American Airlines Cargo and Alitalia Cargo have forged an alliance that will take effect Oct. 1. AA Cargo will be the general sales agent for Alitalia in most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of Canada, while Alitalia will be the GSA for AA Cargo in Italy and parts of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. The companies will exchange freight between the Americas and Europe on each other's flights, and AA Cargo will feed Alitalia's cargo operation in Miami for flights to and from Europe.
Worldspan is sponsoring an online sweepstakes to teach travel agents how to reduce time on the telephone and make full use of its computer reservations system. Worldspan will award $500 to a randomly selected agent - from those who enter the contest - every week until Dec. 4. Another $500 will go to the agent's employer. The "Hang Up, Sine In and Win" promotion includes lessons for 12 weeks on system functionality, and industry and system information on Worldspan Car Select, Hotel Select, Tour Source and Worldspan Travel Suppliers booking systems.
Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reports that damage from Hurricane Marilyn, which followed on the heels of Hurricane Luis two weeks before, is mostly confined to a few islands in the northeastern section of the region. The Caribbean Hotel Association and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association have accompanied the CTO on trips to assess damage and determine what needs to be done to return the major tourist destinations to normal operations.
Challenge Air Cargo, Miami, has doubled its flights to the Dominican Republic from Miami Airport to four per week after beginning the service two months ago. The airline currently provides scheduled all-cargo service to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela and holds route authorities to serve most major cities in Central and South America.
Miami edged out New York Kennedy as the top port-of-entry for foreign visitors to the U.S. in 1994, although arrivals at Miami were down 5% from 1993 and Kennedy's arrivals grew 6%. Miami received 3.159 million visitors vs. New York's 3.142 million. Third was Los Angeles, followed by Honolulu, San Francisco and Agana, Guam, which was the fastest growing airport in the top 10, receiving 41% more traffic in 1994, due in large part to increases from Japanese travelers, the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration reports.
Boeing Defense&Space Group will lead an industry team to compete for an air traffic control program with a potential value of $1 billion. The company yesterday confirmed an earlier report (DAILY, Sept. 25) that it will lead four other companies in a competition for the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) program. STARS, run by FAA and the Defense Department, will improve the Terminal Radar Approach Control (Tracon) systems at more than 200 sites across the country.
United and Northwest will have to cut back U.S.-Japan service by about one- third and will be hamstrung in their attempts to develop markets in Asia if Japan succeeds in its effort to restrict their fifth-freedom rights beyond Tokyo and Osaka, Booz Allen&Hamilton said in its study of beyond-Japan rights and their value (DAILY, Sept. 27). The consultant conducted the study for United, which is fighting Japan's refusal to permit it to operate beyond Osaka to Seoul. United and Northwest currently account for about 51% of passenger capacity between the U.S.
International Association of Convention&Visitor Bureaus has named Howard Mills, founder of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, the recipient of the 1996 IACVB Foundation Spirit of Hospitality. The honor will be presented Feb. 7 at the IACVB's third annual Foundation Dinner, Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Asiana and Northwest assailed United's arguments against the renewal of their code-share operations as "neither credible nor logical." Urging DOT to deny renewal, United cited its difficulties in operating new service to Seoul via Tokyo (DAILY, Sept. 19). Specifically, United disputed Korea's refusal to approve a schedule for the service because of a lack of overnight parking for aircraft at Seoul Kimpo Airport.
British Airways plans to launch daily nonstop service between Phoenix and London Gatwick next spring, making Sky Harbor Airport its 21st U.S. gateway. The service, which still is subject to government approval, will begin in April. "Through our code-share connections with USAir, we were able to test the water, and the strong results indicated that a direct service would be to our mutual benefit," said BA Chairman Colin Marshall. BA plans to use a DC-10-30 flight originating in San Diego, which it has not served in five years.
ValuJet will retain a considerable unit cost advantage over Delta even if the larger Atlanta-based airline achieves its 1997 unit cost goal of 7.5 cents per available seat mile. According to ValuJet CFO Stephen Nevin, Delta's 7.5 cents would translate to about 9.2 cents per ASM when adjusted for ValuJet's average stage length of 491 miles.
Two Republicans on the Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee expressed concerns yesterday over user fee measures in the FAA reform bill (S.1239) - provisions that were sharply criticized by representives of general aviation and aircraft manufacturers as well. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) questioned charging GA users for complying with FAA regulations.
