DOT is inviting U.S. carriers to apply for new services to Vancouver that become available in February 1996, the second year of the U.S.-Canada bilateral agreement. As in the first year, the U.S. may designate six additional carriers for the services. Carriers may operate two daily roundtrips, which may be used for a double daily service at one U.S. point or one daily flight at each of two U.S. cities. In addition, airlines awarded Vancouver service in the first year of the bilateral may use the new flights to expand those services.
Economic expansion in British Airways' most important worldwide markets will remain at 2% to 3% per year through the end of the decade, according to DeAnne Julius, the airline's chief economist. Such growth its crucial to the airline, which last week announced a three-year, $800 million program to revamp nearly all inflight service products (DAILY, Sept. 19).
In Federal Register dated Sept. 15...Issued an airworthiness directive on certain Fairchild SA226-AT/TC aircraft requiring replacement of the two lower aluminum cargo door receptacles...Issued an AD on Mooney M20K aircraft with Continental TSIO-520-NB engines installed under STC SA5691NM requiring inspection of the exhaust transition tube and turbo mount assembly for cracks...
Lufthansa plans a new, nationwide fare structure this fall for its flights within Germany as part of an effort to standardize its domestic products and operations. "In our new concept for flying in Germany, we have incorporated the ongoing experiences we have gained with domestic services operated by Lufthansa and Lufthansa Express," said Hemjo Klein, Lufthansa's chief executive-marketing.
Fares to Denver, relatively higher than other domestic markets because of the cost of the new Denver Airport, are coming down thanks in part to cheaper tickets to less-expensive nearby Colorado Springs Airport. United said it is cutting fares at Denver on a flight-specific basis to match comparable service to Colorado Springs. Roger Gibson, United VP-Mountain Region, said, "We listened to our Denver customers and promised that we would re-evaluate our fares. These cuts are the result of our re- evaluation." The fares range from $49 to $102 each way.
DOT determined Friday that a significant dispute exists between airlines and the City of Los Angeles over the new landing fee that took effect July 1 at Los Angeles Airport. The Air Transport Association and 59 airlines filed the complaint Aug. 25, claiming that the new $2.06-per- thousand-pounds landing fee - 50 cents higher than the previous fee - is based in part on costs DOT previously said are impermissible (DAILY, Aug. 29).
Delta has requested a change of venue from Los Angeles to home town Atlanta for consideration of the Air Line Pilots Association's request for an injunction to keep the airline from transferring operations of large jet aircraft to Connection carriers.ALPA does not expect a decision until late October. Pilot negotiators still were waiting Friday for management's business plan on increasing 100-seat flying. Interested in keeping up with Delta's mediated talks with pilots? Visit ALPA's Internet site at www.DALPA.com.
Wayne County (Mich.) Executive Edward McNamara said talks with Northwest Airlines on improving Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport will explore expansion, modernization and ways to finance a new midfield terminal (DAILY, Sept. 20). Northwest serves 70.8% of enplaned passengers at the airport and occupies 60% of the gates.
United will increase international smoke-free flights Nov. 1, adding Flights 946/947 between Washington Dulles and Amsterdam, 1/2 between Los Angeles and Hong Kong/Singapore, 805/806 between San Francisco and Hong Kong/Singapore and 807/808 between San Francisco and Seoul/Manila. It will test no-smoking for three months on Flights 837/852 between San Francisco and Tokyo/Shanghai.
Toronto Pearson has the potential to become an international gateway on the scale of New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, but its future is in jeopardy because of terminals, runways and in-transit facilities that are inadequate and uncompetitive with other airports, according to Air Canada Chairman Hollis Harris. In a speech Friday to the Rotary Club of Toronto, Harris called for the adoption of a fast-track approach to the redevelopment of Pearson and said Air Canada would be willing to lead such an effort.
DOT has amended Grand Airways' certificate to operate interstate scheduled combination service, removing a condition that limited its authority to operation of two large aircraft. With the change, the carrier plans to add a third DC-9 to its fleet. DOT cited changes in Grand Airways' operations making it a medium-haul rather than a short-haul carrier. In addition, Grand "has experienced a significant increase in its passenger revenue base and total asset base," said DOT.
