Internet bookings pose a new threat to airlines trying to control distribution costs, America West said in its petition for rules barring abusive practices (DAILY, Oct. 15, 16). "Virtually all" Internet booking sites merely provide a gateway to established CRS systems - for example, Travelocity is linked to AMR Corp.'s Sabre. Instead of reducing CRS use as predicted, this magnifies abusive practices, the carrier said. It believes many consumers make reservations for the same trip on multiple sites, running up transaction charges for carriers.
Swiss regional carrier Air Engiadina is adding a new service to Vienna from London City Airport for its winter schedule, which begins Oct. 27. The three-times-weekly flight via Berne to Vienna will be offered at London City on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
American and Asiana are forming a code-share and marketing alliance that both airlines intend to implement within 30 days, pending government approval. Under the agreement, American will place its code on all Asiana flights between the U.S. and Seoul, effective Nov. 20. The two airlines, which signaled their intention to bond earlier this month (DAILY, Oct. 8), will integrate frequent flyer programs as well. Asiana serves Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Honolulu. The link is American's sixth in the Asia/Pacific region.
Finnair is offering new flights from regional points in Finland to Russia and from the Finnish capital to Madrid as part of its winter schedule, beginning Oct. 26. It will operate new Helsinki-Madrid flights via Barcelona on Thursdays and Sundays, and return on Fridays and Mondays. Flights from Lappenranta, in eastern Finland, to St. Petersburg will be offered daily during the week with a Saab 340. Flights from Lappenranta will connect with Helsinki, while flights from St. Petersburg will head for Lappenranta.
Creation of general aviation security areas would make it easier to meet FAA's goal of protecting air carrier operations, according to Andrew Cebula, VP of the National Air Transportation Association. Speaking at a public meeting on FAA proposals to change security rules for airports and air carriers, Cebula said creating GA security areas would help airport operators, FAA security inspectors and aviation businesses "understand the intent of the FAA rule" and focus GA resources on preventing unauthorized access to airline areas.
Qantas will code share with Emirates on three weekly flights from Melbourne to Dubai. In an unrelated move, Moody's Investors Service raised the Qantas long-term debt rating one notch to Baa1, affecting $450 million of debt securities. Moody's said the action reflects the carrier's success in reducing costs and improving its debt picture.
Recent decisions by the Dutch transport ministry to reduce night-time noise levels at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will reduce KLM operations by as many as 40 flights a day and substantially lower operating income, the carrier said. Complying with the new rules, announced earlier this month, will cost the Dutch carrier between NLG687 million (US$530 million) and NLG1.2 billion ($612 million) in lost revenue, KLM said. The carrier estimates it will have to eliminate between 20 and 40 European flights each day. Northwest, KLM's U.S.
Dassault Falcon Jet appointed Roy Pickens general manager at Falcon Jet Little Rock, promoted James Hurley to regional sales manager for seven states in the Eastern Region and named Larry Burns field service representative-northeastern U.S. and John Taylor field service representative-eastern Midwest.
TAP Air Portugal posted a 6.6% rise in August traffic. TAP flew 469,000 passengers and a freight volume of 18 million ton kilometers. For the first eight months of 1997, its traffic was up 11.7% and freight volume 14%.
- In Federal Register dated Oct. 10...Issued an airworthiness directive on several types of Teledyne Continental Motors reciprocating engines concerning side loading of the pistons. - In FR dated Oct. 14...Proposed to supersede an AD on Airbus A310 aircraft concerning the interior control handle of emergency exits...Proposed to revise an AD on certain British Aerospace 4101 aircraft concerning the thickness of the intercostal of the third crew member seat.
Passenger fatalities caused by civil aviation accidents in the former Soviet Union dropped by two-thirds in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period in 1996, according to the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK). From January through September, 76 people died in civil air crashes in the Commonwealth of Independent States, down from 224. The CIS reported 10 crashes this year, down from 12. Of the 10, nine occurred in Russia.
The European Commission's draft directive on airport charges is "weak" and will not ensure that airports make the most cost-effective investment and pricing decisions, Association of European Airlines Secretary General Karl- Heinz Neumeister said last week. Speaking at an Airports Council International-Europe conference in Venice, Neumeister said a 1990 commission proposal was better than the current one - cost-effectiveness was the centerpiece seven years ago but "is not even mentioned" in the current draft.
Public attention is focused on U.S.-Japan talks, starting today in Washington, but additional markets are beckoning Delta, according to Scott Yohe, senior VP-government affairs. Nonstop Atlanta-Rome, for example. "We're dying to start that," he told The DAILY last week. "There's a void in service to Italy from the southeast U.S., and Italy is a strong market." The current bilateral restricts entry, but U.S. and Italian negotiators will discuss open skies Nov. 4-5 in Washington.
U.S. Major Carriers Traffic September, 9 Months 1997 (000) September September % 1997 1996 Change Alaska Revenue Passenger Miles 805,000 810,000 -0.6 Available Seat Miles 1,262,000 1,229,000 2.7 Load Factor (%) 63.8 65.9
Approved a Curragh Bloodstock Agency charter using an Aer Turas Teoranta DC-8-63F for two roundtrips carrying up to 45 horses on Dublin-Stansted- Stewart Field-Louisville-Luton and Dublin-Louisville-Luton routings Oct. 19-21 and 28-29...Approved a Vacation Express charter using a Lineas Aereas Allegro 727, DC-9 or MD-83 for 28 roundtrips carrying 165 passengers on a Charlotte-Cancun-Liberia, Costa Rica-Cancun-Charlotte routing Feb. 11-Aug.
Dublin's Ryanair will charge $1,000 for a 10-second spot on its new inflight video. A captive audience will be shown a half-hour tape, most of it airline promotions and commercials. Ryanair is betting advertisers will want to reach its 468,000 monthly passengers, 78% of whom the low-cost airline ranks as big spenders.
Some airline gains from travel agent commission cuts may go right back to travel agencies. The decrease from 10% to 8% will not reduce airline payments by 20%, according to Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Tom Schreier, "it will be more like 6%-8%." Airlines will "optimize the rest for select projects" and promotions, such as incentives to the best travel agents, he said.
United's new fare sale prolongs confusion for the average air traveler. The carrier is charging $222 for Los Angeles-Denver, 862 miles, and $199 for Los Angeles-Washington, 2,311 miles. (See story on Page 110.)
Baker, Donelson, Bearman&Caldwell said Albert Randall, former FAA assistant chief counsel for legislation, has joined the company. B anner Aerospace added Jeanne Meade to its outside sales staff.
