Commenting on the Gore Commission's analysis of new airport security measures and who will pay for them, Hinson asked whether FAA is the "right place for aviation security to be. Is this a law enforcement agency? I think the commission will [have] to decide that."
Continental will operate three new weekly nonstop flights to Guayaquil, Ecuador, from Houston Jan. 9, in addition to its current one-stops. The nonstop flights, to be operated with 737-500 aircraft, will shorten flight time by one hour, compared with flights that stop in Panama City. Continental operates more than 400 weekly flights to Latin America (DAILY, Nov. 1).
Former Japan Airlines President Shizuo Asada, head of the airline from 1971 until 1981, died in Tokyo Friday of respiratory problems. Asada, who was 85, joined JAL in 1963 and spearheaded the dramatic opening of service to the People's Republic of China in 1974.
FedEx Pilots Association (FPA), which won a representational election at the end of October, is working to develop its infrastructure and expects to elect officers in January. The new union has mailed membership applications to about 3,200 FedEx pilots, said Mike Akin, chairman of its steering committee, and the members will elect a president, VP, secretary/treasurer and about 15 domicile representatives. Akin reported a good response from members of the Air Line Pilots Association, which lost the election.
Tower Air experienced a 40.6% decrease in total block hours flown in October, mainly due to a reduction in military and commercial charters and its withdrawal from India service. Tower also had to ground one of its two cargo aircraft. Tower flew 2,449 block hours during the month, and the total for the first 10 months of 1996 was 37,021 hours, down 6.8% from last year. Scheduled service revenue passenger miles totaled 204 million, down 33.6% from 307 million.
DOT has authorized Gemini Air Cargo to conduct wet-lease operations for Asiana Airlines between the U.S. and Korea for 179 days, instead of the full year requested. World Airways had asked DOT to block that filing and others until its dispute with the Korean government concerning an apparent violation of the U.S.-Korea bilateral agreement is resolved (DAILY, Nov.
AlliedSignal Aerospace said its joint venture with China Eastern Airlines in wheel and brake repair and overhaul received certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and FAA. The venture is based at the Long Hua Airport, Shanghai. Initial focus is serving China Eastern's fleet of 40 Western aircraft, but by the end of the year it will be ready to serve other airlines inside and outside China.
Federal Judge Dismisses Part Of Miami Terminal Expansion Suit U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard dismissed last week several counts of a lawsuit filed by five airlines opposing Miami Airport's planned "Super A" terminal expansion, sending fees to FAA for resolution via its rates and charges dispute (DAILY, Sept. 19, 1995). The suit, filed by Air Canada, Delta, TWA, United and USAir, attempts to block the $975 million, 47-gate concourse for American's exclusive use on the grounds that it will impose a significant financial burden on non-user airlines.
Royal Jordanian Airlines launched service from Amman to a third point in India, Mumbai. The airline, which already serves Calcutta and New Delhi, will operate twice-weekly service departing Mumbai Wednesdays and Thursdays, using an A310 aircraft configured with 12 first-class and 170 economy-class seats. The airline has hired Indian stewardesses on its Indian sector flights and is offering the option of Indian meals.
Airbus Industrie said one of its A340s set a record by making the first nonstop flight between China and the U.S. East Coast, a distance of 7,800 nautical miles because of air traffic control routings and winds. The aircraft flew to New York from Zhuhai Airport, near Macau, where it was on display at Airshow China '96.
USAir, which expects to take six of its 120 firm Airbus A320 family deliveries within 13 months, may receive the first several aircraft from a leasing firm, an airline source said. The carrier expects to receive 28 twinjets by the end of 1998, and leasing deliveries would be figured as part of its original order.
National Car Rental/Interrent has joined Delta's SkyMiles program. SkyMiles members will receive 500 SkyMiles when they rent a car from National in conjunction with a Delta flight, beginning Dec. 1. Double bonus miles on all rentals are available from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31.
Kiwi International Air Lines' rescue by potential suitor Wasatch International has not proceeded as expected, and, although Wasatch may come through at a later date, the airline is pinning its hopes this week on two new possible investors. After a bankruptcy judge approved Wasatch's $5 million debtor-in-possession financing, the Florida investment firm was to transfer $500,000 to Kiwi Nov. 4 and another $500,000 Nov. 8. But Kiwi received only $100,000 Nov. 4, with no indication of more funds coming, airline spokesman Rob Kulat said.
