Summary of U.S. Major Carriers International Traffic March 1996 Revenue Average Revenue Passengers Length of Passenger Enplaned % Travel Miles Carriers (000) Change (Miles) (000) Alaska 74 26.01 1,060 78,327 Latin 74 26.01 1,060 78,327 American 1,240 7.93 2,162 2,681,515
United has sustained damage on 166 aircraft during routine servicing and maintenance by employees and contractors so far this year, compared with 105 at this time in 1995. Many of the incidents are minor, but one trend that concerns the carrier is that far more of the accidents are occurring in North America this year, 55%, than last year, 33%. United tracks damage and on-the-job injuries on a daily basis and informs all employees via an internal newswire.
The White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security recommended yesterday a series of aviation security improvements, including increased use of bomb detection devices and passenger profiles. Vice President Gore, head of the commission, said the proposals are "tough and doable" and will be implemented as soon as possible. Initially at least, the effort is to be funded by a supplemental budget request of $300 million, and subsequent backing would come from a soon-to-be-set-up private/public consortium.
Former DOT Secretary Jim Burnley will discuss aviation security, FAA reform and FAA reauthorization during an interview on this week's Aviation News Today, to be broadcast on Washington's NewsChannel 8 Sunday from 12:30 a.m. to l a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Inn will become a participating member of China Airlines' Dynasty Flyer Program, effective Sept. 10. DFP members will be entitled to free membership in Holiday Inn's Priority Club program, eligible for special room rates, free upgrades, express check-in and check-out and late check- out. They will earn 500 miles per qualifying stay at Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts and 250 miles per qualifying stay at all Holiday Inn Express Hotels.
Collins intends to win certification of a multi-mode receiver landing system for Boeing and Airbus airliners. The standard GLU-900 MMR combines instrument landing and global navigation satellite system functions in a single unit. A microwave landing system interface is optional. The company says the system is a cost-effective way to prepare for the transition to space-based landing systems. It will be offered on Boeing's next-generation 737 and certified on a Maersk Air 737-700 in October 1997.
British Airways and privately owned Indian domestic carrier, Jet Airways, signed an agreement to establish a reciprocal frequent flyer program. Starting Nov. 1, the program will cover 174 BA destinations in 83 countries and 19 points in India served by Jet Airways. BA passengers will earn free tickets for travel across India for miles flown on BA, and Jet Airways passengers will gain access to international travel on BA routes.
Charleston, S.C., closed its airport at 2 p.m. yesterday in anticipation of landfall later in the day by Category 3 Hurricane Fran. Delta canceled all flights to Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Greensboro and Norfolk after 5 p.m. USAir canceled flights at Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Savannah.
Embraer President Mauricio Novis Botelho, pleased with the company's sale of up to 200 EMB-145 regional jets, said this week that as the 50-passenger aircraft is introduced into service, the Brazilian company will look at other projects, "and I assume they will be jet." Some close to the company believe the ill-fated 19-passenger EMB-123 pusher turboprop should be stretched to seat 30 passengers and the turboprops replaced with fans.
British Airways has signed an agreement with British Aerospoace Asset Management Inc.- Turboprops (BAe AMT) extending leases on 10 advanced turboprops until 1998. Manx Airlines Europe and Loganair, BA's largest franchisee, will operate ATP service on the Highlands and Islands air services formerly operated by BA.
A six-month joint study by Airbus Industrie and General Electric on whether the proposed stretched A340 should be powered by an uprated engine or an entirely new powerplant is to be completed by the end of October, and one GE official is leaning toward the new engine.
DOT has made final its show cause order tentatively granting Pro Air an operating certificate to provide interstate scheduled passenger service. Headquartered in Seattle, Pro Air plans to operate initially from its base in Detroit to Baltimore, Milwaukee and Boston, using two 118-seat Boeing 737-200 aircraft (DAILY, Aug. 16). (Dockets OST-96-1075&OST-96-1076)
Lockheed Martin is taking aim at the newly prominent market for airport baggage security checking with a device that uses technology currently found mainly in medical equipment. The "eXaminer 3DX 6000" will inspect baggage moving on conveyors from airport ticket counters or curbside to aircraft loading stations. Baggage will pass through the system's tunnel at an average rate of 675 bags per hour, providing for effective screening of passenger baggage from a 747 in 40 minutes or less.
