Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation aviation subcommittee, introduced legislation (H.R.1545) this week to allow FAA to impose certification standards on airports serving only commuters. The bill, identical to one (S.682) sponsored by Sen. Wendell Ford (D-Ky.), is part of the Clinton administration's initiative to improve commuter airline safety. FAA has statutory authority to issue operating certificates to airports served by air carriers using aircraft designed to carry 31 or more passengers.
Travelogix Inc., a travel technology and software development company, has launched Travelogix Online, an online travel planning service, designed to provide business travelers with greater control and time savings on arranging trips, essentially eliminating the need to go through a travel agent. Subscribers receive direct 24-hour access to an airline computer reservations system to obtain flight schedules and prices. The system allows access to up to 20 flight schedules per request and converts industry codes.
House Transportation Committee yesterday approved, with technical changes, legislation (H.R.842) to remove the transportation trust funds, including aviation, from the unified federal budget. The bill, sponsored by committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), had 180 co-sponsors as of May 2.
Delta lost $74 million on its transatlantic operations in the March quarter, a 49% improvement from the same period in 1994, when it lost $144 million. Chairman Ron Allen attributed the improved results to sales, marketing and cost-control programs, including the ongoing Leadership 7.5 program. "The impact of transatlantic initiatives is showing real and encouraging progress, as reflected in improvements in both revenues and expenses," Allen said. Delta's transatlantic unit revenues increased 14%, driven primarily by a 5% increase in yield.
A review of the Boeing 737 flight control system failed to pinpoint a possible cause of 737 crashes in Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh, but it came up with 27 recommendations on design, maintenance, operations and crew training. The B737 Flight Control System Critical Design Review, issued yesterday by FAA, made 16 recommendations dealing specifically with the 737 and 11 addressing the FAA aircraft certification process. None of the recommendations was identified with a possible cause of the crashes, however.
TWA has won a a five-year U.S. Navy contract to perform maintenance work on C-9 aircraft. Valued at about $39.4 million this year and up to $200 million over five years, the contract covers overhaul work, including C- checks and other heavy maintenance, on 29 Navy and 23 Air Force C-9s/DC-9s.
As Air Canada expands to the U.S., three of its unions have pledged solidarity to prevent the airline from "pitting members against each other." The Teamsters, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the Transport and General Workers' Union of Britain told management they will perform only work originating in their respective countries. The pledge was necessary in case Air Canada attempts to move jobs out of Canada to win contract concessions, the groups said. They also plan to share information and coordinate bargaining.
America West's shareholders approved an incentive equity plan and re- elected the carrier's 15 directors at the annual meeting yesterday in Tempe, Ariz. The incentive plan, designed to encourage a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the carrier's financial success, authorizes issuance of stock and cash awards to employees and non-employee directors based on performance. Up to 3.5 million shares of common stock will be awarded, with a maximum per employee of 350,000 shares per year.
British Airways' systemwide scheduled passenger traffic rose 15.4% last month to 4.84 billion revenue passenger miles on 4.1% more capacity, boosting the carrier's April load factor 7.1 percentage points to 72.7%. The number of passengers increased 10.3% to 2.67 million. When the operations of BA's 49% owned subsidiaries Deutsche BA and TAT are included, the airlines carried 2.91 million passengers. BA's U.K./ Europe passenger traffic increased 8.7% on 0.7% more capacity, pushing the load factor up 5.2 points to 70.9%.
Smaller, long-range aircraft enabled mature transatlantic markets to grow by 75% over the last 10 years, and "many transpacific markets are now ripe for a similar kind of origin-and-destination fragmentation," Adam Brown, Airbus Industrie VP-strategic planning, said yesterday in Toulouse.
Delta has formed a frequent flyer mileage donation program, called SkyWish, to enable SkyMiles members to donate miles to three charities - CARE, Make- A-Wish Foundation and United Way. On June 1, Delta will make an initial donation of 100,000 miles to each of the charities, and will match one mile for every five donated by SkyMiles members. Contributors may donate miles in increments of 5,000 or can transfer a whole award certificate.
USAir and America West have launched summer fare sales for domestic travel through Sept. 15. America West tickets must be purchased by May 15. USAir said its lowered fares are good in most markets in the continental U.S., and are discounted up to 35%. Tickets must be purchased by May 10. USAir also is offering 20%-25% off excursion fares to Frankfurt for travel beginning June 1.
