U.S. airlines, which will begin reporting their September quarter financial results tomorrow, are expected to post a record cumulative operating profit of $2.2 billion-$2.3 billion, representing the 11th consecutive quarter of improved industry results, according to PaineWebber analyst Sam Buttrick.Buttrick attributes the improved results largely to better domestic unit revenues resulting from the demise of Continental Lite.
Malaysia Airlines has taken delivery of the first of two 747-200s converted into full freighters by Boeing Wichita. The airplane arrived in June. Gross takeoff weight was increased from 820,000 pounds to 833,000 pounds, enabling the aircraft to carry 124 tons of cargo up to 4,000 miles. Boeing is predicting the air cargo industry will grow 6.6% annually over the next 20 years and that, to handle that volume, nearly 600 more large-capacity freighters (more than 50 tons) will be required by the year 2014.
Federal Express is urging DOT to defer Air Micronesia's bid for expanded all-cargo authority until that carrier provides additional information about its service plans. Last month, Air Micronesia applied for authority to operate scheduled all-cargo service between Guam, Philippines, and a point or points in Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (DAILY, Sept. 26).
Air Canada will begin nonstop service between Toronto and Washington Dulles on Oct. 29. The airline will operate three daily roundtrips using 50- passenger Canadair CL-65 jets. Air Canada already serves Washington Dulles from Ottawa three times a day, as well as Washington National three times a day from Montreal and five times a day from Toronto.
Singapore Airlines expects its entire fleet of Boeing 747s to be -400s by the end of the century. The carrier took delivery of its 34th 747-400 on Saturday and has 29 more on order and option. According to SIA, it accounted for 22% of total 747-400 production at Boeing's Everett facility last year.
Responding to DOT inquiries, Delta, Swissair, Sabena and Austrian have spelled out in greater detail their objectives and the potential effects of their proposed alliance agreements. The carriers filed last month (DAILY, Sept.
New indirect air carrier Sterling One is marketing nonstop service from Long Beach to Chicago, beginning Dec. 1. Sterling One has an agreement with AvAtlantic for the service on AvAtlantic's 727s, a company representative said. To promote the service, Sterling One is offering a free roundtrip ticket with the purchase of a second. The free ticket will be given away on one day only - Oct. 24 - although it is good for one year. The price of a one-way ticket is $175.
Fuel Costs and Consumption U.S. Majors, Nationals and Large Regionals September 1994 - August 1995 Total Total Cost Gallons (Dollars) 1994 September Domestic 1,013,701,830 556,606,983 International 371,412,306 224,652,996 System Total 1,385,114,136 781,259,979 October
- In Federal Register dated Oct. 10...Issued an airworthiness directive on certain Airbus A300-600 aircraft requiring inspections for cracks in bolt holes where parts of the main landing gear are attached to the rear spar...Issued an AD on several Air Tractor series aircraft requiring inspection of the front spar attachment lugs...Revised an AD on Canadair CL-215-1A10 aircraft concerning the right aileron and aileron tab...Proposed an AD on CFM International CFM56-3C series engines to require reducing the low-cycle fatigue retirement lives for certain fan disks.
America West has lowered leisure fares by up to $70 off the regular excursion price for travel through Feb. 29 in North America. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 20.
Second in departures from Denver Airport will be 15-month-old Frontier Airlines, which will have 23 daily flights with tomorrow's new schedule. Frontier will have seven 737s in service, including two newly leased 737- 300s. United and its United Express affiliates have the largest number of departures.
Midwest Express Airlines flew 9.9% more revenue passenger miles last month than in September a year ago on 0.9% more capacity, boosting its load factor 5.2 percentage points to 63%. The number of passengers boarded increased 10.8%. Through the first nine months of this year, Midwest Express's traffic increased 21.6% on 18.5% more capacity, producing a load factor increase of 1.7 points to 64.8%. Sept 95 Sept 94 9 Mths 95 9 Mths 94 RPMs 87,612,000 79,725,000 880,313,000 723,962,000
Lockheed Martin said it was awarded a $500,000, six-month contract by the Jordan Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed international airport that will serve Aqaba, Jordan, and Eilat, Israel. The project was called the first major joint Israel-Jordanian venture since the peace talks between the two nations last year. The selection was made by a joint Jordanian-Israeli steering committee and is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
EVA Air plans to launch Taipei-Amsterdam cargo service on Oct. 23, using MD-11 freighters. The three-times-a-week service, which will operate via Dubai, will be EVA's first freighter operation to Europe. "Our Amsterdam route will help meet the increasing demand for cargo capacity between Europe and the Pacific Region, areas where trade is especially strong in the shipments of machinery, fresh produce and consumer goods," said K.T. Chiu, deputy senior VP of public relations for EVA Air.