Fairchild Dornier will decide by the end of September whether to produce a fan-powered, 30-passenger version of the Do 328. Technical and marketing studies are near completion, DAILY affiliate Show Daily was told Monday by Dornier Luftfahrt President Jim Robinson. "The whole benefit is that we get there first" (with a 30-passenger jet). Robinson pegged the sticker price at slightly more than the 328, or about $10 million.
Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon posted 85 million revenue passenger miles flown last month, a 1% increase from August 1995's 84 million RPMs. Capacity, however, dipped 2.3% to 131 million available seat miles, compared with last year's 134 million. Aug 96 Aug 95 8 Mths 96 8 Mths 95 RPMs 85,000,000 84,000,000 584,000,000 561,000,000 ASMs 131,000,000 134,000,000 971,000,000 952,000,000 LoadFtr% 65.1 63.2 60.1 58.9
The last of a dozen Avro RJ100s, which Crossair calls Jumboliners, was accepted into the Swissair subsidiary's fleet just a few days ago. The carrier now has a jet fleet numbering 24, including eight MD-82s and -83s, and four Avro RJ85s. The company's 20-strong lineup of Saab 2000 turboprops is to be increased by five in the first quarter of 1997.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund - Income Statement October 1, 1995 - May 31, 1996 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ 0.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 0.00 Use of International Travel Facilities 0.00 Transportation of Property and Cargo 0.00
Federal Judge James Rosenbaum gave preliminary approval yesterday to the settlement reached in an antitrust lawsuit brought by travel agents against six airlines last year. The agents, represented by the American Society of Travel Agents, charged that the carriers unlawfully capped domestic travel agent commissions at $25 per one-way ticket. The suing parties have until Nov. 1 to file objections to the settlement, and a hearing is scheduled Nov. 15.
McDonnell Douglas, whose military aircraft business has prospered over the last two years, is determined to do the same with its commercial transports, according to Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher. Rebuilding the Douglas Aircraft division as a force in civil jet transports ranks in importance with winning the competition for the Pentagon's proposed Joint Strike Fighter, Stonecipher said at the Farnborough Air Show. Rejuvenated management and manufacturing teams would focus on both priorities, he said.
TWA posted a 10% gain in revenue passenger miles in August, as traffic grew slightly more than the airline's 9.8% increase in capacity, pushing the load factor up 0.1 points to 74.1%. Domestic RPMs rose 12.4% from August 1995, while international RPMs were up 6.9%. Year-over-year enplanements grew as well, to 2.32 million from 2.13 million. During the first eight months of the year, traffic jumped 11.1% while capacity increased 7.7%, boosting the year-to-date load factor 2.1 points to 69%.
GATX Capital Corp. has ordered $40 million worth of auxiliary power units, wheels and brakes, and avionics from AlliedSignal Aerospace for use on 33 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The contract is AlliedSignal's second major agreement this year with an aircraft leasing company, which it called a "growing and important customer category in this part of the aircraft purchase cycle." GATX, through partnerships, has placed firm orders for 10 737-800s with options for 10, one 757 with options for two, and 11 A320/A321 aircraft with undisclosed options.
InVision Technologies said it has shipped a CTX 500 explosives detection system to El Al for use at New York Kennedy Airport. El Al is the first air passenger carrier to install the CTX 500 inside the U.S. on a commercial basis. The unit is expected to be operational today. It will be placed in the El Al check-in area, where it will scan carry-on and checked baggage for explosives and other contraband prior to departure. El Al ordered the CTX 500 in March before the TWA 800 crash, InVision said.
International travelers are favorably disposed toward open skies agreements and international alliances, including the proposed American-British Airways liaison, according to a survey backed by American. Conducted by Peter D. Hart Research and Wirthlin Worldwide, the survey comprised phone interviews with 838 passengers, of whom 92% traveled internationally in the last three years and 8% planned to travel in the next three years, said Peter Hart, chief executive of Hart Research Associates.
Airline Industry Stock Trends Closed Closed Exchange 8/30/96 7/31/96 Majors Alaska Air Group NYSE $ 21.120 $ 24.000 AMR NYSE 82.000 78.875 America West (Class B) NYSE 13.370 16.000 Continental (Class B) NYSE 22.620 25.500 Delta NYSE 70.870 69.875
The union representing United Parcel Service pilots said yesterday it has petitioned FAA to require collision avoidance systems on the nation's 700- 800 all-cargo aircraft. Air Line Pilots Association voiced similar concerns earlier (DAILY, Aug. 22). Unlike passenger carriers' fleets, cargo aircraft operated by UPS, FedEx and other cargo airlines are not required to be equipped with traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS).