The General Accounting Office may undertake a study to determine whether there is a serious air traffic controller staffing shortage, as claimed by Controllers United, which represents some of the former members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, and other groups. PATCO representatives met Tuesday with White House staff to ask for a commitment by FAA to hire at least 1,500 more controllers, and with congressional aviation leaders and staffs to seek a Capitol Hill request for a GAO study.
The Association of Flight Attendants issued a study yesterday challenging FAA's position that requiring child restraint seats for children under two years of age - and, thus, additional airline tickets - would divert families from air travel to automobiles, which are statistically less safe. Launching a public education campaign for mandatory use of child safety seats, AFA said flight attendants will hand out materials at airports throughout the U.S. The association supports legislation (H.R.1309) sponsored by Rep.
Qantas placed firm orders with Boeing for three 737-400s and two 767- 300ERs, and it took options on an additional 737-400 and two long-haul 767s. Delivery of the aircraft will begin in December. Before then, however, Qantas plans to acquire a 737-400 from Air Nauru for delivery in July. The total value of the orders announced yesterday, including spare parts and the aircraft from Air Nauru but excluding the options, was placed at more than $300 million by Qantas Managing Director James Strong.
Canadian Airlines has replaced the DC-10-30 it was using in Vancouver- Taipei service with a newly acquired 747-400, boosting capacity in the market by 35%. The 747-400 is the fourth in Canadian's fleet. Canadian will operate up to four weekly nonstops between Vancouver and Taipei, and code-share service with Mandarin Airlines brings the total weekly schedule to five nonstops from Vancouver to Taipei and six from Taipei to Vancouver. Canadian, which offers up to 40 flights a week to Asia, now flies to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taipei, Nagoya, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai.
Following the lead of 25% owner and alliance partner British Airways, Qantas yesterday awarded its $40 million international advertising account to the New Saatchi Agency, set up recently by former Saatchi&Saatchi Chairman Maurice Saatchi. The Qantas announcement follows by a day BA's decision to switch its $97 million account to New Saatchi (DAILY, May 3). With the decisions by Qantas and BA, Saatchi&Saatchi, the incumbent agency in both cases, has lost nearly $140 million in business.
USAir has appointed Robin Wohnsigl VP-aircraft maintenance with responsibility for day-to-day line maintenance and heavy maintenance. The appointment coincides with the resignation of VP-Line Maintenance Michael Cohen, who has taken a position at Aloha as senior VP-operations. USAir also named Jack Naughton director-maintenance operations development, and his former position as director-heavy maintenance at Pittsburgh has been filled by Tom McMullen.
Air Alliance will begin service from Montreal to Hartford and Philadelphia June 4. The flights are made possible by the open skies pact between the U.S. and Canada. The carrier, based in Sainte-Foy, is Quebec's largest regional carrier, operating nine Dash 8s. The new flights will provide connections to Air Canada. Introductory fares of $183 roundtrip to Philadelphia and $154 to Hartford will be offered until June 30. Air Canada Aeroplan members will receive triple points for flying in the markets until June 30.
New Aircraft Orders And Options February 1995 Last 12 Months Firm Orders Options Orders Options Carrier # Type # Type Engines Del. Dates # Type # Type Austrian Airlines 4 Fokker70 4 Fokker70 Tay620-15 - - Bangla Biman 2 A310-300 PW4000 96 - -
New Jet Aircraft Deliveries February 1995 Last 12 Months Carrier # Type Engines Delivery Air Berlin 1 737-400 CFM56-3C1 - Air Canada 1 Canadair RJ CF34-3A1 5 Air China 1 747-400 PW4056 1
When the government of Bermuda takes over control of Bermuda Airport from the U.S. Navy June 1, the U.S. will continue to handle approach and en route air traffic in the area at New York Air Traffic Control Center, according to FAA.$end 185 USAir Reaches Tentative Pact With Teamsters Union
Air Canada, which launched nonstop Ottawa-Washington Dulles service this week and unveiled plans to begin flying from Ottawa to Chicago O'Hare in late July, yesterday continued its rollout of new routes with word that it plans to begin twice-daily Calgary-Houston service Oct. 31. The Houston service, to be operated with Airbus A320s, will complement the carrier's existing twice-daily Toronto-Houston flights. Houston is a hub of Air Canada's U.S.
