DOT's newly issued rules on carrier requirements for boarding disabled passengers on aircraft of 19-30 seats do not require passengers to notify airlines in advance that they will need assistance. Although some airlines had suggested requiring a 48-hour notice, DOT said carriers will be permitted only to require a passenger needing lift service to check in at least one hour before scheduled departure.
During the next year, Munich-based Deutsche BA will restructure its operations under a new senior management team and simplify its fleet to a Southwest-style all-737 operation. As of Nov. 1, Wolfgang Grund will replace Richard Heideker as managing director. Heideker will step down voluntarily after seven years, staying at the request of shareholders to finalize the sale of the carrier's turboprop operations to France's Regional Airlines. That sale should be completed by the end of January.
TWA has suggested that DOT could bring an enforcement action against the owners of Apollo and take other measures as an alternative to instituting new computer reservations system rules that require changes in the displays of all CRSs. In a filing at DOT, TWA said the department's notice of proposed rulemaking would require vendors to create integrated displays that are less useful to travel agents than the current ones, all because one vendor, Apollo, does not offer integrated displays.
Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Lanka is entering the final marketing phase of its privatization, with road show presentations to potential investors that will take top officials to Asia, the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, Europe and North America. Air Lanka's executives are supported by New York-based consulting firm SH&E and Chase Manhattan Bank. The Sri Lankan Public Enterprise Reform Commission said it expects considerable interest from strategic industry investors, due to Sri Lanka's central Asian location and the government's flexibility on expansion.
Airlines in their first five years of operating experience "on average" have higher accident, incident and enforcement action rates than established carriers, according to an analysis by the General Accounting Office. "This does not mean, however, that new airlines do not provide safe transportation to the traveling public," GAO said in a report to the House aviation subcommittee.
Hong Kong regional Dragonair's decision to expand will cost it a near-term chance to take itself public. The airline admitted last week that it was forced to delay its public offering until the end of 1997 because expansion to Taiwan and mainland China weakened its current earnings ability.
Strikes paralyzed several European nations last week, costing hundreds of flights. French air traffic controller actions forced Belgium's Sabena to cancel flights to France. A one-day Italian airport strike nearly shut down Alitalia, forcing it to cancel 150 flights.
DOT issued rules Friday that will require airports and airlines operating aircraft with 19 to 30 seats to cooperate on providing boarding assistance devices for disabled passengers. Regional airlines and airports have argued about who should pay for such devices, which can cost as much as $30,000 each, since the Air Carrier Accessibility Act passed in 1986. DOT has given the airlines two to four years to comply, depending on the size of the airport. The department also proposed rules on seating allocations for disabled passengers.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund - Balance Sheet As of August 31, 1996 ASSETS Undisbursed Balances: Available for Investment $ 2,205.96 TOTAL UNDISBURSED BALANCE (Cash in Account) Receivables: Interest Receivables $ 88,178,572.67 TOTAL RECEIVABLES Investments: U.S. Treasury Certificates of Indebtedness
Under a new rule, FAA will have to respond within six months to complaints by aviation businesses against airport operators. Some complaints have taken years and millions of dollars to resolve. National Air Transportation Association says the change will be a "good test" of FAA personnel reform, because the agency will have to "quickly increase the Office of Airports staff to meet the new deadlines."
Paradise Island Airlines has joined the Airlines Reporting Corp. The carrier operates to Paradise Island in the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach. In November, it begins service from Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Fort Myers, and in December from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to Key West.
Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson said last week that Japan Airlines may be considering an alliance with British Airways. But Virgin also alleged that this potential partnership would further hurt competition by piggy-backing on the proposed American/BA pact. Industry observers disagree with Branson, commenting that any potential alliance will be evaluated on its own merits. Virgin spokesman Will Whitehorn told The DAILY that Branson "was told by a Japanese government official when he was in Japan last week [Oct.
