Air Transport World articles from February 2003

Air Transport World archives from February 2003

Trends.(top airlines, exhange rates and jet fuel price data)(Illustration)
February 1, 2003... TRENDS Top 25 Airlines Jan.--Dec. 2002 Airline RPKs (000) 1 American 195,775,490 2 United 176,118,870 3 Delta 164,165,360 4 Northwest 115,891,200 5...

Medium resolution. (Editorial).(development of supersonic jets at Boeing and Airbus)(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... Boeing's health and plans are vitally important to the world airline industry--as are Airbus's--for obvious reasons. But while Airbus has been, from an airline's point of view, satisfyingly centered on the airliner market, Boeing makes clear...

US Airways closer to bankruptcy exit. (News Briefs).
February 1, 2003... US Airways moved closer to emerging from bankruptcy after reaching consensual deals with its organized labor groups on almost $200 million in additional annual savings that the airline and Retirement Systems of Alabama said were necessary in...

Judge orders pay cut for UA machinists. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... US Bankruptcy Judge Eugene Wedoff on Jan. 10 approved United Airlines' request to impose an interim 13% pay cur on 38,000 employees represented by the International Assn. of Machinists. The court actually imposed a 14% wage reduction because UA...

Airbus claims 57% share of 2002 orders. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Airbus said it booked gross orders for 300 aircraft worth $24.3 billion last year and net orders after cancellations for 233 aircraft worth $18.4 billion. Boeing booked gross orders for 251 aircraft and netted 176, giving Airbus a 57% share of...

Sonic Cruiser shelved. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... As expected, Boeing laid to rest the company's proposed near-supersonic transport, at least for the foreseeable future. Speaking to media last Dec. 20, Commercial Airplanes President Alan Mulally said Boeing "will continue to look at speed" but...

World's airlines saw small traffic growth in 2002. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... World airline traffic (RPKs) rose about 1% for both total and international services in 2002, according to preliminary data, ICAO said. Because capacity actually fell last year, passenger load factors climbed to record levels: 71% for all...

Airlines win one, lose one in DVT lawsuits. (News Briefs).(deep vein thrombosis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The UK High Court in London handed airlines a victory Dec. 20 when it declined to find that deep vein thrombosis is an dent" as defined by the Warsaw Convention. The ruling follows a similar decision handed down by a US federal court last Aug....

SAS. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(new low-fare unit)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAS, challenged in key home markets by no-frills carriers, will launch "a low-fare business unit" starting with four aircraft and distinctive new lively from March 30. A name for the new unit has not been revealed. It will operate single-class...

KLM Group. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... KLM Group, citing "adverse changes in the operating environment" during its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, warned that it is "unlikely" to generate an operating profit for the year ending March 31. KLM previously said it did not expect to...

Lufthansa CEO Jurgen Weber. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa CEO Jurgen Weber in early Jan. withdrew previous forecasts of [euro]1 billion ($1.05 billion) operating profit for 2003, explaining that the current situation makes predicting an outcome for the year impossible. Weber cited political...

French Transport Minister Gilles de Robien. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... French Transport Minister Gilles de Robien said in Dec. that France plans to float "between 30% and 40%" of the 54.4% stake it holds in Air France. However, Finance Minister Francis Mer added that this will happen only when market conditions...

British Airways. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... British Airways reached a two-year pay deal with its pilots. The agreement, which covets the period Jan. 2002-Dec. 2003, includes a 5% increase in base pay from March. Also, the structure of pilot remuneration was simplified greatly, with many...

French government. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Air Lib's rescue plan compromise)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... French government appointed a court mediator in an 11th-hour attempt to teach a compromise on Air Lib's rescue plan. The government said it isn't satisfied with the second draft of the restructuring plan that the failing French airline...

A THY Turkish Airlines. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(plane crash)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A THY Turkish Airlines Avro RJ100 crashed Jan. 8 on approach to Diyarbakir in heavy fog, killing 75 of the 80 passengers and crew onboard. Survivors were taken to local hospitals.

Arkia Israeli Airlines. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(sale/leaseback with Delta Airlines)
February 1, 2003... Arkia Israeli Airlines conducted a sale/leaseback with Delta Air lines covering three 757-200s. Purchase price was put at S47.4 million. They will be leased back for 9-11 years for $84 million in a deal brokered by recently formed subsidiary...

