Columbus, Ohio-based AirNet Systems d/b/a AirNet Express launched its first international cargo service May 4 to San Salvador, El Salvador, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on behalf of El Salvadoran small-package company Gigante Express. AirNet operates specially modified Learjet 35s with the tip tanks converted for cargo use to maximize payload. The flights operate three times a week from Miami Opa-Locka Airport.
GTE said it will provide its advanced digital Airfone service to Continental. Installations on more than 230 aircraft are scheduled to begin next month at the carrier's Newark and Houston hubs.
Spanish aircraft manufacturer CASA must give back part of the state aid it received to develop an aircraft that never saw the light, the European Commission ruled last week in Brussels. In 1991, the Spanish government pledged to finance the development of the CASA-3000, a 70-seat turboprop aircraft, with loans equivalent to 70% of development costs. The EC asked the Spanish authorities for an explanation in 1992 and launched a full- scale enquiry in 1994, as the aid level appeared to be above the permissible EU ceiling for research and development aid.
Canadian Airlines began transcontinental service yesterday between Vancouver and Boston using Airbus A320s, the first nonstop in the market. The expansion is part of the airline's 141% increase in transborder capacity this year.
US Airways lost $1.1 billion from 1990 to 1996 on its east-west routes, according to a report by Gruntal analyst Steve Lewins. The airline's Baltimore hub lost $220 million in the period, and low-yield service to Florida "ripped $648 million out of the airline's aluminum," Lewins said. The airline confirmed the numbers.
Operators of innovative-technology trace explosives detection systems ordered by FAA (DAILY, May 5) will be able to confirm the presence of explosives and identify them in analyses that take between five and 18 seconds, FAA said. Each of the three systems can collect samples for analysis by wiping the surface of baggage with a cloth or a paper filter, and two of them can use a hand-held vacuum device as an alternative.
Swisscontrol, the Swiss air traffic control organization, posted a profit of 7.76 million Swiss francs (US$5.4 million) in 1996, its first year of operation as an autonomous, government-owned company. Swisscontrol said it reduced its tariffs by 2.7% at the beginning of 1997 and is planning a further 5.3% cut, effective July 1.
America West's shareholders approved last week a proposal to increase the number of shares available under the company's 1994 incentive equity plan, and re-elected 15 directors to the board at the annual meeting in Tempe, Ariz. The shareholders approved an increase from 3.5 million to 7.5 million shares, the maximum number of Class B Common shares available under the plan.
Newly elected British Prime Minister Tony Blair named John Prescott deputy prime minister and secretary of state of the environment, transport and the regions, combining previously separate departments into one office. Although details are scarce in the early hours of the new government, Prescott's mandate for the regions probably will focus on devolution, Labor's commitment to shift authority away from the central government to entities such as Scotland and Wales. As Blair's deputy, Prescott will have more standing in the cabinet than his colleagues.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, in one of its first moves as an associate member of Nav Canada, is seeking a permanent exemption for non- commercial general aviation aircraft from new air traffic control user fees. AOPA President Phil Boyer said fees would "have a detrimental effect on general aviation safety" by discouraging pilots from using weather briefings, instrument flight plans and other services. He said such fees in Europe "caused a serious decline in general aviation activity."
United will test positive passenger bag matching today through May 19 on flights in the western U.S. Test markets include a Shuttle By United route, San Francisco-Burbank; a transcontinental route, San Francisco- Washington Dulles; a high frequency hub-and-spoke route, Denver-Salt Lake City; a low-frequency hub-and-spoke route, Denver-St. Louis; and San Francisco-Vancouver.
Dow-United Technologies Composite Products won two contracts yesterday, one with Allison Engine Co. worth $6 million and one with General Electric worth $9.7 million. Dow-UT will manufacture composite components for the front section of Allison's AE3007 engine, which powers the Cessna Citation X, Embraer 145 and general aviation and regional aircraft. Starting at yearend, the company will deliver to Allison up to 15,000 bypass vanes, with parts made of the advanced resin transfer molding.
Ryanair, Ireland's low-fare airline, has established itself at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, as announced earlier. Located 35 miles south of the Belgian capital, the municipal airport is trying to position itself to capture the bulk of charter and low-cost carriers. On May 1, Ryanair began offering two daily single-class flights between Charleroi and Dublin. The mid-morning and late-afternoon flights include bus connections from Charleroi to the center of Brussels.
British Airways' request to shift services from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Orly because of security reasons may be commercially motivated, according to French sources. Last week, BA protested against having to share facilities with Air Algerie at CDG's Terminal 1.
In a filing submitted by President and Chief Executive Joseph Corr, ValuJet has asked DOT for an exemption from high-density slot controls for New York LaGuardia-Atlanta service. Asserting a need for Delta to face a low-cost competitor, Corr filed as a new entrant under exceptional circumstances rules for six daily nonstops. The filing comes during a period when niche airlines are increasingly bringing predatory practices complaints to DOT, which appears to be listening (DAILY, April 25).
AlliedSignal Aerospace will provide logistics support, plus repair and overhaul for wheels, brakes and tires on Continental's fleet of more than 300 737s now that its contract with the carrier has been extended to include 108 737s on order. All the ordered aircraft will be equipped with AlliedSignal's Bendix steel brakes.
European Joint Airworthiness Authorities is proposing to limit extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) authority for business jet aircraft to 120 minutes. The DAILY May 5 incorrectly stated JAA wants to bar ETOPS for business jets.
Vanguard Airlines is offering Saturday fares through June 14 at 25% off the regular price. The portion of the flight that involves travel on a Saturday will receive the discount. The promotion does not include flights to and from Las Vegas, Orlando or Tampa/St. Petersburg. Kids also fly free on Saturdays.
The Court of Justice of the European Union will hold an oral hearing into Air France's 20 billion French franc (US$3.4 billion) rescue package this week in Luxembourg, nearly three years after the initial complaint challenging it was filed. The French government's capital injection into Air France, approved by the European Commission in July 1994, was challenged by rivals British Airways, British Midland, KLM and SAS, with the support of the British and Scandinavian governments.
Air South's traffic jumped 39% in April to 38 million revenue passenger miles from 27.4 million, a record for the month. Available seat miles increased 20% from 52.6 million to 63.2 million for a load factor increase of 8.2 points to 60.2% from 52%. Tom Volz, VP-marketing, said, "The 29% increase in enplaned passengers is a sure sign that the new route system, first implemented last spring, is meeting expectations."
American said it would not object to a United/Varig code-share application as long as its own code share with TAM is granted at the same time (DAILY, April 30). TAM received authority from Brazilian authorities on April 2 to become the fourth Brazilian flag carrier to serve the U.S., and it plans to start its own daily service between the two countries. American said its code share will enable TAM to compete more effectively against Varig, the dominant Brazilian carrier. American described the U.S.-Brazil market as "extremely competitive," served by four U.S.
US Airways told employees yesterday that the company must "shortly" announce operational or other changes to position the carrier for the future, absent a competitive cost structure.
An American Airlines operations executive makes these observations about superstition, history and flight numbers: No carrier offers a Flight 666 or a Flight 13. United operates Flight 711 to Las Vegas, Flight 1492 to Columbus and Flight 1776 to Boston. American used to offer a Flight 911 until someone pointed out that instead of nine eleven, it might be read as nine one one.
European Commission will use Sabre's complaint against Amadeus (DAILY, April 29) to fuel reform of computer reservations system rules rather than decide the case on its merits.The commission took the same approach last year on ground-handling, when it acted on airline complaints against airports by liberalizing rules. CRS proposals can be expected "in the autumn," a spokeswoman for Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock said.
