Delta will bring 29 markets into its electronic ticketing program, beginning today. Some of the markets will be flown by Delta Express when it begins service Oct. 1. All Delta Express flights will offer electronic ticketing. Delta, which has been testing the ticketless travel in 20 city- pairs, said more than half of the itineraries eligible for the service are being booked electronically.
Technology developed by Honeywell for the Boeing 777 is finding application in other areas, leading to a number of new products from Honeywell's Space and Aviation Control division. "The 777 technology has had a very, very big effect on us, first with the aircraft itself, which has been just outstanding, and now we've taken that technology into other areas," said Don Schwanz, VP and general manager of Honeywell's Air Transport Systems.
American launches AAccess Ticketless Travel and AAccess Boarding today, both products for electronic ticketing found on the American Airlines Interactive Travel Network. AAccess Boarding units have been placed near passenger boarding bridges at 21 of American's busiest domestic airports. Passengers may board after inserting their AAdvantage card into the unit and the machine prints a seat confirmation.
Scenic Airlines intends to install the Calquest Satellite Communications System on its Twin Otter aircraft. Calquest is a satellite-based aeronautical operational control voice and data communications system that works from gate to gate at any altitude in any phase of flight. It also aids in required communications, such as position reporting and aircraft maintenance data.
United believes it can cut costs $400,000 annually by reducing use of auxiliary power units by one minute per flight. APUs ran 76 minutes per flight on average last year, costing $28 million and burning 50 million gallons of fuel. APU use is down to 75 minutes per flight so far in 1996, and the carrier continues to streamline ground-handling to reduce the time further.
Boeing's new 757-300, launched last week with Condor Flugdienst's order for 12, is being marketed mainly to the existing 757 customer base as a companion aircraft with lower seat mile cost and with ETOPS (extended-range twin-engine operations) over-water capability, a Boeing marketing official said. Roughly 50 airlines and leasing firms have ordered 800 757s to date. Although some airlines have opted not to fly narrowbody aircraft on long over-water flights, Boeing Regional Director of Product Marketing Bruce Nicoletti said this is not a trend Boeing has seen.
Despite the fanfare surrounding last week's Aviation Safety and Security Commission meeting to discuss potential security measures, the report on recommendations scheduled for presentation today to President Clinton is essentially a staff-driven document that was completed well before the Commission meeting, said an industry source. The meeting was the first time all commission members were in the same place at the same time.
Boeing's plan to upgrade the 747 into "clearly superior" derivatives represents a "very tolerable risk" for investors, according to Bankers Trust's Wolfgang Demisch. Boeing will incorporate so many advances into the aircraft that it likely will need a new type certificate and a new designation, the 787, Demisch believes.
Correction: A chart showing industry stock trends (DAILY, Sept. 5) inaccurately stated Continental's stock performance. After adjusting historical data to reflect its recent stock split, Continental stock rose 53% in the 12 months since its Aug. 31, 1995, re-adjusted price of $14.81 per share.
China Airlines said revenues for the first half of 1996 reached NT$24.89 billion (US$905.9 million) for a year-over-year increase of 8.44%. Pre-tax profit for the period totaled NT$384.8 million (US$13.99 million) or NT$0.30 (US$0.01) per share. CAL's average load factor for the period was 78.76%, with the average passenger load factor climbing to 73.94% from 69.58% during the first half of 1995. The company's highest passenger load factors were recorded by its Northeast Asian and North American routes, both of which reached 80%.
Airport groups are asking the Republican congressional leadership to include FAA reauthorization and extension of the aviation excise taxes beyond Dec. 31 among "must pass" bills in the waning 104th Congress. Without an authorization, FAA cannot issue airport grants for "critical" security and safety projects after Sept. 30, said ACI-North America's David Plavin and AAAE's Charles Barclay.
Philippine Airlines ordered seven 747-400s valued at $1.18 billion, Boeing said last week. The aircraft, powered by General Electric engines, will be delivered beginning in mid-1998.
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DOT has granted Air Afrique renewal of its exemption to serve Bamako, Mali, as an intermediate point on currently authorized Abidjan-Dakar-New York scheduled service. (Docket OST-95-350)
Travel Industry Association is predicting a slump in business travel this fall, to the lowest number of travelers in five years. TIA President William Norman said, "As predicted, business travel appears to be plateauing.
Carnival Air Lines' pilots voted decisively in favor of representation by the Air Line Pilots Association. The National Mediation Board said that of 212 pilots eligible to vote, 73%, or 154, voted in favor of the union. One ballot was cast for the United Auto Workers and one was deemed invalid. "Carnival is a good company, and we're proud of our contributions to its success, but this is a volatile industry, and we're convinced that ALPA representation will help us ensure our futures," said David Samer, acting chairman of Carnival's ALPA unit.
Chilean national carrier LanChile posted first-half profits of $16.5 million, double the results for the first six months of 1995, when it reported $8.3 million in net earnings. Operating profits jumped to $17.8 million from $7.3 million, which the carrier attributed in part to rising cargo revenues. It posted a 28.6% rise in flight hours in the first half. LanChile also has started offering free first-class upgrades for business- class passengers originating in the U.S. Passengers purchasing full-fare coach seats can upgrade to business class free as well.
Sen. Larry Pressler, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, last week urged the administration and Congress to strive on a bipartisan basis for improved aviation security. In a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, the same day Vice President Gore announced new security measures, he spoke in support of improved explosives screening and the use of passenger profiling, measures listed in the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security report.
Ukranian carrier Aerosweet will attain regional prominence next month as it takes delivery of three new 737s. The airline, which has experienced monthly traffic growth near 15%, struggled for a time after its inception in 1993 with a single 737. Backing from Israel's Caspi Aviation is a factor in its growth.
A new agreement between Pratt&Whitney and Alfa Romeo Avio of Italy is expected to provide European-based operators of the JT8D-200 series engines quicker and more reliable support, the two companies said. Pratt will provide Alfa with a complete inventory management system for its JT8D-200 overhaul business. Alfa Avio is one of the largest providers of JT8D overhaul services in Europe. Pratt said it is working with other overhaulers in Europe to develop options to improve service and parts availability.
Several family members and friends of victims of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 May 11 in the Florida Everglades have asked DOT Secretary Federico Pena to prevent the airline from flying again under current executive management. The Association of Flight Attendants, the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO, and the family members filed objections last week to a show cause order finding the carrier fit to resume service.
Makung Airport, the primary airport serving Taiwan's offshore Pescadores Islands, will undergo extensive renovation, beginning in October. The runway will be overhauled completely, work that is expected to take 400 days. During this time, aircraft will be able to land and take off only on taxi lanes parallel to the runway. The restrictions on flights are expected to seriously affect the Pescadores' tourism industry. The islands are a favorite destination for domestic travel - seven airlines currently offer more than 140 flights to Makung each day.
Growth in United's domestic operations helped increase systemwide August revenue passenger miles 4.3%. Available seat miles did not keep pace with RPM growth, rising only 1.3%, which pushed the load factor up 2.3 percentage points to 78.6%. International load factors in specific regions remained at even higher levels. Pacific loads fell slightly to 80.6% in August and Atlantic loads remained elevated at 82.7%. United's North American RPMs showed the largest monthly gain, up 7%, while Latin America, the carrier's smallest region by RPMs, gained 6.7%.
