Casino Wings will make its inaugural flight Nov. 12 from St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport and Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans. The charter carrier is offering two- and three-night casino vacation packages in New Orleans. The service is provided with 727-200s. Casino Wings is considering expanding in the first quarter of 1996 to Orlando and Jacksonville from New Orleans. The casino packages include roundtrip air service, accommodations, a welcome dinner and farewell brunch, a variety show and all airport/casino/hotel transfers.
Denver's new airport had another surprise for regional airlines recently when the facility hit them with a $3.55-per-gallon glycol "recovery fee" for the de-icing fluids consumed last winter. That fee is in addition to the actual $3.35-per-gallon cost of the fluid, which this year is up to about $5.40. GP Express owner George Poullos said he was billed for more than 3,000 gallons of the stuff, which is applied at a cost of $134 per Beech 1900, including tax.
Universal Studios Florida has created Universal City Travel Company to promote the multi-billion dollar construction of destination resort Universal City Florida. The company, working with travel industry partners, also plans to support tourism to Florida in general. The company has hired Jim Sheats, formerly director of leisure sales and marketing for USAir, as VP and general manager. It also announced that Mason Ayres, who helped launch the Walt Disney Travel Company's air-inclusive program, will be director-marketing.
FAA's new program to identify suspected unapproved parts (see Page 241) could impose a "tremendous burden" on industry, according to Michael Rioux, Air Transport Association VP-engineering. "There is about $45 billion worth of inventory in the supply chain, and it could prove a huge cost burden if we have to verify all those components for perhaps no reason at all."
Continuing his 17-day Asia trip, DOT Secretary Federico Pena is scheduled to be in Jakarta, Indonesia, today to meet with Indonesian President Suharto and preside over Indonesia's signing of a contract with Airport Systems International, Overland Park, Kan., for instrument landing systems and other airport equipment.
Qantas has reorganized its senior-level operations management. Gordon Howlett, executive general manager-international operations, has been named executive general manager-national operations, and Colin Hughes, group general manager-national operations, will be group general manager- international operations. Both appointments are effective Dec. 1.
While commending FAA for its quick response to recommendations for upgrading the standards of scheduled Part 135 operators, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman James Hall last week added that he hoped the agency "exercises good common sense" in implementing the new standards. In a speech during last week's Regional Airline Association Fall Membership Meeting, Hall noted that the proposed rulemaking to upgrade the standards of Part 135 operators to match those of Part 121 operators "will change the industry, no doubt about it."
United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) has signed an agreement for a credit line of up to $20 million with Shawmut Capital Corp. ACA said it will use the three-year line to finance its outstanding receivables. The new deal, which replaces ACA's current credit line, will reduce the carrier's annual interest expense and other related costs, and improve the terms of receivable financing, ACA said.
Pilots at Liberty Express Airlines, a USAir Express carrier in Pennsylvania, have voted for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association. The National Mediation Board said that of 78 eligible voters, ALPA received 61 votes.
American will hold its second annual travelers with disabilities educational conference 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at its Fort Worth headquarters. The keynote address will be delivered by Ted Kennedy Jr., who lost a leg to bone cancer. The free conference is designed to educate travel agents and meeting planners on providing services to the disabled. The conference coincides with Travelers with Disabilities Awareness Week, sponsored by the Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped.
Standard&Poor's has assigned its B+ rating to Atlas Air Inc.'s $115 million pass-through certificates due in 2005. The agency said the corporate credit rating is B+, and the rating outlook is stable. The ratings reflect the company's low operating cost structure and profitable, multi-year contracts with several international airlines for dedicated air freight transportation, offset by contract renewal risk and a highly competitive industry environment. Proceeds from the rated issue will be used to purchase used Boeing 747 freighters to expand operations.
The Executive Committee of VNV, the KLM pilots' union, adopted a no- confidence-in-management motion last week, signaling that its feud with the company is flaring again. Earlier this year, strained relations between the two led to a number of pilot strikes.
