Delta and Air Jamaica applied for a two-year exemption to code share on Air Jamaica flights linking Atlanta, New York and Miami with Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica, and Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia, starting Jan. 15, 1998, and on Delta flights between Atlanta and Boston, Cincinnati, Hartford, Memphis and San Francisco, starting March 28, 1998. The U.S. bilaterals with Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and St.
Officials of Europort Vatry, billed as Europe's first all-cargo airport, said Air Liquide will establish its European distribution center, road only, at the airport in mid-1998, and Garonor, a subsidiary of AGF, an international insurance company, will use the air component of the multimodal complex beginning in 1999.
Boeing is widely expected to kill the MD-80 program when it reveals Monday what it will do with McDonnell Douglas product lines. But yesterday a top Boeing official said the company sold two MD-80s to an Asian carrier - not identified, but not Chinese - this week.
Japan Airlines reported net profits of $170.5 million for the six months ending Sept. 30, more than seven times the $22.5 million earned in the 1996 period. Despite weak international traffic, domestic traffic and international cargo grew steadily, JAL said. The carrier cited new slot availability at Tokyo Haneda Airport, following the opening of a new runway there, and a new domestic frequent flyer program as factors that boosted domestic traffic. The passenger volume rise led to revenue of $5.4 billion, up 5.5%. Expenses rose 2% to $5.05 billion.
Airbus Industrie Chairman Jean Pierson is demanding more public money for aeronautical research in Europe. European governments should reaffirm the value of their aeronautics industry "and that reaffirmation should be backed up by a commitment to increase funding in research and technology to a level which brings it, if not on a par, close to that of the USA," Pierson said this week in Toulouse on the 25th anniversary of the first flight of the first Airbus aircraft, the A300-B1. The U.S. currently outspends Europe "by a factor of four," Pierson said.
Shorts of Belfast is another company that ceased regional aircraft production of its 36-seat Shorts 360 a number of years ago. Today the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of Northern Ireland is hawking the now- Bombardier subsidiary's investment of more than $170 million in the design and manufacture of the CRJ-700s center and forward fuselage and engine nacelles as well as the engine nacelles and wing components for the Dash 8- 400. Shorts has fared well under Bombardier, boasting partnerships with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, British Aerospace and others.
Boeing has confirmed that Aeroflot, Russian International Airlines has agreed to lease two Boeing 777s through International Lease Finance Corporation. A Boeing source said company officials are currently in Russia working with aviation authorities in an attempt to get the 777 certified in Russia.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Second Quarter 1997 DC-10-10 American United Total Number of Aircraft Operated 13 25 38 Total Fleet Operations Departures 24 59 83
AirTran Airlines, formerly ValuJet, which won an exemption last week for 11 slots at LaGuardia, to serve Atlanta, may seek more for service to Washington Dulles. The carrier still believes Dulles-LaGuardia "would be extremely attractive," Senior VP-Marketing Ponder Harrison told The DAILY. Atlantic Coast, established in the market, added a ninth daily flight in August.
Sabena's traffic soared 33.3% in September, to 1.13 billion revenue passenger kilometers, and is up 22.5% for the year to date. The carrier flew 5.1 million passengers in the first nine months, nearly matching its total for all of last year. Sabena's freight volume rose 27.8% in September, the third straight month of double-digit cargo growth.
DHL Airways has begun operation of an expansion facility at its Cincinnati hub to accommodate double-digit growth it has experienced. The facility includes a 10-position freight container unload system connected by high- speed conveyor belts to the primary sort area inside the main hub building.
An incident aboard an American Airlines aircraft has prompted the DOT inspector general and FAA to launch a joint review of security controls over accompanied commercial air courier shipments. In the incident, which occurred Oct. 1 at Miami, passengers were evacuated when noxious fumes "permeated" the cabin, according to DOT Secretary Rodney Slater. Although the case still is under investigation, it appears that a passenger acting as an "accompanying commercial courier" for a freight forwarder had checked bags that were leaking a corrosive pesticide, Slater said.
Production lines for critical Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System components have a short life, averaging five years, according to a National Air Traffic Controllers Association official. By contrast, production lines for commercial and industrial applications last 20 years, NATCA says. The STARS replacement expense not only will negate some of the advantages of off-the-shelf technology, but some of the STARS production lines already have been shut down even though the system is not yet complete, NATCA says.
Sabena, choosing to cooperate rather than compete head-on with Belgian startup airlines, is purchasing a minority stake in CityBird, which was formed in 1996. Sabena plans to take between 10% and 15% of CityBird and will operate joint flights with the low-cost airline to Montreal, Sao Paulo and New York (Newark), starting May 1, 1998. CityBird's MD-11 and Boeing 767 aircraft will carry Sabena colors. "The aircraft will be operated by Sabena pilots.
Pan American is leasing three 737-300 aircraft from Air Alaska for delivery between December and February. The acquisition will enlarge its fleet to seven 737-400s, three 737-300s, two 737-200s, seven 727-200s and an A300. Pan Am said it is in the market for more Stage 3 737s and 727-200s.
London Gatwick-based AB Airlines, formerly Air Bristol, received overwhelming support from investors who oversubscribed its stock offering by more than 2.5 times. The airline plans to list on the AIM market in Britain in early 1998. AB recently began twice-daily London-Lisbon and three-times-daily London-Shannon service, with load factors topping 80%. Airline Chairman Brian Beal said the stock offering will enable the carrier to expand with new aircraft and new routes. He confirmed that AB is in discussions with Boeing and expects to add aircraft in January.
Air Europa was misidentified as Air Europe (DAILY, Oct. 23) in the headline of a story about Spanish carrier Air Espana changing its corporate name to Air Europa, which is its trade name. Air Europe is an Italian carrier.
U.S. negotiators initialed an open-skies agreement with Chile Tuesday, but the terms do not take effect until formal adoption by both governments. Chile would be the first South American country to sign up for open skies.
Alitalia is beginning "Italy Intermezzo," offering air-lodging packages starting at $629 for a three-night trip from New York. The packages include four-star hotels in Rome, Florence and Venice and the chance to add extra days to 30 different Italian destinations.
Canadian Airlines reported a C$106.4 million (US$75.8 million) net profit for the third quarter, up 24.2% and the highest quarterly earnings in its history. The load factor was 78.8% and unit cost fell 2.8%.
Air France and Air-India have taken the first step toward a broader alliance with the launch of connecting service at Air France's Paris Charles de Gaulle hub for Air-India's daily India-France service. This week, Air-India's first 747 service from Delhi connected passengers at Air France's Terminal 2 at de Gaulle. The carriers, along with Indian Airlines, signed an agreement in May and expect to enlarge it in January by starting code-share service. Air-India operates four weekly flights from Delhi and three from Mumbai.
Airlines looking to cut distribution costs have struck gold in electronic ticketing. Delta saved nearly $20 million between February and June with e-ticketing, which makes up about 75% of its in-house bookings. About 29% of Northwest's total North American bookings in October were e-tickets, accounting for more than 80% of its in-house and Internet bookings. About 35% of Reno Air passengers use e-tickets, said spokesman Richard Guess, as do about 90% of those who book directly or through the Internet.
Tunisair has ordered four 737-600 aircraft and taken options for three additional next-generation 737s in a deal estimated at $300 million, Boeing said. The model of the three optioned aircraft will be determined later. The 737-600s will be powered by CFM International CFM56-7 engines.
Louis Comeau has been appointed chairman of Nav Canada and John Crichton has been named president and chief executive. Crichton previously was chairman. Comeau served on Nav Canada's board (DAILY, Oct. 16).
