Airbus Industrie said yesterday that Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise has signed a memorandum of understanding for eight A320s and four A321s with options on 12 more of any type from the A320 family. The aircraft are to be delivered beginning in January 1998 to the leasing company, which is jointly owned by Singapore Airlines and Boullioun Aviation Services. Engines have not yet been selected. Airbus said the transaction is its first with a Singapore-based lessor for its single-aisle types.
British tourism officials predict travel to the U.K. in 1996 will break last year's record. Travel was up 8% in the first quarter to 4.6 million visitors, and U.K. officials believe that trend will continue throughout the remainder of this year. The number of travelers from Western Europe is strong - up 11% to about three million. The British Tourist Authority recently went on a trade mission to Japan to promote the U.K. as a vacation and business destination. The government also embarked on a major campaign this year to promote travel to London.
Correction: United estimates it will save $6 million a year by opening flight attendant bases in Tokyo and Frankfurt. An incorrect amount was given in The DAILY June 11.
Sabre is now capable of allowing agents to book electronic tickets on Southwest, which participates in Sabre's Basic Booking Request. Agents booking ticketless travel on Southwest receive a confirmation number and a faxed confirmation.
AlliedSignal Aerospace said its 36-300 auxiliary power unit was selected by Aerostar Leasing for 10 new Airbus A320 aircraft. Aerostar will lease the A320s to Vietnam Airlines, with deliveries beginning this year.
Pemco World Air Services is converting six 727-100s to quick-change configurations for UPS, which plans to place five of the aircraft in charter service on weekends. Pemco will do the design and engineering work, the QC cargo-handling system, passenger configuration and quick- release galleys. The QC configuration will permit the aircraft to be converted from cargo to passenger service, or the reverse, in less than four hours. That time was "one of the parameters we wanted" before attempting the project, a UPS spokesman said.
Continental and Virgin Atlantic, two carriers with a lot to lose if the sweeping alliance between American and British Airways goes forward, spoke out against the deal yesterday and took steps to try to stop it. A Continental delegation headed by Chief Executive Gordon Bethune visited DOT Secretary Federico Pena with a list of conditions the carrier believes must be imposed to protect its ability to compete in critical international markets. Unlike other American rivals, such as United, Northwest and Delta, Continental does not have a major European alliance partner.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Traffic October 1995 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) America West 1,411 15.10 792 1,117,740 American 5,422 (8.86) 1,105 5,993,247
United and Telemedic Systems are evaluating a new system that could improve the airline's response to inflight medical emergencies. On one of its 767 aircraft, United will carry a briefcase-sized remote mobile vital signs monitor that electronically records EKG data, blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and respiration rate. A trained United representative transmits the data via modem to a United flight surgeon on the ground who advises the flight crew. United's medical director, Dr.
An international standard for reporting surface weather observations and terminal forecasts for commercial, general and military aviation and weather information providers will be adopted July 1 by the U.S. The change "moves the country toward a single, worldwide standard," said FAA. The new standard is being implemented by FAA, the National Weather Service (NWS), the Defense Department and aviation organizations. The standard conforms to that of the International Civil Aviation Organization with some modifications for U.S. use.
Canadian Airlines International will match Air Canada's move to cap travel agent commissions in the U.S. at $50 for a roundtrip ticket and $25 for one-way travel (DAILY, June 11). Canadian also will follow Air Canada's move to increase domestic commissions in Canada to 9% from the current 8.25%.
Integrated all-cargo carriers have begun to dominate the U.S. air export market, capturing 87% of new shipments generated in 1995, according to the Colography Group, which projects these carriers will control "all new shipments entering the market by the year 2000." Integrated carriers controlled about 70% of the 69.7 million total air export shipments tendered last year.
JetTrain is offering free companion tickets to fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers in honor of Fathers Day this weekend. The dads can fly free with the purchase of a $79 ticket from Newark or Pittsburgh to Orlando, or a $69 ticket from Newark to Pittsburgh. All travel must be completed by June 20.
