In Federal Register dated June 6...Proposed an airworthiness directive on certain Boeing 767 aircraft requiring replacement of the retaining bolt of the attendant seat lap belt...Proposed an AD on certain Boeing 767-200 and -300 aircraft requiring inspection of wire bundles in the ceiling above the main passenger door, and relocation of the wire bundles to prevent chafing.
Delta and TransBrasil signed a letter of intent to pursue a joint marketing agreement. Delta, which has been phasing out of its alliance with Varig, said it expects the TransBrasil relationship to include "enhanced interlining of passengers and freight," schedule coordination to improve passenger connections, computer reservations system cooperation, sharing of facilities and passenger service at joint airports, and participation in each others' frequent flyer programs.
American Society of Travel Agents is on a mission to eliminate card mills, companies that issue travel agency identifications - for a fee - to people who then seek travel discounts by representing themselves as agents. ASTA will file a petition with the Federal Trade Commission for a rule to prevent the card mills from offering credentials to anyone who has no connection with selling or managing retail travel, and it will develop a model bill for state legislatures. An ASTA official said the FTC petition will be filed as soon as it is written.
In a House Transportation aviation subcommittee hearing last Thursday originally intended to focus on U.S.-Japan issues, DOT Deputy Assistant Secretary Patrick Murphy emphasized repeatedly that the U.S. will not grant American and British Airways immunity to U.S. antitrust laws until the British agree to an open skies treaty. Murphy addressed U.S.-U.K. issues because the previous day's U.S.-U.K. hearing was postponed (DAILY, June 11). He said open skies is an absolute prerequisite for alliance approval but would not guarantee antitrust immunity.
United is installing an automated system for ordering meals from all U.S. catering locations. The system is intended to provide more accurate delivery of meals to aircraft and reduce costs $700,000 per year. Two United groups, Onboard Service and Information Services, introduced the system at all 104 U.S. catering locations. The Unix-based Central Meal Ordering (CMO) unit replaces United's FAMIS system.
World Airline Entertainment Association has revised the mission of its Technical Committee, commissioning it to identify and incorporate emerging audio, video, communications and data storage technologies as they apply to inflight entertainment (IFE). The committee will work with other industries, such as computers and communications, in an attempt to make sure product standards and formats are compatible with IFE needs, WAEA said. The committee will meet July 25 in Southern California.
US Airways had more fare disparity versus competitors than any other U.S. airline in markets it controlled in the third quarter of 1996. DOT data show that in markets of 151-200 miles, US Airways had the highest average one-way fare, $231, in one market while the average in more than half of the other markets was less than $83; in 201-250 miles, US Airways charged $240 in two markets while the average in 15 of 24 was under $100; in 251- 300 miles, it averaged $255 in one market while 33 others averaged less than $200.
Congressional anger with Japanese bilateral actions is building at the same time aviation industry segments increase their support for an expanded deal that falls short of open skies. United yesterday joined other carriers in urging the U.S. to sign a liberalized agreement. Several members of Congress attacked Japanese trade policy and the chairman of the House Transportation Committee has drafted retaliatory legislation. The clash is developing as DOT reviews Japan aviation policy "from top to bottom," according to Deputy Assistant Secretary Patrick Murphy.
Delta Connection affiliate Comair posted last month a 15.6% increase in revenue passenger miles - compared with May 1996 - to nearly 152 million as capacity rose 10.6% to 251.6 million available seat miles. The resulting LF, 60.4%, was up 2.6 percentage points.
Northwest Airlink affiliate Mesaba Airlines enjoyed a 3.1-percentage- point increase in passenger load factor to 55.5% from 52.4% as capacity increased 32.6% to 87.2 million available seat miles while traffic rose 40.3% to 48.4 million revenue passenger miles. Passenger boardings increased 32.7% to 207,000. May 1997 May 1996 5 Months 1997 5 Months 1996 RPMs 48,390,000 34,496,000 202,048,000 157,919,000 ASMs 87,181,000 65,772,000 396,712,000 316,302,000
Pilots unions, responding to an FAA rule planned for effect July 17, are telling their members to reject land-and-hold-short operations (LAHSO) clearances from air traffic control unless they are sure of having at least 8,000 feet of usable, dry runway. The ruling requires pilots taking the LAHSO clearance to exit the runway at the first taxiway, enabling other aircraft to depart faster after a plane lands.
Aero International (Regional) recently completed a market survey that indicates a requirement for 4,000 regional aircraft in the 40- to 90- passenger range during the next 20 years. Jets and turboprops will share that market on a 50/50 basis, the consortium predicts.
Richard Branson, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic Airways, will discuss open skies, Virgin Express and the proposed American-British Airways alliance in an interview on Aviation News Today, to be broadcast on Washington NewsChannel 8 Sunday from 12:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
American and American Eagle may acquire both 50- and 70-seat regional jets, according to intelligence gathered from several industry sources. If so, the likely scenario would be that Eagle pilots would fly the 50-seaters and American pilots the 70-seaters. The arrangement would be an ideal compromise with the American pilots, who gave away the 50-seaters in recent contract negotiations, while keeping Eagle within its scope limits of a 50- passenger overall capacity average and a 70-seat capacity ceiling.
Switzerland's absence from the European Union is increasingly hampering its airlines' ability to compete within a liberalized European aviation environment. Negotiations during the past week between Switzerland and the European Commission failed to yield any progress that would bring Crossair and other Swiss carriers closer to parity with the rest of European aviation, according to a top Crossair official. The talks were critical to Crossair, which has been seeking scheduled service between Switzerland and Italy, Greece and Portugal.
DOT this week boosted the amount and type of Big Sky Airlines service it will subsidize at seven Montana communities. At six points - Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City and Wolf Point - the department will increase subsidized service to 12 weekly roundtrips from 10 and at a seventh, Sidney, to 17 weekly roundtrips from 10. The agency will pay an annualized subsidy rate of $4,793,361 for the service, and Big Sky will upgrade its aircraft to 19-seat Metro IIIs from relatively old, 15-seat Metro IIs. The term of the new rates runs from Oct.
AirTran Airways reported a 5.9% decrease in May revenue passenger miles to 78.8 million from 83.7 million in the same 1996 month. Capacity fell 6.1% to 117.3 million available seat miles from 124.9 million, resulting in a load factor gain to 67.2% from 67%. For the first five months, traffic was down 4.4% to 401.1 million RPMs from 419.6 million, and ASMs declined 2.7% to 596 million from 613.6 million. The load factor fell 1.2 points to 67.2%.
Several aviation associations came out in strong support of President Clinton's nomination of Jane Garvey to be FAA administrator - except for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which criticized the selection of Garvey and that of George Donohue, a pilot and AOPA member, as deputy administrator.
Canadian startup WestJet Airlines posted a 24% rise in May traffic on 11.6% more capacity, which produced a load factor of 71.2%, up 11.1 percentage points. The results are the first year-over-year traffic figures for the year-old airline. Calgary-based WestJet, which operates five 737s and 290 weekly departures, will add service next week to Abbotsford/Fraser Valley.
Delta Connection Atlantic Southeast saw its traffic fall 0.4% to 82.5 million revenue passenger miles last month from May 1996. Capacity was up 2.2% to 158.2 million available seat miles, generating a LF decline of 1.4 percentage points to 52.1%.
United will begin the only transcontinental nonstop service to Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., June 15 from San Francisco. Introductory fares are $349 roundtrip from June 15 through July 15 with a 14-day advance purchase. Mileage Plus members will receive double miles.
