Six U.S. carriers have applied for 12 new U.S.-Vancouver frequencies to become available in February 1996, the second year of the U.S.-Canada bilateral agreement. The service requests equal the number of available slots as the accord permits the designation of six additional carriers operating up to two daily roundtrips each (DAILY, Sept. 25). The frequencies may be used to operate a double daily service at one U.S. point or one daily flight at each of two U.S. cities.
Horizon Air has won FAA approval for new, lower-visibility landings at the Medford, Ore., airport. The carrier's Dash 8s can begin their approach with as little as 1,800 feet forward visibility instead of the 2,400-foot minimum for other airlines. The carrier invested $12 million in Flight Dynamics' head-up guidance system, enabling it to fly "when other airlines are grounded by fog."
DOT has dismissed without prejudice Jet Express Corp.'s application for an operating certificate to engage in interstate scheduled passenger operations. The carrier applied for the certificate Sept. 7, 1995, and withdrew its application on Sept. 14. (Docket OST-95-604)
A committee established by the Polish Parliament to expedite the privatization of state-owned LOT Polish Airlines has set Dec. 31, 1996, as the deadline for completing the process. The committee, which was created in August, is rethinking the government's initial decision to retain a 51% stake in the airline. Selling a majority stake, however, would require Parliament to amend the original privatization legislation (DAILY, Sept. 29).
Kiwi Air Lines has signed a $3 million contract with Phoenix-based Simula Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Airline Interiors, for 16G commercial aircraft seating systems. The seats will include the latest refinements in in-seat offerings, such as telephones, fax machines, games and shopping. Deliveries begin this month. Simula said the contract is its second for seating systems in the past few months.
British Airways plans to increase its service to India with the addition of two more flights a week, giving it a total of 16 weekly frequencies. Beginning next spring, BA will operate daily Boeing 747-400 terminating flights from London Heathrow to Bombay. Also, BA will serve Madras nonstop from Heathrow twice a week, with continuing service to Singapore. Delhi will continue to receive daily service, with two flights extending to Calcutta and four to Dhaka. On Oct. 31, BA will resume service to Sri Lanka with twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick.
Precision Standard has obtained a 30-day extension of its debt payments from its primary lender to enable it to continue negotiating a longer-term "normalization" of its debt structure, Precision Standard Chairman Matthew Gold said last week.
DOT Secretary Federico Pe a, noting his November visit to Asia, yesterday told the Detroit Economic Club that the department promised Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport officials it would "take a hard look" at their request for a Detroit-China route.
Sabre Travel Information Network (STIN) named Sam Gilliland to the newly created position of VP and general manger of Business Travel Solutions. Gilliland previously was STIN's managing director for Western Division sales. In his new position, Gilliland will be responsible for the development and strategic direction of Business Travel Solutions by Sabre, a suite of travel automation tools for corporate travel managers, their travel agencies and corporate travelers.
Miami-based Fine Airlines has signed an interline accord with Air France that Fine says will expedite the French flag carrier's cargo services into Latin America and the Caribbean via Miami. Under the agreement, Fine will deliver some of Air France's Europe-originating freight from Miami to Latin America.
General Services Administration has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to repossess 35 four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft it said were "illegally removed" from its inventory. According to a letter obtained by The DAILY, Peggy Lowndes, chief of the GSA Property Management Branch in San Francisco, told the Forest Service in Washington, D.C., that 23 Air Force C-130A Hercules aircraft and 12 Navy P3A Electras were transferred to the Forest Service, ostensibly for fire-fighting purposes.
BWIA International Airways reported a net loss of nearly US$1 million for the quarter ended June 30, a significant improvement from the second quarter last year, when it lost US$8.8 million. The recently privatized carrier had an operating loss for the quarter of US$1.2 million, down from a loss of US$5.6 million a year ago. "We are very pleased with the continued improvement in our financial performance," said Edward Wegel, president of BWIA.
