DOT's monthly consumer report for September showed improvement for the ten largest airlines as a group in on-time performance, mishandled baggage and passenger complaints. The majors' on-time arrival rate was 85% for the month, up from 78.7% in September 1996 and 78.6% in August 1997. TWA had the best individual record at all reported airports in September with 89.8%, followed by Southwest, 88.6%, and American, 88.4%. Alaska came in last with 74.3%, Northwest was ninth, 81.4%, and Delta eighth, 82.7%.
U.S. Carrier Systemwide Market Share At Leading U.S. Airports U.S. Major, National and Commuter* Carriers Six Months 1997 (Part 1 of 2) Atlanta Enplaned Percent Passengers Marketshare Delta 12,822,231 80.37 Atlantic Southeast Airlines 713,173 4.47 ValuJet 657,673 4.12
The U.K. risks losing its position as Europe's international air gateway because consecutive U.K. governments have neglected Britain's aviation industry, according to British Midland Chairman Michael Bishop. Summarizing a report published this week, "Completing the Transport Jigsaw - The Place of Aviation in an Integrated Transport System," Bishop said the Blair government's current review of transport policy should lead central and local governments to give aviation the same attention and importance as trains and buses for public transport. The U.K.
Increasing harmonization of Europe's air traffic flight management infrastructure appears to have reduced flight delays caused by ATFM problems, according to Eurocontrol. Although there were more ATFM-delayed flights per day during the June-September period than in the same months of 1996, the daily average has declined steadily since June. Eurocontrol's Central Flow Management Unit, which handles upper airspace traffic on behalf of 32 nations, said the daily average peaked at 4,500 in June and then dropped steadily, reaching 3,800 in September.
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, will discuss his aviation competition bill, U.S.-Japan negotiations and other transportation issues on this week's Aviation News Today, to air Sunday on Washington's NewsChannel 8 at 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Northern Airlines, the new Syracuse, N.Y., startup that filed with DOT for its 401 certificate last Friday, initially will emulate the former Syracuse-based Empire Airlines. The carrier plans to use three Fokker F28- 4000 regional jets - the same equipment as Empire's - and operate from Syracuse to Boston, Hartford/Springfield, Columbus and Buffalo with three roundtrips daily, starting Jan. 15. It also plans New York/Newark service.
United and TWA are linking their in-house computer systems to the Cargo Community System (CCS) and Internet tracking service created by Syntegra, the systems integration business of British Telecom. The carriers said their cargo customers now can access tracking and status information on products in transit via a simple Internet connection. The CCS service connects with more than 25 major airlines.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has renamed its EMB-145 and -135 jets the Embraer RJ145 and Embraer RJ135, the company said. "The establishment of the Embraer 'jet family' concept determined the use of the proper terminology in referring to these Regional Jet aircraft," it said in a written statement. The manufacturer said that it would "convert all promotional materials to this new terminology - Embraer RJ145 and Embraer RJ135 - from November on, after the new advertising agency selection process is completed."
Kenneth Gazzola, publisher of Aviation Week&Space Technology magazine and executive VP of McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week Group, was awarded the Frank Knox Media Medal Wednesday at the 93rd anniversary dinner of the New York chapter of the Navy League.
US Airways reported a 0.6% decrease in October traffic on 2.5% less capacity, which caused the load factor to rise 1.4 percentage points to 71.3%. Domestic traffic declined 1.5% on 3.4% less capacity, and international traffic improved 7.8% on 6.4% more capacity. Oct 97 Oct 96 10 Mths 97 10 Mths 96 RPMs 3,437,859,000 3,456,926,000 35,230,912,000 32,411,820,000 ASMs 4,818,417,000 4,944,268,000 49,072,049,000 47,169,705,000
Saab Aircraft of America has named Martin Schultz acting VP-customer services. He replaces Steve Wallace, who has held the position for 14 years. Wallace will leave the company at the end of November. Schultz is a 10-year veteran of the company and most recently was director-technical services and flight operations. He is an ATP with 14,000 hours in various aircraft and has type ratings for the Saab 340 and Saab 2000. Schultz will head a 50-person organization that includes spares and product support as well as technical and customer services.
American Eagle commuter Simmons Airlines told DOT its application for 60 slots at Chicago O'Hare fully meets DOT's new exemptions guidelines, rebutting United arguments against the filing.
The Dutch government's recently announced plans for cutting back aircraft- related noise levels at the country's airports. particularly at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, does not strike the right balance between the environment and Schiphol's present and future economic needs, Schiphol Airport authorities said yesterday. The transport ministry's nationwide airport utilization plan for 1998 sets a ceiling of 360,000 aircraft movements during the year at Schiphol. Dutch aviation authorities already have imposed restrictions at the airport for the remainder of this year.
