A provision in FAA's new Part 119 - certification and operating requirements - could threaten charter flyers by exposing aircraft operators' names to "persons with questionable intentions," according to the National Air Transportation Association. The rule mandates the display of the certificate holder's name outside the aircraft to help FAA personnel during ramp inspections. The rule goes into effect March 20, 1997, and NATA is trying to persuade the agency to amend this portion of it.
Northwest flew 7.5% more revenue passenger miles in September than during the comparable 1995 month on 8.5% greater capacity. The airline's load factor decreased 0.7 percentage points to 71.5%. International scheduled service RPMs rose 10.4% on 10.7% greater capacity in September, forcing the international load factor down 0.3 points to 82.2%. International capacity comprises 40% of the airline's systemwide capacity. Domestic scheduled service recorded a 5% rise in RPMs on 7% greater capacity.
Atlantic Coast Airlines reported a 0.7% increase in revenue passenger miles in September from the same 1995 month to 31 million. At the same time, available seat miles rose 5.5% to 66 million, resulting in a load factor decline of 2.3 percentage points to 47.1%. The number of passengers carried dipped slightly to 126,783. For the first nine months of the year, RPMs were up 2.5% to 267.1 million and ASMs 5.2% to 572 million, causing the load factor to fall 1.2 points to 46.7%.
Continental passenger traffic rose 4.6% in September after the carrier added flights to Latin America and Europe as well as domestic service. Available seat miles climbed 7.3%, depressing the load factor 1.7 points to 63.5%. The traffic gains were led by a 7.5% revenue passenger mile growth in Continental's international business on 9.5% international ASM growth. The international load factor dropped 1.3 points to 68% and the domestic load factor 1.9 points to 62%. Sept 96 Sept 95 9 Mths 96 9 Mths 95
U.S. Major Carriers Operating Revenues and Expenses Six Months 1996 Operating Operating Revenues Expenses (000) (000) Six Months 1996 Alaska $ 626,378 $ 592,207 America West 882,785 786,386 American 7,513,688 6,841,549
Alaska Airlines will introduce service between San Jose and Palm Springs Nov. 4 with a special fare of $59 one way with a 21-day advance purchase. Travel must be completed by Nov. 20. Alaska will offer one daily flight in the market. The carrier also will offer special fares to kick off flights to Mexican resorts Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. It will operate to the Mexican points four times a week from Los Angeles and San Francisco, starting Nov. 7. Fares beginning at $160 from Los Angeles and $200 from San Francisco are good for travel through Dec. 15.
AMR Corp.'s stock offering of the Sabre Group may come tomorrow, possibly toward the close of business, a Goldman Sachs source said, paving the way for the American Airlines parent to raise an expected $434 million. Goldman Sachs, the lead underwriter, expects the initial public offering to generate tremendous interest. If the offering is over-subscribed, Goldman Sachs would be able to pro-rate it and give it to their best customers, said Steve Lewins, airline analyst with Gruntal&Co.
New York-based Polar Air Cargo's pilots have voted for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association. The National Mediation Board said out of 153 cockpit crewmembers eligible to vote, 113 voted for ALPA and two ballots were counted for the Teamsters.
CIBC Wood Gundy's Taipei affiliate and the International Commercial Bank of China are co-leading and underwriting a $72 million financing for China Airlines to purchase an Airbus A300-600R.
U.S. Major Carriers Operating and Net Profit Six Months 1996 Operating Net Profit/Loss Profit/Loss (000) (000) Six Months 1996 Alaska $ 34,171 $ 13,740 America West 96,399 42,143 American 672,139 281,199 Continental 278,072 255,272
KLM recorded an 8% increase in September revenue passenger kilometers on a 7% growth in capacity, which pushed the load factor up 0.7 percentage points to 79%. The airline attributed the growth to increases on routes to and from the Asia/Pacific region and Central and South America. Overall, revenue ton kilometers rose 7% to 755.2 million RTKs. Cargo traffic climbed 7% to 340.1 million RTKs. Available cargo ton kilometers increased 4% to 488 million and cargo load factor was up 2.1 points to 69.7%.
FAA has grounded 10 small airlines in the last several years for "largely minor paperwork violations" at a cost of 5,000 jobs and the loss of $1 billion in equity capital, according to longtime industry consultant Morten Beyer and Associates.
Delta will announce by monthend a third city - in addition to Atlanta and Cincinnati - eligible for its Escape Plan '97 weekend getaway specials. Revenues from membership in the plan have passed $1 million. With the launch of Delta Express operations this month, Delta, Delta Shuttle, Delta Express, Delta Connection and Delta's Worldwide Partners combined service will reach 5,000 flights a day to 39 countries.