Northwest Airlink operator Express I Airlines' federal mediated talks with the Air Line Pilots Association adjourned Friday with plans to resume Oct. 26 in Atlanta. The unit polled its members last week to determine the level of support for a strike if either party rejects arbitration and a 30- day cooling-off period ensues. ALPA said 98% of the pilots voting were in favor of a strike.
When they reconvene talks with the U.K. today in Washington, U.S. officials will be intent on using this round to gain an agreement. "There are no plans for another round," said a U.S. government official. Once again, Mark Gerchick, DOT acting assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, will take part in the talks to stress DOT Secretary Federico Pena's interest in getting an agreement in this round.
Northwest has discounted fares up to 50% off regular excursion tariffs to most of its destinations in the U.S. and Canada and to Mexico City toward the end of the year. The fares require a 21-day advance purchase, must be bought by Oct. 17, and are good for travel Nov. 3 through Jan. 20. Continental announced it has matched the fares, as well as sales by other carriers to Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Those tickets must be purchased by Oct. 16.
Granted orally an exemption to American to operate scheduled combination services between Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia, via Auckland, New Zealand, under a code-sharing agreement with Qantas. American also received permission to integrate its authority to serve Germany on Route 137 with its authority to serve Kuwait on Route 602 to engage in scheduled cargo service between the U.S. and Kuwait, via Frankfurt (without local traffic rights).
Hawaiian Airlines plans to install CD-ROM video systems on aircraft used for its interisland flights that will provide real-time flight data, destination information and inflight entertainment. The carrier has signed an agreement with a partnership of Canadian Marconi Company and ASI Technologies of Australia to install and maintain the systems on its DC-9s at no cost to the airline. The systems will be paid for by revenue generated through limited advertising integrated into the programming.
Cathay Pacific named Ian Callender VP-USA&Latin America, succeeding Jake Olver, who was named country manager-Italy and Switzerland. George Clay, a former Federal Reserve bank president and TWA chief executive in Kansas City, died Oct. 11.
Lufthansa next month will begin testing a new baggage handling system featuring chip-card technology in place of traditional baggage tags. On the chip cards, which are about the size of a credit card, will be stored essential data such as passenger name, flight number, destination and baggage number. The card will be programmed for the entire flight when the passenger checks in, and the card will be attached to the suitcase. The aim of the new technology, developed by Daimler-Benz Aerospace, is faster baggage identification at international hubs.
Messier-Bugatti has signed an accord with Airbus Industrie to set up operations in Airbus's facilities in Beijing when they open next year. The new office will take care of customers China Eastern, China Northern, China Northwest, Sichuan Airlines and Air Macau, which use Messier-Bugatti wheels and carbon brakes on their Airbus aircraft. Other airlines, including China Eastern, Korean Air, Qantas, Indian Airlines, Pakistan International, Cathay Pacific and Indonesian Airlines, have contracted with Messier- Bugatti for repair and maintenance services.
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) agreed to sell its engine controls manufacturing and service business to Lockheed Martin, a deal that will re-unite the controls design and manufacturing operations separated two years ago when then-Martin Marietta bought General Electric's Aerospace units. Neither side would say last week how much the deal is worth, in part because talks continue. GE has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin outlining the sale, but the companies still have to work out a definitive agreement and the deal has to pass regulatory muster.
Northwest is adding more flights to the South and Southwest from its Detroit and Minneapolis hubs this winter. In December, it will fly additional daily nonstops to Orlando and Tampa from Detroit for $139 roundtrip on 757s to Orlando and 727s to Tampa. It also will add a flight to Las Vegas from Detroit with A320s. From Minneapolis, it will add a flight to Phoenix using 757s.
