Landing a 747 at Chiang Kai-shek Airport costs 114,500 in new Taiwan dollars or US$43,207 at recent exchange rates of NT$26.50 per dollar. The DAILY Sept. 26 incorrectly stated the larger figure in U.S. dollars.
Dragonair has taken delivery of its third A330. Like its first A330, the new one is leased from International Lease Finance Corp. The carrier purchased its second A330. With the new airplane, Dragonair operates a fleet of three A330s and seven A320s.
Air New Zealand is adding five new services over the next three months to tap tourism growth that is increasing 10% faster than last year. On Sunday, Air New Zealand launched a weekly flight between Seoul and Auckland via Nadi, Fiji, complementing the airline's existing nonstop service from Seoul as well as its one-stop flight via Brisbane. On Oct. 30, Air New Zealand will begin twice-weekly service between Auckland and Fukuoka, giving it 16 flights a week to four cities in Japan.
Canadian Airlines International is offering "London Getaway Fares" for 80% off full coach fares. The fares enable passengers to book four-day weekends in England up to three days before departure. The London Getaway Fares are available for travel departing Canada between Nov. 9 and Dec. 8. Roundtrip fares to London from Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Montreal and St. John's are C$349. Roundtrips fares from Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg are C$399. The tariffs can be booked up to three days prior to departure.
World Airways' initial public offering of 2.9 million shares has been priced at $12.50 per share. World is selling two million shares, and the other 900,000 are being offered by WorldCorp, the charter carrier's majority shareholder (DAILY, Aug. 9). Upon completion of the offering, WorldCorp's holding in World Airways will be reduced to 59% from the current 80%. Approximately 12 million shares of World Airways stock, which will be traded on the Nasdaq National market under the WLDA symbol, will be outstanding after the offering.
FAA will hold a meeting Oct. 26 on the concept of Situational Awareness for Safety (SAS). SAS includes the exchange and use of Global Positioning System coordinates, as well as terrain, weather and other information by pilots, dispatchers and controllers to "create an environment promoting more efficient, safe and free use of airspace," the agency said. The information exchanged will be used to "contribute to an environment that will facilitate implementation of the emerging free flight concept."
American Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Crandall has been named the recipient of the business leadership award by Carnegie Mellon University Graduate School of Industrial Administration for the "worthwhile, timely and lasting changes he has brought about in the airline industry." Delta appointed VP-Technical Operations Ray Valeika head of its Technical Operations Division, effective Nov. 1 following the retirement of Russ Heil, senior VP-technical operations. KDI Precision Products named Sal Mira president and chief executive.
- In Federal Register dated Oct. 2...Superseded an airworthiness directive on British Aerospace ATP aircraft concerning inspections for cracking of the aft end of the wing rib boom angles on the left and right engines...Proposed an AD on PTC Seating Products Division of B/E Aerospace, Model 950 series passenger seats to require removing the footrest assembly arms...Proposed to supersede an AD on Rolls-Royce Dart series engines concerning the life limit for propeller low torque switches.
Austrian Airlines has taken delivery of the first of four Fokker 70 jets it ordered in January. The second airplane is scheduled for delivery later this month, and the remaining two are expected in March 1996. In Austrian's configuration, the jets seat 80 passengers in two classes of service. The new airplanes will be used on routes between Austria and cities in Western and Eastern Europe.
American and United put in bids late Friday for new Vancouver services to start in February 1996. DOT invited U.S. carriers last month to apply for the new service opportunities, available in the second year of the U.S.- Canada bilateral agreement (DAILY, Sept. 21).
Airlines flying to Latin America from Miami Airport are concerned about plans to finance a $900 million 47-gate expansion for American Airlines. The 26-member Association of Latin American Airlines (AITAL) and the 17 airlines in the frequent traveler consortium LatinPass generally support the American deal but worry that the remaining tenant airlines will be stuck paying for infrastructure, such as a laser baggage system and people-movers, that will be built for the exclusive use of American.
Mesa Air Group flew 109.1 million revenue passenger miles last month, up 22.6% from the same 1994 month's 88.9 million. Capacity increased 22% to nearly 209 million available seat miles from 171.3 million. As a result, load factor edged up 0.3 percentage points to 52.2% from 51.9%. Passengers enplaned totaled 526,188 for September, an 11.3% increase from the 472,859 recorded one year ago.