Summary of U.S. Major Carriers Domestic Revenues and Expenses First Quarter 1995 (In Dollars) Total Operating % Passenger Carrier Revenues Change Revenues America West 344,509,805 0.04 318,747,098 American 2,632,497,000 1.92 2,244,721,000
FAA said yesterday it will start enforcing on Feb. 1 its rule on duty limits and rest requirements for flight attendants that was supposed to go into effect March 1 but was held up by a lawsuit filed by Sun Country Airlines. The agency issued the rule, long awaited by flight attendant unions, on Aug. 19, 1994, to "ensure that flight attendants would be rested sufficiently to perform their routine and emergency safety duties." The final rule was effective Sept. 19, 1994, with the March 1, 1995, compliance date.
Gemini Air Cargo, a U.S. indirect cargo carrier, is seeking authority to resell cargo air transportation to direct air carriers. Gemini's operating plan calls for it to contract with one or more U.S. carriers to acquire cargo aircraft space as an indirect cargo carrier and resell the space to other airlines.
A binding decision issued yesterday by arbitrators overseeing contract talks between American and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) gave the union significant pay raises, while enabling American to reduce costs with productivity enhancements. American President Don Carty said the carrier is pleased "to have this decision behind us," while APFA declared the award a "remarkable victory."
AirWays Corp. subsidiary AirTran Airways is offering one-way, $79 introductory fares between Kansas City and Orlando until Nov. 7. The carrier inaugurated service in the market Oct. 1. AirTran, which operates a fleet of seven 737s, has signed letters of intent to purchase three more.
AirTran Airways will offer a $49 introductory fare between Norfolk and Orlando Oct. 16, when it begins nonstop daily service, through Nov. 13. It will operate 737s on the route. The fares do not require an advance purchase.
Northwest is offering discounted fares to Memphis for the weekend of Oct. 27 in honor of blues singer B.B. King's 70th birthday. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 26 and used for travel to the city on Oct. 27 and return on Oct. 28 through Oct. 30. The fares are good from points throughout the U.S. Example fares are $79 roundtrip from Nashville, $99 from Atlanta and $169 from Las Vegas.
Reno Air boarded 330,414 passengers last month, and its load factor increased to 64% from 55.3% in September last year. The airline flew 180.1 million revenue passenger miles on 281.4 million available seat miles in September. "September's load factor is particularly encouraging due to the usual seasonal decrease in passenger traffic after Labor Day, and the intense competition on the West Coast," said Robert Reding, Reno Air's president.
Pete Gauthier, chairman of USAir's Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council, resigned yesterday. Gauthier, who has one year left in his second two-year term, said, "The period between management's rejection of the restructuring talks and the possible combination of USAir and other airlines is a natural time for a change in pilot leadership." Vice Chairman Bob Gaudioso will be interim chairman until the MEC can elect a new chairman.
Delta and TAP Air Portugal are negotiating revisions to their previously signed code-sharing agreement because of Delta's decision to suspend service to Lisbon on Oct. 29. TAP, which said it was caught off-guard by Delta's announcement in August that it is dropping the Lisbon service, said late Friday it has reached an agreement with Delta that "guarantees the fulfillment" of the code-sharing agreement, albeit under different terms (DAILY, Aug 4). Delta said yesterday, however, that while it is in talks with TAP, no agreement has been reached.
Northwest's systemwide passenger traffic rose 9.7% in September on 5.3% more capacity, boosting the airline's load factor 2.9 percentage points to 72.2%. The number of passengers boarded rose 8%. The airline attributed the higher capacity to new flying to Canada, Osaka and London. "September was an excellent month, coming off an outstanding summer where are passenger loads were some of the largest in Northwest's history," said John Dasburg, Northwest's chief executive.
Aviall's board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of one cent per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 2 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15.
UNC Inc. has completed the sale of its Connecticut property to the Mohegan Tribe for $28.4 million in cash. The original $25 million sale price was supplemented by an additional $3.4 million to cover the cost of money and other services provided by UNC. "We are pleased to see the completion of this transaction, which is another major milestone in our 1994 restructuring asset sales program," said Dan Colussy, chairman of UNC. The proceeds will be used by UNC to retire debt.