Long Beach, Calif.-based Polar Air Cargo has become the Air Transport Association's 21st U.S. airline member. Polar operates 12 747 freighters in scheduled and chartered cargo service. ATA President Carol Hallett said, "We continue to look for ways to be of service to our cargo members...whether it be the maintenance and operation of aircraft or help in improving the way the Customs Service inspects and processes air cargo shipments." Polar Chief Executive Edwin Wallace is expected to be elected to the ATA board at the December board meeting.
The Orient Airlines Association (OAA), which has been supporting the Air Transport Association on the local operators' committee in ATA's opposition to the City of Los Angeles' attempts to increase landing fees and divert revenues from Los Angeles Airport, has established its own Los Angeles-based committee to monitor the situation.
Midwest Express Holdings launched an initial public offering (IPO) Friday for 4.5 million shares of common stock at $18 per share (DAILY, Aug. 2). Upon completion of the IPO, Midwest Express Holdings will own Milwaukee-based Midwest Express Airlines and Astral Aviation, which operates Skyway Airlines, Midwest Express's commuter affiliate. All shares in the offering will be sold by an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark Corp., which will retain 20% to 30% ownership of Midwest Express Holdings.
Reno Air's board appointed Robert Reding, president and chief operating officer, as chief executive. Chairman Lee Hydeman was acting chief executive for about one year.
U.S. and Japan will convene the first post-crisis round of aviation negotiations tomorrow in Washington. Devoted entirely to all-cargo service, the talks will address capacity, designation and other issues, including intermodal and charter rights. The countries seek agreement by March. No date has been set for the second round. Also tomorrow, the U.S. will begin negotiations in Hong Kong, looking to replace the current Bermuda 2 coverage with a separate bilateral.
Orient Airlines Association Director General Richard Stirland said IATA's forecast for Asia/Pacific traffic growth is too conservative, and the region may account for at least half of the world's traffic 10 years sooner than IATA's projection of 2010. Speaking last week at the International Aviation Club in Washington, Stirland said China has made great strides in improving air traffic control, rating its ATC system at five on a scale of 10. A Chinese member of the audience objected, giving China ATC a three.
Air traffic control equipment outages or failures have caused 11 operational errors during the past two years, according to Monte Belger, FAA associate administrator for air traffic services. This does not necessarily mean that the aircraft involved were in danger of colliding, Belger said, only that they came closer to each other than minimum separation distances allow.
Lacsa asked DOT to renew its authority to operate combination service between San Jose, Costa Rica, and Tampa, Fla. The Costa Rican carrier also asked for continued authority to co-terminalize this service with its authority to serve Orlando. Lacsa is not operating on the route but is "evaluating its service options" and wants authority to begin service "without delay." (Docket 49221&OST-95-655)
The National Air Carriers Association joined several U.S. carriers in urging DOT to allow additional time beyond Sept. 29 for comment on the joint antitrust immunity request of Delta, Swissair, Sabena and Austrian Airways. NACA said it needs more time, "not only to analyze and prepare its comments, but also to coordinate these comments with several of its members." Earlier, American, TWA, United and USAir filed a joint motion requesting the comment period on the immunity be extended 30 days (DAILY, Sept. 19).
All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines applied to DOT for one-year renewals of their authority to operate scheduled combination service between Osaka's Kansai Airport and Guam, and Sendai and Honolulu, respectively. In each case, the carrier seeks to succeed a renewal that was limited to six months as it became embroiled in last spring's overall aviation dispute between Japan and the U.S.
America West's board authorized Friday the purchase of up to 2.5 million shares of its Class B common stock. The purchases will be made as circumstances warrant over the next two years. The airline also said it is seeking approval to redistribute about 2.4 million shares of its Class B common stock following the resolution of certain claims that were disputed at the time of its emergence from Chapter 11 in August 1994.
Swissair is offering discounts on transatlantic economy-class fares purchased by Sept. 28 for travel between Nov. 1 and Feb. 29. Midweek fares to Switzerland range from $468 roundtrip from New York and Boston to $678 roundtrip from Los Angeles. Weekend fares are $70 higher. The fares are available from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago and Los Angeles. Minimum stay is five days and the maximum is 30 days. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply.
