Airtran agreed to purchase five hushkits for its Boeing 737 aircraft from Safety Harbor, Fla.-based Avaero. The carrier holds options on four more hushkits from the company.
Hawaiian Airlines, as expected, has received from Airlines Investors Partnership, L.P. the $3 million bridge loan it needed to continue operating until AIP's $20 million equity investment comes through later this month. The investment is contingent on Hawaiian securing final agreements with certain creditors and receiving approval from shareholders. A special shareholders meeting has been scheduled in Honolulu Jan. 30, the day before the transaction is to close.
America West will begin serving Newark from Las Vegas April 7 with 148-seat A320s as part of its plan to increase capacity by nearly 30% during the next two years. The carrier previously announced new flights from Las Vegas to Mexico City that began Friday, to Detroit beginning Feb. 15, and to Vancouver beginning Feb. 24. All the new services are nighttime flight operations. John Garel, senior VP-marketing and sales, predicted "more news on Las Vegas" this year as America West expands daytime and nighttime operation there.
In Federal Register dated Jan. 18...Proposed to redefine the reference stall speed for transport aircraft as the 1-G stall speed instead of the minimum speed obtained in a stalling maneuver.
The U.S. and Thailand reached a bilateral agreement Friday in Bangkok as the U.S. continues to press to liberalize the Asian market. Hammered out in two rounds of talks in Washington and Bangkok, the accord significantly expands opportunities for both countries, addressing passenger and cargo issues, including third-country code sharing as well as direct and fifth-freedom services.
Air Transport Association carriers produced a 1% increase in December revenue passenger miles, to 41.3 billion from 40.9 billion in December 1994. The largest growth came in international RPMs, up 4.8% to nearly 11 billion. Available seat miles fell 1.2% to 63.5 billion from 64.3 billion. International ASMs rose 2.7% to 16.3 billion. Domestic RPMs were down 0.3% to 30.3 billion, and domestic ASMs fell 2.5% to 47.3 billion. For the year, overall RPMs were up 3.1% and ASMs 1.7%.
USAir applied for renewal of its nights to operate scheduled service between Philadelphia and Paris. It currently offers daily nonstops on the route, using Boeing 767 aircraft. (Docket OST-95-1001)
Venezuela's cabinet has adopted a regulation that will facilitate Iberia's plans to become the major shareholder of Viasa. The regulation allows a foreign airline to become a major shareholder of a Venezuelan airline without affecting that airline's status as a Venezuelan flag carrier. Iberia already holds a stake in Viasa and reportedly plans to buy all the government's remaining shares.
Frontier is increasing to 72 hours the maximum time allowed to purchase a discounted ticket after reserving it. Some airlines, including Frontier until last week, require that tickets be purchased within 24 hours. Frontier, which also is raising the charge for making a flight change from $35 to $50, says it is lengthening the purchase deadline on the advice of travel agents.
Economic Strategy Institute study of Asian aviation is expected to affirm that beyond services have the most value in the market. ESI is wrapping up the study and probably will issue it early in February, following peer review, said Don Hilty, ESI senior fellow. The institute has worked to find middle ground between the U.S and Japan, and between incumbent and MOU carriers.
Startup Vanguard Airlines, which says it lost $2 million in the last half of 1995, traded in its simple peak/off-peak fare structure last week for a yield management system it hopes will ring up profits. The carrier, which started service recently between Kansas City and San Francisco, is securing eight aircraft it plans to fly later this year between Kansas City and Los Angeles.
The City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership are urging DOT to approve the application by Continental and Czech Airlines (CSA) to operate code-share service between the Czech Republic and the U.S. Houston allowed that the proposed service "would not, at the outset, be as seamless as certain other code-share service," but it added that it expects "a fuller integration of the Continental-CSA services" as traffic increases.
Control Centers Ltd., a Tel Aviv-based development company, has taken delivery of a Raytheon Hawker 800XP. The latest variant of the mid-size business jet is capable of carrying up to eight passengers.
America West will contract with American for modification work on 14 757 aircraft. The contract covers airframe and engine thrust reverser work, which will begin this spring at American's Alliance maintenance base in Fort Worth. Modifications will begin in May or June, and take about five days per aircraft.
United and Air-India are seeking authority to operate code-share service between Washington, D.C., and Delhi. In their application, United asked for authorization to block space and code share with Air-India on flights between Washington and Delhi. The service will be operated in conjunction with United's round-the-world flights, inaugurated in December 1995, with connections at London Heathrow. The two carriers entered into a blocked-space/code-share agreement on Oct.
James Tarrant, deputy assistant secretary of state for transportation affairs, will leave his post at the end of the week, to be succeeded by special negotiator Joel Spiro. John Byerly, director of aviation policy, will replace Spiro. Tarrant will teach at the National Defense University in Washington.
U.S. National Carriers Traffic December 1995, 12 Months December December 1995 1994 Alaska Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 726,000 697,000 Available Seat Miles (000) 1,152,000 1,108,000 Load Factor (%) 63.0 62.9 Passengers 876,300 817,100 American Trans Air
Oxfam America, a charitable organization formed to alleviate world hunger and poverty, is a new partner in Northwest's AirCares program. The airline will promote Oxfam on flights through March, encouraging passengers to donate money or travel certificates.
The Dallas/Fort Worth parties are urging DOT to grant American's request for seven U.S.-Peru frequencies that will become available late this year, or promptly institute a selection proceeding for the frequencies. Under terms of the U.S.-Peru agreement signed May 5, the U.S. gained 14 additional frequencies to Peru - seven in 1995 and seven in 1996 - from cities other than Miami and Fort Lauderdale. So far, only American and Continental have applied for the new frequencies.
Cardkey promoted John Sumpter to director-national accounts and assigned Phil Black director-government services. Derek Trimble was named VP-international, Jorge Young director-engineering, Mark Boliaris general sales manager-direct sales offices in the western U.S. and Brian Mathieu general sales manager-direct sales offices in the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic states.
