BWIA International Airways has reached agreements with unidentified lessors to re-equip its fleet with eight 757s and three 767-300ERs, and it plans to bring in five 50- to 80-seat regional jets within the next two years, according to the carrier. BWIA, privatized by the government of Trinidad and Tobago in February, has not decided which small jet to order, a spokesman said yesterday, but the airplanes will be operated by BWIA or one of its Express partners.
Fokker has selected Collins Avsat satellite-based avionics for new flight management systems on its F70 and F100, giving Collins its first air transport market in this area, David Mineck, executive VP, Air Transport Division, said yesterday in Washington, D.C. The Collins Avsat, which also has been selected for Bombardier's Challenger 604, is currently in flight testing with certification expected this September.
Final rules issued by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. require 4 million workers and retirees to receive notices from employers about the funding levels of underfunded pension plans. The Retirement Protection Act, which became law in December, requires companies with plans less than 90% funded to provide an annual explanation of their plans and limits to PBGC's guarantees. About 1,500 companies with large plans will have to send out the information this year, PBGC said. The pension reform law also accelerates funding for underfunded plans.
Turks Air is seeking renewal of its authority to operate non-scheduled all- cargo and charter freight service between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Miami. Under its current exemption, the carrier may use only wet-leased aircraft from a carrier that has received requisite economic authority from DOT. In its filing, Turks points out it has renewed a long-term wet-lease for all-cargo operations with DHL Airways. It also has a long-term wet- lease for all-cargo operations with Trans-Air-Link Corp. (Docket 48134)
FedEx said yesterday net income for the quarter ended May 31 increased 8% to $87.2 million from $80.7 million, while net income for its fiscal year was up to $297.6 million from $204.4 million. Revenues for the quarter rose 9% to $2.5 billion, and revenues for the year increased 11% to $9.4 billion. Operating income was $174.1 million for the quarter, down from $193.7 million. Operating income for the year totaled $591.1 million, compared with $530.6 million last year. International operating profit was $34.4 million for the quarter, up from $20.4 million.
Honeywell signed an agreement with Ramensky Priborostroitelny Zavod, a Russian manufacturer of inertial reference systems, for co-production of Honeywell navigation systems for customers in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Talks between the U.S. and Japan are expected to begin Wednesday, a senior U.S. government official said yesterday. Likely to last two or three days, the meetings will follow a specific agenda. First, the U.S. will press Japan to honor its responsibilities to Federal Express on beyond-Japan cargo rights under the U.S.-Japan bilateral. If the U.S. can be sure that Japan will live up to its commitment, the official said, then the U.S. will address a cargo agreement.
Kiwi International Air Lines launched a new ad campaign this week, built on the theme "It's A Wonderful Flight," on television, radio and in the print media. Randy Greenburg, VP-sales and marketing, said the commercials are not the "pompous puff" heard from the major carriers. "They're confident and aggressive and use a comedic twist to underscore Kiwi's benefits and value to the customer." The commercials were created by Gianettino&Meredith, Short Hills, N.J.
Rep. Jim Lightfoot (R-Iowa) said yesterday he plans to join with House Transportation aviation subcommittee Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) to introduce FAA reform legislation that would restore FAA to independent agency status. Lightfoot currently is sponsoring an FAA reform bill (S.1392), and Duncan has been considering legislation similar in many respects to Lightfoot's bill (DAILY, June 14).
FAA advised airline passengers this week to use their seat belts when they are seated. The advisory follows recent incidents in which passengers were injured when their aircraft flew into "severe turbulence." DOT has ordered FAA to study whether it needs to toughen seat belt rules. FAA's latest revision, in 1992, requires that passengers fasten seat belts when warning lights are on.
Bombardier selected Dowty Aerospace Propellers of Gloucester, England, to supply the propeller system for the new de Havilland Dash 8 Series 400 aircraft, Bombardier Aerospace Group - North America announced. The company formally launched the 70-passenger, 350-knot aircraft on June 12.
Northern Star (Midway Connection) and Empire Airlines are withdrawing from participation in the Airlines Reporting Corp., ARC said this week. ARC said it has been advised of Empire's intent to voluntarily cease scheduled passenger service after today. The cessation affects only scheduled service. Northern Star also intends to cease scheduled operations today. ARC will continue processing Empire transactions through July 16 and Northern Star transactions through July 23.
