January 7 Airline News

C

chipmunn

Guest
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=storyHeadline][STRONG]Veteran lobbyist to head U.S. airline trade group[/STRONG][/SPAN][/SPAN][/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=storyHeadline]WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nation''s biggest airlines turned to a veteran lobbyist on Monday to push their legislative agenda in Congress at a time when they are seeking more help from Washington to ease financial pressures on the struggling industry.[/SPAN][/SPAN][/FONT][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=storyHeadline][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=1998107][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=1998107[/FONT][/A][/SPAN][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]Airlines Aim To Make Strikes More Difficult[!--plsfield:stop--] - Industry Lobbies to Revise Labor Law [/STRONG][/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]WASHINGTON (Washington Post) - Airlines, which lost more than $9 billion last year, are asking Congress to rescue the industry by rewriting the federal law that governs airline labor relations to make it harder for unions to strike, according to officials representing major carriers.[/NITF] [/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [A target=_blank href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19527-2003Jan6.html][FONT color=#0000ff]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19527-2003Jan6.html[/FONT][/A][/FONT][/P][/SPAN]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][SPAN class=t][STRONG]Regional Airline Service Remains Key to U.S. Industry Survival[/STRONG][/SPAN][/FONT][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]WASHINGTON (Business Wire) - U.S. operators of Regional Jet aircraft now serve 223 North American airports, with 26 receiving first-ever schedules during calendar year 2002, according to a detailed analysis of the Regional Airline schedule announcements undertaken by the Regional Air Service Initiative (RASI) [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.regionalairservice.org/][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://www.regionalairservice.org[/FONT][/A][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]. The expansion of RJ schedules at previously served communities also grew rapidly during the past twelve months. The number of different airline/hub options available at these airports increased by 11% as Regional carriers added a significant number of new nonstop service options to previously established points.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030106/62067_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030106/62067_1.html[/FONT][/A][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]USA Willing to Talk about Cabotage in US-Canada Market[/STRONG][/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]WASHINGTON (Aviation Daily) - The U.S. is “certainly willing to talk about cabotage†in the U.S.-Canada market, Paul Cellucci, U.S. ambassador to Canada, said in an interview with the National Post. Cellucci said he would press for beyond rights, not included in the transborder agreement that allows service between U.S.-Canada city-pairs with no beyond service.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Boeing delivers 381 jetliners in 2002, meets goal[/FONT][/SPAN][/P][SPAN class=t]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co. on Monday said it had delivered 381 new commercial jets in 2002, one aircraft ahead of its planned goal.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030106/transport_boeing_4.html][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030106/transport_boeing_4.html[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][/SPAN][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]United scales back food service[/STRONG][/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]CHICAGO (USA Today) - United Airlines'' new round of belt tightening is going to hit its best customers - first-and business-class passengers - in their empty bellies.[/FONT][/P]
[P class=inside-copy][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Starting Tuesday, United is dramatically scaling back food service on many domestic flights. Some high-paying first-class fliers used to steak dinners on fine china may wind up flying several hours without more than a snack.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003/2003-01-06-ual-advice.htm][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003/2003-01-06-ual-advice.htm[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]United Airlines Reduces Business Fares With Discounts Up To 40% Off Unrestricted, Refundable Coach Fares; No Minimum Stay Required[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]CHICAGO (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - United Airlines announced today it will meet the pricing needs of business travelers head-on by offering sharply reduced one-way business fares for travel in markets to and from Chicago and Denver -- the airline''s top two hubs -- as well as thousands of markets reached through connecting service.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/nym058_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/nym058_1.html[/FONT][/A][/SPAN][/P][SPAN class=t]
[DIV class=articleheadline][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]UAL asks IRS for ESOP ruling[/FONT][/STRONG][/DIV]
[DIV class=articledropHead][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][/FONT][/DIV]
[DIV class=articleauthor][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][/FONT][/DIV]
[DIV style=FONT-SIZE: 10px; HEIGHT: 10px][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][/FONT][/DIV]
[DIV class=articlebody][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]CHICAGO (Crains'' Business News) UAL Corp. has asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to rule that the trustee for its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) may sell UAL stock without wiping out billions of dollars in tax benefits. [/FONT]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]The Elk Grove Township-based parent of United Airlines, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, won a court order last month that temporarily prevents the trustee, Boston-based State Street Bank & Trust Co., from selling UAL stock. If State Street sells the 32.5 million UAL shares it currently oversees for the employee owners, as it has said it intends to do, [STRONG]UAL employees would no longer own a majority of the company.[/STRONG] Under tax laws, such a change in ownership structure would eliminate UAL''s ability to use its net operating loss to reduce taxes once it becomes profitable.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=7549][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=7549[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]Delta Air Lines Reports December Traffic[/STRONG][/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ATLANTA (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - Delta Air Lines today reported traffic results for the month of December 2002. Traffic comparisons are provided for year-over-year activity for 2001 and 2000 because the events of Sep. 11, 2001, distort comparisons to 2001.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/atm019_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/atm019_1.html[/FONT][/A][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3] [/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][/SPAN][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]Northwest Air/Traffic: Year Traffic Fell 1.5%[/STRONG][/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ST. PAUL (Dow Jones) - Northwest Airlines said December traffic rose 12.3% to 6.02 billion revenue passenger miles systemwide from 5.36 billion a year earlier.