ITA Software, which revolutionized air fare shopping, is applying its shopping technology to a new arena: frequent flyer rewards. Its first client is Aeroplan, founded as Air Canada's frequent flyer program but spun off as a separate company after the carrier's bankruptcy reorganization. André Hebért, Aeroplan's vice president of IT and eBusiness, said the move was part of a larger project called ClassicPlus, whose goal was "to offer not just more seats for redemption, but every seat on the aircraft."
WHEN ASKED TO IDENTIFY the feature upon which Vienna International Airport has built its reputation, Herbert Kaufmann, member and speaker of the board of Flughafen Wien, owner and operator of VIE, does not hesitate: "We are the gateway to Eastern European countries. Vienna Airport is the most natural link to the emerging markets of Eastern Europe with its close geographical proximity and our wide range of destinations throughout the region."
OVER THE LONG TERM, AIR CARGO is a reliable growth industry. Nearly all experts tracking the movement of airfreight globally, including both Boeing and Airbus, project average annual scheduled air cargo traffic growth of about 6% over the next 20 years, higher than the anticipated rate of growth for passenger traffic. But from year to year, and even within the same year, airfreight traffic can fluctuate wildly, subject to the changing winds of an unpredictable and often volatile global economy.
IT WAS AN AMBITIOUS GOAL THAT IATA SET FOR the world's airlines in November 2004: As a core part of its Simplifying the Business initiative, it called for the elimination of paper tickets flowing through its bank settlement plansthe systems that handle the movement of funds for tickets booked by travel agenciesby the end of 2007.
MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF powered flight have taught the aviation industry one unshakeable truth: Very few accidents are caused by a single event; more often they are the result of a conflux or alignment of multiple contributory system failures. And in aviation, where most accidents have "human error" as a contributing factor, it is imperative that the industry understand as quickly as possible in a free and open exchange what set of circum-stances conspired to cause humans to err.
AFTER A DREAM RUN THAT SAW the doubling of capacity in two years and the opening up of dozens of routes all over the country, India's domestic airline industry seems to be headed for a hiatus. Signs of weakness in the sector are now there for all to see. Every airline is battling red ink and the carriers are expected to tot up aggregate losses of more than $500 million for the year to March 31, 2007.
FOLLOWING A BETTER-THAN-expected 2006, 2007 may well be the peak year in the current airline earnings cycle and certainly will surpass last year's result. Analysts with whom ATW spoke are guardedly optimistic about the New Year, with expectations for the first industrywide net profit since 2000 barring any new shock(s) to the system.
The decision, implemented on Jan. 8, applies to domestic business and first class fares and international fares purchased on the U.S. Expedia.com site. American's economy seats are still available on the site. The move does not affect American's bookings through Expedia Corporate Travel, which are processed through Sabre, or through international points of sale.
Leave it to Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng to make perhaps what is the most astute observation about the pending takeover of Qantas by a private investment group led by Allco Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Speaking to ATWOnline News Editor Brian Straus recently, Chew pointed out that if, as appears likely, the sale is completed, "the beneficiaries of protectionism are not going to be the traveling public nor the greater Australian interests but financial investors."
Virgin America said it was given US FAA approval for "proving run" test flights, which it claimed moved it a step closer to DOT certification. But the startup, which has leased 34 A320s, still faces citizenship challenges from US competitors who say Richard Branson's Virgin Group, not US investors, control the carrier. It is unclear when it will be able to get its certificate. FAA did not release a statement.
Delta Air Lines should "consider methodically, proactively and fairly strategic alternatives to its standalone Chapter 11 plan," a group of "unofficial" unsecured creditors said last week in a statement. The group of 17 creditors unaligned with the official creditors committee said it "appreciates" the DL standalone plan ( ATWOnline, Dec.
AAR was selected by Southwest Airlines to perform heavy maintenance services and winglet installations for the airline's 737s, with the work to be done at AAR's Indianapolis facility. Under terms of a three-year agreement, AAR will operate one line of nose-to-tail heavy maintenance checks starting in January. Winglet installation will include two nose-to-tail lines, each operating for 16-18 months, also starting next month.
Etihad Airways appointed Iain Burns as its new VP-corporate communications. Burns was head of corporate communications at British Airways for five years before resigning in October ( ATWOnline, Oct. 10). Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, the Mexican airport operator known as ASUR, said CEO Kjeld Binger resigned effective Dec. 31. Chairman Fernando Chico Pardo said current management will assume Binger's responsibilities until a new CEO is appointed, which could come as soon as Jan. 19.
American Airlines said it expects fourth-quarter mainline RASM to increase 3.8%-4.8% year over year, with consolidated unit revenues rising 3.6%-4.6%. It is anticipating fourth-quarter mainline unit costs of 10.98 cents and full-year CASM of 10.92 cents. Excluding fuel, the numbers will be 7.80 and 7.58 cents, respectively. Alaska Air Group told the US Securities and Exchange Commission Friday that the company expects breakeven results in the fourth quarter, which will compare favorably to a $33 million deficit in the final quarter of 2005.
Singapore Airlines flew 7.43 billion RPKs in November, up 10.1% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 2.8% to 9.28 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 5.3 points to 80.2%. Cathay Pacific Airways flew 5.84 billion RPKs in November, a 7.7% increase from the year-ago month. Capacity grew 4.4% to 7.42 billion ASKs and load factor was up 2.4 points to 78.7%. EasyJet transported 2.6 million passengers in November, 11.2% more than in the year-ago month. Load factor was up 0.4 point to 80.5%.
Hawaiian Airlines finalized an agreement with AWAS Aviation Services that includes the purchase of three leased 767-300ERs ( ATWOnline, Dec. 1). Separately, HA flew 609.3 million RPMs in November, up 7.8% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 13.4% to 716.8 million ASMs and load factor fell 4.4 points to 85%.
CSA Czech Airlines revealed that it expects to turn a 2007 profit of CZK42 million ($2 million), a reversal from the CZK493 million it expects to lose this year. Its 2007 business plan projects a 5.6% increase in passenger volume to 5.7 million and includes the sale and leaseback of five 737-500s.
US Airways reached agreement with the Transport Workers Union on a single contract for flight dispatchers, bringing dispatchers from America West Airlines and the former US Airways under one labor deal. US said the accord is another step toward receiving one FAA operating certificate next year that formally would merge the two carriers.
Lufthansa Technik signed a five-year Total Technical Support contract with French startup Elysair for its 757-200. Elysair will operate all-business-class flights from Paris Orly to Newark starting this month.
Heico Aerospace Holdings Corp. announced the acquisition of an 80.1% stake in Prime Air Inc. and its Prime Air Parts affiliate. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Based in Chicago and Miami, Prime offers niche accessory component exchange services as an alternative to OEMs' spares services.
CFM International said its CFM56-5B Tech Insertion Package was certified by both US FAA and EASA. Aircraft certification is expected to occur early next year.
CSA Czech Airlines said employee reductions and a more efficient organizational structure will produce CZK100 million ($4.7 million) in savings next year even though costs will rise as a result of existing labor agreements. It intends to shed approximately 200 of its 5,300 employees during the first quarter.
European Commission yesterday decided to partially exclude Bulgaria, which is set to become a full EU member in January, from the internal aviation market. Bulgarian airlines will not be considered as "community carriers" and will continue to operate as "third-country operators" to and from member states in accordance with existing bilateral agreements. The decision follows EASA inspections in the past two years that revealed problems with the Bulgarian CAA's ability to exercise adequate oversight of aircraft personnel and maintenance organizations.
