Career Pilot

Flight attendants step up knife fight
The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, representing some 90,000 flight attendants at U.S. airlines, is stepping up its fight against an abrupt TSA policy change that would allow knives in aircraft cabins. Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA have been distributing leaflets at airports, asking the public to support the No Knives Act of 2013, introduced by U.S. Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.). On Monday, April 1, flight attendants distributed information to the public at Chicago O'Hare International, Denver International, Los Angeles International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh International, Sea-Tac International, and Washington Dulles International airports. The leaflets also encourage passengers to sign a petition to the White House.

[POSTED April 2, 2013]

PSA pilots ratify new contract
Pilots at PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways, on March 27 ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement that was reached on Feb. 14. The new contract was ratified by the airline's 515 pilots, who are represented by ALPA and based in in Dayton, Ohio; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Charlotte, N.C.

[POSTED April 2, 2013]

Compass flight attendants tentatively agree to first contract
Flight attendants at Compass Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, reached a tentative agreement for a first contract late March 28 with the assistance of the National Mediation Board. The agreement would provide double-digit pay increases on the date of ratification along with an increased 401k match, schedule flexibility, and a grievance procedure. Details will be released first to Compass flight attendants, who will vote on the agreement between April 10 and May 1. Compass, a Delta Connection carrier, is wholly owned by Trans States Holdings and operates about 190 daily flights.

[POSTED April 2, 2013]

JetBlue Houston service is carrier’s 49th destination from Logan
JetBlue Airways announced March 28 that it will add two daily flights between Boston's Logan International Airport and Houston's William P. Hobby Airport starting July 25. Houston will be the 49th destination served by the carrier from Boston, as well as the 74th city served nonstop by all carriers from Logan. JetBlue’s Houston flights will be the first regularly scheduled service between the airports, said Dennis Corrigan, JetBlue's vice president of sales and revenue management. The airline said it’s moving closer to a goal of more than 150 daily departures from Boston, adding an average of five new destinations per year.

[POSTED April 2, 2013]

Alaska begins nonstop San Diego-Boston service
Alaska Airlines launched nonstop service between San Diego and Boston on March 29. Boston is the sixth new city the carrier has begun serving from San Diego in the past year; the others are Orlando and Kauai, Hawaii, as well as to Fresno, Monterey, and Santa Rosa, Calif. "Alaska Airlines is a key player in the transcontinental market,” said Ed Freni, director of aviation for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Boston’s Logan International Airport.

[POSTED April 2, 2013]

Flight attendants laud anti-knife measures
A budget resolution submitted by U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would prohibit the TSA from allowing airline passengers to carry small knives onto airliners is receiving strong support from the Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, which represents 90,000 flight attendants. “Aviation security is not divided by party lines,” the coalition said in support of the bipartisan measure. “All people have an interest in maintaining the most secure aviation system in the world.” The coalition also applauded Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) for taking the lead in this matter by writing TSA Administrator John Pistole about the abrupt policy change allowing dangerous items in the aircraft cabin. The letter expresses serious concerns about the process used to determine a policy change "without any formal engagement with stakeholders impacted by this policy, including our frontline workers aboard flights, the crewmembers."

[POSTED March 26, 2013]

Piedmont pilots ratify new contract
Pilots at Piedmont Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways, have voted to ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement that was reached on Feb. 1. The new contract was ratified by Piedmont Airlines' 375 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association and based in Charlottesville, Va.; Harrisburg, Pa.; New Bern, N.C.; Roanoke, Va. and Salisbury, Md. Details of the agreement will be made available by ALPA.

[POSTED March 26, 2013]

American adopts Airbus overrun prevention system
American Airlines has decided to equip all of its A320-family jets with Airbus' new Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) technology. This onboard cockpit technology, which Airbus has developed independently over several years, increases pilots' situational awareness during landing, reduces exposure to runway excursion risk, and provides active protection if necessary. The system computes minimum realistic landing and ground stopping distances while comparing them to available landing distances in real time, considering such factors as runway topography, runway condition, aircraft weight and configuration, wind, and temperature. It provides audio callouts and alerts for pilots, making ROPS an awareness tool to assist the crew in the go-around decision process and the timely application of ground stopping means. ROPS was first approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency on the A380 in October 2009; certification for the A320 family is expected later this year.

