Japan Airlines has introduced an information system for callers to its Mileage Bank Americas frequent flyer program. The "New Customer Information System" combines the functions of JMBA and JAL's Axess reservations system in one terminal. JAL telephone reservations agents now will be able to handle basic JAL information and reservations calls, and JMBA frequent flyer inquiries.
Southwest Airlines now offers ground-to-air calling in all of its aircraft as a result of a deal with the Aviation Communications Division of AT&T Wireless Services. When registering for onboard calls, the passenger enters a 10-digit telephone number, such as a home or office number, followed by a four-digit password. When a call arrives at the onboard phone, the air customer's 10-digit phone number will appear on the handset's display screen, followed by the ground caller's number. This feature allows the air customer to decide which calls to accept.
Gulf Air has ordered six A330s, becoming the first Middle East customer for the aircraft and Airbus Industrie's largest customer in the region. The carrier also operates A320s and A340s. Deliveries of the A330s will begin in 1998, and Gulf Air has selected Rolls-Royce Trent engines to power them. Rolls said Gulf Air is the eighth customer to choose the Trent for the A330, giving the manufacturer 40% of the A330 engine market.
UAL's board decided yesterday to call off exploratory discussions with USAir about acquiring that carrier because UAL does not believe a transaction that meets its requirements is achievable. "While our study confirmed a transaction would have significant revenue benefits from increased customer choice, we were disappointed we were unable to satisfy all of the criteria we set for a potential transaction," said UAL Chairman Gerald Greenwald, who many believe was in favor of a United/USAir merger.
Reno Air's October load factor increased nine percentage points, to 62%, as its revenue passenger miles rose 41% to 171.4 million and its capacity grew 20.4% to 276.4 million available seat miles. The airline boarded 317,726 passengers in October, compared with 254,456 in October a year ago. Reno registered the gains despite "the normal seasonal decline of travelers in the fall and the intensity of competition in the West," President Robert Reding said.
U.S. airlines are slashing winter air fares by up to 50% in the U.S. and from the U.S. to Europe. Northwest announced it is melting winter tariffs by as much as 50% to most destinations in the U.S. and Canada, by up to 40% to Mexico and 30% to Europe from selected cities. Examples of European fares are $440 roundtrip between Atlanta and Amsterdam, $460 for Boston- Rome and $434 between Minneapolis and London. Trips must be taken between Nov. 19 and Jan. 12. The fares require a seven-day advance purchase and must be bought by midnight tomorrow.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is considering a request by the Independent Association of Continental Pilots (IACP) to affiliate with ALPA in a move intended to provide Continental's pilots with better resources and an easier transition if Continental merges with another airline. ALPA President Randy Babbitt met late yesterday with IACP President Bob Wilson to discuss the proposal, which is subject to approval by ALPA's leadership and ratification by Continental's pilots.
BWIA Vacations is offering special introductory packages to Tobago and St. Lucia to mark BWIA International Airways' new flights from New York and Miami. The reduced prices, valid until Dec. 15, include airfare, transfers, hotel accommodations, hotel taxes, maid gratuities and U.S. departure tax.
Emirates has launched service from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City and Nairobi. Both services are being operated twice weekly with Airbus A310-300s configured for three classes of service. The new destinations expand Emirates' network to 38 points.
British Airways Chairman Colin Marshall and John Egan, his counterpart at BAA plc, the U.K.-based airport management company, are increasing the pressure for construction of Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport. Issuing BAA's financial results yesterday, Egan said there is no alternative to a fifth terminal at Heathrow, one of seven BAA-managed airports. "We cannot afford to throw away runway capacity at our major international airport, which is capable of coping with 30 million additional passengers, by not building the terminal capacity to match it," he said.
British Aerospace appointed George Rose to the new position of director-finance and treasury, David Scannell director-financial control, Tony Rice chief executive-British Aerospace asset management, David Brent group treasurer, and Robert Southwell group chief executive-BAe Australia Holdings Ltd.
The Senate Commerce Committee approved FAA reform legislation (S.1239) Thursday, adopting revisions proposed by aviation subcommittee leaders but rejecting an attempt to strip new user fees from the bill. Amendments approved by the panel include measures to fund the essential air service program from the user fees the bill would establish, restrict FAA's authority to charge fees for aircraft certification, and require a study of air service to rural communities.
Delta Connection carrier Comair said last week it has completed the contract and financing negotiations for 10 additional Canadair Jet aircraft, bringing total firm orders to 45, of which 26 are in service. Comair has options for another 25, which could bring its Canadair Jet fleet to 70. The aircraft is powered by General Electric CF 34-3A1 engines.
Northwest, American and United have filed applications for newly available service in the U.S.-Hong Kong market. American wants to operate between Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago, on the one hand, and Hong Kong, on the other, via Vancouver, as part of its code-sharing arrangement with Canadian Airlines International. American said it would begin the service within 90 days of receiving necessary approvals. United applied for Chicago-Hong Kong nonstop service, using Boeing 747-400 aircraft, beginning June 6, 1996.
USAir will provide partner British Airways with 30 737 first officers for BA's European operations at London Gatwick, according to USAir's Air Line Pilots Association unit. Because of a pilot shortage, BA seeks 20 737-400 pilots and 10 737-200 pilots for a six-month commitment, plus training.
Lufthansa is expanding its non-smoking operations to include all flights within Germany and many flights within Europe. Starting this month, all 566 daily flights connecting 50 city-pairs in Germany will be smoke-free. By April 1996, the airline will extend its non-smoking policy to all flights within Europe lasting 90 minutes or less. Non-smoking tests on seven routes to the U.S. and Canada - Munich-Chicago, Frankfurt-Chicago (a code share with United), and Frankfurt-Washington, -New York, -Toronto, -Vancouver and -Calgary - have been made permanent.
The Regional Airline Association elected Clark Stevens, president and chief operating officer of Mesa Air Group, as chairman of the association's board of directors at RAA's Fall Membership Meeting in Washington last week. Stevens replaces Atlantic Coast President Kerry Skeen, who was RAA chairman in 1995. RAA's board of directors also named four new board members: Dan Garton of American Eagle, Bryan Bedford of Mesaba Aviation, John Selvaggio of Midway Airlines and Dick Nelson of Skyway Airlines.
The establishment next Monday of a new office to handle issues involving suspected unapproved aircraft parts - and other recommendations from an agency task force - have drawn a cold response from the aviation industry (DAILY, Nov. 8). Sarah McLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association and the chairman of FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, and other industry officials gave the agency bad marks for its failure to consult with other groups working on the issue.
National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday night approved four recommendations to FAA which, if adopted, could greatly expand the amount of information available to airlines on the training and work histories of their pilots and pilot-applicants. The recommendations stem from the safety board's public meeting Oct. 24 on the fatal American Eagle Jetstream crash in North Carolina last December.
RAA is joining the World Wide Web. As part of the association's new public affairs campaign to improve the image of regional airlines, there will be an RAA "Home Page" with at least four "icons" that surfers can access - news desk, industry background and statistics, aircraft equipment information and membership directory. The initial information comes primarily from the RAA 1995 Annual Report and should be available shortly. The news desk is aimed at the general media and in addition to industry news releases, will contain updated information about accidents.
