American and United are urging DOT to turn down or defer action on Singapore Airlines (SIA) renewed effort to gain authority to operate intermodal cargo services to its U.S. gateways and beyond to other U.S. cities. In its application filed last month, SIA said it will scale back its unsuccessful February 1994 bid to operate nationwide intermodal service to 90-plus points beyond its gateways (DAILY, March 31). Despite the "scaled back" proposal, both United and American maintained their earlier positions. "Singapore can offer no reciprocal intermodal rights to U.S.
John Wayne Airport Board of Commissioners said it received no responses to a request for presentations on how a sale of the airport could be structured to meet the federal law regarding retention of sales proceeds for the Orange County general fund. The commission met Tuesday night and unanimously decided that the county board of supervisors should not issue a request for proposals for the sale of John Wayne (DAILY, April 13).
Japan Airlines has selected Akira Kondo, senior managing director, as its new president, subject to approval by the shareholders at JAL's annual meeting June 29. Kondo would succeed Matsuo Toshimitsu, who has served as president since 1990. He will remain on the board of directors as an adviser. JAL also promoted Akio Kohno, managing director-domestic passenger marketing, to executive VP. Susumu Yamaji continues as JAL's chairman.
Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew 1.3% more revenue passenger miles last month than in March 1994, but its capacity grew 5.8%, pushing its load factor down two percentage points to 45.3%. The number of passengers boarded increased 0.5%. Through the first three months of this year, ASA's traffic declined 3.7% on 3.7% more capacity, causing its load factor to fall 3.2 points. The number of passengers boarded declined 4.8%. March 95 March 94 3 Mths 95 3 Mths 94
National Mediation Board (NMB) has ordered a 30-day cooling-off period between Alaska Airlines and the Machinists union after contract talks, which have been in mediation since April 1994, reached an impasse. The Machinists represent about 2,200 clerical, office and passenger service employees at the carrier. The union has been negotiating a contract with the company since September 1992. The NMB declared an impasse on April 3 and asked the parties to accept binding arbitration. The Machinists rejected the offer.
Continental reported yesterday a fourth quarter 1994 net loss of $523.4 million, including a one-time charge of $446.8 million, and said it has concluded agreements for aircraft and cash deferrals for the next two years totaling about $370 million. The yearend loss, combined with the non- recurring charge, totaled $613.3 million, which is greater than the amount the airline projected in January when it released preliminary unaudited results (DAILY, Jan. 27).
Air Canada will begin Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) service to Washington National Airport from Toronto (five daily flights) and Montreal (three) July 19. It will mark the first nonstop international service to the close-in airport as well as the first 50-passenger CRJ flights. The service is possible under the new open skies agreement with Canada, which provides for slots and several years of protection to be awarded to the Canadian carrier. During that time, U.S. carriers may not compete in the markets.
Effect of 4.3 Cent Per Gallon Fuel Tax Year Ending Third Quarter 1994 Cost Per Total Total Gallon Dollars Gallons Cost (cents) Block Hour America West 283,708,899 $157,380,097 55.5 $461 American 2,056,414,988 1,084,696,000 52.7 582 Continental 995,121,000 521,861,000 52.4 541
Mesaba Aviation's traffic declined 0.2% in March to 27.367 million revenue passenger miles from 27.417 million, although capacity dropped faster - 2.6% to 60.8 million available seat miles from 62.5 million. As a result, the load factor rose 1.1 percentage points to 45% from 43.9%. Enplanements declined 0.78% to 126,160 from 127,182.
AirTran Airways traffic jumped 56.1% in March to 27.3 million revenue passenger miles from February's 17.5 million. The airline carried 27,897 passengers during the month, a 54% increase from February's 18,175. Available seat miles grew 38.9% to 42.7 million from 30.7 million, and the load factor rose 7.1 points to 63.9%. AirTran, which began service with two 737s last October, now operates four 737s. Robert Swenson, chairman of AirTran Corp., said, "Our low-fare, low-cost airline system is continuing to develop successfully."
Palermo, Sicily-based Air Sicilia has taken delivery of one ATR 42- 300. Air Sicilia becomes the third ATR operator in Italy, following Avianova, which has 11 ATR 42-300s and three ATR 72s in service, and Air Dolomiti, which operates five ATR 42-320s with two ATR 42-500s scheduled to be delivered.