[POSTED March 26, 2013]

FedEx replacing 727s with secondhand twinjets
FedEx Corporation will buy 14 Boeing 757 passenger jets from United Continental Holdings Inc., with an option to buy another 16 757s, and convert them to carry freight, according to a March 21 regulatory filing reported by Bloomberg. FedEx began buying used 757s six years ago; one of the jets can carry 20 percent more cargo than a Boeing 727 while burning one-third less fuel. Passenger airlines are beginning to sell off the narrowbody twinjets, which Boeing stopped building in 2005. FedEx also has 70 new Boeing 767s and 777s on order, Bloomberg reported.

[POSTED March 26, 2013]

Airlines want cash for 787 groundings
Last week two early customers of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner indicated they wanted immediate cash credits—and not discounts on future jet orders—as compensation for the Dreamliner’s worldwide grounding since January. Japan’s All Nippon Airways has 17 of the clean-sheet twinjets and has cancelled more than 3,600 flights through the end of May because of the groundings, the Chicago Tribune reported. A senior government source in India said that Air India also wanted a direct refund as compensation for the aircraft’s grounding. Air India has received six Dreamliners and has another 21 on order. The 787 entered service in late 2011, but all 50 delivered worldwide were grounded following incidents involving rechargeable batteries aboard the jets that took place at a U.S. airport and during a flight in Japan.

[POSTED March 26, 2013]

Boeing details 787 battery improvements
Boeing announced March 14 that a comprehensive set of improvements to add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners already is in production and installations could begin in the next few weeks. Boeing said the changes, which continue to undergo extensive certification testing, will allow operators to resume commercial 787 flights as soon as testing is complete and the FAA and international regulators grant final approval. The changes include enhanced production and operating processes, improved battery design features, and a new battery enclosure. As an example, four new or revised tests have been added to screen cells during production. Each cell will go through more rigorous testing in the month following its manufacture, including a 14-day test during which readings of discharge rates are taken every hour. The FAA has approved Boeing's certification plan for the changes.

[POSTED March 19, 2013]

Southwest, AirTran connect networks, consider jets
Southwest Airlines announced March 18 that it has successfully completed the connection between the Southwest and AirTran networks. Customers now are able to purchase itineraries to the airlines' combined 97 destinations, including international, in one transaction. The current arrangement essentially is a code share, so the rules of the carrier from which the ticket is bought will apply—although the operating carrier's procedures apply to boarding and seating. Southwest, which has 31 firm orders for new Boeing 737-800s next year and plans to grow, may also purchase used jets to help meet its needs. "We're constantly looking at what our capacity and demand is," Brian Hirshman, senior vice president of technical operations, told Reuters. Because of market condition, jets that are 10 to 12 years old currently are priced favorably, he said.

[POSTED March 19, 2013]

Teamsters voice opposition to knives in cabins
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa repeated his strong opposition to the TSA’s decision to allow knives in the aircraft cabin in a letter sent March 18 to TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. In the letter, Hoffa demanded to know why the administrator didn't consult any of the unions that represent flight attendants. "I cannot fathom the TSA's rationale for allowing knives on planes with blades longer than box cutters—which are still banned," Hoffa said. "Most disturbing is the fact that not one union representing flight attendants was consulted or asked for input on this proposal. These are frontline workers that are being put in the most danger." The Teamsters Airline Division represents about 80,000 workers in all segments of commercial aviation, including pilots and flight attendants.

[POSTED March 19, 2013]

Southern Air’s reorganization confirmed
Southern Air Holdings, Inc. announced March 14 that it has received confirmation of its prearranged reorganization plan from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., which has overseen the company's voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings since they were filed Sept. 28, 2012. Confirmation of the plan, which received substantial support from key secured creditors as well as unsecured creditors, clears the way for Southern Air to emerge from its court-supervised financial restructuring. “This was a critical part of our overall transformation,” said Daniel J. McHugh, Southern Air CEO. "We…hope to exit Chapter 11 in just a matter of weeks.” He said the carrier has realigned its operations and capabilities, transitioning to a modern fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing 777 and 747-400 aircraft. Operations and corporate activities are now based at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

[POSTED March 19, 2013]

Flight attendants oppose knives in cabin
The Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which represents nearly 90,000 flight attendants at carriers across the county, said March 7 that it is coordinating a nationwide legislative and public campaign to reverse the Transportation Security Administration’s announcement that effective April 25, knives would be allowed in airliner cabins for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "Flight attendants are outraged. We are the last line of defense in aviation security and time does not change the fact that we were among the first to die in a war we didn't know we were fighting on September 11, 2001,” wrote the leaders of five flight-attendant unions in a letter. “At great cost, we know better today. There is no excuse for this.”