NTSB Bar Association will hold its annual aviation safety enforcement law seminar and reception Oct. 26 at the Capitol Holiday Inn. For more information call 202-331-1955.
Alamo Rent A Car will become a partner in British Airways' Executive Club Program Oct. 1 as part of its commitment to expand its worldwide service in 12 countries. Program members in the U.S. will receive 500 miles when renting from Alamo at any location worldwide and twice that number between Oct. 1 and Feb. 29. Rentals are not required to be in conjunction with a British Airways flight. Alamo has 200 locations worldwide, including 28 in the U.K.
Wayne County, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and the Port of Seattle urged DOT to approve Northwest's application for new service to Rome. Proposing DC-10-30 service from Detroit, Northwest is competing with USAir and Delta, which have applied for service to Rome from Philadelphia and Atlanta, respectively. Under the U.S.-Italy bilateral, new service of as many as six weekly flights will be permitted beginning April 1, 1996.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as part of its restructuring plan, announced this week several service improvements at its airports, including new roadway and terminal signage. Newark will now offer baggage carts in Terminals A and C, and Kennedy will get a new food court, seats and ceilings, and a coat of paint for its international arrivals building.
Dade County Board of Commissioners will meet Oct. 3 to discuss the proposed $900 million "Super A" expansion by American at Miami Airport. This month, five airlines - Delta, United, TWA, USAir and Air Canada - filed a lawsuit against the county in an effort to stop further planning or the sale of bonds to finance the expansion, claiming that it would benefit only American.
City and County of Denver extended its deadline until Nov. 10 for receiving proposals from private ranchers interested in providing and managing a "non-exclusive, first-class airport buffalo herd" on land adjacent to Denver Airport. "As we view ourselves as the 'gateway to the Rockies' and 'where the West begins' - live buffalo on DIA property would strongly enhance this image," the RFP said. Under the contract, the rancher would be able to sell buffalo meat and related products at up to three airport concession sites.
Top 25 Domestic City-Pair Markets O&D Passengers First Quarter 1995 1995 1994 Average Market Market Passenger Rank Rank City-Pair Per Day 1 1 Honolulu - Kahului 7,515 2 4 Chicago - New York 6,980 3 5 Los Angeles - New York 6,438
American Society of Travel Agents has added special programs for front-line agents at its World Travel Congress, to be held in Philadelphia Nov. 5-10, including educational sessions on "what's new in old Europe" and "marketing leisure travel to the upscale mature adult." The European Travel Commission will sponsor the seminar on Europe, with representatives of five leading European tavel destinations. The upscale adult session will be conducted by travel educator Marc Mancini and sponsored by Delta Queen Steamboat.
Federal Express and Staples have formed an alliance "designed to help small businesses maximize efficiency." Beginning in October, FedEx ShipSites will be installed in all 346 Staples office products superstores across the U.S. Customers will "be able to drop off FedEx packages, photocopy, fax and bind documents, and purchase office supplies under one roof," FedEx said. Staples will feature new, self-contained FedEx ShipSites that are "easy to use."
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority has cut costs 27% for a planned new airport in the state, reducing the overall pricetag to $105.5 million from $144.6 million. The projected carrier cost per enplaned passenger went down 35% to $9.91 in 1998 dollars, from the estimated $15.16 in the master plan.
The chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee urged the Treasury Department this week to waive semi-monthly tax payments for the commercial aviation fuel tax during the fourth quarter this year while Congress considers budget reconciliation legislation. The statement, from Congress's two key tax legislators, suggests that airlines are in a good position to win continued exemption from the 4.3 cents-per- gallon tax when the budget reconciliation law is adopted this fall.
Continental has expanded electronic ticketing to 86 cities and is making it available through selected travel agents for the first time. Agents may sell E-Tickets for trips originating in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans and San Antonio. By early next year, it wants to offer the service nationwide.
Vacation Express, an Atlanta tour operator, will conduct direct charter flights to Cancun from Richmond, Jacksonville, Louisville, Cincinnati, San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The company will launch the service with kick- off shows in each of the cities during October. Hosts of the shows will be Vacation Express President Kevin Hernandez and hoteliers from Mexico and the Caribbean. Travel agents are invited to attend.
