US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported Wednesday that the average per gallon fuel cost for US airlines in August was up 9.9% to $2.22 from $2.02 in the year-ago month, and up slightly from $2.21 in July.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines' nearly 600 mechanics and related workers voted "by a 2-1 margin" to unionize with representation from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union said Wednesday.
Twenty-four US and European airlines have written to US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner with a "Statement of Common Principles regarding the development of a new OECD Aircraft Sector Understanding agreement" aimed at reigning in export credit supported aircraft financings that the airlines claim give carriers outside the ASU regions an unfair advantage.
Air France KLM operated 17.66 billion RPKs in September, up 1.8% from the year-ago month. Capacity was down 0.5% to 21.09 billion ASKs and load factor rose 1.9 points to 83.8%. American Airlines operated 10.05 billion RPMs in September, up 5.6% year-over-year, while capacity rose 4.8% to 12.55 billion ASMs. Load factor increased 0.6 points to 80.1%. American Eagle flew 729.9 million RPMs, up 17.3%, against a 12.3% increase in capacity to 1.02 billion ASMs. Load factor increased 3.1 points to 71.7%.
A Jetstar spokeswoman confirmed to ATW that a person employed by airline services company SkyCare on behalf of Jetstar was arrested in Auckland and charged with assault after allegedly attacking a passenger Saturday at Auckland Airport. The passenger was treated for a concussion, cuts and bruises and said he intends to file a civil claim against Jetstar. The altercation reportedly stems from a dispute over the employee's refusal to waive a strict check-in deadline.
Aer Arann's examinership, the Irish equivalent of US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, was extended by the Irish High Court following the signing of a conditional investment agreement on Monday that gives the carrier "a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern," the court decided.
HomeAway acquires software partner Thomas Cook, The Co-operative Group to merge travel shops Merging carriers need to reassess revenue management needs As flash sale sites proliferate, hotels need to be choosy The view from the hotel sector of bundling, unbundling ‘Expect an airline to act’ on credit card fees within 12 months World news briefing
GDS companies should be forced to bargain for access to new ancillary services, Delta Air Lines told the U.S. Transportation Department. In comments on a proposed rule that would require airlines to provide optional service fee data to GDSs, the carrier said it is considering the GDSs as a distribution channel for ancillary services and expects to negotiate with them for access. But Delta added that GDSs have not effectively demonstrated to airlines the technological capability to sell ancillary services.
News from Travel Technology Update: GDS companies should be forced to bargain for access to new ancillary services, Delta Air Lines told the U.S. Transportation Department. In comments on a proposed rule that would require airlines to provide optional service fee data to GDSs, the carrier said it is considering the GDSs as a distribution channel for ancillary services and expects to negotiate with them for access. But Delta added that GDSs have not effectively demonstrated to airlines the technological capability to sell ancillary services.
Southwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters representing the carrier's more than 170 stock clerks calling for a 5-yr. contract that will expire Aug. 16, 2013 and is retroactive to Aug. 16, 2008. The stock clerks still have to ratify the accord; they voted down a prior tentative agreement ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 24).
Some air traffic controllers' trade unions will take part in the general strike announced for Tuesday in France, prompting French Civil Aviation Authorities to limit the number of flights for all airlines operating to/from the country.
The Chinese government cut the country's domestic aviation fuel prices by 2.1%, from CNY5,610 ($841) per ton to CNY5,490 as of Oct. 1, according to China Aviation Oil Corp.
US House of Representatives Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) cautioned last week in a letter to the US Dept. of Justice that the Southwest Airlines-AirTran Airways merger could severely damage the famous "Southwest effect" that keeps fares low at airports in which SWA operates through the LCC's exertion of "competitive discipline on network carriers."
The European Commission said ICAO's comprehensive agreement on climate change provides a "good basis" for it to "swiftly" proceed with plans to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme starting in 2012.
US House of Representatives Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) cautioned last week in a letter to the US Dept. of Justice that the Southwest Airlines-AirTran Airways merger could severely damage the famous "Southwest effect" that keeps fares low at airports in which SWA operates through the LCC's exertion of "competitive discipline on network carriers."
Member states of ICAO finalized an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including creating a framework to implement market-based measures to manage aviation GHGs on a sectoral basis.
Pratt & Whitney won a 5-yr. exclusive engine management program agreement with Air Memphis covering the Cairo-based carrier's fleet of V2500 engines. AFI KLM E&M reached a 3-yr. contract renewal agreement with Royal Jordanian to continue to provide A340 component and engine support, and will now provide component support for its A330s as well. The contract includes repairs and access to the spares pool, it said.
Southwest Airlines flew 6.1 billion RPMs in September, up 5.1% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 4.7% to 8.1 billion ASMs and load factor rose .3 point to 75%. United Airlines operated 8.6 billion mainline RPMs in September, up 5.8% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 2.7% to 10.2 billion ASMs, producing a load factor of 84.5%, up 2.4 points.
US FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that calls for raising fees charged to airlines overflying the US by 14% annually for four consecutive years beginning in the US government's 2012 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2011, and airlines appear willing to live with the proposed rule despite serious reservations about it.
US FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that calls for raising fees charged to airlines overflying the US by 14% annually for four consecutive years beginning in the US government's 2012 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2011, and airlines appear willing to live with the proposed rule despite serious reservations about it.
Amadeus reached a long-term content agreement with the Cathay Pacific Group for access to Cathay Pacific and Dragonair's fares, schedules and availability. Jet Airways signed a 10-yr. business transformation and IT services agreement with IBM valued at $62 million. Jet plans to leverage IBM technology solutions to transform its airport operations, direct distribution and frequent flier programs, it said.
Delta Air Lines flew 16.11 billion system RPMs in September, up 6.5% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 6.6% to 19.53 billion ASMs, as load factor stayed flat at 82.5%. AirTran Airways operated 1.39 billion RPMs in September, up 1.7% from the year-ago month, on a 0.6% increase in capacity to 1.79 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 0.7 points to 77.7%.
With the continuing changes and challenges facing the aviation industry, JLT Aerospace (JLT) will bring together aviation and insurance professionals from around the world for an International Forum in Dubai on January 25-28 next year.