[POSTED March 12, 2013]

Boeing consolidating North American training in Miami
Boeing announced March 8 that it is consolidating its North American flight training capabilities, including 787 Dreamliner flight and maintenance training, at the Boeing Flight Services training campus in Miami. Boeing will relocate all full-flight simulators and other devices from Seattle to Miami, which is Boeing's largest commercial aviation training campus and preferred by customers based in Latin America as well as the United States, Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere, Boeing said. With 20 simulator bays, the Miami facility is one of the largest commercial flight training campuses in the world; it has 11 training devices on site and the capacity to accommodate nine additional simulators.

[POSTED March 12, 2013]

American reports record load factor
AMR Corporation on March 8 reported February 2013 consolidated revenue and traffic results for subsidiaries American Airlines, Inc. and AMR Eagle Holding Corporation. Consolidated load factor in February was an all-time record high for the month, at 77.9 percent, 2.6 points higher than the same period last year. Consolidated capacity and traffic were 4.4 percent and 1.1 percent lower year-over-year, respectively. Domestic capacity and traffic were 5.0 percent and 1.3 percent lower year-over-year, respectively, resulting in a domestic load factor of 81.2 percent—3.0 points higher than for the same period last year. The international load factor of 74.6 percent was 2.2 points higher year-over-year, as traffic decreased 0.8 percent on 3.8 percent less capacity.

[POSTED March 12, 2013]

Justice Department reviewing American, US Airways merger proposal
AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., and US Airways Group, Inc. announced March 4 that each company received a request for additional information from the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with the proposed merger of the two airlines. A common step in the regulatory process, this so-called “second request” extends the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and the parties may not close the transaction for at least 30 days after both have substantially complied with the request. The airlines said they would respond promptly and continue working cooperatively with the DOJ. American and US Airways said they continue to expect their combination to be completed in the third quarter of 2013.

[POSTED March 5, 2013]

US Airways flight attendants ratify contract
US Airways flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), said that they ratified on Feb. 28 a single contract with double-digit pay increases, improved job protections, and better work rules. The contract, reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, unites flight attendants from US Airways and America West—which merged in 2005—under one agreement. The union said 80 percent of flight attendants participating in the election voted to ratify the agreement. The new contract opens four-party negotiations with American's flight attendant union and airline representatives, an initial step in reaching a combined collective bargaining agreement for the pending US Airways-American merger.

[POSTED March 5, 2013]

CitationAir pilots dislike new schedules
CitationAir, a Greenwich, Conn.-based provider of luxury business jet and charter aircraft services, radically altered the work schedules of the company's nearly 230 pilots, said their union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division Local 1108. The union and CitationAir management have been negotiating a first contract for the pilots since November 2011. Prior to the March 1 change, CitationAir scheduled pilots to be available for duty seven consecutive workdays during each two-week period; now they must be available eight consecutive workdays during each two-week period—an increase of 26 more workdays per year. "The typical U.S. worker has a five-day workweek that keeps him or her on the job 20 days a month, not counting holidays. Assuming eight-hour shifts, that worker puts in about 160 hours a month," said Capt. Mat Slinghoff, Local 1108 president. "In contrast, CitationAir could conceivably require a pilot to be at work 252 hours, or more, during a single month. Furthermore, pilots do not get holidays off—they work in a 365/24/7 business."

[POSTED March 5, 2013]

Alaska Air Group employees earn bonuses of $88 million
Alaska Air Group paid annual bonuses totaling almost a month's pay to nearly 13,000 employees Feb. 27 for exceeding the company's 2012 operational and financial goals. The bonus of about 8 percent of annual pay is in addition to $1,100 in bonuses, on average, each employee earned last year for achieving monthly on-time and customer satisfaction targets. The combined monthly and annual bonuses amounted to nearly $88 million. "We're pleased to share the company's financial success with our amazing employees at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air," Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said. "Their teamwork and dedication to our customers are at the heart of our success."

