Air Wisconsin's March traffic rose 17.2% on 25.9% more capacity, lowering the load factor 3.9 percentage points to 52.7%. The number of passengers enplaned declined 1.8%. Through the first three months of the year, Air Wisconsin's traffic was up 14.4% on 17.1% more capacity, producing a load factor decline of 1.2 points. The number of passengers boarded increased 7.9%. March 95 March 94 3 Mths 95 3 Mths 94 RPMs 38,054,398 32,476,490 98,274,293 85,926,875
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association told Orange County, Calif., officials last week it will "vigorously oppose any attempt to sell or transfer John Wayne Airport." AOPA President Phil Boyer said his members are "sensitive to the county's current fiscal crisis" - it has lost billions of dollars in the derivatives market - but "trading a one-time gain against safety and efficiency is not an acceptable alternative to public ownership of publicly funded transportation assets." Noting that John Wayne is the nation's third-busiest general aviation airport, he said AOPA
Continental will pay eligible full-time and permanent part-time employees a $65 bonus - $2.3 million total - for February on-time performance. The bonus is the first to employees as part of a plan announced in January to make Continental fifth or better each month in on-time arrivals. The carrier is paying the bonus even though the DOT report still is delayed.
Southwest's passenger load factor fell 5.5 percentage points in March and dropped 5.8 points in the first quarter. Its traffic rose 3.6% last month from March 1994, but on 12.5% more capacity. The number of passengers carried during the month increased only 0.7%. Comparisons with the first few months of 1994 are difficult because traffic was up due to more aggressive pricing last year.
Top FAA officials are livid about how National Transportation Safety Board Chairman James Hall handled last week's hearing into the USAir DC-9 crash last July 2 at Charlotte, N.C., killing 37 people. Officials questioned the safety board finding that lays some of the blame on the air traffic controllers, as well as comments made by Hall during the hearing.
American and its Allied Pilots Association unit are on the road to resolving the pilots' concerns about job security and what they consider the overuse of American's commuter partners, but this week they will tackle globalization and American's code-sharing deals, particularly with Canadian Airlines. The pilots say the thorniest issues - scope clause and contracts - lie ahead.
Aero Corp. said it was awarded a contract by ValuJet to perform DC-9 aircraft C checks, hushkit installation, exterior painting, cabin interior refurbishment and reconfiguration. Award of the contract followed redelivery of the last of nine DC-9-30s by Aero to ValuJet early in March.
Granted orally an exemption to Air Canada to perform scheduled combination service between any point or points in Canada and any point or points in the U.S., and any point or points in Canada and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and beyond San Juan to any point or points in the U.S. The carrier also gained authority for charter operations between Canada and the U.S...Granted orally exemptions to perform scheduled combination service between any point or points in Canada and any point or points in the U.S., and charter operations between Canada and the U.S.
FAA has hired only 27 former PATCO controllers since Aug. 12, 1993, when President Clinton lifted a ban on rehiring them, according to Bob Harris, executive director of Controllers United. But an FAA official said Friday that 10 more are being hired for the Eastern Region to help relieve controller shortages at the New York Center and Tracon.
American, in hopes of reducing costs by building fleet commonality, will sell 12 of its 19 MD-11 aircraft to Federal Express, with the option of selling the remaining seven at a later date. The two carriers also signed a six-year maintenance agreement that will preserve jobs at American, which has been reducing its fleet and maintenance work force. American will perform work on FedEx aircraft, beginning with the 727. The value of the agreements was not disclosed.
Air Cargo appointed Manfred Rabeneck area director-Midwest region. AlliedSignal appointed Carl Montalbine VP and general manager for its Aircraft Landing Systems unit, replacing Tom Johnson, who was named VP-Air Transport Enterprise for AlliedSignal Engines. Ball, Janik&Novack named Bill Alberger partner. Daimler-Benz Aerospace named Udo Pollvogt executive VP-government relations, Andreas Breitsprecher VP-press and information and Christian Poppe senior VP-communications.
Canadian Airlines International is studying flight attendant staffing levels on long-haul international flights in an effort to save money. The airline says it currently staffs flights at levels higher than its flight attendant contract requires. The flight attendants are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the only labor group not participating in CAI's labor-management effort to cut costs and operate more efficiently.
Saeta named Patricio Suarez executive VP and general manager-USA&Canada for Saeta and Lapsa airlines, and appointed Marcelo Roman sales manager-North America.
