Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has named TWA the official airline of the 22nd annual race, to be held April 12-14. This is TWA's eighth year as a participant.
USAir Express carrier PSA Airlines will begin nonstop service April 14 between Pittsburgh and New Haven, Conn., using Dornier 328 aircraft. New Haven is one of six new cities served under the USAir/British Airways code- sharing agreement. USAir Express also serves New Haven from Baltimore- Washington, Washington National and Philadelphia.
Regional Airline Association is preparing to challenge research used by FAA to justify a proposed rule on flight and duty time for commercial pilots, the association announced. RAA President Walt Coleman said this week that the proposal, which was published Dec. 14, "provides no facts, findings or proof that justify the changes which are being proposed." FAA, in justifying the changes, cited a study on fatigue done at NASA's Ames Research Center.
Mesaba Holdings Chief Executive Bryan Bedford is making Dornier and Saab jump through hoops before selecting one of their aircraft for his 50-aircraft fleet replacement program. Dornier is offering the 328 high-speed turboprops; Saab proposes 20 used 340A and 30 new 340BPlus aircraft. There is talk of lease payments in the low 30s and free training throughout the life of the program.
Sky Games International Ltd., the software gaming firm, has hired Geller&Co. as an adviser, Sky Games said. Laurence Geller, the principal of Geller&Co., was chief operating officer of Hyatt Development Corp. and previously worked for Holiday Inns and Grand Metropolitan Hotels. He will help Sky Games formulate its strategic direction, the company said. Sky Games has a contract with a major International carrier - believed to be Singapore Airlines - to provide inflight gambling on its flights, starting June 1.
The U.S. and Germany initialed yesterday their open skies aviation agreement, which would double the U.S.-Europe open-skies market in terms of passenger traffic. But refusal by the German government to sign it officially until there is movement on a United-Lufthansa request for antitrust immunity sparked U.S. industry protests. "This agreement - with an aviation partner that has the second-largest European market for U.S. carriers - can dramatically expand service and price options for consumers of both nations," said DOT Secretary Federico Pea.
United has begun a week-long celebration of the anniversary of the opening of Denver Airport, including a birthday party with cake for its customers, an employee recognition day and a surprise for passengers on its 100,000th flight at the airport. On the last day, employees will invite local students to accompany them on their jobs to learn about the aviation industry.
DOT has renewed for one year Atlant-SV Airlines' rights to operate charter combination service between any point or points in Ukraine and any point or points in the U.S. The carrier, which had applied for two-year renewal, said it expects to begin the service "within the next year as it formalizes marketing arrangements in the United States and Ukraine to support such services" (DAILY, Jan. 11). Privately owned Atlant-SV is Ukraine's second-largest carrier. (Docket OST-95-977)
Transaero's bid for renewal of its U.S.-Russia authority has gained the support of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the proprietor of Washington Dulles and National airports.
British Airways is considering spinning off its British Airways Engineering unit into a separate company to make it more competitive and less reliant on business from the airline.BA says the spinoff would not result in layoffs and no final decision has been made, but it will trim jobs at the unit over the next three years.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9 And MD-80 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Third Quarter 1995 DC-9-30 Continental Northwest TWA Number of Aircraft Operated 31 89 34 Total Fleet Operations Departures 172 453 195
American has added 13 cities to its AAdvantage dining program, which enables frequent flyer members to earn miles by eating out. For the first time, the program includes restaurants outside the U.S., in London, Toronto and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The other new cities are Albany, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Providence, Sacramento and St. Louis. Miles can be earned now in all cities except London, which becomes effective March 1. Members earn three miles for every U.S.
Most parties advocating BAA Plc's proposal to construct a fifth terminal at London Heathrow say the airport management company and the airlines have won their economic arguments, corroborating a recent report in The Observer that the project will go ahead and the only issues remaining are the nature and extent of environmental restrictions that will be imposed. The opposition has been fierce in the long-running inquiry, and parties expect the U.K. government to apply strict environmental conditions.
Two labor unions that lost elections in 1994 to represent workers at America West are attempting to organize again. The Transport Workers Union has filed an application at the National Mediation Board to represent the carrier's fleet service workers, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) is seeking representation of mechanics and related employees. The TWU in December 1994 received only 309 votes from 1,527 eligible voters (DAILY, Dec.
DOT has tentatively chosen Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air to continue to provide essential air service at Ephrata/Moses Lake, Wash., until Dec. 27, 1997. The tentative decision calls for Horizon to operate two roundtrips each weekday between Ephrata/Moses Lake and Seattle with 18-seat Fairchild Metro IIIs, for which DOT will pay an annual subsidy of $177,628 - a reduction from the previous rate of $210,653 per year. The $210,653 previous annual subsidy was itself a reduction from the $326,875 originally authorized for the service. DOT on Nov.
Training will begin April 1 on a new RJ85 flight simulator installed at Lufthansa's Berlin Schunefeld Airport flight training center, the carrier reported. The 20-million-Deutschmark simulator, developed by the Canadian CAE Group, was flown to Berlin Feb. 18.
United Express affiliate Great Lakes Aviation will be allowed to suspend service today at Marinette, Wis./Menominee, Mich., DOT said. The agency called for proposals from carriers interested in providing essential air service at the point - without subsidy. DOT left open the possibility of subsidy "in the event that program spending obligations decrease sufficiently to enable the department to provide such support."
Opposition among regional airlines is growing to a user-fee-supported FAA called for by the Senate McCain-Ford bill, according to RAA President Walt Coleman. Long-haul carriers American, Delta and Northwest support the measure, while low-fare and other carriers that fly high-frequency, short-haul routes fear they will be forced to pick up proportionately more of the tab. An "alliance" of aviation companies and associations is quietly lobbying for continued general-fund and excise tax support of the aviation infrastructure as well as a more independent FAA.
Continental plans to issue $200 million of 6 3/4% convertible subordinated notes due April 15, 2006, in a private placement, the carrier said this week. The notes will be convertible into Class B common stock of Continental at an initial conversion price of $60.39 per share. The carrier will use proceeds from the offering to reduce debt and for general corporate purposes. The notes are expected to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, with the closing late in March.
Lack of clarity and precision in FAA policy is one of the largest impediments to airport privatization, proponents of privatization told the House Transportation aviation subcommittee yesterday. Wilbur Ross, senior managing director of Rothschild Inc., told the panel that FAA's proposed airport revenue policy seemed to open the door slightly to airport privatization (DAILY, Feb. 26), but "we do forecast considerable investor confusion over the many ambiguities contained in the FAA's proposed policy." Rothschild Inc.
TWA has opened a World Wide Web site on the Internet offering flight schedules, airport maps, frequent flyer information and weather news. The page can be viewed at http://www.twa.com.
Citing "current market conditions," Saab Aircraft AB said Thursday it will lay off 540 workers at its aircraft manufacturing facility in Linkuping, Sweden, about 9% of its roughly 6,000 employees. Included are 440 shop-floor workers and 100 office staff. Saab President Hans Kruger said the company maintains its policy to be market-oriented and adjust its resources to market demand. "The present market conditions and the company's order bookings require us to adapt our resources to lower volumes," he said.
Cathay Pacific Airways said it will use the four Boeing 777-200 aircraft due for delivery in May on routes connecting Hong Kong with Taipei, Tokyo Osaka, Bangkok, Bahrain and Dubai.
Aviation Industries of China emerged yesterday as an unexpected potential buyer of Fokker. The state-owned Chinese aircraft company will send officials to Amsterdam next week for talks with the court-appointed administrators of Fokker, sources close to the Dutch aircraft manufacturer said.