German charter carrier Aero Lloyd has signed a series of agreements to acquire 16 Airbus A320s and A321s to replace its fleet of MD-80s, Airbus Industrie said yesterday. Aero Lloyd will purchase two A320s and four A321s from Airbus and lease four A320s and six A321s from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC). In addition to the firm commitments, Aero Lloyd holds options to take four more of either type of aircraft from Airbus and two more from ILFC. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled during a five-year period beginning early next year.
S.G. Warburg&Co. estimates that the eight U.S. carriers it tracks will reduce their combined debt 21% by yearend 1997 to $5 billion, while boosting shareholder equity 112% to $5.4 billion.Such an accomplishment will be driven by revenue stability, continued real cost declines and low capital expenditures, the company said in a recent report.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9- and MD-80 Domestic Aircraft Utilization Per Day Third Quarter 1994 DC-9-30 Continental Northwest Number of Aircraft Operated 31 77 Total Fleet Operations Departures 229 404 Block Hours 292 641
Northern Star Airlines has gained permission to operate service under the trade name Great Lakes Link. The carrier plans to use the name to conduct service in certain markets under a code-sharing arrangement with Great Lakes Aviation.
International Aviation Club will hold its monthly luncheon April 20 at the International Club, 1800 K St., Washington, D.C. Guest speaker is Herman De Croo, member of the Belgian Parliament, chairman of the European Transport Safety Council and chairman of the European Commission's 1993 Committee of Wise Men.
The worldwide market for commercial aviation applications of Global Positioning System receiver equipment will quadruple by 2000, but aviation's market share will not keep pace with consumer uses of the satellite-based navigation system, the U.S. GPS Industry Council believes. The council estimates global aviation sales at $93 million this year and projects $375 million in 2000, but the GPS sales totals for these years are $1.3 billion and $8.5 billion. Aviation's share drops from 7.3% to 4.4%.
The U.S. and the U.K. concluded their latest round of aviation negotiations yesterday without an agreement. "We accomplished very little" during the three days of talks, said DOT Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Patrick Murphy. "They were very unproductive," he added. The two sides agreed to confer next week by telephone, said Murphy, but no further meetings are scheduled. Negotiators stalemated over two key issues: the U.S.
National Transportation Safety Board is opening the public docket for the Dec. 13, 1994, crash of a Jetstream Super 31. American Eagle Flight 3379 crashed at Morrisville, N.C., near Raleigh/Durham.
United Parcel Service has applied for renewal of its authority to provide scheduled all-cargo service between Louisville, Ky., and Mexico City, Mexico. (Docket 49490)
Cherokee Air is seeking renewal of its authority to conduct on-demand charter service between Marsh Harbour, Babaco, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, on the one hand, and Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Piece, Fla., on the other. The carrier operates more than 10 charter flights per month. (Docket 49268)
Southwest will expand its schedule May 21 by adding nine roundtrips at Seattle, Spokane, Reno, Phoenix, Oakland and Las Vegas. The carrier leased two more 737s recently and expects to accept delivery of 20 more aircraft by the end of the year. Boeing is scheduled to deliver 18 more in 1996.
AT&T subsidiary McCaw Cellular Communications has changed the name of its inflight communications company from Claircom to the Aviation Communications Division of AT&T Wireless Services. Outside the Americas, the division will operate as Claircom International, however. The change is part of a move by McCaw to introduce the AT&T brand name to the cellular communications market. AT&T acquired McCaw for $11.5 billion in September.
Swissair, Singapore Airlines and Delta, the three carriers that comprise the Global Excellence Alliance, have formed a joint-venture purchasing and logistics management company headquartered in Zurich. The not-yet-named new company, which will have branch offices in Atlanta and Singapore, will be run by Cees van der Hoek, who will be general manager-global service agency.
National Car Rental is offering customers a weekend rate program with triple bonus miles on five airlines. The TRIP program is valid for any weekend until June 25. Frequent travelers flying Northwest, United, Midwest Express and USAir will receive 1,500 miles and Continental 2,250 miles.