United will beef up service at Newark Jan. 7, when it begins operating four daily roundtrips to Boston and one to San Diego. The flights will offer double miles to frequent flyer program members until Feb. 7. They will be in addition to the four flights a day offered by United Express in the Newark-Boston market. United's flights from Boston to Newark will connect with flights to London, San Diego and Seattle.
Alliance partners KLM and Northwest will introduce new joint service between Amsterdam and Newark, N.J., May 1, 1997. The move will raise to 12 the number of cities the carriers serve together from Amsterdam Schipol Airport. The service will be operated with Northwest's DC-10s. The two airlines, which also operate twice-daily service from New York Kennedy Airport to Amsterdam, offer code-share flights to more than 150 cities in the U.S. and more than 40 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Zagat has published its first Las Vegas Restaurant Survey, rating more than 600 diners and 300 restaurants. Spago's at Forum Shops at Caesar's won the popularity contest, but the top-rated restaurant for its cuisine was Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grande. The guide is available for $9.95 in most bookstores.
Electronic Card Systems is awarding merchants American AAdvantage miles for every $200 they process in credit card transactions. At the end of the year, awards will be given to the highest dollar volume processed by the top three merchants, and 50,000 miles will be given away for a credit card transaction picked at random.
Southwest held onto the top on-time spot for the seventh month in a row with an 87% record for July. Overall, the nation's 10 largest carriers posted a 75.3% on-time rate during the month, up from 74.7% in June but down from 80.1% in July 1995, according to DOT's Air Travel Consumer Report, published last week. Northwest placed second at 79%, followed by USAir at 77%. American and Alaska trailed the field, each at 63%. Data still include delays caused by mechanical problems, and DOT still is considering whether to exclude them again from the on-time ratings.
British Airways is urging the European Commission to halt the proposed acquisition of Air Liberte by state-owned regional AOM. The U.K. carrier, attacking the prospective deal as "an illegal use of state aid," believes it is an attempt to block a foreign airline from acquiring slots at Paris Orly Airport. BA wants to buy Air Liberte to add to the continental presence it has established with French regional TAT European Airlines. TAT contacted Air Liberte recently to explore an acquisition but was told AOM is about to enter the bidding.
World Airways flew 2,970 block hours in September in its continuing operations - those not a part of its now-defunct scheduled service - up 8% from last September's 2,747. Average daily aircraft utilization was 8.4 block hours per day versus 9.7 in the 1995 month. The decrease was due mainly to the reconfiguration of two aircraft to fulfill a new contract with Philippine Airlines. World flew 31,344 block hours in the first nine months of the year, up from 27,148 for the same period in 1995.
Galileo International signed a distribution agreement with Phataraprasit Holding Co. of Thailand, a group that encompasses a range of companies with interests in multiple business sectors. The agreement gives Phataraprasit group exclusive rights to distribute the Galileo computer reservations system within Thailand, and a new company, Galileo Thailand, will be responsible for marketing, selling and providing technical and operational support for Galileo's products.
Reno Air is offering first-class upgrades between San Francisco and Orange County to customers who use the Internet. Internet users can upgrade and print their certificates directly from the airline's World Wide Web page. The site is found at http://www.renoair.com, and access to the offer is at "highlights of the month." The certificates, which are valid through Nov. 15, can be used when space is available on the day of departure.
CCAIR's September traffic rose 6.8% to 11.7 million revenue passenger miles while capacity rose 3.5% to 26.7 million available seat miles. Load factor rose 3.3 percentage points during the month to 43.8%. During the first nine months of the year, RPMs were up 10.3% to 112.6 million while ASMs rose 0.4% to 235.9 million. Load factor was up 9.9 points to 47.7%. CCAIR, a USAir Express operator, said its advance bookings for the winter months are up by 10% over this time last year.
Emery Worldwide has launched 727 freighter service to Norfolk, Va., "providing the only direct air cargo service to the area for next-morning deliveries of commercial and industrial heavyweight freight." The flight returns nightly to Emery's Dayton hub.
Spirit Airlines has increased its charter flying and reduced scheduled passenger service after a scheduled-service downturn following the May 11 ValuJet crash. "Before ValuJet, we had virtually no charter work, and now it makes up 30% of our flying," said Spirit Vice Chairman Mark Kahan. The airline, now growing, wants to continue building its on-demand charter operations while adding aircraft to rebuild its scheduled service.
