Continental Connection carrier GP Express will begin Washington Dulles- Newark flights June 22 with Beech 1900s. Continental will enter the market with jets in early September, offering two daily flights with 737s. At that time, GP Express will reduce its flights from four a day to three.
DOT is holding out the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority rates and charges case as an example of how not to organize pleadings in such proceedings, faulting airlines and the airport authority alike for unclear and imprecise filings. "Parties will assist us and themselves in future proceedings of this nature by expressly alleging and proving the elements of their cases at the outset, with appropriate references to statute, regulation, policy and evidentiary materials," the department said.
United's systemwide passenger load factor increased 1.7 percentage points last month to 69.8%, the second-best load factor for the month in the airline's history. Among United's four traffic sectors, the load factor was down only in the Pacific, by 2.8 points to 68.8%, as passenger traffic grew 7.9% but failed to keep pace with a 12.1% increase in capacity. United's North American traffic increased 6.6% in April on 2.1% more capacity. Atlantic traffic increased 4% despite a 1.1% decline in capacity, and Latin American traffic inched up 0.8% on 1.4% less capacity.
Granted orally an exemption to Islena de Inversiones, operating as Islena Airlines, to conduct combination service between a point or points in Honduras and the U.S. co-terminal points Miami/New Orleans/Houston, and charters...Granted orally an exemption to Air Marshall Islands renewing its authority to operate scheduled combination service between Majuro and Kajelein, Marshall Islands, and Honolulu; and charter service between the Marshall Islands and the U.S....Granted orally an exemption to Laker Airways (Bahamas) for amended authority granted Oct.
European authorities passed a regulation setting standards for flight data recorders - JAR OPS 1.715, which will take effect for all large aircraft on April 1, 1998. FAA is toughening U.S. FDR standards, which were amended in October 1991.
Sacramento County, Calif., Department of Airports officially opened Mather Airport Friday, completing the conversion of the former Mather Air Force Base into an air cargo and general aviation airport. Airborne Express, relocating its Sacramento operation to Mather from Sacramento Metro Airport, is Mather's first commercial tenant. Mather AFB closed in 1993, and Sacramento County has leased the facility from the Air Force for 55 years.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association filed a Part 13 complaint at FAA to reverse a transfer of more than $50 million from the Los Angeles Department of Airports to the City of Los Angeles general fund. The complaint, following one from March by the Air Transport Association, concerns the transfer of the proceeds from the state's condemnation of land to build a highway. FAA last month denied the city's request for a stay of ATA's complaint, but it gave the city more time - until May 24 - to respond (DAILY, April 25).
Airline stocks retreated Friday at least partially on the strength of reports that TWA may drop its cap on domestic travel agent commissions. Investors who bailed out of airline stocks were concerned that if TWA drops the cap, implemented by a number of airlines this spring, then others would follow suit and the potential cost savings would be lost. But two analysts, NatWest's Michael Derchin, and PaineWebber's Samuel Buttrick, both said Friday that action by TWA was unlikely to cause a stampede among other airlines rushing to follow suit.
Fifty years ago, United Airlines reported a net profit of $1,643,288 on operating revenues of $9,392,593, a margin of 17.5%, for the first quarter of 1945. For the comparable period in 1995, United parent UAL Corp. earned $3 million on revenues of $3.3 billion, a margin of about nine-hundredths of one percent.
Australia's Trade Practices Commission is expected to issue its final ruling this week on a proposed Qantas/British Airways cooperative agreement covering fares, capacity and scheduling on routes between Australia, Asia and Europe. Late last year, TPC tentatively rejected the deal, which is a major element of the BA/Qantas alliance, but there have been reports recently that a compromise has been reached.
Air Transport Association predicts the industry will carry its 10 billionth passenger next month and is planning a celebration on Capitol Hill June 8. The event, to commemorate the first flight in 1915 - between St. Petersburg and Tampa - will involve the grandchildren of the first airline passenger.
TWA's systemwide passenger traffic declined 4.1% last month as its international traffic fell 16.3% and domestic revenue passenger miles rose less than 1%. Its load factor was unchanged, however, as systemwide capacity was down 4% and international available seat miles dropped 20.6%, offsetting a 2.4% gain in domestic capacity. The systemwide load factor was 64.3%, and the number of passengers boarded fell 1.4%. Through the first four months, systemwide traffic was up 1.3% on 1.4% less capacity, pushing the load factor up 1.7 points to 62.5%.
KLM's overall systemwide traffic, including passenger and freight operations, increased 15% last month, to 639.3 million revenue ton kilometers, on 9% more capacity. The result was a load factor increase of 3.4 percentage points, to 73.3%. Passenger traffic rose 11%, to 3.53 billion revenue passenger kilometers, on 3% more capacity, pushing the passenger load factor up 5.5 points to 72.7%. KLM said its Asia/Pacific operations posted the highest load factor in its system, 79.7%. The load factor on flights to the U.S. and Mexico rose 9.1 points, to 78.5%.
