Tarom expects to join SkyTeam this year, an airline source told ATWOnline, echoing comments from alliance officials in November ( ATWOnline, Nov. 6, 2009). RO also plans to launch new service in March from Bucharest Otopeni to Riga, Bari and Nice. The carrier currently operates four 737-300s, four 737-700s, three 737-800s, four A318s, two A310-300s, seven ATR 42s and two ATR 72s.
The US National Transportation Safety Board identified pilot error as the cause of the February 2009 Colgan Air Q400 crash that killed 50, stating in its report released late Tuesday, "When the stick-shaker activated to warn the flight crew of an impending aerodynamic stall, the captain should have responded correctly to the situation by pushing forward on the control column. However, the captain inappropriately pulled aft on the control column and placed the airplane into an accelerated aerodynamic stall."
British Airways' decision to impose staffing cuts and introduce changes to cabin crew working conditions, which has prompted two strike votes by the Unite union ( ATWOnline, Jan. 21), now is being challenged in court. "It's about whether an employer can, without due notice or negotiation, systematically change the longstanding contracts of employment of its workforce," Unite National Officer for Civil Aviation Steve Turner said.
EasyJet signed a multiyear contract with the UK's Met Office, the country's national weather service, to use its new online ClearFlight solution, designed to help the carrier "anticipate weather-related delays at departure and destination airports around Europe." ClearFlight forms part of the Met Office's new Aviation Briefing Service.
Russian government yesterday announced plans to merge a series of smaller airlines, including St. Petersburg-based Rossiya, into Aeroflot. Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said the consolidation would lift SU's domestic market share to 30%-35% from 15%-20%, according to RIA Novosti. Other carriers involved are Kavminvodyavia, Orenburg Airlines, Vladivostokavia, Saratov Airlines and Sakhalin Airlines, according to ITAR TASS.
SITA deployed the world's first Common Use Self-Service kiosks with an Arabic interface at Sharjah International, the parties announced yesterday. Passengers flying Air Arabia, Nas Air, Sama, Air India and Jet Airways are using the kiosks. SITA also is providing Web check-in for Air Arabia under a five-year deal.
News from Travel Technology Update: Amadeus is rolling out Master Pricer Agent Fare Families, an application that will enable travel agencies to set their own criteria for sorting air fares on their Web sites. Search results can be grouped in up to six fare families, each with similar characteristcs. Criteria can include the publishing carrier, booking class, cabin, refundability, penalties, public/private/corporate fare, etc.
Grupo TACA and Avianca yesterday announced the finalization of their merger agreement and the forming of their joint holding company, to be called Avianca-TACA Ltd. It will be domiciled in the Bahamas and held 67% by Avianca parent Synergy Aerospace Corp. and 33% by TACA parent Kingsland Holding.
Advanced Electronics Company (AEC)of Saudi Arabia and US firm Rockwell Collins today agreed to co-develop and market products and solutions to customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East.
Amadeus is rolling out Master Pricer Agent Fare Families, an application that will enable travel agencies to set their own criteria for sorting air fares on their Web sites. Search results can be grouped in up to six fare families, each with similar characteristcs. Criteria can include the publishing carrier, booking class, cabin, refundability, penalties, public/private/corporate fare, etc. Thomas Muller, senior manager of availability and shopping for Amadeus, said the application is not meant to allow agencies to replicate or reorganize airlines' branded fare families.
Singapore government invests in Travelport Iglu gets £4.3 million private equity infusion Is there a place for the iPad in travel distribution? JetBlue completes migration to SabreSonic CSS TravelClick unveils suite of hotel business intelligence solutions Revelex gives cruise sites the power to compete with giants World news briefing
Austriair, a Vienna-based startup scheduled to launch operations this spring ( ATWOnline, Jan. 18), has changed its name to MAP Jet following complaints over the original name from Austrian Airlines. MAP is an Austrian business jet, charter and ACMI operator and has been contracted by Austriair to fly its three wet-leased E-195s. MD Bosoko Rasovic told ATWOnline that the carrier has no plans to extend its initial network beyond VIE, Munich, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
Australia's Office of Transport Security reported to ATWOnline last week that there were 461 reports last year of air rage incidents, up from 279 in 2008 and 67 in 2007, covering events in which passengers were disruptive, intoxicated or involved in altercations. Labor unions are calling for stiffer penalties. Australian Services Union Federal Secretary Linda White claimed the typical A$5,500 fine is not sufficiently severe. "They are obviously not a deterrent," she said, laying the blame on alcohol and overcrowded airports that produce more aggressive behavior.
The European Commission confirmed yesterday that it is assessing "the effectiveness of proposed commitments" received from oneworld partners British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia designed "to alleviate" its concerns over anticompetitive aspects of their proposed joint venture.
Webjet Linhas Aereas, a Rio de Janeiro Galeao-based LCC, has received an offer from Ryanair to purchase a stake in the carrier. A spokesperson told Bloomberg News that Webjet owner Guilherme Paulus "received a first contact and heard a proposal from Ryanair" and that talks will continue if the Brazilian government passes a law allowing foreigners to own up to 49% of a domestic airline rather than the current limit of 20%. That decision is expected in March. Webjet operates 20 737-300s to 10 destinations.
Delta Air Lines completed the integration of Northwest Airlines' reservation system over the weekend and transitioned all NWA flights and passenger reservations to the DL system, allowing for the retirement of NWA flight numbers and nwa.com. NWA customers will be able to use their original reservation and confirmation numbers, DL said. "Throughout the integration of Delta and Northwest, we've taken a phased, deliberate approach to make the transition simple and seamless for our customers," Senior VP and CIO Theresa Wise said.
Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co.'s board increased funds available for its common stock repurchase program to $25 million from $10.4 million. The program was launched in January 2009 with $25 million and an additional $10 million was added last July. Allegiant repurchased 637,902 shares with the $24.4 million spent so far.
Alitalia faces its first strike since relaunching one year ago, as flight attendants and pilots represented by FILT CGIL and flight attendants represented by AVIA have planned a 4-hr. work stoppage for Friday. The unions are claiming that AZ did not respect original employee agreements.
Aviareps was selected by Mahan Air as its sales and marketing representative in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and by Israir Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines as their German GSA.
US President Barack Obama's $3.8 trillion budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 contains $79 billion for the Dept. of Transportation and includes funding for NextGen technology and increased security at airports and onboard aircraft.
The Competition Commission of South Africa said it has launched an investigation into collusion on fares and pricing strategies for flights during this summer's World Cup. It named British Airways and its Comair subsidiary, South African Airways, Airlink, SA Express, 1Time and Mango as subjects of the inquiry.
EasyJet appointed EMI Music executive Chris Kennedy as its new finance director, ending the carrier's lengthy search to fill the role following Jeff Carr's May resignation. Wataniya Airways named former Gulf Air VP-Marketing and Sales Lee Shave as CCO.
