SilkAir, the regional carrier of Singapore Airlines, is offering U.S. and Latin American travelers its "Discover Asia Airpass," which places all of the airline's routes into two fare categories. SilkAir is promoting $139 per one-way flight from Singapore to six cities in Indonesia, three in Malaysia and three in Thailand. The carrier is charging $239 per flight to specific destinations in China, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Indonesia. Tickets must be purchased prior to arrival in Asia, and fares are valid through March 31, 1998.
FAA said it is evaluating ultrasonic technology which warns pilots automatically of ice buildup that reduces aircraft performance or presents a hazard to engines. The HALO Ground Ice Detection System displays the warning in the cockpit, which "increases safety, lowers costs and may eliminate unnecessary use of toxic deicing fluids," the agency said. Guy Gardner, associate administrator for regulation and certification, said that "for a minimal investment of FAA resources, U.S.
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani held a news conference yesterday asking Continental to pull its new New York advertising campaign even after Continental Chairman Gordon Bethune assured the mayor the airline is not anti-New York but is working to promote its service to the city.
Airlines Reporting Corp., in an effort to update its accreditation standards, has implemented its ARC Certified Travel Agent Qualification (ACT) for new agents. Effective Jan. 1, agencies applying for ARC certification will have the choice of hiring an ARC-certified agent instead of using the one-year ticketing qualification. The ACT qualification will become mandatory Jan. 1, 1999, and will replace the ticketing qualifier.
SITA said it is offering an improved departure control system (DSC) with the addition of two new services - Liaison for DCS and Liaison Boarding Control, which are designed to streamline passenger check-in procedures and enhance check-in agent productivity by providing a user- friendly Windows-based interface. Airlines using automated ticket and boarding pass ticket stock get a further benefit.
The House Appropriations transportation subcommittee approved yesterday a fiscal 1998 FAA funding level of $9.06 billion, an increase of $500 million over the fiscal 1997 level. The panel surprised many observers by recommending a $1.7 billion obligations ceiling for the Airport Improvement Program, a 16% increase over the fiscal 1997 level and 70% over the Clinton administration budget request.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic The Year 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) Alaska 11,100 15.95 818 9,083,509 America West 17,792 6.63 840 14,940,231 American 64,707 (0.39) 1,126 72,854,437
American Automobile Association predicts 35.9 million Americans will travel at least 100 miles over the July 4 holiday, up 1% from 1996, and 5.2 million of that number will travel by air, train or bus, about the same as last year.
The House voted 259 to 173 yesterday to continue Most Favored Nation Status for China. The House decision to extend MFN obviated a vote by the Senate on a bill that would have discontinued MFN. Boeing executives, who were watching closely the House action, called for China's admission to the World Trade Organization. The company said, "More and more people believe that continued engagement through trade increases our nation's ability to bring about positive change in China.
Arrow Air has appointed CIAC Inc. to provide sales representation and market development services in a 13-state region as part of its long-term growth plan. CIAC, Minneapolis, will market Arrow's scheduled all-cargo service in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
British Airways, preparing for a possible strike by the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA), is training its managers to take over areas such as baggage handling, check-in and cabin services. With the results of a strike ballot expected Friday, BA spokeswoman Amanda Poole said, "We have robust contingency plans to enable the airline to keep flying in the interests of our passengers who must come first....We are determined to keep flying." Poole confirmed the airline is advertising locally for more staff, necessitated by the strike threat.
British Airways recently proved that its Concorde fleet is increasingly durable, with engineering facts that has led the airline to forecast that the world's only supersonic commercial aircraft will fly at least through 2012. With most aircraft operating just one flight per day or 300 cycles - takeoffs and landings - per year. BA's fleet to date averages 6,500 cycles, far fewer than the 24,000-cycle design life.
U.S. and Japan will meet for another round of informal talks, one outcome of yesterday's meeting between DOT Secretary Rodney Slater and MOT Minister Makoto Koga at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vancouver. A government official said yesterday this round will take place in Portland, Ore., starting July 8. He said Slater signaled flexibility in the way the U.S. expects to take steps toward open skies.
Alaska Airlines' customers are flocking to the Internet in growing numbers. The carrier estimates 600 passengers a week are reserving or purchasing tickets from its Web site. For the week of June 16-23, the site recorded an average of 76,000 daily hits, held reservations for 813 and sold 486 tickets. "Those are all highs for us," Alaska says. Alaska believes the site's popularity is due in part to an award offered by Computerworld magazine for best airline site.
DOT harshly criticized United for inadequate filings in recent years and specifically in the U.S.-Chile Combination Service Proceeding, which is on an expedited schedule. Timothy Carmody, director of DOT's office of airline information, wrote United's counsel that the carrier "has continued to make incomplete and inaccurate Origin&Destination Survey submissions to the Department of Transportation for at least the last three-and-one- half years.
Magnifoam Technology announced an order from Air Canada for seat cushions made of silicone foam that do not require fire-blocking materials to pass FAA flammability requirements. The seat cushions will be used on the carrier's A319s and A320s. Bruce Parker, VP-sales for Magnifoam, based in Barrie, Ontario, said, "We have a product that does not need to be fire- blocked to pass the flammability requirements of the FAA." Delta previously ordered MF1 thermal and acoustic insulation from the company, Parker said.
Antonov Design Bureau and Air Foyle, its general sales agent, said one of Air Foyle's An-124 freighters has received a certificate of compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's Chapter 3 noise rule.
While US Airways pilots receive furlough notices and the Air Line Pilots Association continues contentious contract talks, Delta is extending interview opportunities to US Airways pilots.Delta and US Airways are both ALPA carriers. Delta, which has hired 500 pilots so far this year, plans on adding 400 more before yearend.
Standard&Poor's has assigned a preliminary single 'B' senior unsecured debt and preliminary single 'B' minus subordinated debt ratings to Continental's $400 million shelf registration.
France's new Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin, "is keeping all options open" regarding the future of state-owned aerospace and airline businesses, according to Groupement des Industries Francaises Aerospatiales, the association of French aerospace manufacturers.
Pan Am will add a third daily flight in the Miami-San Juan market on four days of the week because of "extremely" heavy loads. San Juan is a popular destination this summer; Delta on Sunday boarded 1,744 passengers at San Juan out of 1,745 seats. Pan Am will operate the extra service July 1-Sept. 1 with flights on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays.
The dispute over congressionally mandated overflight fees collected by FAA continues on diplomatic and judicial fronts, and partisans on both sides can claim progress. Late Friday, a motion to stay collection of the fee was rejected in court (DAILY, June 24). But a carefully worded note from the State Department, apparently sent last week, asked FAA to ensure the U.S. meets its international obligations on consultations. The letter is from State's Alan Larson, assistant secretary for economic and business affairs, to FAA acting Administrator Barry Valentine.
The pilots of Spanish private airline Air Europa and Iberia's regional subsidiary Aviaco have called strikes that are most likely to disrupt the companies' profitable summer season. Air Europa pilots, affiliated with the main Spanish union, Sindicato Espanol de Pilots de Lineas Aereas, have called 12 one-day strikes on key dates: June 27, 28, 29 and 30; July 11, 12, 13 and 14, and Aug. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Talks aimed at maintaining a minimum level of service during the strikes broke down last week.
Delta named Stephan Egli VP-Atlantic/Pacific Business Unit responsible for transoceanic operations, including determination of overall route, alliance and product development strategy. Egli joins Delta from Swissair, where he was VP-network management responsible for core marketing functions.
