Airbus North America welcomed Tom Anderson as senior VP-Customer Services Inc. Aircell selected John Wade as senior VP & GM-business aviation services. Airports Council International appointed Victor de Barrena dir.-Global Training Hub. Air Transport Assn. elected United Airlines Chairman, President & CEO Glenn Tilton as chairman and named Eric Thacker dir.-security operations and Sametta Barnett MD-security.
Spirit Airlines requested authorization from US Dept. of Transportation to operate Fort Lauderdale-Armenia, Colombia, service next summer. It already plans to launch daily FLL-Medellin flights on March 1 aboard A319s. The same day it will begin daily Chicago O'Hare-Myrtle Beach.
Accident investigators are looking into what caused the pilots of a Continental Airlines 737-500 to abort takeoff on Saturday evening in Denver, where the aircraft veered from the runway into a ravine in an accident that destroyed the plane and injured 38.
US Dept. of Transportation said it will "work with carriers" to implement voluntary reductions in scheduled operations at New York LaGuardia to 71 per hr. from the current 75 during next year's summer schedule. "We want to use every tool at our disposal to help passengers stuck with this grueling congestion," Secretary Mary Peters said. DOT's plan to conduct slot auctions was put on hold by a US Court of Appeals ruling two weeks ago ( ATWOnline, Dec. 10).
Virgin Atlantic Airways is not interested in acquiring bmi regional or bmibaby and is negotiating with Lufthansa solely about the acquisition of bmi's mainline operation at London Heathrow, Virgin CFO Julie Southern confirmed to ATWOnline.
Aer Lingus will resume its Shannon-London Heathrow service with twice-daily flights beginning March 29. It closed the route in January ( ATWOnline, Aug. 8, 2007) but said recent cost-saving measures agreed to by EI staff at SNN, Cork and Dublin ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11), along with a "new deal" on charges with the Shannon Airport Authority and a fall in fuel prices, have prompted it to restart service.
Ryanair is considering reducing its Frankfurt Hahn-based fleet from the current 11 737-800s by "several aircraft," a spokesperson from the carrier said last week. The airport is planning to introduce a €3 ($4.33) per-passenger terminal fee in the 2009 second quarter. Ryanair will make an announcement next month regarding any route cancellations. "We expect cost increase will reduce our passenger numbers at Hahn," the spokesperson said, adding that an employee reduction also is possible. It expects approximately 4 million passengers at the airport this year.
Aer Lingus will establish its first base in Great Britain in April at London Gatwick, with four A320s operating to Dublin, Knock, Malaga, Munich, Zurich, Nice, Faro and Vienna. EI's only other base outside the Republic of Ireland is at Belfast International, which it opened one year ago ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11). "The Gatwick operation will complement our existing services out of London Heathrow and position Aer Lingus for growth as we roll out new routes and bases in future years," CEO Dermot Mannion said.
Swissport said it concluded an agreement with South African Airways to provide ground handling for SAA at Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London and George airports. Agreements run from 2009 to 2014.
Air New Zealand issued a challenge to key New Zealand airports to follow Singapore's decision to cut landing charges by 10% to stem the drop in tourists ( ATWOnline, Dec. 15). ANZ Deputy CEO Norm Thompson said Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch should follow suit and work with airlines to help stimulate travel. "We all need to play our part in stimulating travel. Airports could assist in keeping fares lower by reducing landing fees during this economic downturn," he said.
