TWA has launched a "fly now, fly later" sale for weekend travel during September, "fly now," and between Nov. 1 and Dec. 17, "fly later." The sale covers domestic and international destinations, including Honolulu, London, Paris, Madrid and Milan. Tickets must be purchased no later than Sept. 12 and are non-refundable. "Fly now" roundtrip fares from St. Louis are $158 to Orlando or New York, $298 to London or Paris and $188 to Los Angeles. Roundtrip "fly later" fares from St. Louis are $498 to Honolulu and $438 to Paris or Milan.
National Civil Aviation Review Commission is seeking comments and suggestions regarding safety-related issues for its public hearing Oct. 8. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2167 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Those interested in presenting testimony at the hearing can contact Margie Tower at 202-366-6942, or fax 202-493-2963.
Lufthansa yesterday labeled "inaccurate" European media reports that the company intended to cut 1,000 jobs. Reports cited a story due to reach newsstands today by German magazine Wirtschaftswoche. Lufthansa Group, including catering and maintenance companies, employed 57,569 as of June 30, down 2% from 58,852 in June 30, 1996.
National Civil Aviation Review Commission presented DOT yesterday with its preliminary report on aviation financing (DAILY, Sept. 4). The General Aviation Manufacturers Association said the report adopts the position of general aviation on a number of issues, such as the continuation of fuel taxes for GA, but the association expressed concern about a recommendation that air traffic control services be placed in a performance-based organization. GAMA said the PBO proposal "looks similar to some of the corporatization proposals GAMA has opposed in the past."
Society of Senior Aerospace Executives elected as its president Bob Gladwell, former marketing executive at British Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and GKN Westlands. Paul Johnstone, a former executive at Hawaiian and Eastern, will be VP, and Joseph Murphy will be secretary/treasurer. Asad Nasr, former chief executive of Middle East Airlines; Joseph Featherston, consultant, and Dan Morton, financial analyst, were elected directors. The society, which has 125 members, voted to increase attempts to solicit active versus retired and international versus U.S.
International Lease Finance Corp. said British Midland leased five new Airbus A321-200s and seven A320-200s, all powered by International Aero Engines V2500 series turbofans. The carrier currently operates three Boeing 737-500s from ILFC. The leasing company said Pegasus Airlines of Istanbul leased a new 737-400 high-gross-weight aircraft powered by CFM International engines, and Air Macau leased a new A320-200 with IAE engines. Air Macau currently operates two A320-200s and four A321-100s leased from ILFC.
Fuel Cost and Consumption U.S. Majors, Nationals and Large Regionals August 1996 - July 1997 Total Total Cost Gallons (Dollars) 1996 August Domestic 1,174,828,939 747,673,403 International 437,130,554 303,225,003 System Total 1,611,959,493 1,050,898,406
Boeing rolled out the first 777-300, powered by Rolls-Royce engines and destined for launch customer Cathay Pacific. First flight is scheduled in October, and Cathay is to take delivery of seven aircraft between May 1998 and October 1999. The 777-300 will have an innovative camera system from Ball Aerospace that will provide pilots with views of the main and nose landing gear. Ball said the cameras will be standard equipment on every 777-300 to assist pilots in ground maneuvering with the long-wheel-base aircraft.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. is "continuing mistreatment" of former Pan Am employees and their families, according to the Association of Former Pan Am Employees.
SkyMall Inc. will display GTE Airfone free service on the cover of its 224- page holiday catalog as part of an agreement to promote Airfone's free service and increase impulse purchases. SkyMall officials did not comment on details of the agreement, but Christine Aguilera, VP of marketing, said it is an attempt to "close the gap on impulse purchases." Research shows that sales increase when Airfone is promoted on the catalog cover, she said. GTE is eliminating the credit card slide on its aircraft phones to make them easier to use.
Triumph Group said it acquired Hydro-Mill Co., which manufactures and overhauls precision machine parts and assemblies for the aircraft industry. The price was not disclosed. Hydro-Mill has annual sales of about $30 million and serves aircraft original equipment manufacturers, commercial airlines and air cargo carriers with aircraft parts and assemblies and overhaul and repair services. Triumph Group designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls aircraft components.