Associated Global Systems named Steve Vogel sales manager-mountain region and Tom Rogers manager-Buffalo district. British Aerospace Asset Management-Turboprops named Michael Agnew regional sales manager for Canada and Alaska. Carter-Burgess named Johnny McKnight national director-aviation facilities. Dassault Falcon Jet promoted Jon Lax to director-service and maintenance engineering. FedEx Senior VP Mary Taylor is resigning in January to take an executive position at Citicorp.
U.S. Carrier Systemwide Market Share At Leading U.S. Airports U.S. Major, National and Commuter* Carriers Six Months 1996 (Part 1 of 2) Atlanta Enplaned Percent Passengers Marketshare Delta 11,759,560 75.75 ValuJet 1,069,369 6.89 Atlantic Southeast Airlines 673,904 4.34
Projections by negotiators of high demand for new opportunities in the U.S.-Brazil charter cargo market came true last week. The recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries allocates an additional 300 flights per year, and carriers' filings total more than 550. The largest requests are from Southern Air Transport, for 150; Millon Air, 106, and USA Jet Airlines, 96. USA Jet is the exclusive air charter manager for Ford Motor Co. and a primary contractor for Chrysler Corp., both of which have assembly plants in Brazil.
TWA, moving from third quarter losses to typically weak fourth and first quarters, is working closely with union leaders and their financial advisers on rebuilding efforts, and it is accelerating cuts in its winter schedule.The carrier will reveal soon a new January schedule that "cuts flying we know is unprofitable during winter months," said Mark Abels, VP- corporate communications. It will not disclose an overall revised winter business plan before December.
Alamo Rent A Car has partnered with Aloha Airlines to give Alamo renters one AlohaPass credit with each rental. The rental must be in Hawaii in conjunction with an Aloha flight.
U.S. Air Tour Association, in a letter to President Clinton, said news reports that DOT Secretary Federico Pena soon may leave his post are "encouraging news." Proposed tough new rules on air tour operations at national parks are "clearly and directly" policies of DOT, and "in no way do we believe these actions are the result of decisions made by senior officials" at FAA, according to the organization.
USAir's frequent flyers can earn 500 miles for every qualifying stay at an ITT Sheraton hotel. They will earn double miles for every stay between Jan. 1 and March 31, and ITT Sheraton Club International members can transfer ClubMiles to their USAir frequent flyer program account.
Russia has offered Japan unlimited flying rights over Siberia, something Japan believes its airlines are entitled to already but welcomes as a potential deal-maker in negotiations on a new aviation agreement. The so- called "Open Siberia" regime would supplant the regulated access negotiated in 1991, when Russia agreed to increase Japan's trans-Siberia service frequency from the then-current 35 flights per week to 80 per week by 1994, and to remove restrictions in 1995.
KLM posted 8% higher systemwide revenue ton kilometers and 9% more passenger traffic for October. Passenger capacity rose 7% and the load factor increased 1.4 percentage points to 77%. Cargo traffic, helped by improved loads on routes to the Asia/Pacific region and Africa, increased 7% on 4% more capacity, boosting the load factor to 71.5% from 69.6%.
Renewed orally Transportes Aeromar's exemption to conduct scheduled combination service linking Chihuahua, Monterrey, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with San Antonio, Texas, and to run charter operations with small aircraft between the U.S. and Mexico...Approved an Aer Turas Teoranta charter flight operating from London Stansted to Stewart Field, Newburgh, N.Y., and on to Louisville, Ky., Beauvais, France, and Luton, U.K. Nov.
TWA's World Wide Web site offered getaway fares to London and Paris last week for travel during the weekend, saying it believes it is the first airline to extend such offers to points in Europe. With prices as much as 80% off coach fare, TWA offered travel to London from St. Louis, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Orange County, San Antonio, Austin, Colorado Springs and Wichita, and to Paris from St. Louis and Boston. The fares were advertised only on the web site, found at http://www.twa.com.
An air transport consulting firm wonders why so "much has been made of the longer-range capability of the new Boeing 737 series of aircraft." Clive Medland, VP of Simat, Helliesen&Eichner, says that it is a "surprising fact that 85% of all scheduled 737-300, -400 and -500 flying consists of segments less than 1,000 miles. Only 1% of such flying is comprised of segments greater than 2,000 miles. It does make one wonder if airlines purchase over-qualified aircraft."
