Two Cessna Citation business jet accidents at the end of the year in which four pilots were killed were the only fatal accidents in 1995 involving U.S.-registered, turbine-powered, fixed-wing corporate aircraft, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. Both accidents occurred on approach during positioning flights less than 24 hours apart. One Citation, owned by Iowa Packing Co., was operating under an IFR clearance and making a VOR/DME approach to the Eagle Rivers, Wis., airport on Dec. 30 when it crashed short of the runway.
American said yesterday it has signed an agreement with Qantas Airways to increase the scope of its 1989 code-sharing arrangement with the Australian airline. Under the amended agreement, 19 additional American flights will carry Qantas codes each week in two new markets - Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami, two of American's largest hubs - from Los Angeles. At Los Angeles, the new code-share service will connect with Qantas flights headed for Sydney and Melbourne. Code sharing to Dallas/Fort Worth starts Feb. 1, and joint service to Miami will begin later in the month.
Southwest's traffic grew 13.9% last month compared with December 1994. Capacity for the month was up 10.9% while the number of passengers carried by the airline rose 11%. Load factor for the month was up 1.7 percentage points to 63.8%. The winter holidays gave Southwest a big boost, pushing the load factor to some of its highest levels for December since the early 1980s. January bookings "look strong and suggest, at this point, we should easily exceed January 1995's load factor," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's chief financial officer.
Southwest will inaugurate service to Orlando April 7 from seven cities - Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore/Washington, New Orleans, Nashville, Indianapolis, Columbus and St. Louis. It will operate one daily flight to all cities except Fort Lauderdale, which will receive five, and Baltimore/Washington, which will get two. In May, nonstops will be added to Louisville and Birmingham, giving Southwest 20 daily nonstop flights from Orlando.
American Trans Air has signed a contract with Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Co. for heavy maintenance, aging aircraft modifications, corrosion prevention and component overhaul on a Lockheed L-1011.
America West is offering Effortless Ticketing, an electronic ticketing option, in all domestic markets through its own reservations department and at airport ticket counters. The system will be available through all computer reservations systems by the second quarter of this year. America West said baggage still can be checked either at the curb or ticket counter.
Northwest's traffic increased 9.2% last month compared with December 1994 on 5.6% more capacity. The load factor grew 2.3 percentage points, to 65.9%. The systemwide traffic surge was propelled by 3.2% domestic and 18.7% international increases. For the year, the carrier's traffic was up 8.0% over 1994 on a 2.9% increase in capacity. Domestic revenue passenger miles rose 7.7% and international RPMs increased 8.5%. The passenger load factor grew 3.4 points for the year to a record 71.5%.
American's traffic gained 0.4% in December over the year-earlier level on a 0.1% decrease in capacity. Load factor for the month grew 0.4 percentage points to 64.1%. The number of passengers fell 6.5%. For 1995, American's traffic was up 3.1% on 1.3% more capacity, compared with 1994. While domestic traffic inched up only 0.6%, international traffic grew a robust 9.2%. Latin America rose 12.8%, the Atlantic 6.7% and the Pacific 3.3%. Domestic capacity was down 1.9%, but the carrier added capacity in all international markets.
Alaska Airlines last week transported what it believes is the first U.S. "cyber-traveler," between Oakland and Portland. The passenger booked ticketless passage through Alaska's new electronic reservations system on the World Wide Web.
Boeing reached tentative agreement Friday on two four-year collective bargaining contracts with the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association (SPEEA), which represents 22,000 engineers and technical workers. "We think the negotiating teams have lifted offers that address the needs of our members," SPEEA Executive Director Charles Bofferding said. "However, the final analysis resides with the members." SPEEA and Boeing began contract negotiations 11 months ago. The final days of talks focused on wages and compensation issues.
The proposed sale of USAfrica Airways' assets to Tower Air hinges on USAfrica's ability to hold on to its U.S.-South Africa route authority. After Tower agreed last week to acquire stock and route authority from USAfrica, the carriers filed a joint application for renewal of USAfrica's allocation of six weekly frequencies for combination U.S.-South Africa service. The carrier's current allocation was due to expire Jan. 6. Earlier, DOT tentatively reassigned USAfrica's frequencies to World Airways. But the U.S.