Economic impact on 19-passenger-aircraft operators of raising Part 135 aircraft and operations to Part 121 levels was "grossly" underestimated, according to comments on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 95-5 submitted by Fairchild Aircraft. FAA estimated in the rulemaking that the total cost to the regional-airline industry would be $275 million over the next 10 years. Its own analysis, Fairchild said, shows that the cost to the Metro fleet alone would be nearly $264.6 million during the same period.
CDB Research&Consulting said a survey of 1,189 analysts gave Delta the highest combined rating on operating performance among four major airlines in a "Hidden Value" study conducted in cooperation with Financial World magazine. The study covered all types of companies, and analysts were asked what companies they track. Delta, AMR Corp., UAL Corp. and Southwest were the only airlines included.
Guatemalan carrier Lineas Aereas Mayas (LAMSA) is seeking renewal of its authority to operate non-scheduled cargo service between Guatemala City and Miami. The carrier currently operates three roundtrips a week using wet-leased aircraft from Millon Air. LAMSA also operates all-cargo service between Guatemala and the co-terminal points Fort Lauderdale and Brownsville and Houston, Texas. (Docket 50416)
Commuter Safety Rule comments ended Wednesday with a number of sharp reminders that the Part 121 upgrade could spell the end of 19-passenger regional-airline transportation. The gist of the comments was that FAA failed to justify or provide "sufficient substantiation" for Part 135 scheduled flight operations to be brought up to Part 121 standards across the board.
AeroCorp and Air France have signed an agreement to market AvAero 737 hushkits in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Air France also will install the kits on its 737 fleet "when required," according to Whitehall Corp., parent of AeroCorp. Air France Industries is a major airline and third-party maintenance provider in Europe.
Regional Airline Association has notified associate members that it will establish an Associate Members Council (AMC), effective Aug. 1. The RAA board decided at the organization's spring meeting in San Antonio to form the AMC to improve communications between RAA member airlines and the associate members.
Frontier Airlines yesterday posted a net loss of nearly $8 million, or $2.56 per share, on revenue of $24.57 million for the year that ended March 31, its first fiscal year. The period includes the airline's first three quarters of flight operations following inauguration of passenger service on July 5, 1994. For the quarter ended March 31, Frontier reported a net loss of $1.8 million, or 52 cents per share, on revenue of $11.5 million. The loss includes startup expenses for new routes.
Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air today will begin jet service between Seattle and Calgary, Canada, becoming the first carrier serving the Seattle/ Tacoma Airport to start new service to Canada since the new liberalized U.S.-Canada agreement was signed, the airline said. The carrier will operate three daily roundtrips - early morning, midday and afternoon/early evening - using 62-seat Fokker F-28 twin-engine jets. Travel time is one hour, 25 minutes. Ceremonies noting the occasion are scheduled at Seattle/Tacoma Airport today.
AirTran Airways will increase service to Orlando Aug. 1 from several cities. It will offer two additional flights from Providence, R.I., bringing its service to six weekly flights; two more from Knoxville for a total of five; two more from Cincinnati for a total of six; two from Hartford, Conn., for a total of six; three more from Albany for a total of six, and three from Syracuse for a total of six. One-way fares range from $99 to $149 from Providence, Cincinnati, Albany and Syracuse, $89-$149 from Hartford and $59-$99 from Knoxville.
Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher this week squashed rampant speculation that he is considering moving into expensive Denver Airport. Southwest has no intention of beginning service to Denver, and the rumor probably grew out of a recent visit by Denver Aviation Manager Jim DeLong, who was in Dallas for another purpose, Kelleher said Tuesday in Dallas at Southwest's first media day. Southwest will focus on broadening its presence in the Midwest, however.
Three Alaskan carriers have joined forces to oppose Alaska Island Air's (AIA) bid for an exemption from the 45 day review period to restart service after having its Part 135 certificate suspended by FAA. The agency had suspended the carrier's certificate for violating Federal Aviation Regulations.
SatoTravel has won its first corporate account with QUALCOMM Inc., San Diego. It will provide travel services to the company through a local travel office and its corporate call center in Arlington, Va. The travel company began seeking corporate accounts last year in response to shrinking military and government travel budgets.
United, which has taken delivery of three of the 777 twinjets it has on order from Boeing, will begin operating the aircraft daily in the Chicago- Paris and Newark-London markets next month. It also will add a second 777 flight each day between Chicago and Denver. The Newark-London Heathrow flight will continue to Amsterdam four days a week. United said 777 load factors have been 89.4% since it launched commercial service with the aircraft June 7.
