Canadian regional Jazz Air reached a tentative labor contract agreement with approximately 760 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Flight Attendants Union. Pending ratification, further details were not disclosed. Jazz and its pilots reached a tentative agreement on a new labor pact on June 25 that is still subject to ratification, and negotiations with its 33 crew schedulers are ongoing, the carrier said.
The International Assn. of Machinists, which represents Northwest Airlines mechanics and ground service workers, yesterday filed an application with the US National Mediation Board seeking declaration of NWA and Delta Air Lines as a "single carrier" so that it can move forward with a unionization vote that could allow it to represent more than 30,000 DL/NWA workers.
Delta Air Lines said yesterday it has entered into definitive agreements to sell subsidiaries Mesaba and Compass Airlines, both of which it acquired in its merger with Northwest Airlines, for a combined $82.5 million.
A year that began with airlines mired in the worst recession in at least 30 years ended on an upbeat note and the momentum has carried into 2010. But watch out for volcanoes.
Japan Airlines yesterday detailed its schedule for international operations from Tokyo Haneda beginning Oct. 31, explaining that it will use its extensive network of domestic flights to/from the airport to feed passengers to international services and to offer arriving international passengers transport from HND to destinations throughout Japan.
Aegean Airlines became the 28th member of Star Alliance in ceremonies in the Greek capital yesterday, just over one year after it officially was invited to join.
Vueling Airlines flew 842.9 million RPKs in May, up 103.9% year-over-year, while capacity jumped 102% to 1.18 billion ASKs; large increases are attributable to its merger with Clickair in July ( ATW Daily News, July 13, 2009). Load factor rose 0.6 point to 71.5%.
UPS yesterday launched the most aggressive campaign to date by an express operator to promote "alternatives" to domestic airline baggage carriage, unveiling a "luggage box" through which passengers can ship bags in advance of flying rather than checking them at the airport.
Singapore Airlines flew 6.65 billion RPKs in May, up 12.3% from the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 0.5% to 8.89 billion ASKs and load factor rose 7.9 points to 74.8%. AirBaltic transported 295,809 passengers in May, a 29% increase year-over-year. Load factor rose 3 points to 69%.
Lufthansa and its pilots represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit union last week reached agreement on a new labor contract through federal arbitration, ending a year-long dispute that included a brief walkout by flight deck crew earlier this year.
Aer Lingus will become the anchor tenant at Dublin's new Terminal 2, operating long-haul and short-haul service from the terminal when it opens in November, Dublin Airport Authority said. T2, which has been designed to handle up to 15 million passengers per year, features a US Customs and Border Protection facility. Embarking passengers processed through the CPB will be classified as domestic upon arrival into the US.
British Airways on Friday made a new offer to the Unite union in what it called "a fresh attempt to end the current dispute" with its flight attendants that has led to 22 days of strikes this year. The offer was handed over to the UK's Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which previously stated that it had been unable to broker a deal between the sides ( ATW Daily News, June 18).
Air China said Friday it has reached agreement with Boeing on an order for 20 737-800s to be delivered 2013-15. The Beijing-based carrier revealed the order in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It said the order is worth about $1.4 billion at list prices, but noted that it received "a significant price concession" from the manufacturer. CA said the order would increase its capacity by 5%.
United Airlines and Continental Airlines pilots on Friday criticized management at the airlines for "unwillingness to compromise" on issues "that have little financial impact" related to the impending merger of the carriers.
Southwest Airlines Executive VP and COO Mike Van de Ven yesterday called on aircraft manufacturers to develop a new narrowbody aircraft, saying that today's 737NG and A320s are unable to deliver the "step change" in efficiency that the airline industry needs.
