Airbus Industrie says 52% of its customers operate between one and four aircraft apiece, accounting for 13% of its delivered fleet. The consortium believes it can grow with successful startups and small operators, even though a small number of aircraft "presents training and logistics problems."
Emery Worldwide President David Beatson said yesterday the company is adding service to the West Coast, the northeastern, central and mountain states and Florida from its sortation center in Dayton, Ohio. The added service will bring Emery's nightly domestic fleet to 50 aircraft, the largest fleet dedicated exclusively to business-to-business cargo transportation, he said. Beatson said that "despite economic policies that have slowed last year's rapid growth of the U.S.
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, operator of Tampa Airport, is urging DOT to grant "expeditiously" USAir's application for Tampa-Aruba service. USAir plans to operate the service under a cooperative alliance with Air Aruba. USAir also has asked for authority to operate scheduled code-share service with Air Aruba between Baltimore, Charlotte and Miami, on the one hand, and Aruba, on the other (DAILY, May 3). The carrier plans to begin placing its designator code on Air Aruba DC-9-32 and MD-80 flights on June 21. (Docket 50318)
Alaska Airlines' clerical, office and passenger service employees represented by the Machinists union have ratified a four-year contract tentatively agreed to last month. The agreement covers about 2,200 workers, and will go into effect upon formal signing by the union and company.
As 500 members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) demonstrated yesterday at 55 airports, FAA Administrator David Hinson called the controllers' campaign an "important focus of attention on the need for the fundamental reform of the national air traffic control system" (DAILY, May 8). A NATCA spokesman said the campaign is aimed at members of Congress and that is why travelers were presented mail-back cards.
Delta's systemwide passenger traffic inched up 0.9% last month on 1.3% more capacity, shaving 0.3 percentage points from the carrier's load factor. The number of passengers boarded increased 0.1%. Delta's domestic traffic increased 1.9% on 2.9% more capacity, while international traffic declined 2% on 3.6% less capacity. "April marks the 20th consecutive month of systemwide traffic growth," said Robert Coggin, Delta's senior VP- marketing.
Federal Express is seeking renewal of its authority to operate all-cargo service between the U.S. and Chile in combination with its existing all- cargo flights to other points in South America. The carrier currently operates the service five times a week on a Memphis/Miami-Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires-Santiago routing. FedEx operates DC-10-30 aircraft between Memphis/Miami and Sao Paulo before changing gauge to 727-200 freighter aircraft for the Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires-Santiago leg. (Docket 48874)
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Income Statement, October 1, 1994 - February 29, 1995 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ 18,391,000.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 350,892,000.00 Use of International Travel Facilities 23,711,000.00
Aeromexico has asked DOT for renewal of its authority to operate scheduled combination service between Mexico City and Phoenix, Ariz. The carrier initiated daily nonstop service on the route in June 1992. Because of market conditions, Aeromexico suspended Phoenix flights in January 1993, and currently is serving the city under a code-share arrangement with America West. (Docket 50334)
United's Association of Flight Attendants unit has issued a veiled threat that it will take action if the company does not address job security concerns. United and its flight attendants are at odds over the opening of a new Hong Kong domicile that United says will save $5 million a year and generate new jobs. The union believes it will ship more jobs overseas (DAILY, May 1).
DOT Secretary Federico Pena said the DOT has suspended until further notice the pre-employment alcohol test requirement for transportation industries and has sent to Capitol Hill legislation to halt the practice. The actions are "in keeping with the review of all government regulations called for by President Clinton," Pena said.
Air South's April traffic increased 1.8% from the March level, to 29.4 million revenue passenger miles, on 0.4% more capacity. The airline boarded 83,805 passengers, up 1.3%. The April load factor was 50.7%. Year-over-year comparison is not available because Air South began flight operations in September last year.
USAir is scheduled to resume negotiations tomorrow for wage and work rule concessions with its flight attendants, the last major hurdle in its plan to achieve labor savings from all of its unions. The Transport Workers Union - representing about 200 employees - has not yet reached agreement with the company. A USAir representative said, however, that the union has been talking to the company all along and that its issues are not as complex as those of the other unions.
