ValuJet plans to more than double its fleet between the end of this year and 2000. The carrier expects to have 60 aircraft when 1996 ends, and its target for 2000 is 143, including DC-9s, MD-80s and MD-95s.
- Federal Express, of its authority to operated five weekly all-cargo frequencies between certain points in the U.S. and Argentina, via a point or points in South America. FedEx currently uses the frequencies to operate to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, Argentina, over a Memphis-Sao Paulo- Buenos Aires-Santiago routing. The carrier operates DC-10-30 aircraft between Memphis and Sao Paulo, with a change of gauge to 727 aircraft at Sao Paulo for service onward to Buenos Aires.
Observing Groundhog Day, Kiwi is offering a "shadow sale" with fares priced at $99 or $119, depending on whether there will be an early spring. If it is to be a long winter, $99 fares go into effect for travel from Newark to Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa, and for flights from Chicago to Tampa and Orlando. The fares will be $119 if noted groundhog Punxsutawney Phil does not see his shadow. Tickets must be purchased by Feb. 9 and travel must be completed by Feb. 29. No advance purchase is required.
Union controllers said Friday FAA, in an aboutface from statements earlier in the week, now plans incentives to entice controllers to hard-to-staff facilities. "FAA flip-flops on safety," said National Air Traffic Controller Association official Thomas Bulzoni of the New York Center and Phil Barbarello of the New York Tracon.
Helicopter Association International President Frank Jensen said Heli-Expo 96 will be held Feb. 22-24 in Dallas with a record 433 exhibitors under contract. More than 70 helicopters will be on display. FAA Administrator David Hinson is expected to brief attendees on helicopter-related programs at the agency. HAI will sponsor two new professional development programs in Dallas prior to the exposition. One course, Feb. 19-21, will cover helicopter maintenance management and another, Feb. 20-21, will cover community relations and conflict resolution.
Granted orally an exemption to TAP Air Portugal renewing its authority to conduct scheduled combination service between Portugal and the co-terminal points Boston and New York, and between Portugal, via an intermediate point in Canada, and Los Angeles... Granted orally an exemption to American Trans Air renewing for two years its rights to operate scheduled combination service between New York and Belfast, both as a terminal and an intermediate point with continuing service to Shannon, Ireland...
Qantas is the latest carrier to erect a web site on the Internet, offering information on its history, products, services and employment, plus press releases. Planned upgrades include scheduling, arrival and departure information. The address is http:\www.qantas.com.au.
American said it has no objection to Continental's application for certificate authority to operate between Newark and Manchester, England, as long as it is granted simultaneously similar authority to operate between Chicago and Birmingham, England. Noting that the U.K.
Carnival Air Lines named Avis its exclusive rental car supplier. Passengers will receive a 5% discount on car rentals and will be entitled to fly-drive tour packages and other travel benefits.
Although the U.S. and Japan remain far apart, U.S. officials still hope for a cargo agreement as negotiators begin another round of talks today in Tokyo. The U.S. is still aiming to meet the March target for an agreement but would be willing to keep talking past the deadline if progress is being made, said a U.S. official.
SkyTeam Airlines has applied for a certificate to start up low-fare scheduled service in high-density U.S. markets. Initially, the applicant plans to serve Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and Atlanta using leased 122- seat 737 aircraft with one-class, all-economy seating. Based at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, SkyTeam plans to take advantage of what it calls "convenient, yet underused airports," such as Meacham and Hobby in Houston.
U.S. National Carriers Operating Revenues and Expenses Third Quarter 1995 Operating Operating Revenues Expenses (000) (000) Third Quarter 1995 Alaska $ 347,695 $ 591,855 Aloha 58,722 59,198 American Trans Air 187,009 179,079
Final assembly of Bombardier's first Global Express business jet is under way. The first set of wings and center fuselage sections are at de Havilland's assembly facility in Toronto. First flight is scheduled for September, and customer deliveries are to begin in 1997. The aircraft is designed to fly l6,500 nautical miles, making it possible to fly from New York to Tokyo in less than 14 hours.
Abacus Distribution Systems appointed Nalini Gupta country manager for India, to be based in Bombay. Gupta worked for Air India for 19 years and most recently was marketing manager of Sitair/Sabre in India. Abacus has offices in Bombay and New Delhi and plans to expand to other parts of India. The computer reservations system company said it expects the Indian outbound travel market to grow by 15% in the next few years.
Aviall Integrated Management Services, a newly formed unit of Aviall Distribution Services, said it was awarded a five-year contract by Delta valued at $5 million a year to manage the purchasing, procurement and delivery of hoses, filters and seals. Two other partner-suppliers are involved in the contract.
German Transport Minister Matthias Wissmann, proclaiming the virtues of the new U.S.-Germany framework agreement on open skies, notes that the May 1994 alliance between United and Lufthansa generated about 250,000 new passengers during its first year.
Support and parts contractor Aviall, whose fourth quarter business problems led it into default on credit agreements, said it will sell its engine and component repair operations in Texas and Scotland, its accessories repair business in Miami and "other assets" related to aircraft engine services. Citing losses on fixed-rate repair contracts and other business problems, the company said the sale will enable it to reduce its debt and improve its long-term finances.
Kiwi President and Chief Executive Officer Jerry Murphy said the airline "strongly refutes" any assertions that Kiwi has refused to consider a potential $25 million investment by a wealthy family in the diamond trade. Murphy was responding to a story in The DAILY, Jan. 31, in which a Kiwi employee said employee owners are frustrated that the voting trust on the board is refusing to consider outside investment options. "At this point, we have not heard from the legitimate financial professional/investment banker representing this family," Murphy said.
ValuJet Airlines has slashed February fares as low as $19 one way for travel on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; before 2 p.m. and after 7 p.m. on Thursdays; before 11:30 a.m. on Fridays, and before 9 a.m. and after noon on Saturdays. Reservations must be made by tomorrow. Sale fares are available to several markets from Washington Dulles and Atlanta. The highest sale price cited in the carrier's announcement is $88, from Washington to Dallas/Fort Worth or Kansas City.
Delta will inaugurate daily nonstop roundtrip service to Vancouver from Atlanta and Cincinnati March 2 with 50%-off discounts on flights from the two U.S. cities, and from 20 other cities on flights stopping at Atlanta and Cincinnati. The introductory fare, good for travel through April 1, is $247 roundtrip.
Yemen Airways selected Pratt&Whitney engines for two firm and two option Airbus A310-300s. The order is for five firm engines, four installed and one spare for the two firm aircraft, and four installed and one spare for the two option aircraft. Pratt valued the deal at up to $90 million. The two firm-order aircraft will be delivered in the first quarter of 1997, the two options in 1998 and 1999.