Swissair and Sabena will launch joint sales operations next year and offer a shuttle service between Brussels and two Swiss cities for the 1996 summer season as part of their new strategic partnership. Collaboration reflecting Swissair's acquisition of 49% of Sabena is "progressing on schedule and in line with the strategy agreed with our partner," said Paul Reutlinger, head of marketing at Swissair. At the end of October, both airlines introduced a "Statthalter" governor/administrator management structure for their sales organizations.
Air Canada is now "busting curfew" on its heavily traveled Montreal- Toronto "Rapidair" service, thanks to its expanding fleet of 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jets. Because the airplane is so quiet, the carrier now dispatches two flights from Montreal before Dorval Airport's 7 a.m. noise curfew is lifted - one at 6:30 a.m. and the second 10 minutes later. The first big jet pushes back at 6:45 a.m. for a 7 a.m. takeoff. Competitor Canadian Airlines International offers a 6:40 departure, but likewise cannot take off before 7 a.m.
SatoTravel and Atlanta Federal have signed a one-year, $18 million contract for government travel management. Under the contract, SatoTravel will serve employees in the Russell Federal Building, the Environmental Protection Agency, 101 Marietta Tower, the FAA, the Peachtree Federal Summit Building, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Weather Service and, when completed, the Atlanta Federal Center.
Rosenbluth International has launched Travel Service Solutions, which it says will export its core services and products to other travel agencies and travel-related companies. The program initially will include a 24-hour emergency service to assist travelers around the world; the Executive Traveller Hotel Programme with discounts on lodging; a negotiated rate package for car rentals and business services; a low-fare search system, and technical and non-technical training.
Dollar Rent A Car has published a 45-page magazine called Great Drives, featuring a dozen driving vacations. Great Drives highlights excursions "off the beaten path to some exciting scenic locations." Radisson Hospitality Worldwide and Best Western International hotels are featured.
Delegates attending the American Society of Travel Agents 65th World Travel Congress this week heard a recurring theme throughout the conference - start to embrace change. Emerging technology and how it relates to the future of the airline and agent business, and how it will affect their relationship, was a central issue. Thomas Lagow, executive VP-marketing for USAir, said, "We are on the cusp of another era of change," brought on by marketing developments and emerging technology.
Delta and Tower Air filed separate complaints yesterday against the government of India, with which the U.S. is negotiating a new bilateral. Delta said it is being denied its right under the current accord to operate daily service to Bombay because of India's failure to provide usable slots for the service, beginning Dec. 1. "On four days of the week, the arrival slots...and departure slots...are acceptable," said Delta.
Colorado Springs-based Western Pacific Airlines and Thrifty Car Rental have entered a four-year marketing agreement by which Thrifty will be the only rental car company allied with the carrier and the sixth company to participate in its Air Logo Program. Thrifty's logo and caveman mascot will be painted on a WestPac 737-300, WestPac and Thrifty said at the American Society of Travel Agents World Travel Congress, and the companies will offer car rental and parking discounts and develop trip packages.
National Transportation Safety Board will reconvene a public hearing Nov. 15 as part of its continuing investigation into the September 1994 crash of USAir Flight 427 near Pittsburgh. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. at the Springfield, Va., Hilton Hotel.
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and four co-sponsors this week introduced legislation (S.1399) to fund the essential air service program through a 10-cent fee on each enplanement at commercial service airports. Dorgan is expected to offer the legislation or a similar measure today when the Senate Commerce Committee considers the FAA reform bill (S.1239). A possible alternate Dorgan amendment, sources said, would not add a new fee but set aside a certain amount of money for EAS from the new user fees that would be imposed by S.1239.
Cyprus is targeting the U.S. market with a $1 million campaign, launched this month, to attract travelers to the Mediterranean island republic. The Cyprus Tourism Organization said the promotion builds on the code-sharing service started in October 1994 by Cyprus Airways and Gulf Air between New York Kennedy and Cyprus. The two carriers added Houston as the originating gateway at the end of last month. Gulf Air operates two weekly flights with A340s from Houston to New York, continuing nonstop to Larnaca Airport.