KLM's overall traffic, including passenger, freight and mail, increased 12% last month to 707.2 million revenue ton kilometers, but its capacity rose 16% to 943.2 million available ton kilometers, resulting in a load factor decline of 2.7 percentage points to 75%. The airline's passenger traffic, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, increased 10% on 8% more capacity, pushing the airline's passenger load factor up 1.6 points to 78.5%.
Acquisition of USAir by either American or United - an event most analysts see as doubtful - could nonetheless have a major impact on regional aviation in the East. USAir shares many regional markets, especially in the Northeast, with American, United or their regional partners. A merger could result in those markets becoming monopolies - with the obvious impact on fares. There also is the suggestion that as a result of reduced competition, many markets would lose existing jet service to turboprops and possibly face reduced frequencies as well.
Embraer is committed to producing 24 copies of its new EMB-145 regional jet in 1997, the company said. Just 18 firm orders and 19 options for the aircraft have been logged, but the company said more than 100 letters of intent have been signed "and are expected to be converted into firm orders in the next few months."
Moody's Investors Service assigned yesterday a first-time rating of A2 to 2.5 billion Deutschmarks long-term debt guaranteed by Lufthansa AG. The debt rated comprises DM1 billion in Lufthansa International Finance (Netherlands) N.V. Guaranteed Floating Rate Euronotes and DM1.5 billion in various Lufthansa International Finance N.V. Guaranteed Eurobonds.
Qantas subsidiary Eastern Australia Airlines has begun work on the first of three de Havilland Dash 8s from China as part of a A$1 million contract with Bombardier. Under the contract, Eastern Australia will undertake major modifications, refurbishment and repainting of the aircraft at its Tamworth engineering base. Contract completion is estimated for early- to mid-1996. The contract includes an option for work on a fourth aircraft. The airplanes were formerly used by Great China Airlines.
Alphajet International has applied for a certificate to operate interstate combination charter service. The applicant plans to operate most of its charter service carrying freight for United Parcel Service. It also plans to operate passenger charter flights for travel agents and tour operators. Elton Darby is the president of Alphajet and Darby Aviation. (OST-95-703)
Continental's traffic fell 11% in September on a 14% decline in capacity as the carrier continued to eliminate unprofitable flying. It reported the highest September load factor in its history, 65.1%, a 2.2-point increase from last September. It flew 3.1 billion revenue passenger miles and 4.8 billion available seat miles. Sept 95 Sept 94 9 Mths 95 9 Mths 94 RPMs 3,115,116,000 3,499,559,000 30,587,988,000 31,169,941,000
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lamar Davis Thursday turned up the heat on both the FAA and Brunswick, Ga.-based TPI International Airways to settle their enforcement dispute out of court and ordered them to explain during a Nov. 4 hearing why they have not done so. Davis wants to know why TPI has not pushed for a hearing on the disputed FAA allegations that include $800,000 in civil penalties. Also on Nov.
USAir's passenger traffic declined 6% on 11.5% fewer available seat miles last month, pushing the airline's load factor up 3.7 percentage points to 62.1%. The length of the average passenger journey rose 5.7% to 661 miles. Through the first nine months of this year, USAir's traffic rose 0.1% on 2% less capacity, causing the load factor to increase 1.3 points to 64.3%.
Saab 2000 launch customer Crossair has exercised five of its 25 options for the high-speed turboprop, Saab announced. Crossair placed the aircraft in service in September 1994. The order will bring the Swissair subsidiary's total commitment to 25 Saab 2000s and 20 options. The manufacturer has won 40 firm orders for the aircraft.
FAA will participate in a workshop and trade show Oct. 15-17 in Warsaw. Barry Valentine, assistant administrator for policy, planning and international aviation, will lead a workshop on managing airports and aviation in the 21st century. The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Airport Consultants Council and the Polish Airports State Enterprise. More than 60 leading Central and Eastern European airport project managers are expected to attend the conference, and Valentine said it will provide and opportunity for U.S.
LOT Polish Airlines has upgraded its connectivity level in the Infini computer reservations system to Direct Access, an enhanced function enabling Infini subscribers to retrieve information on a real-time basis from the airline's system. In addition, confirmed bookings made through Direct Access will be guaranteed. To date, 41 Infini participating airlines are the using Direct Access function.