American and British Airways are countering claims by Virgin Atlantic and others that the two allied carriers would have a great majority of slots during lucrative prime hours at London Heathrow. In data obtained by The Daily, American asserts that the two carriers would have only 40% of airport slots. Virgin Chairman Richard Branson recently said American and BA would hold 80% of peak slots.
Western Pacific's latest logo shows Durango on one side and Purgatory Ski Resort on the other Western Pacific's latest logo jet shows the town of Durango on one side of the airplane and Purgatory Ski Resort, the sponsor of the jet, on the other. Westpac's affiliate Mountain Air Express expects to start service this winter to Colorado ski destinations. Westpac said Durango-La Plata County Airport expects 100,000 inbound seats this winter, 54% more than last year.
Rep. Mac Collins (R-Ga.), who supports replacement of the ticket tax with a user fee system, will chair an informal task force on transportation tax issues formed recently by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (R-Texas).Archer says the task force will help determine in the next several months whether the current transportation tax system "represents a fair, consistent, or coherent national policy." Other task force members are Reps.
U.S. lodging industry had its most successful year in 1995, reporting $72 billion in sales, according to a profile issued by the American Hotel&Motel Association. The U.S. had 3.5 million rooms available in 1995 at 46,000 properties. Tourism in general accounted for $421.5 billion in sales for the year.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund - Income Statement October 1, 1995 - August 31, 1996 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ 208,963,000.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 29,423,000.00 Use of International Travel Facilities 11,779,000.00
America West appointed Roger Steenbergen station manager-Atlanta, Tony Grantham hub director-Columbus, Ohio, and David Cahill station manager-Seattle. Delta named five to positions at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport: Kathy Lang, sales manager; Brian Rohlf, general manager; Ken Elder, manager-B Concourse East; Rudy Cordell, manager B Concourse West, and Rich Cordell, manager A Concourse. El Al Israel Airlines appointed Simon Van Buren manager-ground operations at the carrier's New York Kennedy terminal.
General Electric and Malaysia Airlines have agreed to form a joint venture establishing an Asian "center of excellence" in engine overhaul at MAS's facility at Subang, Malaysia, the U.S. company said. The carrier will bring a new facility and a trained work force to the venture, while GE will contribute technology, manufacturing processes and management expertise, GE said. Operations are expected to begin next January. The venture will specialize in CFM56 and PW4000 engines and APS 2000 auxiliary power units.
United has chosen Fallon McElligott of Minneapolis and Young&Rubicam of New York to form a strategic partnership to design and implement its $120 million annual advertising account. Fallon will focus on North America and the New York firm on intercontinental operations. The two agencies replace Leo Burnett, which has worked on the carrier's ad campaign for the past 30 years and coined the phrase "friendly skies."
Carnival Air Lines will hold trivia contests aboard its "super fun flights" between Miami and New York Kennedy, until Nov. 24. Passengers have the opportunity to win free flights, Carnival cruises, Club Med vacations, Avis car rentals and Carnival logo apparel. Carnival also offers a happy hour in the skies with two-for-one drink specials and a frequent flyer pet program.
Runzheimer International puts transportation, travel and living cost information on the Internet Runzheimer International has put transportation, travel and living cost information on the Internet at www.runzheimer.com.
American and British Airways are far behind the schedule they laid out last spring for developing their prospective strategic alliance, but BA hopes a U.K. government decision on how to review the carriers' proposals will lead to an early U.S.-U.K. agreement on open skies. When American and BA announced the alliance last spring, they wanted to secure government approvals by November and launch joint operations in April 1997 (DAILY, June 12). They will not come close. The U.S. will require that an open skies regime come out of current U.S.-U.K.
Aon Aviation named James Goulard manager-eastern region and Edward Nicholls manager-New York. Global Systems appointed Steve Wright director-supply chain management, a new position. Sino Swearingen Aircraft Co. named John Karamanian director-product support. Sundstrand appointed Ed Laprade president of subsidiary Sullair Corporation.
