Air Pacific will delay its nonstop service from Vancouver to Nadi, Fiji, until early 1997. The Fiji-based carrier is scheduled to start 747 service once a week on Nov. 1, but has not yet received government approval. It currently flies two times each week from Los Angeles to Fiji.
Southwest Chairman Herb Kelleher says the airline will announce service to at least one more new point before yearend, but it will not be Trenton Mercer County Airport. Asked by reporters if that airport could be used to serve the New York area, Kelleher said the cost would be too high. There is no room at Newburgh, N.Y., he added.
Moody's Investor Service yesterday upgraded the senior debt rating of McDonnell Douglas Corp. to Baa1 from Baa2, citing improved operating and cash flow outlook as well as a stronger balance sheet. The move affects approximately $1.2 billion of debt securities. Moody's said McDonnell Douglas's long-term outlook brightened due to success with securing defense contracts, an improved structure after cost-cutting moves and its ability to keep its commercial aircraft business profitable even with low delivery levels.
Northwest will begin Minneapolis/St. Paul-Osaka service, effective April 6. The announcement came just weeks after the carrier revealed plans to start service from the Twin Cities to Tokyo in December. Northwest initially will offer three weekly flights to Osaka Kansai, a region with more than 23 million inhabitants. It will increase service to daily flights, beginning June 15. Osaka service will connect with Northwest's daily Osaka-Manila flight.
Classic Custom Vacations was chosen the 1996 Tour Supplier of the Year of the American Automobile Association. More than 700 U.S. and Canadian travel agents cast their votes among 14 preferred tour operators. Classic was singled out for making the booking process and followup user-friendly.
U.S. Major and National Carriers Labor Expenses Second Quarter 1996 % Of Total Operating Systemwide Expenses Alaska $ 91,216,000 29.95 America West 93,504,765 23.11 American 1,147,965,000 33.40 Continental 287,070,000 23.30
BE Aerospace said net sales for its second quarter, ended Aug. 31, jumped 79% to $103 million from $57.5 million the same quarter a year ago. Operating earnings were $9.5 million versus a loss of $3.6 million. Net earnings for the quarter were $1.9 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $7.5 million. Net order bookings of $109 million were more than double last year's level. Sales for the first six months were up 77% to $200 million. Net earnings totaled $3.3 million, up from a net loss of $40.5 million.
U.S. Major and National Carriers Maintenance Expenses Second Quarter 1996 % Of Total Operating Systemwide Expenses Alaska $ 25,238,000 8.29 America West 38,558,011 9.53 American 343,932,000 10.01 Continental 141,568,000 11.49
Martinair Holland will launch service Nov. 2 to San Juan, Puerto Rico, its 10th North American gateway. The weekly flight from Amsterdam will begin with fares as low as $698 roundtrip. The carrier operates MD-11s and 767- 300ERs on its transatlantic service to Newark, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle and Toronto.
In what the union called an "unprecedented move," FAA's Flight Standards division invited nearly 100 members of the Professional Airways System Specialists to participate in a three-day strategic management conference, which opened yesterday in Arlington, Va. The PASS representatives are mainly aviation safety inspectors, and the timing of the conference coincides with completion of the FAA 90-day safety review spurred by the ValuJet crash.
America West is offering fares as low as $60 to $140 each way for travel on most of its routes from Nov. 23, 1996, to Jan. 8, 1997. Noting there are no blackout dates, John Garel, senior VP, sales and marketing said the carrier "is offering special low fares for cost-conscious travelers any date during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day holiday seasons." The non-refundable tickets must be purchased within 72 hours of making a reservation, but not later than Oct. 4. A two-day minimum stay and seven-day advance purchase are also required.