Pluna. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pluna took delivery of a 767-300ER on lease from Ansett Worldwide, replacing a 767-200 that was chartered from Varig. Additionally, Vietnam Airlines received a 767-300ER on lease from Ansett Worldwide.

Boullioun Aviation Services. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(lease to Mexicana Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Boullioun Aviation Services leased a CFM56-powered A319 to Mexicana Airlines. It announced a medium-term lease of on RB211-535E4-powered 757-236 ER to Manila-based Cebu Pacific Air.

Investors Asset Holding Corp. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(MD-82 and MD-87 aircraft sold)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Investors Asset Holding Corp. as trustee on behalf of beneficiaries controlled by Equis Financial Group sold an MD-82 to Ocean Aircraft Holdings and an MD-87 to BK Aircraft Holdings, both leased to AeroMexico. The transactions were arranged by...

Shanghai Airlines. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(aircraft lease)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Shanghai Airlines leased for 58 months from ILFC a used PW4060-powered 767-300ER set for delivery in April.

International Aircraft Investors. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(acquisition by Jetscape Aviation Group)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... International Aircraft Investors is being acquired by Ft. Lauderdale-based Jetscape Aviation Group.

Sherbank. (Leasing & Finance Briefs).(loan to Aeroflot)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sherbank, the Russian savings bank believed to be the largest bank in Russia, signed an agreement with Aeroflot to open a credit line far S27 million on a LIBOR-based interest rate. This is the first such loon made by a Russian honk to a...

NTSB investigates 1900D crash that killed 21. (Regional News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of an Air Midwest Beech 1900D on Jan. 8 at Charlotte Douglas (N.C.) International Airport that killed all 21 people onboard. Air Midwest is a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group....

ACA seeks court order on UA codeshare agreements. (Regional News).(Atlantic Coast Airlines files motion against United Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Atlantic Coast Airlines, which derives 85% of its revenues from its activities as a United Express codeshare partner, filed a motion with the court overseeing United Airlines' bankruptcy reorganization asking it to order United to decide by...

Notes. (Regional News).(CitiExpress discontinues services and signs agreement with Eastern Airways)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... British Airways' CitiExpress Regional operation will eliminate its operating bases at Cardiff and Leeds-Bradford and cut 21 routes from its network by March. It also signed a "heads of terms" agreement with Eastern Airways with the intention of...

Centennial of flight.(Wilbur and Orville Wright's first flight)
February 1, 2003... Control was key to flight; this seemed obvious to the Wright Brothers, who considered it odd that previous attempts at control had been relatively shallow. Both Otto Lilienthal and Englishman Percy Pilcher used the shifting weight of the pilot....

AFRAA. (People).(Fathi Shatti new president for African Airlines Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... AFRAA elected Fathi Shatti, chairman & CEO of Libyan Arab Airlines, president for 2003.

Air Atlanta. (People).(Mike McTighe appointed to Air Atlanta Europe)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Air Atlanta Europe appointed Mike McTighe MD.

Air Transport Assn. (People).(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Air Transport Assn. selected James C. May as president & CEO to succeed Carol B. Hallett, who is retiring.

American Airlines. (People).(Daniel Elwell appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... American Airlines named Daniel Elwell MD-international & government affairs.

Finnair. (People).(Juba Kinnunen promoted)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Finnair elevated Juba Kinnunen to MD- cargo handling unit.

Great Lakes Aviation. (People).(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Great Lakes Aviation welcomed Charles R. Howell IV as CEO succeeding Douglas G. Voss, who remains chairman.

Hamilton Aerospace Technologies. (People).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Hamilton Aerospace Technologies hired Bill Delaney as VP-sales & marketing.

Hawaiian Airlines. (People).(Mark Dunkerley new president and chief operating officer )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Hawaiian Airlines tapped Mark Dunkerley as president & COO.

Honeywell. (People).(William Birtcil to replace Dennis Signorovtich)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Honeywell appointed William Birtcil VP-Aerospace Communications. He will succeed Dennis Signorovtich, who is retiring after 25 years with the company.