Dutch authorities appointed Henny Wijkhuizen interim airport coordinator at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in an attempt to spread noise emissions more evenly throughout the day and comply with noise regulations by reorganizing traffic. Wijkhuizen, who has been scheduling manager at KLM's commercial planning department, will hold the interim job at Schiphol until the end of 1997. The airport is expected to qualify formally for the status of fully coordinated airport by that date, and the government will appoint an official coordinator.
Treuhand Osteuropa Beratungsgesellschaft (TOB) of Germany and Speedwing of the U.K., are seeking investors for the privatization of Balkan Airlines under a contract with the Bulgarian privatization agency that took effect Monday. Speedwing is a subsidiary of British Airways and TOB was set up by Treuhand, the privatization agency of the former East Germany. The Bulgarian privatization agency plans to sell between 25% and 100% of Balkan, said Executive Director Alexander Subotinov.
TWA plans to reintroduce its frequent flyer program early in 1998 and until then will roll out new program elements and incentives for business travelers, including rewards based on passenger spending levels. The carrier believes the innovations will enable it to leapfrog the competition and add a new dimension to airline loyalty. The program "will make the other airlines follow us," said Don Casey, executive VP-marketing. On Aug.
Foreign airlines operating to the U.S. would be required to file disaster assistance plans under a bill planned by Del. Robert Underwood (D), the non-voting representative from Guam. Korean Air Flight 801 crashed on Guam Aug. 6, and Underwood cited family member complaints about the carrier's response after the crash. The Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 already requires U.S. carriers to file such plans.
A 5% increase in air fares among major airlines will remain in effect, despite reports that the hike was abandoned after a public outcry. Fares went up last week after Northwest, responding to an improved economy, passed a 5% increase on unrestricted coach and first-class fares. American, United, Continental, America West, US Airways, TWA and Delta matched over the next few days. On Sunday, United wanted to "fine-tune" its fares to rescind the hike in markets where it competes with Southwest, said spokesman Joe Hopkins. Air Line Tariff Publishers Co.
Travelocity and Continental are offering a $99 companion fare for travelers who book tickets on Continental through Travelocity's on-line reservations system. Customers who buy a ticket by Sept. 30 and complete their travel by Feb. 14, 1998, qualify for a $99 roundtrip companion ticket for the next time they book a Continental flight through Travelocity. The companion fare is available for 150 destinations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.
American and LanChile announced a code-sharing agreement yesterday, and American said they will apply for immunity from U.S. antitrust laws once the U.S. and Chile negotiate an open skies aviation accord. The agreement also provides for reciprocal frequent flyer participation. Beginning as soon as they win regulatory approval, the carriers plan mutual code sharing on each other's flights between Santiago and Miami, American's between Santiago and Dallas/Fort Worth, and LanChile's between Santiago and New York Kennedy.
Air Courier Conference of America named as president Donald Smith, VP and general manager of Airborne Express' same-day delivery subsidiary Sky Courier. Previous President Phil Belyew of General Parcel Service resigned the position, citing the direction of his company toward truckload carriage.
DOT will issue today its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on renewing computer reservations systems rules, which, unless extended, will expire Dec. 31. The department will file a separate ANPRM to extend application of the rules past that deadline while the CRS rule is being reconsidered.
Labor and management officials yesterday debated before the House Transportation aviation subcommittee a bill intended to guarantee that pilots flying overseas routes for U.S. carriers are covered by the Railway Labor Act, just as they are when flying domestically. Some supporters of the bill (H.R.991) regard it as a clarification of the intent of the act, which governs airline labor relations, while opponents cite case law showing the act does not apply to operations primarily outside the U.S.
Business travel service TheTrip.com has developed an online information system, FareAware, that helps business travelers comparison shop for the best fares. Historical airfare information is updated quarterly, but users can check on fares as far back as a year, said Chad Morris, senior account executive at Metzger Associates in Boulder, Colo. The free database, developed as a service to potential TheTrip.com customers, shows average fares for large and small carriers in each city.
Canadian AirCargo said it will end service at Montreal Mirabel Airport, which will be closed to international flights as of Sept. 15. International service will be shifted to Dorval Airport at that time, and Canadian AirCargo said it could save money and serve its customers better by consolidating operations there.
Boeing Co. is putting together a team to evaluate whether it can use facilities at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, for future modification and heavy maintenance work. Many facilities at Kelly will become available in 2001 in a planned base closure and the removal the following year of maintenance work on C-5 airlifters. Boeing was an unsuccessful bidder for the C-5 maintenance contract, which was won by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia.