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030106/1337000388_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030106/1337000388_1.html[/FONT][/A][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3] [/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][/SPAN][/SPAN][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]Unions accept massive cutbacks at US Airways[/STRONG][/FONT][/P][/DIV]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ARLINGTON (WorldSocialistWebsite.com) - Union leaders representing 32,000 pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and other workers at US Airways have agreed to cuts in pay, reduction of benefits and changes to work rules that will save the airline more than $1.2 billion a year.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jan2003/usa-j06.shtml][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jan2003/usa-j06.shtml[/FONT][/A][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3] [/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman][FONT size=3][STRONG]Chip comments:[/STRONG] The WorldSocialistWebsite.com said, The unions don''t have the same power that they used to; the past decade the tables have turned. The government, the banks-these are the people who have the money and are calling the shots. Sad, but the truth; therefore, either the IAM, CWA, and AFA agree to the cuts, or the financiers, creditors, and investors have said they will withdraw their financing and US Airways will likely be forced to liquidate because labor refused to agree to the financial terms set by outsiders. [/FONT][/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3][STRONG]US Airways needs hub here for a turnaround[/STRONG][/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]CHARLOTTE (Charlotte Business Journal) - The coming year is expected to deliver another dismal performance by the airline industry, but analysts say Charlotte can expect nothing worse than the status quo for US Airways Group Inc.''s Charlotte hub. [/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/travel/airlines_airports/2003/01/06/charlotte_focus2.html][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/travel/airlines_airports/2003/01/06/charlotte_focus2.html[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman][FONT size=3][STRONG]Midway Airlines Starts Flights As US Airways Express Carrier[BR][/STRONG][BR]WASHINGTON (Aviation Daily) - Midway Airlines on Jan. 1 launched service as aUS Airways Express carrier with the start of nonstop service from Raleigh/Durham, N.C., to Washington National.[BR][BR]Midway’s three 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets complement Piedmont’s three Dash 8 turboprops currently on the route, for a total of six daily nonstop flights between the cities. Midway plans to have as many as 18 RJs in operation as US Airways Express by mid-year. The next route will begin on Feb. 9, when Midway will replace Indianapolis based Chautauqua Airlines on the Raleigh-New York LaGuardia route, providing six daily nonstops with a combination of Canadair and Embraer RJs.[BR][BR]As part of US Airways’ Jets for Jobs agreement, up to 18 furloughed US Airways pilots will start training on Jan. 13 in Raleigh to fly as Midway[BR]pilots. By late summer, as many as 83 furloughed US Airways pilots are expected to be flying for Midway. US Airways and Midway have a 10-year service agreement, first signed last summer after Midway suspended its Boeing 737 operation.[BR][BR]US Airways will sell tickets on flights operated by Midway and will provide reservations, ground support and other services for the RJ service, as it does for all Express partners. Midway joins 10 other regional airlines that operate as US Airways Express under a code-share and service agreement.[/FONT][/FONT][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]US Air To Reduce Opers, Schedule At Orlando Airport[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) - As part of its restructuring efforts, US Airways Group Inc. is reducing the size of its operations and flight schedule at Florida''s Orlando International Airport, according to papers filed late Friday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria, Va. [/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]US Airways said it will reduce the number of gates it leases at the airport to six from 15. It will also look to downsize facilities it leases to support its flight services, such as ticket counter offices, baggage claim facilities, administrative offices and club facilities. [/FONT]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]The airline said the move will save it about $18 million over the remaining lives of the leases - for savings of $3 million a year.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030106/1137000296_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030106/1137000296_1.html[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]S&P comments on US Airways Group[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/P][SPAN class=t]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]NEW YORK (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc. (D) unit US Airways Inc. (D) reached a global settlement with General Electric Capital Corp. (GECC) to obtain a $120 million of debtor-in-possession (DIP) credit facility, $360 million of financing to be available upon emergence from bankruptcy, and $350 million of commitments to provide equity investments for future leveraged leases of regional jets. Standard & Poor''s Ratings Services said its ratings of US Airways Inc. obligations that have not defaulted remain on CreditWatch with developing implications.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030106/airlines_uswairways_s_p_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030106/airlines_uswairways_s_p_1.html[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]US Airways Extends Five Shuttle Reliability Guarantees And Triple Win Offer for Frequent Flyers[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ARLINGTON (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - US Airways announced today that it will continue its industry-leading reliability guarantees for Shuttle customers through March 31, 2003. In addition, United Mileage Plus and US Airways Dividend Miles members who fly US Airways Shuttle may earn triple miles in both programs simultaneously through March 31, 2003.[/FONT][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/dcm034_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/dcm034_1.html[/FONT][/A][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]US Airways Reports Year-End Traffic[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ARLINGTON (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - US Airways reported today that revenue passenger miles for December 2002 decreased 0.6 percent compared to December 2001, while available seat miles for the month were down 11.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The passenger load factor for December 2002 was 72.4 percent, an 8.1 percentage-point increase compared to December 2001.[/FONT][/SPAN][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=t][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/dcm049_1.html][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030106/dcm049_1.html[/FONT][/A][/SPAN][/SPAN][/P]
[P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=t][STRONG][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#333333 size=3]US Airways Group Posts November Net Loss of $118 Million[/FONT][/STRONG][/SPAN][/SPAN][/P][SPAN class=t][SPAN class=t]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]ARLINGTON (Bloomberg) - US Airways Group Inc. had a net loss of $118 million for November on $519 million in revenue as the carrier, which filed for bankruptcy protection in August, keeps up its effort to reduce labor costs.[/FONT][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Complete Story: [/FONT][A target=_blank href=http://quote.bloomberg.com/fgcgi.cgi?T=marketsquote99_relnews.ht&s=APhoTVRM7VVMgQWly][FONT face=Times New Roman color=#0000ff size=3]http://quote.bloomberg.com/fgcgi.cgi?T=marketsquote99_relnews.ht&s=APhoTVRM7VVMgQWly[/FONT][/A][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3] [/FONT][/P][/SPAN][/SPAN][/SPAN][/SPAN]
 