IATA. (People).(International Air Transport Association appointments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... IATA promoted Kevin Dobby to senior VP & corporate secretary and Thomas Windmuller to senior VP-member & government relations.

Jeppesen. (People).(Mark Van Tine to be new president and chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Jeppesen chose Mark Van Tine as president & COO. He will succeed Horst Bergkan as CEO when Bergmann retires on May 1.

JetBlue Airways. (People).(Ken Maxwell new vice president of security)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... JetBlue Airways appointed Ken Maxwell VP-security.

Lufthansa Cargo. (People).(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa Cargo selected Thomas Eggert as regional sales mgr.-Southeast Asia & Singapore and Carsten Hernig as regional sales mgr.-Russia & CIS.

Lynden International. (People).(Tom Clifford appointed director of buisness development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lynden International welcomed Tom Clifford as dir.-business development-Asia.

Meggitt Aerospace Equipment. (People).(David Field appointed business development manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Meggitt Aerospace Equipment introduced David Field as business development mgr.

Messier-Dowty. (People).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Messier-Dowty named Laurent Schneider-Maunoury VP-operations.

Pacific Southwest Instruments. (People).(Brian Loflin appointed senior vice president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pacific Southwest Instruments announced Brian Loflin as senior VP-marketing, sales & operations.

Rolls-Royce North America. (People).(Benet Wilson appointed manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Rolls-Royce North America selected Benet Wilson as senior mgr.-corporate communications.

Swiss. (People).(William L. Meaney new chief commercial officer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Swiss appointed William L Meaney MD & chief commercial officer.

United Airlines. (People).(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... United Airlines named Doug Hacker executive VP-strategy, Scott Praven senior VP-marketing, Chris Bowers senior VP-sales & reservations and Dan Walsh VP-sales.

29th industry achievement awards.
February 1, 2003... Airline of the Year Southwest Airlines Thirty consecutive years of profit is a remarkable performance in any business, but in the airline industry it borders on the miraculous. And yet, unless a volcano buries Dallas Love Field under a...

A bankruptcy is a terrible thing to waste: United needs to move fast and achieve real cost reductions to retake its leadership position. (Analysis).
February 1, 2003... The good news is that in normal times, it's not easy for a legacy airline--even a chronically unprofitable one--to go our of business. After all, Pan Am took nearly 20 years and Eastern 10, including 22 months in Chapter 11 bankruptcy during...

Holding pattern: with an open pilot contract and a major partner whose attentions seemingly lie elsewhere, Mesaba Airlines finds new ways to grow. (Profile).(partnership with Northwest Airlines uncertain)
February 1, 2003... Five years ago Mesaba Airlines was flying high. It was one of the fastest-growing and most profitable Regionals in the US and enjoyed a strong relationship with Northwest Airlines, in whose colors it operates as a Northwest Airlink. Serving a...

Trouble in paradise: the terrorist attacks last fall in Bali and the Philippines had an immediate impact on inbound travel, but the long-term effect still is uncertain. (Analysis).
February 1, 2003... The terrorist bombs that tore through the Bali nightclub district last Oct. 12 were designed to inflict maximum damage to the innocent victims and to the local economy of the tropical paradise in which they occurred. In this they succeeded. ...

Bypassing the middleman: Airline efforts to avoid GDS fees through so-called 'direct connect' systems are showing results, but is it worth it? (IT - Distribution).(global distribution system costs)
February 1, 2003... Airlines have been hacking away at distribution costs--one of their few "controllable" expenses--since the mid-1990s, culminating in the elimination of base agency commissions by most of the Majors last year. But distribution costs remain...

Pricing for profit: with corporate travelers refusing to pay top dollar to fly anymore, airlines are finally listening. (Strategy).
February 1, 2003... Finally, after two years of watching low-cost airlines grab market share, US network carriers are "experimenting" with lower business fares. The issue remains whether competition between bankrupt and/or nearly bankrupt carriers will force down...

Cathay Pacific director and COO Philip Chen. (Interview).(Interview)
February 1, 2003... Hong Kong will remain the dominant huh in the region because it is extremely efficient and has massive infrastructure. A successful hub must have a successful global airline. Consider Brussels: It is a perfect location but unfortunately doesn't...

