Northwest agreed to a code-share and marketing alliance with Norway's largest regional carrier, Braathens, which already has an alliance with Northwest partner KLM. The Northwest agreement will be similar to the deal Braathens signed with KLM in August, covering code sharing, airport customer service and frequent flyer cooperation. Northwest's frequent flyer link will begin Jan. 1, followed by code sharing "shortly thereafter," Northwest said.
Northwest will add daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas April 5, 1998, enabling it to offer one-stop routing from Las Vegas to Tokyo and Osaka. Using A320s on the route, Northwest will number the service Flight 1 from Las Vegas to Tokyo and Flight 2 from Tokyo to Las Vegas.
Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines (SIA) signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday in Singapore to form a strategic partnership that shifts the German carrier's - and possibly later the Star Alliance's - Asian hub to Singapore. The alliance, signed by Cheong Choong Kong, deputy chairman of SIA, and Lufthansa Chairman Jurgen Weber, follows Friday's announcement of the dissolution of the Global Excellence Alliance (DAILY, Nov. 24; also see following story) begun in 1989. Despite yesterday's move, Delta and Swissair each still own about 5% of SIA stock.
Commercial airlines and forwarders in the U.S. controlled 63% of U.S. cargo revenue and 52% of shipments before deregulation, but today their market share has shrunk to 18% of revenue and 3% of shipments, according to the Colography Group. The drop came despite revenue growth of 1,600% and shipment growth of 1,585% during the same period, the firm said. The balance is controlled by integrated carriers such as FedEx, Airborne Express, UPS and DHL.
Semi-private French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has dismissed the idea of creating a single French military and civilian aerospace group by merging with with state-owned Aerospatiale, a project supported by the French government and the management of Aerospatiale. Serge Dassault said in a television interview, however, that it is "fiction to believe that one has to bring civilian and military activities together because the Americans have merged theirs," a reference to last summer's combination of Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp.
US Airways Group has named Robert Johnson, chairman and chief executive of BET Holdings, to its board. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a master's degree in international affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Crash of a Garuda DC-10 a year ago on takeoff from Japan's Fukuoka Airport was blamed on the crew by Japan's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee (AAIC). The aircraft overran the runway, killing three passengers and causing numerous injuries. The AAIC concluded the accident was caused by the captain's late decision to reject the takeoff. Following its inquiry, the AAIC recommended that Japan's transport ministry require higher safety standards of foreign aircraft serving Japan.
The Justice Department refused to confirm - and United denied - reports that DOJ is investigating the carrier for possible antitrust violations in its dealings last year with Denver-based competitor Frontier Airlines. Justice Department spokeswoman Jennifer Rose said the department "is investigating predatory and exclusionary conduct at hub airports" but refused to confirm or deny published reports that United is a target of investigation.
Summary of U.S. National Carriers Systemwide Revenues and Expenses Second Quarter 1997 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Passenger Carrier Revenues Change Revenues American Trans Air 184,005,169 (1.37) 86,513,427 Carnival 61,311,258 (3.42) 48,152,885 Hawaiian 103,860,138 8.18 84,501,118
A provision in legislation covering appropriations for Commerce, Justice and State departments has extended the visa waiver pilot program without changes until April 30, 1998. The extension will give Congress time to resolve issues related to the extension and adding countries. A spokesman for Rep.
Summary of U.S. Carriers International Revenues and Expenses Second Quarter 1997 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Passenger Carrier Revenues Change Revenues Alaska 22,343,000 8.30 21,276,000 Latin 22,343,000 8.30 21,276,000
Swissair promised yesterday to develop new ties to the Asia/Pacific region, mostly through route-specific links, in the wake of Friday's disintegration of the Global Excellence Alliance. With Singapore Airlines' pullout, Swissair is left with no major code-share partner in Asia, while the third alliance carrier, Delta, still has a dormant code share with All Nippon Airways, a code share with Korean Air and a signed deal with China Southern.
The first of United's 767-300 aircraft will offer B/E Aerospace's BE2000M inflight entertainment system early in December, the carrier reported. United will introduce the system on its Los Angeles-New York Kennedy service and install it eventually on international flights. The system incorporates a 5.6-inch monitor throughout first, connoisseur and main cabin classes, offering nine channels of distributed video entertainment and one channel devoted to Airshow.
