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Weekly UpdatesJul 19, 2009
US Air Transport Assn. took exception yesterday to a provision in the Senate FAA reauthorization bill introduced this week that would require airlines to return flights to gates when tarmac delays reach 3 hr. to allow passengers wishing to leave the aircraft to deplane. Jul 16, 2009
One year on since the world's airlines began to curb their seat capacity in the face of global economic pressures, the cutbacks are starting to stabilise with just over 315 million seats on offer this month, a drop of just one percent over July 2008 levels, reports OAG, the world's leading aviation data business, as it releases its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. Jul 14, 2009
Aircell
Aircell yesterday unveiled two new pricing options for its Gogo inflight Internet service. Access on flights shorter than 1.5 hr. on AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin America will cost USD 5.95, while a 24-hr. pass on either AirTran or DL will cost USD 12.95. Aircell also offers a 30-day pass on FL, DL or VX for USD 49.95. Standard rates of USD 9.95 for flights of 1.5-3 hr. and USD 12.95 for flights longer than 3 hr. still apply. Individual airlines had the option to adopt the various pricing plans. Aircell said "pricing and accessibility options will continue to expand throughout 2009" and that it "will explore additional Gogo subscription options." Jul 16, 2009
AirTran Airways
Acculynk announced that AirTran Airways has started offering customers the option to pay for online purchases with its PaySecure software, which offers users a PIN debit system that does not require enrollment or a password. Jul 16, 2009
American Airlines, Boeing
American Airlines is reevaluating the future of 757-200s in its fleet, Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey revealed this week. Speaking to reporters and analysts following the release of second-quarter results highlighted by a steep revenue drop, he said the carrier is continuing to look for ways to operate more cost efficiently. While emphasizing that no decisions have been made, AA is trying to determine whether it wants its more than 120 757s to play a prominent role in its long-term future. "We're struggling with the economics on the 757 fleet," he said. "The cost per seat-mile on that fleet is troubling to us right now." Jul 15, 2009
Boeing, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group
Several leading air carriers have been accepted as members to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group as announced by Boeing today. Existing members welcome the new group members Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, TUIfly, and Virgin Blue. Current airline members include Air France, Air New Zealand, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Cargolux, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS, and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Boeing and Honeywell's UOP, a refining technology developer, are associate members. Since its launch in the fall of 2008, the User Group has established a foundation of airlines, environmental organizations, research projects, and practices and principles that can help accelerate the commercialization and availability of sustainable biofuels. Jul 14, 2009
Continental Airlines, Boeing
Information released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today reveals that a combination of weather, handling and possibly a broken steering cable could have been factors in the runway excursion of a Continental Boeing 737-500 at the Denver International Airport the night of 20 December. Continental Flight 1404 was taking off from Denver at 1818h local time that night when pilots lost directional control as the aircraft accelerated through approximately 90kt (166km/h) airspeed. The aircraft departed the left side of Runway 34R, coming to rest in a drainage basin and catching on fire. All 115 passengers and crewmembers escaped, though 41 were injured. Jul 17, 2009
Continental Airlines, Boeing
Continental Airlines said it has completed installation of live DirecTV service on 15 aircraft operating in the continental US. It plans to offer the service on its entire 737NG fleet, numbering more than 200 aircraft, by the end of 2010. First class passengers can watch for free while economy passengers must pay. DirecTV service gives customers the choice of 77 channels of live television programming -- more channels than any other carrier -- including live sports, news, weather and children's shows. Jul 13, 2009
FlyersRights.org
FlyersRights.org has praised the Senate Commerce Committee version of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 which includes important Airline PassengersO Bill of Rights provisions. It says that passengers will have the right to return to the terminal after three-hours on the tarmac if the pilot determines this can be done safely. It also says that while on the tarmac, airlines will be required to provide food, potable water, working restrooms and reasonable cabin temperature and ventilation. For more information, visit www.FlyersRights.org. Jul 16, 2009
Gogo Inflight
Summer is in full swing and both seasonal and business travelers alike will be heading to the airport armed with their Wi-Fi devices, from laptops to iPhones, looking to stay connected in-flight. Leading airlines are deploying Gogo[umlaut] Inflight Internet service on more flights every day, making the service available to more people and on a greater variety of flights than ever before. To accommodate this growth and passengers' varied travel needs, Aircell has launched two new pricing options for the service: a Flight Pass for short haul flights and a 24-Hour Pass, aimed to make using Gogo even easier for passengers making one or more Gogo-enabled connections or same day roundtrips. Jul 15, 2009
Northwest Airlines, Airbus
A preliminary report by the US National Transportation Safety Board into a 23 June incident involving airspeed fluctuations on a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo says the flight data recorder confirmed large airspeed fluctuations, small altitude fluctuations and an overspeed alertat 39,000ft (11,900m) roughly 80km (45nm) south-west of Kagoshima, Japan. The flight with nine crew members and 208 passengers continued to Tokyo and landed with no damage. Jul 14, 2009
Pet Airways
Pet Airways, a pets-only airline operated by Omaha-based Suburban Air Freight, operated its inaugural flight Tuesday on a New York Republic-Baltimore-Chicago Midway routing with 35-40 pets onboard. The airline's Beech 1900 has had the seats and overhead bins removed, leaving space for pet carriers in the main cabin. It also will serve Denver Rocky Mountain and Los Angeles Hawthorne. Jul 16, 2009
Southwest Airlines, Boeing
US National Transportation Safety Board said "no significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage" was found on the Southwest Airlines 737-300 that developed a hole in its fuselage Monday while flying from Nashville to Baltimore. SWA is repairing the aircraft in Charleston, W.Va., where it landed following a "rapid decompression." NTSB said the hole measured approximately 17 in. by 8 in. and that its investigation will continue. Southwest said yesterday it had inspected its more than 180 Boeing 737-300s following the incident and found no similar structural problems. Jul 15, 2009
United Airlines
United Airlines is conducting an internal investigation after one of its captains diverted a flight to deplane a senior flight attendant who he argued with. Flight 842 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Chicago O'Hare diverted to Miami early in the morning of 14 July midway through the scheduled non-stop flight of nearly eleven hours. A source familiar with the incident says the captain ordered the purser of the Boeing 767 to leave the aircraft because he or she was "not respecting his authority". Jul 16, 2009
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