Officials at Denver Airport have received about 1,500 noise complaints since the facility opened Feb. 28, compared with 431 complaints at Stapleton last year, Airport Noise Abatement Officer Brian Riks said. He attributed the volume of complaints partly to air traffic control instrument anding procedures that are bringing airplanes down to about 5,000 feet at distances of about 25 miles from the airport - rural areas with low background noise that experienced a smaller number of aircraft before DIA was built.
Air Canada has raised C$500 million (US$357 million) by selling combined stock/debt units to a group of investment dealers, according to media reports from Canada. The dealers will sell the units, which comprise newly created non-voting common shares and some debentures. Air Canada will reportedly use the proceeds to finance new aircraft and facilities to support its transborder and international expansion. It did not disseminate information on the transaction to the U.S. on the advice of its securities lawyers.
The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey will examine whether increased private sector involvement, including a lease or management contract with a private airport operator, could improve operations and management of Newark Airport. The bi-state agency selected the joint venture of Leigh Fisher Associates and KPMG Peat Marwick for a $460,000 study to identify and examine potential operational and managerial improvements and efficiencies.
Rolls-Royce reported that its Trent 800 turbofan, which will power the new Boeing 777, completed its first flight this week on a Boeing 747 test bed. Rolls said the engine is the first to be certified at 90,000 pounds takeoff thrust. During the 4 hour and 15 minute flight, designed to test baseline performance calibration, the aircraft reached an altitude to 35,000 feet and cruised at Mach .83.
Fokker is thought to be a leading contender in the regional-jet competition taking place at Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast. Fokker very nearly beat out ATR when ASA acquired its first large turboprops a couple of years ago. Sources told The DAILY that ASA went to Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division seeking the same deal for Canadair RJs that North American launch customer and fellow Delta Connection carrier Comair received, and got little response. Fokker, seeking a greater North American presence for the 79-passenger F70, may be a bit more sympathetic.
Virgin Atlantic Airways has introduced a new tour package that is targeted at the gay community, which the U.K. carrier said is a first in the airline tour package industry. Air-inclusive packages such as "Out in London's West End" and "London Proper/Gay Paree" feature roundtrip air fare on Virgin Atlantic, hotel stays ranging from tourist to deluxe class, "meet & greet service," airport transfers, and continental breakfast daily.
New Zealand authorities this week were investigating the crash of a Beech Queen Air that apparently was operated by Kiwi West Aviation. The aircraft reportedly crashed near the town of Hamilton, New Zealand, Wednesday, killing all six aboard. Wire reports said the airplane reported engine failure to the control tower shortly after taking off around midday and turned to return to Hamilton but disappeared from radar screens after a mayday call.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has renewed its effort to gain DOT authority to operate intermodal cargo services to its U.S. gateways and beyond to other U.S. cities. In its application, it said it is scaling back its unsuccessful February 1994 bid to operate intermodal service nationwide to more than 90 points beyond its gateways (DAILY, Feb. 22, 1994). SIA, which serves Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, said it will specify city- pairs later. Singapore's earlier application drew opposition from American and United.
National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public hearing April 19 on the collision last November of a TWA MD-82 and a Superior Aviation Cessna 441 at Lambert Field in St. Louis. Chairman Jim Hall will preside over the board of inquiry at the Plaza Ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel National Airport, Arlington, Va. The hearing is expected to last two days.
Swissair, which has been unable to win concessions from its pilots despite months of negotiations, yesterday served notice that it plans to terminate the pilots' contract as of March 31, 1996. In giving notice of intention to terminate the current collective working agreement, Swissair said it is attempting to lay the foundation for what it termed "unconditional negotiations." Swissair has been pushing the pilots union, Aeropers, to negotiate unconditionally, meaning all aspects of the current contract are open to discussion.
FAA Administrator David Hinson this week cited a General Accounting Office report that says aviation manufacturers could save between $800 million and $1 billion over 10 years if "international differences in airworthiness standards and duplicate certificates were eliminated."