2004 headlines!

Usairway announces major layoff in their reservation department.

Usairways today as planned cut their total number of reservation agents to 900. Thanks to a yes vote last year and new contract language most of the companies reservations work has been outsourced. The company will be looking for further opportunities to outsource in the future. The new contact language accepted last year by the CWA has lead to over 600 reservations agents being layoff so far.


Usairway expresses 5 more cities.

Usairways converts 5 more cities to express bringing the total to 17. “We are always looking for ways to cut costâ€￾ says a company spokes person. “Due to new contract language voted in last year we can now cut our frontline employees salary from $20.00 an hour to $13.01. This is especially nice since CO Express pays their express employee $16.00 an hour. We can do this and abide by new contract language using a hidden loop hole in the contract by pulling all our mainline flights out of a city for one day, then adding 2 mainline flights back into that cities schedule the next, thus keeping big jet service to these key cities. We are also benefiting greatly by moving all our Airbus and Boeing equipment to long haul flying. This has allow us to shift a lot of our hub work to our express employees in CLT, PHL ,PIT, BOS, LGA, DCA eliminating 1000 mainline jobs so farâ€￾ says the same company spokes person.. This trend should continue for several more years.

U managmet gets multi-million dollar bonus for getting employees to vote yes in 2003!
9.gif']