "affirmed" its order for up to 400 Airbus aircraft, with deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of 1998. Airbus said that because of the US Airways contract and a "high level of net order intake during the last few months," it plans to increase deliveries next year to 234 aircraft from this year's 185, itself a 50% increase over 1996. US Airways has a firm order for 124 A320-family aircraft.
Continental and the Independent Association of Continental Pilots yesterday reached a tentative agreement on major economic issues, including pay rates and pension. The agreement was reached after 15 straight days of negotiations monitored by the National Mediation Board. Continental said "significant issues remain," including Continental Express, where there is no agreement.
Reno Air's pilots will address quality-of-life issues rather than salary next year when they begin negotiations for their first contract as an Air Line Pilots Association unit, according to ALPA spokesman Rob Bach. Clarification of work rules, a retirement program and more efficient scheduling that allows pilots to spend time with their families will be among their top priorities.
The board of directors of Alaska Airlines yesterday elected longtime company executive Bill Ayer president of the carrier. John Kelly remains chairman, president and chief executive of Alaska Air Group and chairman and chief executive of Alaska Airlines. Ayer, a 15-year veteran of the company, takes over daily operational duties that Kelly had performed. Ayer, 43, had been senior VP-customer service, marketing and planning with Alaska, and previously was senior VP-operations with subsidiary Horizon Air.
Virgin Express, which filed Oct. 22 to offer shares on the open market for the first time, yesterday reported third quarter pre-tax profits of BEF428 million (US$12 million), up 80%. Net profits soared 77% to BEF256 million ($7.2 million). The airline reported revenues of BEF3.12 billion ($87.4 million) and its pre-tax margin reached 13.7%, high among airlines in the increasingly competitive European market. Expenses jumped 34% to BEF2.71 billion ($75.9 million).
DOT extended for 60 days Tarom's exemption to operate one weekly Bucharest- Chicago flight via Timisoara, citing plans to resume U.S.-Romania negotiations Dec. 4-5 in Bucharest. Denying a longer extension, the department noted United and Delta complaints that Romania refuses to allow them to conduct third-country code shares to Romania. The U.S. carriers did not object to a 60-day renewal "in view of the upcoming bilateral negotiations." (Docket OST-97-550)
Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee member Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) introduced S.1354, the Air Service Improvement Act of 1997, adding to other recent legislative proposals to spur service to smaller communities. Frist's bill updates an earlier proposal he made for loan guarantees to purchase regional jet aircraft, adopting concepts in Rep. John Duncan's (R- Tenn.) Airline Service Improvement Act, introduced last month (DAILY, Nov. 3).
Travelocity, the Sabre Group's travel web site, offers a low-fare directory, consolidator fares and electronic ticketing at http ://www.travelocity.com. E-ticketing is available for American, America West, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, United and US Airways. E-ticketing on Alaska Airlines will be available starting today.
Lufthansa has taken over full control of its operations at London City Airport from Business Air, which until last week flew between London and Frankfurt three times daily during the week and once on Sundays from London to Frankfurt on behalf of Lufthansa. The German carrier will use its own single-class-configured Avro RJ 85 airplane in the market, and it plans to expand its schedule for better connections in Frankfurt. It may upgrade its London City customer service facilities next year with electronic check-in similar to its service at many German airports.
Singapore Airlines expanded its "shokado" Japanese meal service to 15 additional cities as of Nov. 1. The SIA cabin crew has been trained in Japanese service etiquette to make the meal authentic.
Continental received approval from the Venezuelan government for service between Caracas and Houston. With DOT approval in hand, the carrier plans to start daily flights Dec. 1 with 737s configured for first class and coach.
ILFC has placed an A300-600R with China Airlines on an eight-year lease. The aircraft, equipped with Pratt&Whitney 4158 engines, is scheduled for February delivery and will be the fourth A300-600R leased from ILFC.
Frederick Smith, chairman, president and chief executive of Federal Express, will be the guest speaker at the International Aviation Club luncheon Nov. 13 at the Capital Hilton Hotel. Reservations must be made by Nov. 11 by writing to Charles Simpson, Zuckert, Scoutt&Rasenberger, 888 17th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20006.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said it will launch the AOPA Airport Support Network to "help defend the nation's general aviation airports." AOPA President Phil Boyer said the program will "draft selected AOPA members closely associated with 750 key general aviation airports to monitor local airport affairs and alert AOPA to emerging problems that might threaten the airport's viability."
