Air Nova is opposing efforts by HCL Aviation d/b/a AvAtlantic to be recertified by DOT after AvAtlantic was shut down by the FAA (DAILY, March 27). In addition to working with FAA, AvAtlantic wants a quick redetermination of fitness from DOT so it can conduct flights said to be wanted by Air Aruba, Cayman Airways, BWIA and charter operators. Air Nova says AvAtlantic drew on funds paid for charter flights that were not flown.
TWA Getaway Vacations is promoting flights to Greece on Olympic Airways from New York Kennedy Airport. TWA discontinued its service to Athens April 18. All Getaway tour packages to Greece include a cruise in either the Aegean or Mediterranean seas, and passengers will receive 5,000 bonus frequent flyer miles. If they book and pay in full for an escorted tour to Greece by April 30, they also will receive a $100 discount.
Emery Worldwide Airlines received a $1.7 billion Postal Service contract for Priority Mail sortation and transportation. Parent CNF Transportation said the contract is the largest in its history and will involve all its principal air, trucking and logistics operating companies.
FAA's safety oversight programs, meant to determine if foreign airlines meet FAA safety standards, have found Latin American airlines flying to the U.S. often face political and cultural barriers to compliance in their own countries. Several carriers from the region said last week it often is a tough battle to convince their respective civil aviation authorities that government funds must be spent on inspectors and training to meet international standards.
Senate Commerce Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) has asked DOT to study the trend toward development of "super jumbo" aircraft and report on anticipated problems with U.S. airports accommodating the aircraft. McCain is asking for proposed solutions to the problems and for the amount of money needed.
Midwest-Asia Aviation Coalition named Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar as honorary co-chair, joining Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. The coalition was formed to increase nonstop service between Asia and Chicago O'Hare, which the coalition says ranks 30th in international travel despite being the world's busiest airport. The group wants to remove restrictions on service imposed by the 1952 bilateral agreement with Japan (DAILY, April 8).
LOT Polish Airlines reported its fifth consecutive year of record cargo traffic in 1996. It transported 20,634 tons of cargo last year, a 16% increase over 17,819 tons in 1995 and 33% over 15,441 tons in 1994. Margaret Budnicka, cargo sales manager for North America, attributed the performance to the "added number of flights we have been offering between North American and Poland over the past few years and the development of emerging markets beyond our borders." LOT will offer 26 flights to the U.S. a week this summer, up from 20, she said.
Val Eggers, president of the European Civil Aviation Conference, and Monte Belger, acting deputy administrator of the FAA, will be the featured speakers at the Air Traffic Control Association technical conference and exhibits June 4-5 at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Prague. Directors general and key officers from government, international aviation organizations and industry will be panel speakers and moderators, including Yves Lambert, director general-Eurocontrol. For more information, call Carol Newmaster at 703-522-5717.
Demonstrating Free Flight capabilities in Alaska and Hawaii in the 1999- 2000 time frame is "an extremely ambitious schedule," according to George Donohue, FAA associate administrator for research and acquisitions. In a memo to division employees, Donohue wants the task to get "priority attention," saying the "window of opportunity for this planning is a very tight one, given the need to support an FY 1999 budget request in early June."
The Association of European Airlines has launched a study of the comparative costs of charges at European airports. AEA said member airlines "receive very little in the way of feedback about how prices are arrived at or how committed the airports are to cost-efficient operation." AEA's 26 major carriers pay some $3.5 billion each year in landing fees and another $7 billion in handling charges.
Northwest has filed to modify its proposal to serve both of the new U.S.- Philippines all-cargo frequencies that become available this October, one outcome of an ongoing "major review" of its all-cargo schedules, the carrier said. The review is related to Northwest's new crossload facility in Anchorage, to be completed this summer. The new facility will enable Northwest to transfer through Anchorage freight it previously transferred through Narita. At the same time, it will have to streamline its schedules because of new Bangkok service received recently.
Southwest will offer $39 and $59 one-way fares in the West on fares purchased by May 20. The fares require a 14-day advance purchase and are good for travel through Sept. 4.
Thirty-six senators, led by Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.), Friday asked the Senate Appropriations Committee and its transportation subcommittee to support a fiscal 1998 Airport Improvement Program funding level of at least $1.46 billion.
Air Canada will add 28 international flights this summer to Europe, Asia, Israel and the U.S., 20% more than last year. It will increase Canada-U.S. capacity 38% with four new destinations - Dallas, Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte and Phoenix. It announced new Toronto-Seattle service separately. Air Canada will deploy its new A319s and Canadair Regional Jets to support increased tourism for the Cabot 500 celebration in Newfoundland and on new service on nine domestic routes.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines reported a net profit of $10.7 million for the first quarter, down 5% from $11.3 million. Revenue rose just 0.2% to $89.6 million and operating income dropped 7.7% to $15.75 million. The Delta Connection carrier faced 12% higher fuel prices and an increased amount of heavy maintenance. Traffic rose 1.2% on 0.3% more capacity, which inched load factor up 0.3 percentage points to 47%. Yield dropped 0.7% to 43 cents.
Struggling Air Aruba, which recently returned the last of its four MD-80s to the air, intends soon to make a decision about its fleet within the context of its restructuring efforts. The carrier expects to sign alliances with a North American and a Latin American carrier before yearend.