Ameco-Beijing targets international growth: Air China/Lufthansa MRO shop looks to expand outside China while keeping its airline shareholders happy. (M & E).
February 1, 2003... The consolidation of China's fragmented airline system promised by the State Council decision last October to configure nine ex-CAAC carriers into three groups could rake three years to complete. But the scramble for China's skies already is...

An ugly duckling becomes a swan: under east line's inspired guidance, Moscow's domodedovo Airport has been renovated and aims to achieve Western standards of service. (Airports).
February 1, 2003... The one legacy left by the Soviet Union to Russia's airports was a sense of dreariness. While they started off as reasonable designs, as time went by little was done to update them, such as repainting their grey exteriors. Even the nation's...

Upsizing San Jose: Silicon Valley airport struggles to find space for baggage screening as it expands passenger facilities. (Airports).
February 1, 2003... As it proceeds with a master plan that ultimately will give it a 49-gate terminal, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport faced what its director calls "the most difficult problem I've seen in 38 years in this business": How to fit...

Facts & figures.(Illustration)
February 1, 2003... FACTS & FIGURES AIRCRAFT VALUES Aircraft Year Built 2003 * 2007 ** 2012 ** 2017 ** A330-200 2000 $64.4 $64.2 $51.7 $41.0 A340-300 1997 $55.3 $57.0 $45.3 $33.8 A310-300 1996 $20.6...

European Airline Traffic. (News Briefs).(December, 2002)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2003... European Airline Traffic December 2002 Load RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. factor +/- (billions) 2001 (billions) 2001 (%) 2001 AF...

British Airways. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Rod Eddington new chairman of the Association of European Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... British Airways CEO Rod Eddington took over on Jan. 1 as chairman of the Assn. of European Airlines from KLM CEO Leo van Wijk. Eddington said that during his term he will preside over a fundamental reexamination by AEA of the way the industry...

Onno van den Brink. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(new president and chief operating officer of Transavia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Onno van den Brink was appointed president and CEO of Transavia, the 80%-owned subsidiary airline of KLM.

VLM Airlines. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Johan Vanneste appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... VLM Airlines appointed former SN Brussels Airlines COO Johan Vanneste as its new MD.

European venture capital company 3i. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(acquisition of SR Technics Switzerland)(Swissair transfers shares in Gate Gourmet)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... European venture capital company 3i and the management of SR Technics completed their acquisition of SR Technics Switzerland, concluding the legal separation from defunct SAirGroup. Separately, Swissair Group finalized a months-long legal...

Lufthansa Commercial Holding. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(to sell share in Start Amadeus)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa Commercial Holding will sell its 66% stake in the Start Amadeus travel sales system, Bad Homburg, to Amadeus. As a result, Amadeus will become the sole shareholder in Start Amadeus. Purchase price is about [euro] 100 million ($105.5...

Lufthansa Technik Malta. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(formed from joint venture)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa Technik Malta, a joint venture between Air Malta and Lufthansa Technik, launched operations last month from facilities at Malta's Luqa International Airport. It will be able to perform C checks on all 737s including NGs, along with...

Airbus. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(Pierre Baud to replace retiring vice president Jean-Michel Roy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Airbus announced the retirement of Senior VP-Training and Flight Operations Pierre Baud. He was replaced by Senior Director-Training Policy Jean-Michel Roy.

Shannon Aerospace. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(maintenance for Croatia Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Shannon Aerospace will perform heavy maintenance checks on Croatia Airlines' A319s and A320s under a three-year deal that began in Jan.

BA. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(chooses SBS International's MaestroCrew software)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BA selected MaestroCrew software from SBS International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, to be its next-generation real-time flight crew tracking and management solution.

SITA. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(five airlines have chosen SITA's pre-configured ERP solution)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SITA said five airlines chose AerOnline, its pre-configured ERP solution based on the mySAP.com e-business platform. Carriers are Africa One of Uganda, Afrinat International Airlines of Gambia, HMY Airways in Vancouver, Royal Aruban Airlines...

