Italian air traffic controllers signed a truce with ATC authorities, agreeing not to strike before Oct. 31. Summertime ATC strikes have disrupted Italian air transport in recent years, and Italian Transport Minister Claudio Burlando said "alternative modes" of dispute-solving will be tried this year. Italian ATC personnel are represented by six unions.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Revenues and Expenses The Year 1996 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Carrier Revenues Change Alaska 1,228,163,000 12.57 America West 1,712,045,761 10.92 American 10,394,633,000 (4.31) Continental 4,621,700,000 9.56
Western Pacific and Frontier's planned code-sharing schedule, to take effect Aug. 1 as an interim measure in their merger, calls for 101 daily departures from Denver to 29 markets. "The Denver business community has told us all along they wanted to support Frontier, but it was difficult with our limited number of flights to each market," said Frontier President Sam Addoms.
United recently conducted a friendly competition among stations that reduced its deferred maintenance backlog by 20%. Items such as broken tray tables, inoperable in-flight phones or burnt-out reading lights were targeted. London maintenance heard of the contest and asked to be included in a rematch, which began last week.
TWA filed at DOT in opposition to a petition from Consumers Union to require airlines to tell passengers the average and lowest fares they charge for each class of service on a given route. The information would be conveyed during every reservation conversation and added to computer reservations system (CRS) displays. DOT Deputy Assistant Secretary Patrick Murphy said last month his department was considering the proposal "very, very carefully" (DAILY, June 26).
America West will inaugurate daily service today between Phoenix and Washington Dulles airports. In a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the carrier is offering a trip for two to attend the Arizona Cardinals-Washington Redskins football game Sept. 14. America West will operate A320s configured for 12 first-class and 138 coach seats in the market.
European Union Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert, strengthened last Friday by unanimous opposition from competition authorities of EU nations to the merger of McDonnell Douglas into Boeing, reiterated yesterday through a spokesman that it is up to Boeing to make the merger palatable. For its part, Boeing said it "remains optimistic" about gaining approval of the EU for the merger, which already has been cleared in the U.S.
TWA yesterday reported an agreement with International Lease Finance Corp. to acquire a new 767-300, the first new 767 to join its fleet since 1983. It will use the Pratt&Whitney-powered aircraft to serve the Middle East. TWA began taking delivery of 20 new 757s last year, and this summer it will receive the first of 15 new and nine nearly new MD-80s. All are part of a $1 billion fleet upgrade. ILFC also leases three other 767s, 10 757s and an MD-80 to TWA.
National Civil Aviation Review Commission has established a World Wide Web site at http://www.faa.gov/ncarc, offering public hearing testimony, press releases and updates on its activities. The site also can be accessed through FAA's home page.
The Independent Association of Continental Pilots plans to picket in Newark tomorrow in an effort to put pressure on company negotiators meeting in Florida to hash out a new contract. The pilots intend to carry signs that read "Continental: first in customer satisfaction, first in corporate profits, last in respect for pilots" outside Newark Airport's Terminal C. They also will visit travel agents, the media and elected officials. The pilots seek large pay increases, better benefits and pension and job security in their contract, which became amendable July 1.
Standard&Poor's raised its corporate credit and senior debt ratings of AAR Corp. to triple-'B' from triple-'B'-minus, saying the rating outlook is stable. It said an improved market environment and AAR's broadened capabilities and customer base should maintain a credit profile consistent with the rating.
U.S.-France bilateral talks, originally scheduled this week in Paris, have been delayed to July 16-17 to accommodate a scheduling conflict on the U.S. side, a DOT spokesman said. The change makes for a busy week at State and DOT-separate negotiators meet July 14-15 in Washington with Korean officials to discuss open skies.
Emirates Group, which includes Emirates Airlines and Dubai travel management and ground-handling firm Dnata, reported record group profits of $52.9 million for the 1996-97 fiscal year, 35% more than in 1995-96. Group revenue topped $1 billion, an increase of 17%. The airline posted a $30.4 million net profit, up 38%, despite sharply higher fuel prices, which cost it $13.6 million, and lower yields, which dropped to 59 cents per revenue ton kilometer from 63 cents. The carrier reduced unit costs 6.5%, to 39 cents per available ton kilometer from 41 cents.
Backing away from a decision in April by the right-of-center government ousted in last month's elections, France has suspended construction work to enlarge Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, scheduled to start July 15, in favor of a new round of consultations with residents of the area. The project, estimated to cost 1.5 billion French francs ($254 million), was structured around building two short runways, for landings only, rather than one long one for takeoffs as well, because of concerns about noise (DAILY, April 1).
American is offering a half-price sale on roundtrip tickets booked through Sabre's Internet site, Travelocity. Anyone who purchases a ticket from the site by July 15 will be eligible to receive 50% off their next roundtrip ticket purchased through Travelocity, or 25% off up to four additional roundtrip tickets on the same itinerary booked through the site. The tickets are good for travel in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The Web site is at travelocity.com.
SimuFlite appointed Marjorie DeLong manager-market development, Clifford Reavis manager-Learjet program and James Smith manager-Hercules Flight Training Center.
American and LOT Polish Airlines increased their code-sharing flights to 26 per week between Warsaw and three U.S. gateways. American is code sharing on seasonal LOT flights between Chicago and Warsaw, and later this summer it will code share on LOT flights to Newark. It currently code shares on LOT's 14 weekly roundtrips between Warsaw and Chicago O'Hare and New York Kennedy. On Wednesday, LOT will begin code sharing on American's Chicago-Miami and New York Kennedy-Los Angeles flights.
Delta is petitioning DOT to revoke Continental's new authority to serve Brazil from Newark, charging the carrier with "defaulting" on the service it originally proposed. Continental described the petition as "ridiculous." DOT in April awarded 14 frequencies to Continental from Newark and seven to Delta from Atlanta, frustrating Delta's attempt to serve New York as well. Continental proposed to fly two separate nonstops, one to Sao Paulo and another to Rio de Janeiro.
TWA expects to report lower year-over-year second quarter earnings and its cash position will continue to decay, the airline said in an S-3 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Med Airlines, an Italian startup based at Trapani-Birgi Airport in Sicily, has ordered two Saab 2000s and taken options on two more. The first aircraft will be delivered this November and the other in March 1998.
Delta is offering 30,000 bonus SkyMiles to businesses for every purchase of 210,000 miles by Sept. 15. Under the SkyRewards program, companies can buy miles to use as gifts or bonuses for employees. Delta accepts credit card payment for SkyRewards purchases.
United, completing orders for 111 new aircraft in its fleet modernization and replacement program, has ordered eight 767-300s powered by Pratt&Whitney engines. The carrier will take delivery of four of the airplanes next year, one in 1999 and three in 2000. At that time it will have 32 767-300s, including 24 of the extended-range version, and will replace, on a one-for-one basis, 111 aircraft scheduled for retirement between 1996 and 2002.
