TWA, again trumpeting its improved on-time performance, reported to DOT a 98.8% rate one recent Saturday. Of about 725 daily flights, only about nine were more than 15 minutes behind schedule - an accomplishment, considering that, unlike Southwest's passengers, many of TWA's connect.
US Airways named Frederick Sine VP-line maintenance, George Snyder VP- safety and regulatory compliance, Keith Houk president and chief executive of subsidiary Allegheny Airlines and Fred Poole VP-heavy maintenance.
DOT granted American/BA's request for an extension on deadlines for filing additional documents on their proposed alliance, and for filing a petition for reconsideration of the order, which asked for some documents American/BA said are extremely sensitive (DAILY, Sept. 11). The new deadline is Sept. 19.
U.S.-France bilateral talks still are set for Oct. 15-17 in Paris, but this date could change given the imminent departure of Air France Chairman Christian Blanc, a spokeswoman for the French embassy said. His departure had been planned for Oct. 10, though some reports suggest he may leave earlier.
The Transport Workers Union on Friday filed a petition with the National Mediation Board asking that Delta's transport workers be allowed to hold an election to determine whether they want union representation. TWU spokesman Steve Roberts said the union has the support of Delta's 8,000-plus ramp workers to go ahead with the election. This is the first time in the history of Delta that ground workers have sought union representation.
Three aircraft lessor/investors said Friday they have formed a joint venture to acquire Airbus A300s and convert them into freighters for lease. The new company, Pinnacle Air Cargo Enterprises (PACE), is made up of Aerolease International, Air Traffic Corp. and Pinnacle Aircraft Leasing. The new company has committed to 18 conversion slots at Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA). The conversions will be completed both at DASA's facility in Dresden and at the Sogema facility in Toulouse. In addition, PACE will acquire two existing positions from Pinnacle.
Jim Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, will discuss the board's role in recent airline accident investigations, including USAir Flight 427, ValuJet Flight 492 and TWA Flight 800, at this month's meeting of the Aero Club of Washington. The event will start at noon, Sept. 23 at the Capital Hilton Hotel, 16th and K Streets NW. Call 703-327-7082 for reservations.
U.S. airlines are likely to experience record profits of $4 billion in 1997, but as U.S. economic growth slows next year, airline traffic will increase at a slower rate and profits will be less rosy in 1998, according to an Air Transport Association forecast. More airline capacity will be added next year than passenger traffic. But steadily declining fuel costs will help profits reach $3.3 billion-$3.5 billion in 1998, said ATA Chief Economist David Swierenga. U.S. airlines posted net profits of $2.8 billion in 1996.
American parent AMR Corp. has formed a partnership with the National Council of La Raza to improve the airline's service to Latino customers, American said. With the agreement, the carrier states its commitment to achieving full employment parity for minority groups, including Latinos; promises to continue diversity training for management, and expands American's philanthropic presence in the Latino community, the airline said.
Business Travel Contractors Corp. supports publication of DOT's new quarterly air fare report but urged inclusion of walk-up fares. BTCC, the corporate travel purchase group that also does advocacy work on airline competition issues, said critics of the report "intentionally miss the point" when they say it is outdated and useless for comparison shopping. Its purpose, BTCC said, is to provide a history of markets where competitive discipline does - and does not - exist.
While industry observers bet on a U.S.-Japan bilateral that calls for regulated expansion, open skies hard-liners still are working to gather support as the clock ticks toward the next Tokyo round Sept. 22. Recent recruits include Sen. William Roth (R.-Del.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D.-N.Y.), its ranking minority member, both of whom wrote President Clinton not to back off. "I find it troubling that the U.S. appears to place more emphasis on meeting a self-imposed agreement deadline of Sept.
Boeing is seeking damages for breach of contract from longtime customer US Airways, alleging that the carrier, "claiming financial crisis," breached "firm contracts" to take delivery of eight 757s and 40 737s.
Four of the top six U.S. airlines for cargo more than doubled their international freight traffic in the past five years, but only FedEx and UPS posted significant gains in domestic cargo traffic, according to a study by Air Cargo Management Group. United, American, Delta and Northwest "have experienced essentially flat domestic freight traffic since 1991," it said.
Reno Air, unique among young airlines because of its new fleet and full passenger service, is blazing another trail with the first overseas listing by a small U.S. airline in recent memory. The carrier is making company stock available for sale on the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt and Berlin, and the airline's new chief financial officer, B.J. Rone, says the international listing will be the first of many. "Our motive is to broaden the market for Reno stock," said Rone.