American Trans Air parent company Amtran's first quarter net earnings rose 1.8% to $5.4 million, or 46 cents per share, from $5.3 million, or 45 cents per share, a year earlier. Amtran's operating profit was up 8.1% to $10.6 million from $9.8 million. Operating revenues were up 27.5% on a 52.8% jump in scheduled service revenues, but the growing company's operating expenses also increased, rising 28.9% from the first quarter a year ago.
An increasingly optimistic USAir Friday posted a 3.6% rise in traffic for April on just 0.8% more capacity, boosting its load factor 1.8 percentage points. The number of passengers enplaned rose 0.9% for the month, but that was offset by a 4.5% increase in the length of the average passenger journey to 655.9 miles. "We are beginning to see the effect of generally improving traffic conditions," said USAir Chairman Seth Schofield.
Foreign visitors to the U.S. in the third quarter of 1994 rated service at U.S. international airports above average, according to a U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration inflight survey of more than 10,000 passengers. The survey asked for ratings in seven areas, including airport access, concession prices, ground transportation and security. The overall grade was 3.8 on a scale of 5, with airport access ranking highest and concession prices lowest.
DOT has granted authority tentatively to Northwest, United and Delta to operate service to Ukraine with their respective code-share partners, KLM, Lufthansa and Austrian. Northwest received three weekly frequencies to operate service with KLM from the U.S. to Kiev via Amsterdam. Northwest plans to begin with four weekly roundtrips and then increase to six Sept. 1. United gained 3.5 weekly frequencies for service with Lufthansa to Kiev via Frankfurt. The carrier proposes a daily code-share flight between Frankfurt and Kiev.
Duff&Phelps Credit Rating Co. Friday assigned a AA- rating to International Lease Finance Corp.'s offering of $100 million worth of 7% senior notes. The agency said the rating reflects ILFC's status as a major international aircraft operating lessor, its strong record of profitability, widely diversified aircraft portfolio and experienced management team. It also cited the financial strength and support of ILFC parent American International Group as an important component of the rating.
DOT is inviting U.S. carriers to apply for overflight rights available under the U.S.-Russia air transport agreement. The pact allows U.S. airlines to overfly and stop for non-traffic purposes on 28 flights a week, 14 eastbound and 14 westbound, between Europe and the Indian subcontinent on approved Air Traffic Services routes. U.S. carriers also may operate 14 flight per week, seven in each direction, between Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. Currently, Delta operates 14 overflights a week between Europe and the Indian subcontinent and Tower flies four.
U.S. negotiators will propose an open skies agreement in aviation talks starting today in Warsaw. Expected to last three days, the negotiations also will deal with complaints by Northwest and United that Poland has not allowed them to operate code-share service with their respective partners, KLM and Lufthansa. DOT has held up action on the American-LOT code-share proposal until these complaints can be addressed.
Alaska Airlines' April passenger traffic rose 20.9% on 25% more capacity, causing the load factor to fall two points to 60.5%. The number of passengers boarded increased 19.1% Through the first four months of this year, traffic rose 17.8% but failed to keep pace with capacity, which grew 24.8% from the same period last year. The result was a load factor decline of 3.4 points to 57.4%. The number of passengers boarded increased 16.3%. April 1995 April 1994 4 Mths 95 4 Mths 94
In the tentative agreements it reached with USAir last week, the Machinists agreed to a 12.9% wage "investment" and work rule changes in return for a no-layoff provision, according to information issued by the Machinists Friday (DAILY, May 4). USAir declined to comment. The five-year agreements, which are subject to ratification by the rank-and-file, are conditioned on the "fair and equitable" participation by all other USAir employees and "appropriate" contributions by other stakeholders, the Machinists said.
Southwest unveiled Friday the Family Fare, a new discount fare to and from Salt Lake City. Under the fare, up to seven people pay half price when traveling with a customer who buys an unrestricted-fare ticket. The tickets, which must be purchased seven days before travel, are non- refundable and must be bought by June 15 for travel through Oct. 27. The travel group must purchase roundtrip tickets, use the same itinerary and stay one night at their destination.
The National Aviation Associations Coalition (NAAC), representing 28 aviation organizations, said Friday it has formed subcommittees to develop more ideas and specific suggestions on FAA procurement, personnel and funding. The action responds to an invitation from Rep. Jim Lightfoot (R- Iowa) for comments on the FAA reform bill (H.R.1392) he introduced April 4. The coalition said introduction of H.R.1392 is "a valuable contribution to the healthy debate concerning much-needed reform of the FAA."