DOT has invited carriers to apply for scheduled combination services between Tampa and Montreal and/or Toronto. The Tampa authority was originally held by Delta as part of its Miami-Toronto and Miami-Montreal authority. In its route transfer application, Delta told DOT it intended to halt Tampa service April 30, and Miami-Montreal/Toronto rights were transferred to American, which also said it would not serve Tampa (DAILY, Jan. 26). (Docket 50088)
El Al plans to add a third weekly Chicago O'Hare-Tel Aviv flight to its schedule on June 25. The Israeli carrier also said it is expanding nonstop service from Newark and Los Angeles. El Al recently launched its first nonstop from Newark to Tel Aviv and plans to add a second weekly flight to the schedule in June. It also offers two weekly flights from Newark to Tel Aviv via London. Also in June, El Al will begin weekly nonstop service from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. The airline currently offers three weekly direct flights from the California city.
British Airways today will unveil a new $2 million television ad that will premier in the U.S. on Monday in what the airline described as an initial $5 million "burst of activity." The worldwide campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, was shot in Australia and features a cast of 300 actors, 40 boats and helicopter pilots from Sylvester Stallone's "Cliffhanger" movie.
German aircraft leasing company Bavaria Fluggesellschaft has confirmed an order for two more 737-700s valued at $80 million, Boeing said yesterday. The company placed an order for two in January. Bavaria has asked for options on two more 737s, Boeing said.
BWIA International Airways is going to join the LatinPass frequent flyer program, which already counts among its partners 14 Latin carriers and USAir.The recently privatized BWIA is expected to announce the move within the next several days.
The GETS Marketing Co. recently added Guyana Airlines and Air Ukraine to the list of GETS Direct Access participants. Direct Access allows GETS subscribers to view and book last-seat availability in airline reservations systems. The addition of Guyana Airlines and Air Ukraine brings to 76 the number of on-line GETS Direct Access participants. A total of 146 airlines have signed GETS Direct Access agreements.
The Amarillo, Texas, City Commission is scheduled to vote today on a three-year, $3.6 million contract reached between American and the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. to retain American jet service to Dallas/Fort Worth. The contract guarantees that the carrier continues offering three daily jet flights in the market. The contract provides for a flat annual fee of $1.2 million, replacing a more complex arrangement, in force for the past year, that was based on an accounting of loads.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Air France plan to introduce a second weekly joint freighter service between Paris and Singapore via Dubai and Kuala Lumpur on April 5. The flight will be operated with a 747-200 freighter. The two airlines launched their first weekly joint freighter flight on Oct. 30. SIA said that cargo traffic between Paris and Singapore has grown at an average annual rate of 17% over the past few years.
Air South is offering travelers who are 55 and older a $55 roundtrip fare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between any two points it serves. Air South VP- Marketing Tom Volz said many senior citizens who have retired to Florida and the Southeast live in communities the carrier serves. Tickets are non- refundable.
Canadian Airlines International (CAI) yesterday rolled out new discount fares intended to keep the airline competitive with charter carriers and capture a bigger slice of the leisure travel market this summer. The fares are being marketed at "Night & Day Value Fares" and offer discounts of up to 75% off full coach fares to passengers traveling on selected domestic routes. A CAI spokeswoman said the airline can afford to offer such deep discounts because it is bringing in new capacity this summer at little or no additional cost.
Despite a preliminary agreement on concessions between USAir and its pilots, S&P's ratings on USAir remain on CreditWatch with negative implications, the rating agency said yesterday. The ratings on $2.7 billion in debt have been on CreditWatch since Feb. 15, 1994.
Kuwait Airways yesterday took delivery of the first of four A340-300s which it will use on services to New York via London and Frankfurt, and to Asia with nonstop flights to Bombay, Bangkok and Manila. Kuwait's aircraft are the first to be powered by the new version of the CFM56-5C engine, which improves hot-and-high performance.
