Air Transport Association, in cooperation with the American Association of Airport Executives, has produced 30-second television ads on the impact of the federal aviation fuel tax and the airline industry's celebration of flying 10 billion passengers. The videos are running this month on the CNN Airport Network. Airlines were exempted from the 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax during its first two years but will have to pay it Oct. 1 unless Congress approves further relief.
Boeing 747 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Fourth Quarter 1994 B747-100 Continental Northwest TWA Number of Aircraft Operated 2 23 9 Total Fleet Operations Departures 2 38 13 Block Hours 18 272 88
British Airways estimates that its 747 fleet will use 50,000 fewer metric tons of fuel a year, saving $12.1 million, through use of the Automatic Dependence Surveillance (ADS) system, otherwise known as the Future Air Navigation System. With other associated benefits, the carrier believes it can save $32.23 million a year with ADS.
Delta will provide new amenity kits and lavatory products for international first- and business-class passengers this year. The new kits will include Essential Elements aromatherapy, natural body care products. First-class passengers, beginning this fall, will receive a reusable case that includes a "disctraveler" storage case, document organizer, tie/scarf case and a sports pack, as well as lotions, lip balm, facial mist, in-seat exercise book, slipper socks and eye shades.
TWA's creditors have accepted the struggling airline's proposed capital restructuring plan, all but guaranteeing its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than three and a half years. TWA said yesterday that, subject to final tabulation, it received the votes needed from its creditors to implement its proposed restructuring through the filing of a prepackaged plan of reorganization.
European Commission will investigate whether the joint venture formed by British Aerospace, Aerospatiale of France and Alenia of Italy - aimed at cooperation in marketing, sales and support of regional aircraft - will satisfy European Union competition rules.The decision represents a setback to the joint venture, which envisions eventual development of a new aircraft.
The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) has recommended closing the Air Force facility at Chicago O'Hare Airport. Reporting last week, BRAC elected to keep open Air Reserve facilities at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, Niagara Falls Airport, Youngstown-Warren Municipal Airport, General Mitchell Airport and Greater Pittsburgh Airport. The Air National Guard installation at O'Hare would be moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
DOT has tentatively approved the transfer of Evergreen International Airlines' U.S.-China all-cargo authority to Federal Express. Agreeing in February to acquire the authority, including scheduled service to Beijing, Shanghai and other points in China (DAILY, Feb. 27), FedEx plans service that maximizes all-cargo opportunities available under the U.S.-China aviation agreement, from small-package, door-to-door operations to general services for consolidated shipments using 747 freighter aircraft.
Sabre Travel Information Network has expanded its Bargain Finder Plus product to process international as well as domestic itineraries. The product had been available only for U.S. and Canadian city-pairs. Bargain Finder Plus automates the search for lower airfares, increasing agent productivity by reducing time in locating a lower fare. The product, which is available to Sabre subscribers in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and countries in the Caribbean, is host-based and does not require additional software.
FAA, under political pressure, failed to do its homework last winter when it rushed to issue a proposed rule within 100 days to bring safety requirements for smaller turboprop aircraft up to the standards of larger air transports, according to industry comments filed this week with the agency.
Consumer advocates and industry observers are pressing DOT to reconsider its proposed rulemaking to exclude mechanical delays and cancellations from on-time data in its Air Travel Consumer Report.
Cathay Pacific Airways wants the air services agreement between Hong Kong and Australia to be limited to operations within that market, avoiding the "unnecessary complications" of fifth-freedom issues.
French charter Corsair on Saturday launched weekly service from Oakland to Papeete, Tahiti. The flight, which originates in Paris and stops in Oakland before continuing to Papeete, is operated with a Boeing 747SP configured to seat 353 passengers.
A USAir employee stock ownership plan likely will be announced by the end of July, according to Gruntal&Co. analyst Steve Lewins, who said the ESOP will win the necessary and numerous approvals by yearend and take effect in January.Lewins also expects Continental to announce its recapitalization plan within two weeks.
Barbados-based Carib Express has signed an interline agreement with Air Martinique, bringing to six the number of pacts the startup airline has with regional and international carriers. The agreement enables each carrier to accept the tickets of the other on its services without endorsement. Other airlines that have signed interline deals with Carib Express are British Airways, which is a 20% owner of the new airline, BWIA International Airways, Air Canada, Air France and KLM.
United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) said yesterday it expects its second quarter earnings per share to exceed current analyst projections. The company based its optimism on continuing strength in revenue yield and passenger traffic. ACA did not offer projections, but analysts have been estimating earnings of 24 cents per share for the regional.
Boeing 757 and 767 Systemwide Aircraft Utilization Per Day Fourth Quarter 1994 B757-200 America West American Continental Number of Aircraft Operated 12 81 8 Total Fleet Operations Departures 53 266 22 Block Hours 154 843 91
Aerolineas Argentinas is modifying its logo and redesigning the exterior of its aircraft in an effort to produce a more modern, streamlined look, the carrier said. The new image, which retains the carrier's color scheme, is being implemented as part of the harmonization of the visual identity of all the airline members of the Iberia Group. Aerolineas Argentinas' flying condor, which has been its trademark insignia since 1950, will be displayed on the tail of the carrier's aircraft.
DOT Secretary Federico Pea, citing two incidents this week in which air turbulence caused passenger injuries, yesterday ordered FAA to determine whether seat belt rules need to be stronger.
Air Canada and Continental will begin code sharing on 34 flights per day July 8, and they plan to expand their joint operation this winter to include additional service from both sides of the border. Twenty-six of the initial 34 jointly marketed flights will be operated by Air Canada, carrying the CO code, and eight will be Continental flights carrying the AC code.
To attract business during the long July 4th holiday weekend, Delta Shuttle is offering a two-for-one fare to passengers who wear red, white or blue and buy a ticket at Delta's special $173 roundtrip unrestricted rate. To take advantage of the offer, passengers must wear one of the patriotic colors and travel between Saturday and Tuesday. Return flights must begin by 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. After the July 4th kickoff, the Delta Shuttle will extend the program through the summer. Passengers may then wear any color and still get the two-for-one offer.
House and Senate negotiators have agreed to a seven-year transportation budget of $244.8 billion in outlays from fiscal 1996 through fiscal 2002, a reduction of $34 billion from the outlays assumed by current law. Under the conference agreement on the budget resolution, transportation spending would drop from $38.9 billion in outlays for fiscal 1996 to $32 billion in fiscal 2002. The compromise level falls between the Senate proposal of $227.5 billion total transportation spending over the seven years and the House recommendation of $252.3 billion.
Harris Corp. said it is part of a consortium awarded a multi-million-dollar contract for the first two phases of a three-phase, eight-year program to develop and install a "total airport management system" for Kuala Lumpur Airport in Malaysia. Teamed with Harris are Malaysia-based Sapura, Holding Sdn Bhd and Tomen of Japan.
Teamsters General President Ron Carey has ordered a hearing into election results for 8,500 flight attendants at Northwest after a protest was filed by candidate Danny Campbell. The Nov. 18 election was won by Bruce Retrum, a union spokesman said yesterday. Carey said the hearing will review evidence filed by Campbell that observers were denied the right to observe the processing of ballots at the count, and to challenge mail-in ballots.