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines, one of mainland China's larger carriers, is fortifying an already strong position as consolidation takes place in the country's aviation market. The carrier's strength comes from its base in the economically strong south of the country and the fact that it has more than one hub. Besides Guangzhou, China Southern has hubs in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province; Haikou, Hainan; Changsha, Hunan; Zhengzhou, Henan, and Shenzhen.
Seventeen Michigan congressional delegation members urged President Clinton to "reaffirm" his commitment to open skies with Japan during meetings with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum this week in Vancouver, B.C. The U.S. should leverage its 65% share of the U.S.-Japan air market and $5.3 billion aviation trade surplus to its advantage in negotiations, the bipartisan group said, expressing concern that if the U.S. should "abandon open skies simply because Japan says U.S.
Japan Airlines has created a North American web site in addition to its corporate site. The new site, www.japanair.com, comprises a JAL business overview, a section on its service and meals, a frequent flyer section with JAL Mileage Bank details and partner links, and "JAL Journey" - a seat availability calendar, seating charts by destination and travel information, including links to other sites.
FAA is missing out by not conducting team inspections of repair stations, according to the General Accounting Office. Team inspections identify "far more deficiencies than inspections done by individual inspectors," GAO says in a newly issued report. FAA's oversight of the stations is "comparatively limited" at a time when "air carriers are relying on repair stations much more than in the past."
Frontier Airlines has received a $15 million loan from Greenwich, Conn.- based Wexford Management LLC that the airline will use to acquire more 737s and for working capital. The loan was secured through the purchase of 10% senior secured notes of Frontier. The investment manager also receives warrants to buy 3 million shares of Frontier's common stock at $3 per share. Frontier President Sam Addoms said he is in contact with potential lessors but has not signed any deals .
Cathay Pacific's Super Offer discount tours program, launched Nov. 14 for travel from 37 cities to Hong Kong, was created primarily to generate publicity for Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific targeted 20,000 sales of the packages. Only a few days into the sale period, 18,000 had been sold, of which 70% were from Australia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the U.S. There are usually at least two or three package options in each market. Long- haul packages cost around US$1,000 for two people, including three nights' hotel accommodation.
Pan Am's board of directors voted unanimously yesterday to replace Martin Shugrue as president and chief executive with airline veteran David Banmiller. Shugrue, who secured financing and the Pan Am name to start up the airline in September 1996, leaves active management to become non- executive vice chairman. Banmiller, whose election included a board vote from Shugrue, takes over after a year of significant losses, both from Pan Am's less-than-profitable route network and from the just-completed merger with Carnival Air Lines.
Airport Systems International reported sales jumped 54% to $6.2 million for the October quarter. Net income rose to $318,000 from $62,000. The company said it was selected during the quarter by Panama, Taiwan and Cambodia to supply and install navigation aids and by ICAO to provide retrofit kits for installed equipment in South America.
DOT issued an order to determine whether to reallocate U.S.-Argentina all- cargo frequencies currently held by Florida West, Arrow Air and Challenge. The proceeding will consolidate pending applications and include the issue of whether Florida West and Arrow frequencies should be transferred to FedEx. DOT denied Challenge's request to exclude from the proceeding reallocation of frequencies allocated to it.
Western Pacific is offering sale fares for the holidays starting at $49 one way for off-peak flights based on roundtrip purchase. Fares require a seven-day advance purchase after Dec. 1 but none until then, and the deadline for purchase is Dec. 17. Some restrictions apply, but there are no holiday blackout dates. Travel must be completed by March 11. Sample one-way fares include $119 Atlanta-Seattle, $109 Denver-Washington Dulles and $49 Denver-Kansas City.
EVA Airways Corp. of Taiwan ordered two MD-11 freighters for delivery in 1999 from Boeing in a Long Beach, Calif., meeting at which EVA also took delivery of the first of two MD-11 freighters being delivered this year. EVA also operates three MD-11 passenger aircraft and three MD-11Fs. Earlier this year, it ordered two MD-11 freighters for delivery in 1998. The new order brings EVA's total MD-11s in operation or on firm order to 12.
DOT Secretary Rodney Slater said Friday he welcomed reports that Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.), ranking member of the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, is working on a compromise to break the logjam on the American-British Airways alliance. Speaking at a news conference publicizing DOT's new web site for regulatory filings, Slater said the department "welcomes all comments" on moving the proposal forward.