[POSTED March 5, 2013]

Hawaiian flight attendants approve narrow-body jets
Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants have ratified a tentative agreement reached in February between the company and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) on new contract terms allowing the operation of long-range, single-aisle aircraft the airline plans to acquire. In January, Hawaiian announced its intent to acquire 16 new Airbus A321neo aircraft between 2017 and 2020, with rights to purchase an additional nine aircraft. The fleet expansion is expected to generate roughly 1,000 new jobs at the carrier. Its pilots ratified a similar agreement between the company and the Air Line Pilots Association on January 28.

[POSTED March 5, 2013]

Boeing reports progress with 787 fix
Several sources reported last week that Boeing may be able to solve the problem with lithium-ion batteries on its 787 Dreamliner by spacing individual cells within the battery packs farther apart. "The gaps between cells will be bigger. I think that's why there was overheating," one source told Reuters. After a meeting with Boeing on Friday, the FAA said in a statement that it plans to closely examine Boeing’s proposal. In addition to better thermal separation of the cells, Boeing’s plan also calls for a stronger, sealed containment box; venting tubes; and continuous monitoring of individual cells’ temperatures and voltages, The Seattle Times reported. United Airlines has cancelled nearly all 787 flights in its schedule through June, while Japan’s All Nippon Airways has cancelled 787 flights through May and LOT Polish Airlines has suspended the deliveries of three Dreamliners. Boeing continues to produce 787s at its facility in Everett, Wash., while working to resolve the battery issue.

[POSTED February 26, 2013]

U.S. airlines report improved performance, small profit
Airlines for America, an airline industry trade organization, reported Feb. 21 that U.S. airlines delivered one of their best years ever for operational performance, built on their stellar safety record, and achieved a narrow profit as expenses grew faster than revenues for the second consecutive year. According to the Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report, the nation's carriers achieved the best year for on-time arrivals since 2003 and the lowest cancellation rate since 2002. The 10 U.S. airlines reporting full-year 2012 results to date earned a combined $152 million, or 21 cents of net profit for every passenger enplaned. Earnings fell as expenses rose 4.7 percent, outpacing a 4.5-percent revenue increase. "The airlines spent some $50 billion to fuel their flights despite using half a billion fewer gallons in 2012 than in 2011,” said A4A Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich. “Last week the price of jet fuel hit its highest level in nearly a year. Fuel remains the airlines' single largest expense."

[POSTED February 26, 2013]

United launching seasonal service from Newark
United Airlines announced Feb. 25 that it will launch summer-season service from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to Anchorage, Alaska, and Traverse City, Mich. United will operate the Anchorage service on Saturdays from July 6 through Aug. 31, using Boeing 757 aircraft. United Express service to Traverse City will operate on weekends from July 5 through Aug. 25, using 50-seat regional jet aircraft operated by ExpressJet.

[POSTED February 26, 2013]

US Airways, American merger announced
In a widely expected move, American Airlines parent AMR Corporation and US Airways Group, Inc. announced Feb. 14 that the boards of both companies unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement. The combined carrier, which will operate under the American Airlines name, will have an implied total equity value of approximately $11 billion based on the price of US Airways' stock as of Feb. 13. It will offer more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries, and is expected to maintain all hubs currently served by American and US Airways. Regional carriers owned by the new company—AMR’s American Eagle and US Airways' Piedmont and PSA—will continue to operate as distinct entities. Thomas Horton, American’s chairman, president, and CEO, will chair the combined airline's board of directors through its first annual meeting of shareholders. Doug Parker, US Airways chairman and CEO, will serve as CEO and as a director of the combined corporation; he will become chairman when Horton steps down. The board will be comprised of three American Airlines representatives, four US Airways representatives, and five AMR creditor representatives. US Airways stockholders will receive one share of common stock in the combined airline for each share of US Airways common stock held, representing 28 percent of the combined airline’s diluted equity; the remainder will be issuable to AMR stakeholders, American's labor unions, and current AMR employees. The deal is subject to confirmation by AMR’s bankruptcy court and regulatory approval.

