The board of the U.S. National Tourism Organization, the entity managed by the private sector to sell the U.S. to foreign tourists, has voted 33-2 in favor of charging international travelers a fee to depart the U.S. to fund the organization. The USNTO has not yet revealed what fee it will propose - it has previously suggested at least $1 - or whether U.S. residents departing the U.S. will be charged as well.
Northwest and Japan Air System could collaborate much more closely if Japan would let them. "We could make a more cooperative announcement, but the government will not approve," said Jun Mokudai, Northwest's VP-Japan, adding that "the time will come" for a code share. JAS, a 78-jet domestic carrier, recently matched its schedule to connect with Northwest's Pacific flights.
The European Commission will reveal to Boeing and McDonnell Douglas by mid- May its concerns about their "very problematic" merger proposal, and it will decide by the end of July whether the remedies the companies propose are good enough to allow the deal to go forward, Karel Van Miert, commissioner responsible for competition, said Friday.
Federal Express promoted Donald Colleran to VP-sales for the Asia/Pacific Division, replacing Casey Zettler, who assumes sales responsibilities for U.S. and Canada.
Approved orally an exemption for EVA Airways to fly cargo operations between Taipei/Kaohsiung and Chicago via intermediate Pacific points; FedEx filed an objection, which it later withdrew...Approved orally an exemption for China Airlines for scheduled cargo operations between Taipei and Anchorage on a co-terminal basis with authorized U.S. service...Approved orally an exemption for Royal Jordanian Airlines to fly scheduled combination service from points behind and in Jordan to points in the U.S.
Continental hopes to know "within the next few weeks" whether its attempt to invest in Aerolineas Argentinas is successful, Chairman and Chief Executive Gordon Bethune said last week during a news conference on the carrier's first quarter financial results (DAILY, April 18). "The bid is in" for a minority stake in Aerolineas, Bethune said, and Continental's competition is American, the dominant U.S. carrier in Latin America.
Japanese Ministry of Transport (MOT) Deputy Director General Jiro Hanyu said he is "firmly against" open skies, at least as defined by the U.S. "It's not that I hate open skies," he said, "it's that I love real competition." He made the comments at last week's Asian Open Skies conference in Phoenix.
Airline Suppliers Association elected five members to the board of directors: Karen Borgnes, Pacific Aero Tech; John Butler, Time Aviation Services; Fred Gaunt, Pacific Air Industries; Mike Molli, SAS/Lufthansa Technik Surplus Sales Alliance, and Mitch Weinberg International Aircraft Associates.
US Airways' Business Select Class apparently should have had an earlier expiration date than it did. The initiative involved a quick interior change to wider seats in an attempt to offer a business-class product comparable to those of other carriers. Wolf referred to it as a "horrifying marketing botch," and mention of the current transition to a domestic configuration of first class and coach drew applause from employees. One of them said they are tired of taking abuse from passengers over mediocre offerings.
The Group of Five - Lufthansa, United, SAS, Air Canada and Thai International - will unveil a broadened global partnership May 14 in Frankfurt. Chief executives of the carriers will meet and may be joined by the head of Varig, a partner of United and Lufthansa.
FAA has taken steps to identify and correct past deficiencies in its oversight of power systems for air traffic control, according to a DOT Office of Inspector General audit. Previously, FAA did not have centralized management of power systems or an accurate power system inventory, according to the OIG. It said no recommendations are necessary.
North American Airlines Public Relations Association gave the 1997 Eugene Dubois Annual Award for excellence in aviation reporting to Paul Grimes, Conde Nast Traveler.
FAA wants to revise the war risk insurance program, making it more responsive to airlines' needs "when commercial insurance coverage cannot be obtained on reasonable terms." The agency plans to redefine the activation of coverage, revise the process for amending insurance policies, increase binders for non-premium insurance coverage and reflect new statutory authority. The program was set up to provide insurance enabling air commerce to continue in event of war because commercial insurance policies contained automatic cancellation clauses.
Korean Air will start 747-400 direct service from Denver to Seoul May 23, flying three times weekly with an additional passenger pickup in Los Angeles. Denver will be KAL's 15th gateway in the Americas.