McDonnell Douglas expects to cut jobs "very soon" at the Douglas Aircraft commercial aircraft unit because of continuing delays in completing a huge aircraft order from Saudi flag carrier Saudia. Douglas told employees at its Long Beach, Calif., plant last week about the job cuts, but the unit's management still is evaluating how many jobs would have to be lost to cope with the Saudi delay.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association named Jack Kemmerly California representative and Carl Smith Western Region representative. Airline Suppliers Association appointed John Butler, Time Aviation, to the board. American Society of Mechanical Engineers named Wayne Gross managing director- International Gas Turbine Institute.
Air Line Pilots Association filed "authorization to act" cards with the National Mediation Board in an effort to represent the approximately 200 pilots at Sun Country Airlines. ALPA reported an overwhelming showing of interest by the Minneapolis-based carrier's pilots in representation. The NMB requires a showing of interest from at least 35% of unrepresented employees. The NMB likely will assign a hearing officer and conduct an election.
USAir's systemwide passenger traffic rose 8.2% in the first quarter on 7% more capacity, pushing the airline's load factor up 0.7 percentage points to 59.7% (DAILY, April 6). The number of passengers boarded gained 5.7% and the length of the average passenger journey increased 2.4% to 659.4 miles. In March, USAir's traffic grew 3.9% on a like increase in capacity, and the length of the average passenger journey rose 3.2% to 662 miles. "We are pleased that we continue to realize increases in traffic on a year- over-year basis," said Chairman Seth Schofield.
All Nippon Airways expects to break even or post a small profit for the fiscal year that ended March 31, the Japanese carrier said Friday. According to a preliminary estimate, the airline had revenues of 794 billion yen for the year. Its passenger volume rose 6% to 35.8 million passengers. ANA carried 1.7 million passengers on its international routes, an increase of 11%, and 34.1 million on its domestic service, an increase of 6%. ANA attributed the growth in international passenger volume to a recovery in business and leisure travel sparked by the strong yen.
Northrop Grumman has signed a long-term agreement with Boeing that extends its 747 fuselage work into the 2000s and consolidates the Boeing jetliner work done by its recently acquired Grumman and Vought businesses under a single agreement. Until now, Northrop signed contracts with Boeing to deliver specific numbers of 747 fuselage shipsets, and the length of the contracts grew longer or shorter depending on Boeing's production volume. Under the new deal, Northrop's participation in the program is assured "into the next decade," spokesman Tony Cantafio said.
- In Federal Register dated April 3...Issued an airworthiness directive on AlliedSignal GTCP85 series auxiliary power units requiring an exhaust center body...Issued an AD on AlliedSignal TPE331 engines requiring inspection of the fuel control drive shaft splines...Proposed an AD on certain Airbus A300 aircraft to require inspection for discrepancies of a certain thrust reverser control lever spring...Proposed to supersede an AD on Boeing 757 aircraft concerning modifications of the passenger door.
The Senate last week passed unanimously a supplemental appropriations/rescissions bill (H.R.1158) after adopting an amendment that cut an additional $717 million from unobligated Airport Improvement Program contract authority to help offset an increase in public housing modernization and other programs. The extra AIP reduction brings the total cut in the bill to $2.017 billion, virtually eliminating all AIP contract authority through fiscal 1995 except the $1.45 billion Congress is allowing FAA to obligate this fiscal year.
Rep. Norman Mineta (D-Calif.) last week introduced at the request of the Clinton administration legislation (H.R.1441) to transfer air traffic control services from FAA to a government corporation (DAILY, April 4). Mineta, ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, also introduced by request legislation (H.R.1440) to restructure DOT into three operating agencies - FAA, Coast Guard and a new Intermodal Transportation Administration (DAILY, April 7).
American Society of Travel Agents is accepting nominations for four ASTA awards given to individuals for contributions to travel and tourism. Nominations for the Travel Hall of Fame, Travel Agent of the Year, Allied Member Award and the Melva C. Pederson CTC Award are due by June 1.
A new airport traffic control tower and terminal radar approach control facility will be dedicated April 12 by FAA and the Norfolk Airport Authority. FAA Eastern Region Administrator Arlene Feldman said civil aviation and the high level of military aviation in the area "will be served well" by the improvements. The 134-foot, $4.5 million tower houses seven air traffic control operator positions for local and ground control in the tower cab, and 20 more controller positions are in the 14,500- square-foot base building, which provides radar approach control.
Alaska Airlines flew 15% more revenue passenger miles last month than in March a year ago, but its load factor declined 4.2 percentage points because traffic growth did not keep pace with the airline's 23% increase in capacity. The number of passengers boarded increased 13.8%. March 95 March 94 3 Mths 95 3 Mths 94 RPMs 663,000,000 575,000,000 1,793,000,000 1,536,000,000 ASMs 1,115,000,000 904,000,000 3,182,000,000 2,553,000,000