Southwest's passenger load factor dipped 2.4 percentage points last month to 66% as its traffic increased 9.2% but failed to keep pace with a 13% gain in available seat miles. The number of passengers boarded rose 7%, and the average length of haul increased 2% to 514 miles. Through the first four months, traffic increased 4.8% on 13% more capacity, resulting in a load factor drop of 4.9 points. The number of passengers carried increased 3.2%. April 1995 April 1994 4 Months 1995 4 Months 1994
Delta said yesterday it is too early to say whether it will seek U.S. antitrust immunity for its cooperative arrangements with Swissair and Sabena. Reuters, citing unidentified sources, said such a move was in the offing as a way for the three airlines and Austrian to extend their cooperation. Delta had little to say but did leave open the possibility. "Delta has studied the possibility of such an arrangement with some of its code-sharing partners," a Delta spokeswoman said.
Tower Air's systemwide scheduled passenger traffic rose 61.4% from a year ago on 40.1% more capacity, boosting the carrier's passenger load factor 9.9 percentage points to 75.2%. The number of passengers boarded increased 53.1%. Through the first four months of this year, Tower's traffic increased 45.4% on 46.7% more capacity, pushing the carrier's load factor down 0.6 points to 71.9%. April 1995 April 1994 4 Months 1995 4 Months 1994 RPMs 234,000,000 145,000,000 891,000,000 613,000,000
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines is seeking authority to operate charter cargo service between Russia and the U.S. A private joint stock company founded in 1993, Atlant plans to inaugurate cargo service in June if its application is approved. Noting that it already is designated for U.S. service by the government of Russia, the Moscow-based carrier expects to use a variety of aircraft, relying primarily on Il-76s. Atlant owns two Il-76s and leases another eight of the aircraft. Its fleet also includes a number of other Russian-made aircraft. (Docket 50328)
A man who allegedly fired 43 rounds from a semi-automatic weapon at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Sunday morning is in stable condition after being wounded and apprehended by airport police. The suspect, David Allan DeMatthew, fired 16 shots inside the terminal baggage claim level and 27 outside the terminal, but only one person was injured by broken glass, airport officials said. DeMatthew is expected to face state and federal charges.
United Express carrier Mountain West Airlines, a division of Mesa Air Group, began daily service yesterday from Bellingham and Wenatchee, Wash., to Seattle; from Eugene and Medford, Ore., to Portland; from Yakima, Wash., to Portland and Seattle, and from Monterey, Calif., to Los Angeles. On June 1, it plans to increase flights from Los Angeles to Oxnard, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria, as well as to Yuma, Ariz. Mountain West operates 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprops. The added service is the result of a 10- year agreement the carrier reached with United.
Downeast Flying Service is aiming at beginning commuter service in the northeastern U.S. on June 1, said Richard Goodrich, Downeast president. The carrier, which gained DOT certification last month, plans initially to operate twice-daily roundtrip service between Portland, Maine, and Hartford, Conn., and a single daily roundtrip between Portland and White Plains, N.Y. The Wiscasset, Maine-based airline will operate the service at first using Piper PA 31-350 aircraft but is looking toward acquiring turboprop aircraft, such as the Beech 1900.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Balance Sheet, As of February 28, 1995 ASSETS Undisbursed Balances: Available for Investment $ 4,890,941.03 TOTAL UNDISBURSED BALANCE (Cash in Account) Receivables: Interest Receivables $ 114,720,235.42 TOTAL RECEIVABLES Investments: U.S. Treasury Certificates of Indebtedness 6-3/4% matures 06/30/95 $ 433,025,000.00
American's systemwide traffic rose 7.6% from April a year ago on 1.8% more capacity, boosting the airline's load factor 3.6 percentage points to 66.7%. The number of passengers boarded increased 1.5%. American's traffic rose in every one of its service segments, with increases ranging from 5.2% for North America to 16.4% for Latin America. The load factors also gained across the board. "Both traffic and load factor continue to show very impressive gains," said Michael Gunn, senior VP-marketing.
Six of the eight sensors in the Automated Surface Observing System do not meet contract specifications for accuracy or performance, according to the General Accounting Office. GAO says that under-par performance of the National Weather Service program could "risk aviation efficiency and safety."
LanChile is seeking renewal of its authority to operate combination service between Santiago, Chile, and Los Angeles, via Mexico City and Lima, Peru, with full traffic rights between Los Angeles and Mexico City/Lima. The carrier also wants DOT to renew its authority to operate cargo service between Santiago and the U.S.
Cathay Pacific may take its first steps toward mixed-fleet flying with its Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft by July, John Bent, the airline's flying training manager, said last week at Airbus Industrie press briefings in Toulouse, France. The carrier is working with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department to develop "practical rules" to allow pilots to operate either aircraft on a regular basis with minimal additional training, taking advantage of the commonality in cockpits and handling characteristics of the two models.