Reno Air has kicked off a fare sale on many of its West Coast services for travel beginning Sept. 28. The carrier is offering $19 one-way coach seats for all service between Seattle and Portland. In addition, Reno is offering $29 one-way fares for most of its West Coast service, including Reno/Tahoe/San Jose-Seattle/Portland/Las Vegas/San Diego/Orange County/Los Angeles, Las Vegas-Colorado Springs/Tucson, San Francisco-Orange County and Tucson-Los Angeles.
India's state-owned domestic carrier for the first time has hired a foreign-based firm - Time Manager International (TMI) of Denmark - to carry out a corporate training program for its staff, an IA spokesman said yesterday. To be called Parivartan - "change" in Hindi - the program is aimed at achieving a change in the airline's work culture by instilling "a positive attitude" in employees to help them improve the quality of customer service, officials explained.
Lufthansa Cargo flew a 49-ton electric motor on a 747F from Frankfurt to Chicago on Aug. 30. Together with transport carriage, pallets and other materials, the cargo weighed 51 tons. Boeing said the shipment could be the heaviest single piece of cargo transported on a 747F.
Greenwich Air Services, which earlier this week reported the loss of its USAir CFM56 engine business, announced yesterday it has signed seven new overhaul and repair contracts (DAILY, Sept. 24). The work will be performed at facilities in the U.S. and in Prestwick, Scotland. New one- year contracts to be fulfilled domestically include Alfa Romeo for Alitalia JT8D-200 engines; Royal Moroccan Air Force JT3D-38 engines; McDonnell Douglas Lease Finance CF6-50 engines; U.S. Turbine Engine Corp. JT9D engines, and Midway V2500 engines.
The Association of Flight Attendants is keeping up its battle to oust ValuJet management as the carrier continues to wait for approval to restart service. "We are still anxiously awaiting" the go-ahead from DOT, said a ValuJet spokesman yesterday. DOT officials said they were still reviewing comments on ValuJet's application. The carrier said last week that it could lose $10 million each month its aircraft sit on the ground, and a prolonged delay could force it to seek bankruptcy protection (DAILY, Sept. 20).
AlliedSignal yesterday named Paul Wong as chairman-Greater China. The company is a partner in six ventures in China, including aircraft wheel and brake repair and overhaul, aircraft component repair and overhaul, aircraft environmental control systems and industrial polyester fiber and fabric. Wong was VP-China and Hong Kong for National Semiconductor Corp.
Southwest introduced yesterday its Rapid Rewards Visa Card, the latest feature of its frequent flyer program. Available through First USA Bank, the card has an introductory interest rate of 6.9%, which is fixed for the first six months, and has no annual fee for the first year. "Our frequent flyers have requested a Southwest Airlines credit card, and we have responded with a program that gets them a free ticket faster than any other airline," said Herb Kelleher, chairman, president and chief executive of Southwest.
Passengers who fly Air South three times by Jan. 16 will receive a free roundtrip ticket good for travel to New York, Norfolk-Virginia Beach and Savannah-Hilton Head. The free ticket is good until April 16, and also between Sept. 3 and Nov. 16, 1997.
Airbus Industrie of North America reorganized its sales and marketing departments, naming Henri Courpron VP-sales and Earl Odom VP-marketing development.
U.S. Major Carriers Top 10 City-Pairs Market By Passengers Per Day The Year 1995 Passenger Revenue Rank Market Per Day Per Day Alaska 1 Los Angeles Seattle/Tacoma 730.6 73,986 2 Seattle/Tacoma San Francisco 550.0 37,925 3 Oakland Seattle/Tacoma 538.8 30,929
Air France Chairman Christian Blanc is expected to argue against U.S.- France open skies arrangements when he meets with DOT Secretary Federico Pena, scheduled Thursday in Washington. While in the U.S., Blanc also is expected to discuss possible alliances with officials of potential U.S. partners.
Macau Airport, which opened 11 months ago, expects up to 1.3 million passengers its first year of operation. Nineteen airlines operate 282 weekly flights from the Portuguese territory. Macau is negotiating air pacts with Japan, Nepal and the Philippines and expects new service from each country next year.