Sabena Technics, Sabena's maintenance and repair division, has signed three contracts valued at a total of 156 million Belgian francs (US$4.3 million) covering both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The Belgian airline's maintenance and repair division will maintain Dutch regional carrier Transavia's 737 aircraft for a year under a BEF 30 million contract.
British Airways last week began five-month trials of its own television program, BATV. After 18 months of testing, the airline is producing a twice-a-week, 10-minute program that includes news, features and comment. BATV is an attempt to improve the speed, effectiveness and credibility of communications. "Right now, our communications are not working as well as we all would like," Director of Communications Kevin Murray said in BA's internal newspaper.
Seeking to secure its place at New York LaGuardia, Colgan Air has applied for an exemption for 16 slots there. The carrier operates there now with slots under short-term leases for service to Hyannis and Nantucket, Mass., and Charlottesville, Va. Colgan told DOT it is being forced to apply for the exemptions because it has been unable to obtain permanent slots under existing rules.
Continental's October traffic surged 17.3% on 11.2% more capacity, which boosted the load factor 3.6 percentage points to 69.6%, the airline's highest October level. The domestic load factor was 71.2%, up 4.9 points, as domestic traffic gained 9.5% on 2% more capacity. International traffic kept pace, rising 38.2% on 35.7% more capacity and increasing the load factor 1.2 points to 66.6%. Oct 97 Oct 96 10 Mths 97 10 Mths 96 RPMs 4,102,811,000 3,498,281,000 39,953,638,000 35,078,776,000
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer last week delivered to Continental Express its 14th EMB-145 50- passenger regional jet (now called the RJ145 by Embraer and by COEx the ExpressJet), the 26th aircraft delivered. The aircraft is S/N 145029, making it the 29th production aircraft delivered. The manufacturer also delivered last week the 25th airplane to Rio-Sul Linhas Aereas, the subsidiary of Brazilian flag carrier Varig. Rio-Sul operates the aircraft from Rio de Janeiro to four Brazilian cities with a 70% load factor.
...Rollout of the new Fairchild Dornier 328JET will take place Dec. 6 at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, with first flight scheduled for Jan. 20. Shipment of the first two Pratt&Whitney Canada PW306B turbofans is set for mid-month with installation planned before the end of the month on S/N3002, the second 328 turboprop built. Four test aircraft will participate in the flight-test program, which is expected to culminate with certification and first delivery in March 1999.
US Airways Express affiliate CCAIR has named 20-year industry veteran Mickey Bowman its new VP-marketing, the company announced. Bowman, who will oversee sales, marketing and customer relations, held similar positions at three other US Airways affiliates. CCAIR President Kenneth Gann called Bowman's "expertise...a welcome addition to CCAIR as we move forward with our fleet rationalization and growth plan."
Lufthansa Cargo said it will operate 34 weekly 747 freighter flights this winter on new maindeck nonstop services between its Chicago and San Francisco gateways and Shannon. During the winter, Oct. 26-March 28, Lufthansa Cargo will operate all-747 freighter service from nine U.S. cities - Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fairbanks, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. With belly capacity on 120 passenger flights a week, the carrier said it offers "the most scheduled freight capacity of any airline on the North Atlantic."
America West posted a 3.5% drop in October traffic, even as it expanded capacity 5.7%. The combination caused the load factor to plummet 6.3 percentage points to 65.8%. The airline noted that last year's October load factor was inflated when it matched Southwest's broad $25 anniversary fare sale. Despite the lower load factor, October's revenue performance was "strong and passenger yields were up significantly from October 1996 and this year's third quarter," said Chairman W.A. Franke.
Amerijet International said it will begin scheduled cargo service Nov. 10 between Miami and Belize, establishing its presence in Central America. About 75% of Belize's citrus crops, plus sugar, bananas, melons and seafood, are exported to the U.S., the carrier said. It will offer flights on Mondays and Wednesdays, using 727s.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) denounced United's test from Des Moines limiting lowest-fare customers to one carry-on bag. United is "punishing" those least likely to find air travel affordable, he said, and the program is "another example of airlines limiting supply - in this case space - to obtain higher ticket prices."
TWA's domestic and international load factors increased during October, indicating that the international capacity drawdown begun in January continued to bear fruit. Traffic dropped 7% on 12.4% less capacity, which forced the load factor up 3.9 percentage points to 67.3%. Despite the international capacity decline, 32% in the year to date, the international load factor was up 5.6 percentage points in October to 75.3%. Domestic traffic gained 4.3% on 2.7% less capacity, which boosted the load factor 4.4 points to 65.5%.
