Aerovallarta is seeking an exemption to operate charter combination service between the U.S. and Mexico. Based in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, the carrier currently operates a Turbo-Commander 690 and is in negotiations to lease an aircraft from Aztec Capital Inc., Fort Lauderdale.
DOT has approved Northwest's bid to operate scheduled combination service between Detroit and Antigua and Barbuda. The carrier plans weekly Boeing 757 service in the market (DAILY, June 11). (Docket OST-96-1441)
The managements of India's state-owned domestic carrier Indian Airlines and British Airways have signed a $14 million contract under which BA will install and supply its passenger reservations, ticketing and flight departure control systems to the Indian carrier, senior IA officials said last week.
GE Information Services (GEIS) and SITA, which provides telecommunications and information processing solutions to more than 600 airlines and transportation organizations, have signed an agreement on electronic cargo data exchange for airlines. SITA said the agreement lays the foundation for a worldwide communications network enabling freight forwarders to exchange data with airlines through SITA's EDI service in Atlanta. GEIS will offer the service initially to its Logistics Tracking service customers and to all its freight forwarder customers by October.
American and BostonCoach, an executive sedan service, are setting up reservations lines in 31 Admirals Clubs in the U.S. and Canada. The service enables travelers to arrange for ground transportation at their destinations. Drivers have access to updated airline schedules and weather reports in the departure and destination cities.
Millon Air is seeking authority to provide wet-lease services to Aerochago of the Dominican Republic for all-cargo service on Aerochago's routes authorized by the U.S. DOT. Millon would provide a Boeing 707, DC-8 or L- 1011 aircraft.
House debated yesterday three aviation-related bills - the airline pilots records transfer bill (H.R.3536), the National Transportation Safety Board authorization bill (H.R.3159) and the child pilot safety bill (H.R.3267) - but had not voted on the measures at press time.
United States Travel Agent Registry (USTAR) and the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA) have complained jointly to Charles Hunnicutt, DOT assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, about Worldspan's plan to serve as a booking engine for Microsoft's online travel service, and asked that DOT subject the effort to its computer reservations system rules. The associations say Worldspan and Microsoft will operate an Internet travel agency that is accredited by the Airlines Reporting Corp.
As frustrated accident investigators continue to seek the cause of the TWA 747 crash off Long Island last Wednesday, the 342 fatalities experienced thus far this year by U.S. scheduled airlines operating under Part 121 already exceed the total for any year dating back at least through the early 1980s, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The total number of airline fatalities last year was 175, down from 239 in 1994, according to NTSB statistics. The U.S.
Northwest will not put off implementing a commission structure for ticket sales through online systems, like the Internet, before it discusses the matter with the American Society of Travel Agents, which asked for a meeting last week.Mike Levine, Northwest executive VP-marketing and international, told reporters yesterday that Northwest is one of the airlines being sued for domestic commission caps, and he does not know "who to talk to or how." He added that online sales present an opportunity for travel agents who sell large quantities of low-cost tickets to use an inexp
Martinair Holland is offering reduced fares to Europe from the U.S. between mid-August and mid-September for tickets purchased by Aug. 9. It will offer $498 roundtrips from Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Newark to Amsterdam, $548 fares from Denver, and $598 from Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle.
In the wake of the crash of TWA Flight 800, carriers and DOT have had discussions about making changes in passenger manifests so that victims' relatives have quicker access to information.
Remaining far apart on key issues, U.S. and Colombian negotiators halted talks late Friday in Washington. The two sides are continuing informal talks after meeting last week for four days - two more than scheduled. The parties addressed Colombia's refusal to allow American to operate nonstop service between New York and Bogota, in response to which DOT proposed issuing sanctions on a Colombian carrier. Colombia is trying to get some movement on lifting the Category 2 rating FAA imposed on its aviation system.
FAA has asked airline and other aviation industry officials to comment by July 26 to FAA Deputy Administrator Linda Daschle's request for their views on how best to overhaul the agency's maintenance oversight and deploy its inspection resources. The original deadline, July 22, was extended due to the TWA 747 crash last Wednesday.
Sundstrand said second quarter net earnings totaled $34 million on sales of $371 million, compared with earnings of $27 million in 1995 on revenues of $377 million. The company said its aerospace segment continues to benefit from improving commercial business, "which we believe is in its early stages. We now expect that our commercial OEM [original equipment manufacturer] sales will increase by 20% to 25% from 1995 levels, compared with a total aerospace sales increase of 5% to 10%."
American's Allied Pilots Association has asked the American Arbitration Association to print and mail strike ballots to APA members because mediated talks with the airline, now running seven days a week in Orlando, have shown no progress.APA said the company persists in seeking a pay reduction from the pilots, who want higher salaries and retroactive pay. Pension is the only issue on which both sides are close to an agreement on what APA terms the "must-have, passionate, shut-down-the-airline issues."
Continental reported record income yesterday, $206 million pre-tax for the second quarter, and announced bank financing to prepay $324 million in debt to General Electric Co. "We're hitting on all cylinders," said President and Chief Executive Gordon Bethune, citing year-over-year gains in yield, load factor and productivity. Results came on the strength of sales - operating revenues increased 10.9% from the second quarter of 1995, reaching $1.64 billion, while operating costs were held to $1.41 billion, a 3% increase.
Douglas Aircraft officials said yesterday that airline and government officials in China have signed final agreements for the purchase of 20 MD- 90s for China Northern and China Eastern airlines. The first of 11 new aircraft for China Northern will be delivered later this month, and China Eastern will receive the first of its nine units late next year.
Kiwi International Air Lines is offering its $69 and $89 one-way fares on all flights without advance-purchase restrictions. Tickets must be purchased by July 31 and travel completed by Aug. 28. The $69 fare is good for travel from Atlanta to Chicago and Florida, and the $89 fare is for travel on all other nonstops. Kiwi serves New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Las Vegas and Bermuda.
Shipments of general aviation airplanes increased 10.3% in the first six months to 503 units valued at $1.25 billion, compared with 456 units worth $1.27 billion during the same period a year ago. Shipments of jet aircraft dropped 9.5%, to 95 from 105, but piston-engine aircraft shipments rose 11.9% to 273 from 244 and turboprop shipments 26.2% to 135 from 107, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said. Exports stood at 160 units compared with 124, a 29% increase. Export billings rose 17.9% to $332.4 million from $281.9 million.
McDonnell Douglas said its MD Explorer is the first helicopter to receive "complete validation" by the 27 European members of the Joint Aviation Authorities. The company said it expects JAA members to issue type certificates within the month on the aircraft, four units of which are operating in Europe.
Virgin Atlantic Airways has asked the U.S. DOT for authority to serve Kansas City, Mo., under a blocked-space agreement with Midwest Express Airlines. Under the arrangement, Virgin proposes placing its code on certain Midwest Express flights operating between Boston and Kansas City beginning Sept. 9. The two carriers already provide code-share service between Boston and Milwaukee. (Docket OST-96-1576)
Granted orally to AHK Air Hong Kong an exemption to conduct scheduled all-cargo service between Hong Kong and Chicago with technical stops in Japan (Kansai International), Korea and/or Anchorage.
