United accounted for 2,374 of the 3,042 flight attendants hired by global airlines between October 1994 and October 1995, and the carrier intends to hire 120 more this month, according to the Future Aviation Professionals of America. Among the nationals, ValuJet hired the most - 710 - and intends to hire at least 100 this month. American Trans Air, next at 545, also intends to hire 100 this month.
Fokker named Eelco Wagner VP-marketing and sales for North America and president of Fokker Aircraft USA, succeeding Maarten van Eeghen, who joined the Dutch Railway Co. Bert Wilschut, VP-contracts marketing and sales, was named VP-marketing and sales for Africa, the Middle East and China. Peter Glasbeek succeeds Wilschut. All report to Bernard Dijkhuizen, member of the Board of Management for marketing, sales and services.
Aviation ties between the U.S. and India became more strained this week when United and Northwest filed complaints at DOT against the government of India for allegedly creating administrative obstacles that could prevent United from starting service in mid-December to Delhi and Northwest from serving Delhi and Bombay in April. Northwest has asked DOT to retaliate by modifying Air India's foreign carrier permit to eliminate three weekly frequencies to New York, effective Dec.
Continental Express President Jonathan Ornstein, who resigned last week, plans to join Continental Chairman David Bonderman in creating a low-cost airline operation in affiliation with Virgin Atlantic, The DAILY was told. Bonderman confirmed hiring Ornstein for an airline venture but did not provide details. Ornstein also declined comment. The European venture reportedly would operate from Brussels under the name TransEurope. Sources said operating costs would be roughly half those of competing airlines that cater to high-yield business travelers.
Kunming's international airport will be expanded to provide for increased passenger and air cargo traffic, according to Li Huaxiong, deputy director of the Yunnan Foreigh Economic Relations and Trade Department, as reported in DAILY affiliate China AeroMarkets. In addition, Li said, there are plans in Yunnan to order six 737 aircraft in 1996.
TAG Aeronautics said it has converted options into firm orders for four Bombardier Global Express business jets, bringing its total orders to 10 for the aircraft. First flight of the Global Express is scheduled in September 1996. TAG is Middle East distributor for the aircraft.
Federal court in Atlanta will conduct a hearing Friday at 10 a.m. on ValuJet's lawsuit against TWA and Delta on allegations that they violated antitrust laws, and against TWA charging breach of contract concerning New York LaGuardia slots the St. Louis carrier was to lease to ValuJet but now may lease to Delta (DAILY, Nov. 13). The suit was filed Thursday, and the court approved a temporary restraining order that expired Monday. TWA said that after lengthy negotiations, it could not reach a slot lease agreement with ValuJet and has started negotiations with Delta.
British Airways took delivery last weekend of the first of 15 Boeing 777s on order and plans to begin revenue service with the aircraft on Saturday between London and Muscat. The aircraft, the first 777 powered by General Electric GE90 engines to be delivered, was scheduled to reach BA at the end of September, but engine testing problems and a strike at Boeing delayed the turnover. The GE90-powered 777 received FAA certification last Thursday (DAILY, Nov. 13).
Air Line Pilots Association and the Independent Association of Continental Pilots have agreed to establish a joint working group to review the IACP's request to become affiliated with ALPA (DAILY, Nov. 14). ALPA President Randolph Babbitt said, "During this time of consolidation and globalization within the airline industry, it's more important than ever for those independent and unrepresented pilot groups to unite under ALPA's banner."
Standard&Poor's yesterday affirmed its ratings on UAL and United and removed the ratings from CreditWatch, where they were placed on Oct. 3 after UAL confirmed it was talking to USAir Group about acquiring the struggling East Coast airline. UAL said Monday it has called off talks with USAir about a possible merger (DAILY, Nov. 14). S&P also affirmed its ratings on three issues of Jet Equipment Trust Series (JETS) structured aircraft notes, backed by United leases, and removed those ratings from CreditWatch as well.
The combined market value of the U.S. airline company stocks tracked by The DAILY fell 4.8% in October to $31.98 billion from $33.59 billion in September. The decline came despite the fact that a number of airlines posted record third quarter financial results during the month. As usual, the industry's value was largely determined by the value of the major airline company stocks, which fell 6.6% to $22.76 billion.
British Midland is introducing a reservations system on the Internet that allows direct access to the airline's reservations system and features a payment capability lacking in many other Internet booking facilities. The new service, called CyberSeat, was designed by Novus.
TWA's board yesterday elected Thomas Meagher non-executive chairman, replacing John Cahill, who died this month. Meagher, a director since November 1993, has been acting chairman for several months. His term of office expires with the annual meeting next year. At this year's annual meeting, held yesterday before the board meeting, shareholders re-elected five directors - William O'Driscoll, Victoria Frankovich, William Compton, Gerald Gitner and Myron Kaplan.
Onur Air, Istanbul, Turkey, has ordered five Douglas MD-88s and taken options on another five. The aircraft will seat 172 in charter configuration. Deliveries are to start in the first quarter of 1997.
Ansett Australia inaugurated service between Sydney and Taipei Nov. 11, becoming the second Australian carrier to provide direct flights between Australia and Taiwan. Initially, Ansett will operate twice-weekly service on the new route, using 747-300 aircraft configured to carry 12 passengers in first class, 20 in business and 382 in economy class. The carrier is expected to sign a code-sharing agreement with EVA Airways that will increase the number of weekly flights to four by early December.
UAL Corp.'s decision to call off its acquisition and merger talks with USAir raises questions about the timing of the widely anticipated U.S. aviation industry consolidation, but not about whether such a consolidation will happen (DAILY, Nov. 14). No one who commented yesterday on Monday's development - in which UAL's board decided somewhat surprisingly not to make at least a highly conditional bid for USAir - ruled out industry consolidation in the future. In fact, most observers seem to consider it inevitable.
United will launch daily flights to Las Vegas from Washington Dulles March 5 with A320 aircraft. United now operates 35 daily nonstops to Las Vegas from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Singapore Airlines said yesterday it placed an order for 77 Boeing 777-200B aircraft valued at $12.7 billion, with deliveries scheduled for 1997-2004 (DAILY, Nov. 6). SIA in June 1994 ordered 52 aircraft valued at $10.3 billion. That order included 11 747-400s with 11 options and 10 Airbus A340-300s with 20 options (DAILY, June 23, 1994). Managing Director Cheong Choong Kong said yesterday the latest order will enable SIA to maintain capacity growth of 8% to 10% a year over the next 10 years.
National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an accident involving an emergency landing of an American MD-80 early Sunday at the Hartford, Conn., airport, during stormy weather. The aircraft clipped a row of trees and an airport antenna during the landing at Bradley Airport about an hour after midnight. The board said it was unclear whether the aircraft, which may have encountered windshear, experienced engine problems before or after it struck the trees.
Alaska has increased its Seattle-Palm Springs flights from one roundtrip a day to two, and its Portland-Palm Springs flights to one a day from one a week. Through Feb. 1, the carrier is reducing fares in both markets to $89 one way with a seven-day advance purchase.
