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."
Airbus Industrie passed the milestone of 2,500 firm orders just days after the 25th anniversary of its first aircraft flight. Of 2,506 orders, 1,348 have been for the A320 family, or 54%. In 10 months this year, Airbus delivered 150 aircraft, up 50% from the same period last year.
TWA and Air Europa applied at DOT for reciprocal code-share authority on TWA flights from Madrid and Barcelona to New York and from New York and Miami to 24 additional U.S. destinations - for which Air Europa requested one-year exemption authority - and Air Europa flights from Madrid and Barcelona to 11 points in Spain and to New York and Miami, both of which it already serves. TWA will not place its code on Air Europa flights until the Spanish carrier upgrades its coach-only service to provide business class.
Orally approved a one-year exemption renewal for United to conduct foreign combination service between New York and Dhahran, Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and for Saudi Arabian Airlines to display United's code on the routing; and for Saudia to conduct foreign combination service between points in Saudi Arabia and Los Angeles, and for United to display Saudia's code on the routing...Approved two roundtrip charter cargo flights by Atlas Air between points in the U.S. and points in Brazil Oct.
Formal U.S.-Japan talks will resume Nov. 14-15, this time in San Francisco. "We think the talks should take as much time as they need to get the solution right," a State Department source said when asked to respond to Japanese frustration and puzzlement over lack of progress in last week's informal session (DAILY, Oct. 31). "We won't rush into anything we don't think is appropriate."