FLS Aerospace. (News Briefs: Europe Report).(signs maintenance contracts with Lauda Air and Martinair)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... FLS Aerospace was contracted by Lauda Air to perform heavy maintenance for all its 767-300s in 2003, while Martinair signed an agreement that will see FLS perform three C checks on its 767-300s. FLS also is performing cockpit door reinforcement...

US Majors Traffic. (News Briefs).(Illustration)
February 1, 2003... US Majors Traffic Year ended Dec. 31, 2002 Load RPMs % chg. ASMs % chg. factor (billions) 2001 (billions) 2001 (%)...

A wholesale redrawing. (News Briefs: North America Report).(United Airlines decreases walkup fares)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A wholesale redrawing of the fare structure in 2003 grew more likely after United Airlines slashed walkup fares by up to 45% in markets to and from Chicago and Denver--its two largest hubs--and in thousands of connecting markets effective Jan....

Delta Air Lines. (News Briefs: North America Report).(expects to eliminate up to 4,000 jobs )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Delta Air Lines expects to eliminate up to 4,000 jobs as part of a workforce reduction program announced last Oct. Some 3,900 additional jobs will be cut through voluntary programs, bringing the total to nearly 8,000. Most of the job reductions...

American Airlines. (News Briefs: North America Report).(to furlough 343 flight attendants)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... American Airlines, which said in Dec. that it will have an overage of 1,100 flight attendants in 2003 owing to schedule reductions, planned to furlough 343 flight attendants with the least system seniority by Jan. 31.

Air Canada. (News Briefs: North America Report).(will report operating losses)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Air Canada said that despite a return to profitability in the second and third quarters, it will report fourth-quarter and full-year operating losses because of the "difficult global airline environment." The fourth-quarter operating loss will...

Continental Airlines. (News Briefs: North America Report).(mechanics and related personnel ratify contract)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Continental Airlines' mechanics and related personnel, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ratified a four-year contract through 2006.

World Airways. (News Briefs: North America Report).(flight attendents reject contract offer )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... World Airways' flight attendants, represented by the IBT, rejected a contract offer and authorized the union to seek a strike release from the National Mediation Board.

America West. (News Briefs: North America Report).(reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the Air Line Pilots Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... America West reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the Air Line Pilots Assn., representing its 1,700 pilots. Terms of the agreement were nor released.

Air Transat. (News Briefs: North America Report).(flight attendants ratified agreement in principle calling for renewal of a collective agreement)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Air Transat's flight attendants ratified an agreement in principle calling for renewal of a collective agreement that expired on Dec. 31, 2001, until Oct. 31, 2005.

Introduction of 100% checked baggage screening. (News Briefs: North America Report).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Introduction of 100% checked baggage screening at most of the 429 largest US airports became effective Jan. 1 with relatively few incidents or significant delays. The Transportation Security Administration used a number of methods to comply...

Air Transport Assn. of America. (News Briefs: North America Report).(James May named president and CEO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Air Transport Assn. of America board of directors named James May as president and CEO effective Feb. 3 succeeding Carol Hallett, who is retiring. Since 1988 May served as executive VP of the National Assn. of Broadcasters.

Former FAA Administrator. (News Briefs: North America Report).(Jane Garvey joined public affairs and strategic communications firm APCO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey joined public affairs and strategic communications firm APCO as executive VP and chairman of the transportation practice.

Goodrich Corp. (News Briefs: North America Report).(President and COO Marshall Lirsen to succeed David Burner as CEO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Goodrich Corp. President and COO Marshall Lirsen will be named CEO in April succeeding David Burner, who will remain as chairman until the company's Oct. hoard meeting, at which time Larsen will assume the chairmanship. Goodrich said the...

Lockheed Martin. (News Briefs: North America Report).(to provide its SkyLine automated air traffic management system to Albania)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lockheed Martin will provide its SkyLine automated air traffic management system to Albania under a four-year, $32 million contract to modernize the country's airspace system. First phase will establish an initial radar control capability in...

AirTran. (News Briefs: North America Report).(has selected Hamilton Sundstrand's Maintenance Support Plan for service and support of APUs on its 717s)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... AirTran selected Hamilton Sundstrand's Maintenance Support Plan for service and support of APUs on its 717s. Under the deal, Hamilton Sundstrand will be the exclusive provider of repair services for 10 years for both APUs and LRUs.