Tower Air Inc. reported net income of more than $2.9 million, or 19 cents per share, for the second quarter. The results turned around an $8.13 million loss in the first quarter, but they were off considerably from the same period last year, when the carrier reported $4 million in earnings, or 26 cents per share.
Northwest Aerospace Training Corp. said it is offering Part 121 training and support programs to regional and national airlines, including certification services, dispatcher systems and training and crew resource management development and implementation services. NATCO said it concluded contracts recently with Mesa Air Group and Express Airlines 1. "We have been able to take Northwest Airlines' training and support programs and adapt them to the specific operating environments of regional airlines," said Nannette Gibbons, NATCO manager, training programs development.
- In Federal Register dated July 19...Superseded an airworthiness directive on Sikorsky S-76B helicopters concerning inspection of the drive shaft. -- In FR dated July 22...Issued an AD on Pratt&Whitney Wasp engines requiring inspection of the crankshaft counterweights...Proposed special conditions on de Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft.
UNC Inc. reported second quarter revenues of $181.3 million, operating income of $8.8 million and net earnings of $1.4 million for the second quarter. In the same quarter last year, sales were $131.3 million, operating income was $6.4 million and net income was $959,000. Performance for the quarter included one-month results for Garrett Aviation Services, acquired by UNC at the end of May.
Revenue passenger miles of member airlines increased 7% in June, compared with the same month a year earlier, the Air Transport Association reported. For the year-to-date, revenue passenger miles were up 6.4%, ATA said. Available seat miles rose only 2.7% in June and 2% in the first six months, causing the load factor to increase to 74.9% in June from 71.9%, and to 69.1% from 66.2% for the year-to-date.
American is creating an AAdvantage Marketing Division to manage its frequent flyer program. Bruce Chemel, managing director-marketing programs, who has overseen AAdvantage for five years, was named president of the new division. "This strategic initiative will enable American to maintain its leadership and grow the AAdvantage program at an even more rapid rate in the years ahead," said President Donald Carty. Michael Gunn, senior VP-marketing, said creating a separate division recognizes the growing importance of that portion of the business.
U.S. National Carriers Operating Revenues and Expenses (1Q96/95) Operating Operating Revenues Expenses (000) (000) First Quarter 1996 American Trans Air $ 207,135 $ 201,919 Carnival 78,305 75,155 Hawaiian 94,062 93,689
Intelsat appointed Benjamin Katcoff director-human resources and announced the resignation of Bruno d'Avanzo, executive VP and chief operating officer.
Air South and Hambrecht&Quist have agreed on a package of investments that will give the investment banking firm a controlling interest in the carrier. Air South, based in Columbia, S.C., has named John Tague president and chief executive, replacing Rod Brandt, effective immediately. At the same time, the carrier said it cut service in some markets to improve its on-time performance. Tague will become chairman Sept. 15, succeeding Clif Haley, who will remain on the board.
One of the nation's major unions is expected to begin passing out pamphlets at 24 airports late this week, supporting efforts by Controllers United to return former PATCO members to work and calling on the Clinton administration to hire more than the 500 new controllers it plans to add this year. The union also will support separation of aviation safety and aviation promotion within DOT. It will give passengers a toll-free number to call their representative in Congress.
Faced with a decline in foreign tourism during the past year, India's Directorate-General of Civil Aviation issued new guidelines for tour operators and will consider proposals for operating charter flights for inbound tourists. The decision follows strong lobbying by India's Tourism Department for opening the country's airports, including the five international airports, to tour charters, DGCA officials said.
DOT last Friday issued a proposal developed in consultation with the Interior Department on new and modified flight-free zones and corridors for Grand Canyon National Park. DOT said the proposal would increase flight- free areas by 87%. The notice also proposed flight-free periods within the cap and/or a cap on commercial sightseeing air tours. President Clinton has directed that a final rule be issued by yearend. National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne called on FAA Administrator David Hinson to intercede to protect aviation interests.
Granted orally to Royal Aviation, operating as Royal and/or Conifair, an exemption to conduct charter combination service between a point or points in Canada and a point or points in the U.S., and other charters...Granted orally to Fine Airlines an exemption for two years to provide scheduled all-cargo service between Miami, on the one hand, and Vitoria, Madrid and Valencia, Spain, on the other...Granted to Japan Airlines a sua sponte exemption permitting JAL to operate up to seven weekly combination frequencies between Sendai, Japan, and Honolulu, Hawaii, through Sept.
Kiwi International Air Lines posted a $1 million net profit for the second quarter, at the same time announcing it has received FAA clearance to begin returning grounded aircraft to service. Two aircraft will begin flying again immediately, serving as spares and to operate charters, and two more should return to the schedule in early August, when the carrier takes delivery of another aircraft, its 16th. Kiwi has been operating with 11 aircraft.
Bellview Airlines, based in Lagos, Nigeria, is a new member of the GETS Marketing Co., with responsibility for distribution of GETS automation products throughout Nigeria. GETS is a global distribution system that provides information management to travel companies.
2Like virtually all carriers, Delta is opposed to any effort to establish industry safety rankings, as may be proposed this week in a bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "Safety should not be a competition," VP- Government Affairs Scott Yohe said in an employee newsline. "It is a requirement." Yohe said publishing a ranking would be counterproductive and create the wrong kinds of incentives for self-disclosure and self- audit.
Gulfstream International Airlines has been awarded a "substantial portion" of Florida's contracts for state and local government travel, effective Aug. 1. Gulfstream will be the exclusive carrier for government employees between Tallahassee and Tampa and Key West; between Key West and Miami, Orlando and Tampa; and between Miami and Tampa and Orlando. Gulfstream will upgrade aircraft soon at Tallahassee to the 36-seat Shorts 360 from 19-seaters. Florida awards transportation contracts annually.