Dunlop Aircraft Tires opened a new U.S. headquarters and distribution center in Crewe, Va., taking over from the former Dunlop Aviation/Hawker Pacific operations in Miami, which now is closed. The new address is Tyler Street Warehouse, Crewe, Va., 23930. Telephone 804-645-1415, fax 804-645- 1618.
USAir reduced fares in more than 2,700 city-pairs involving Florida, Canada and the Caribbean. The lowest roundtrip fares are $158 between Providence, R.I., and Fort Lauderdale, $198 between Philadelphia and Key West, and $198 between Hartford and Fort Myers. Tickets must be purchased at least 21 days in advance, and no later than June 18, for travel beginning July 9 and ending by Nov. 14. All tickets must be purchased as roundtrips and require one Saturday night stay.
TWA, acting on the possibility that yesterday's American-British Airways agreement will open up slots at London Heathrow, says it is prepared to begin operating a daily roundtrip between Heathrow and New York Kennedy Sept. 4 with a 747 and could add two more daily flights with 767s on Oct. 27. TWA requested authority this week from DOT to operate to Heathrow, even through there is no authority currently available, one day before American and BA announced their proposed strategic alliance (DAILY, June 11). "We urge the department to emphasize to the U.K.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will introduce legislation today on regulating the quality of aircraft cabin air. A news conference is scheduled today in Washington, where flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants will speak on personal impacts of poor cabin air, such as lightheadedness, breathing problems and headaches. The legislation would require U.S. and foreign airlines to equip aircraft with ventilation systems that provide not less than 20 cubic feet of fresh air per minute per person in the cabin.
Continental has been in discussions with Boeing on changing the mix of its 1993 aircraft order, on hold for a while, but without necessarily changing the overall value of the deal. Continental Chief Executive Gordon Bethune told Aviation Week Group editors yesterday that the airline has less need now for the 767-300ER and more for the next generation 737.
A ValuJet flight attendant and Association of Flight Attendants union leader will talk about the working conditions of the carrier's 600 flight attendants tonight at the AFL-CIO's Town Hall Meeting in Atlanta. The meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. at the IBEW Auditorium on Pulliam St. as part of the America Needs a Raise campaign. The AFA said some ValuJet flight attendants make $12,000 a year, are not guaranteed raises and have no paid sick leave or vacation.
Greenwich Air Services said it has completed the $231.5 million purchase of Aviall's domestic and foreign commercial engine services operations. The cash transaction was financed by public offerings. Greenwich Chairman Eugene Conese said the purchase "made our company the largest, most diversified independent gas turbine engine repair and overhaul organization in the world." Greenwich now can provide repair and overhaul services for all the major original equipment engine manufacturers, he said. This includes 14 engine lines and 50 engine models.
American and British Airways unveiled the terms of their commercial alliance yesterday, detailing plans to code share on many flights, merge their frequent flyer programs and take other steps to integrate their cargo and passenger operations. As expected, the pact is premised on immunity from U.S. antitrust laws, which in turn requires an open skies aviation treaty between the U.S. and the U.K. Both carriers said yesterday they have encouraged their governments to seek such an agreement quickly.
Delta said yesterday that on July 11 it will redeem all outstanding shares of its Series C convertible preferred stock and related depository shares. As of yesterday, there were about 22,995 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock and 22.99 million depository shares. Each depository share is equal to 1/1,000 of a share of Series C convertible preferred stock. The move will save $80 million in annual preferred dividend payments, the carrier said. Each depository share will be redeemed for 0.7605 shares of Delta common stock.
Crash of a ValuJet DC-9 even while the carrier was undergoing intensive FAA surveillance "underscored what we have known for some time - that even heightened surveillance is not going to be enough to prevent every accident," according to FAA Administrator David Hinson. "What the times require is a fundamental change in the FAA's primary mode of intervention - from regulation and inspection to risk management and collaborative problem solving," Hinson said.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Income Statement October 1, 1995 - February 29, 1996 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ (6,513,000.00) Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. (351,712,000.00)