Delta says Sky, its inflight magazine, is more popular with advertisers than any other, with $33.5 million annually in advertising revenue. United's Hemisphere and American's American Way bring in $31.2 million and $29.1 million, respectively, according to Delta.
Major airports in the Eastern U.S. opened for business yesterday after closing for two straight days, enabling airlines to begin a limited resumption of operations starting around noon. Major carriers were expecting near-normal operations by mid-day today as Baltimore, Boston, New York LaGuardia and Kennedy, Newark, Richmond, Hartford, Philadelphia and Washington National and Dulles resumed operations.
Malaysia Airlines, as expected, selected Boeing for an air transport order - 15 777-200s and -300s and 10 747-400s, valued at $4 billion (DAILY, Dec. 22). The carrier took options on three more 747s and two more 777s. Deliveries are to begin next year and continue through 2001. The 777s will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines and the 747s by Pratt&Whitney turbofans. The selection followed what Boeing Commercial President Ron Woodard called "several months of intense evaluation." Malaysia now operates 15 747s and 50 737s.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne asked FAA administrator David Hinson to extend beyond March 19 the public comment period on the agency's proposed rulemaking on flight and duty time for airline pilots. "It took the FAA significant time to develop the notice, and the industry should be given similar courtesy by extending the comment period by at least another 90 days," Coyne said.
Western Pacific Airlines flew 18.9% more traffic in the fourth quarter of 1995 than in the third quarter, 257.1 million revenue passenger miles compared with 216.2 million. Available seat miles increased 33.6% in the fourth quarter, however, to 428.1 million from 320.5 million, so the load factor dipped to 60.1% from 67.5%. WestPac carried 333,397 passengers in the fourth quarter, up from 287,728 in the third. Tom DeNardin, VP-sales and marketing, said the carrier is pleased with the results, particularly given that its service was new in 1995.
United Airlines said yesterday it ordered two 747-400s for delivery in 1997 as part of a plan announced last April to replace older aircraft that have higher operating costs. Douglas Hacker, the airline's senior VP- finance, said the new order will increase the number of 747-400s in its fleet to 28 - the carrier operates 24 of them now, two more are scheduled for delivery this year. United is scheduled to take delivery this year of eight 777- 200s, seven A320-200s, four 757s and the two 747s, for a total of 21 aircraft.
Delta's systemwide traffic slipped 0.9% last month compared with December 1994 on 1.1% less capacity. The carrier flew 3.2% more domestic revenue passenger miles for the month on 2.5% more capacity, but international RPMs fell 14.4% on 13.4% less capacity. Systemwide load factor for the month was 63.5%, up 0.1 points. For the year 1995, Delta's systemwide traffic was off 1.4% on a 0.1% decline in capacity. RPMs were down 0.4% on domestic routes and 4.2% on international. Domestic capacity for the year was up 1.9% while international capacity was down 6.1%.
TWA's December traffic increased 1.2% last month over that of December 1994 despite a 1.1% falloff in capacity. Domestic traffic rose 1.7% while international traffic fell 0.7%. Domestic capacity was up 1.1% and international capacity fell 8.4%. Overall load factor was up 1.4 points, to 62.2%. For the year, TWA's traffic was flat compared with 1994's. A 2% rise in domestic revenue passenger miles was offset by a 4.9% drop in international RPMs.
Reno Air reported a 24% traffic increase in the fourth quarter over the same period in 1994, flying 521.4 million revenue passenger miles, up from 421 million. Available seat miles rose 11%, to 828.7 million from 745.6 million, for a load factor of 63%, up from 56.5%. Reno flew 962,151 passengers during the quarter. For the month of December, Reno flew 183 million RPMs, up from 156.8 million in December 1994, and 287 million ASMs, up from 270.7 million. The load factor was 63.8%, an increase of 5.9 points.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic Second Quarter 1995 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) American 3,547 10.47 2,195 7,785,460 Atlantic 954 8.37 4,131 3,940,690 Latin 2,502 11.68 1,337 3,346,435
China is likely to decide in March which Western airframe manufacturer to invite to join the Chinese- Korean small regional jetliner development program. Chinese aviation officials hinted recently in the official press about making a choice - presumed to be between Boeing and Airbus Industrie - by that time. Last week, Boeing Commercial President Ron Woodard commented that "the last input I have says it is possible this winter that they will do that [make the selection]."
