Morris Travel Services will convert its eight newest locations to the Worldspan computer reservations system this summer. The Salt Lake City- based company said the conversion will streamline all 53 locations through the same travel distribution and booking system. Morris then will work with Worldspan to upgrade locations systemwide to the new AT&T InterSpan Frame Relay Service. "Our plans are to acquire $50 million in new business every year, a goal we have already exceeded in 1996," said Mark Slack, chief executive.
DOT made final late Monday its tentative approval the application of American and Canadian Airlines International for immunity from U.S. antitrust laws (DAILY, July 17). "With today's action, we continue to reap the benefits of the Clinton administration's open-market aviation agreement with Canada, which already has generated over $2 billion for the economies of our countries," said DOT Secretary Federico Pena.
Westin Hotels&Resorts has signed an agreement with Signature Resorts to enter the vacation ownership market, under which the two will share an exclusive right for five years jointly to acquire, develop and market vacation ownership resorts in North America and the Caribbean. Westin Vacation Club Resorts will be Signature's newest and most upscale vacation ownership product. Vacation stays will sell for $12,000 to $20,000.
Why Can't the Federal Aviation Administration Learn?, a newly published study of FAA reform by Darryl Jenkins of the Aviation Foundation and Kingsley Haynes and Roger Stough of the Institute of Public Policy at George Mason University, advocates user fees as "the most direct and fastest method to bring accountability to the FAA." It recommends separating FAA's infrastructure and regulatory roles. For information, call Mary Clark, 703-993-2280.
Nearly 100 Choice International properties have become allied corporate associate members of the American Society of Travel Agents under an ASTA campaign to recruit Choice hotels. ASTA is giving the properties a corporate membership discount of $85 annually, instead of the normal $395 supplier cost for the first year and $365 for each renewal year.
U.S. Major and National Carriers Advertising Expenses First Quarter 1996 % of Total Passenger Systemwide Revenue Alaska $ 3,376,000 1.43 Domestic 3,093,000 1.43 Latin 283,000 1.43 America West 9,090,761 2.35
Virgin Atlantic Airways has launched a fare sale to promote service to Washington Dulles, the carrier's newest gateway. Fares start at $369 roundtrip for travel during the middle of the week in November.
Japan's Minister of Transport Yoshiyuki Kamei yesterday threatened retaliation if the U.S. imposes sanctions against Japan Airlines. "It is totally unacceptable to Japan that the U.S. government is attempting to resort to unilateral actions, discarding an essential part of the [U.S.- Japan] Agreement," he said in a statement. "Such an attempt inevitably forces the Japanese government to seriously consider an appropriate response." In a memorandum of understanding signed April 16 by Kamei and DOT Secretary Federico Pena, Japan and the U.S.
Several U.S. airlines are circulating a draft letter for President Clinton asking the administration to settle access to London Heathrow Airport before it focuses on other U.K. bilateral issues. The first round of new negotiations between the U.S. and the U.K. begins today in London.
Delta will shake down its new low-fare operation over the next four to six weeks before launching it this fall with 25 737-200s. The carrier recently began testing operational and customer service procedures on certain weekend flights under a program it internally calls "Project Sunshine," the low-cost service operating mostly in Florida markets. "The tests include time-and-motion studies on servicing the aircraft, the boarding, the deplaning.
Fine Airlines is seeking renewal of its exemption to operate scheduled all- cargo service between Miami and co-terminal points Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica; and between Miami and co-terminal points San Salvador, El Salvador and Guatemala City, Guatemala. (Docket OST-96-1539)
United and Southwest have sold out their $25 one-way tickets through Labor Day in the sale Southwest started last Friday. Seats still are available from Sept. 3 through the end of the sale, Oct. 31. United said it sold more than 175,000 tickets from Friday through yesterday. Southwest said travel to Las Vegas and all of its Florida cities is sold out. In a separate move, USAir reduced fares for domestic travel through Oct. 31 on tickets that must be purchased 14 days in advance and by July 30. Slightly higher fares are available for seven-day advance tickets.
DOT has assessed Sun Jet International $20,000 in civil penalties for failing on several occasions to file required reports on time. "In 1994 and 1995, Sun Jet became delinquent in filing reports and was sent warning letters," said the DOT Enforcement Office. "Since that time, Sun Jet has become delinquent in filing other reports. As of April 21, 1996, Sun Jet had not filed five [required] reports...with an average delinquency of 41 days," the office added.
America West, following the launch of one of the deepest fare cuts of the year by Southwest last week, announced yesterday it is cutting fares on travel as early as July 22. While Southwest, and other carriers that matched its discount, are offering $25 one-way fares in nonstop markets for travel Aug. 19 through Oct. 31, the America West sale is on the seven-day advance-purchase ticket for travel through Oct. 31. Tickets must be purchased by July 30.
Hawaiian Airlines reported a 0.6% increase in June traffic to 334.3 million revenue passenger miles from 332.3 million in June 1995. Available seat miles rose 4.5% to 425.1 million, causing the load factor to fall 3.1 percentage points to 78.6%. Cargo ton miles rose 13.2% to 4.3 million, and the airline carried 442,476 passengers. For the first six months of the year, Hawaiian's RPMs were up 16.6% to 1.9 billion, while ASMs increased 16.8% to 2.5 billion. The systemwide load factor fell slightly to 76.3%. Hawaiian carried 2,611,287 passengers during the period.
FAA Administrator David Hinson dismissed concerns expressed by National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall that the agency is not singling out early-series 737s for a special retrofit of flight data recorders but will include the aircraft in the retrofit program recommended for other older aircraft types. Hinson also discounted the board's concerns, contained in its findings on the Simmons ATR 72 crash near Roselawn, Ill., about the competence of European airworthiness authorities.
Indian Airlines has shortlisted Rolls-Royce as joint-venture partner for its jet engine workshop, IA officials said yesterday. Pratt&Whitney and General Electric were the other two contenders. Among the factors guiding IA's preference for Rolls is that most aircraft in IA and Air- India's fleets have Rolls engines, IA sources said. IA's choice now awaits the final approval of India's civil aviation ministry.
The U.S. airline industry is undergoing revolutionary changes in distribution that will forever alter the way it sells its tickets and could triple profits, Julius Maldutis, managing director of Solomon Brothers and a longtime analyst of the airline industry, told the International Aviation Club in Washington yesterday. "The current fare structure is completely irrational and will change," Maldutis said, noting that U.S.
Kenya Airways has ordered two 737-300s, Boeing said. The aircraft, valued at $82 million, will be delivered next year. The recently privatized airline reported a profitable year in 1995.
United Chairman Gerald Greenwald and President John Edwardson, addressing pilots union leaders Monday during their week-long Master Executive Council meeting, indicated United could expand the airline faster than called for in current plans and build the fleet according to profitability.
Reacting to Japan's refusal to allow Federal Express to operate authorized beyond-Japan services, DOT proposed limits on Japan Airlines' scheduled all-cargo services. In a show cause order issued yesterday, DOT recommended prohibiting JAL from carrying to the U.S. any cargo transported to Japan by any Japanese airline from Cebu and Manila, the Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia, and Beijing and Shanghai, China, points Japan barred to FedEx. Comments are due by July 26 and replies by July 31. (Docket OST- 96-1551)
British Airways has signed up with the GETS Marketing Company for its Return Confirm service. Return Confirm enables a travel agent to contact an airline electronically and receive a message confirming that a seat has been saved for the passenger.