[POSTED February 19, 2013]

Southwest, AirTran continue connecting networks
Southwest Airlines took the next step in integrating operations with its AirTran subsidiary Feb. 14, when customers became able to purchase more itineraries between the Southwest and AirTran networks for travel on a single itinerary. An initial integration phase in January was successful, and the airline is on pace to fully connect the networks in April. Southwest announced plans to acquire AirTran Airways on Sept. 27, 2010, and closed on the purchase May 2, 2011. To date, five AirTran-served cities and 29 percent of its employees have transitioned to Southwest; 11 AirTran Airways 737-700 aircraft have been converted to Southwest’s interior configuration and been repainted (AirTran’s Boeing 717 jets are being sold to Delta Air Lines). The full integration of AirTran’s 737 fleet and transition to a single ticketing system will be completed by late 2014.

[POSTED February 19, 2013]

Delta employees share $372M in profits
Delta Air Lines paid its employees $372 million in earned profit sharing Feb. 14 to recognize their role in achieving the company’s financial and operational goals in 2012. Individual payouts will equal 6.67 percent of the employee’s eligible 2012 earnings. "This year's profit sharing payment is a reflection of the hard work and dedication Delta people have shown in delivering what our customers have come to expect—great operations and service," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. Last year Delta employees also earned $91 million in "Shared Rewards," monthly bonuses paid for meeting corporate operating goals.

[POSTED February 19, 2013]

PSA Airlines, pilots reach agreement
PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways, announced Feb. 15 that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, the union that represents PSA's 515 pilots. ALPA will present details of the tentative agreement to its members for a ratification vote in the coming weeks and will make details available later. The airline's pilots are based in Dayton, Ohio; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Charlotte, N.C.

[POSTED February 19, 2013]

US Airways, AMR nearing deal
The world’s largest airline could emerge within weeks or even days, with the expected announcement of an $11 billion merger of US Airways Group, Inc. and AMR Corp., according to news reports. US Airways Chief Executive Doug Parker could become CEO of the combined company, Reuters reported Feb. 10, and AMR's Tom Horton would be nonexecutive chairman of the board until the new company’s first annual meeting is held in the spring of 2014. The deal would mark a career achievement for Parker, the longest-serving CEO among large U.S. airlines—and complete the industry consolidation he began when his America West Holdings Corp. merged with US Airways in 2005, Bloomberg Businessweek reported Feb. 11. If approved the merger also would be the last combination of U.S. legacy airlines, after the United-Continental merger in 2010 and the Delta-Northwest combination in 2008.

[POSTED February 12, 2013]

American Eagle employees fight Republic contract
Three unions representing employees of American Eagle have asked AMR Corp.’s bankruptcy court to delay or deny a recent AMR contract with Republic Airways, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Feb. 7. The 12-year agreement would allow Republic to operate regional flights for American, using 53 Embraer E-175 regional jets, beginning this summer. The Air Line Pilots Association, Association of Flight Attendants, and Transport Workers Union said Eagle employees will lose jobs because of the agreement.

[POSTED February 12, 2013]

Canada’s WestJet announces new U.S. destinations
WestJet announced Feb. 11 the launch of new nonstop service between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and between Calgary and Dallas, Texas. Daily service between Calgary and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will begin April 29. WestJet will introduce Twice-weekly service, on Thursdays and Sundays, between Toronto and Myrtle Beach will start May 2. Flights on both routes will be operated using the airline's fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. The Canada-based carrier currently flies to 18 U.S. destinations.

[POSTED February 12, 2013]

Virgin launching nonstops to Austin, Anchorage
Virgin America announced Feb. 12 that it will begin service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas beginning May 21. The carrier will serve Austin with a daily nonstop roundtrip flight from its home base at San Francisco International Airport. Seasonal service from San Francisco to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, will begin June 6; the carrier will offer six nonstop roundtrip flights a week through Sept. 9.

[POSTED February 12, 2013]

Piedmont, ALPA reach tentative agreement
Piedmont Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways, announced Feb. 1 that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the airline's 375 pilots. The tentative agreement was reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board. "This is a significant step toward reaching a new collective bargaining agreement," said Steve Farrow, Piedmont Airlines president and CEO. ALPA will present the details of the tentative agreement to its members for consideration once language is finalized in the coming weeks.

[POSTED February 5, 2013]

Hawaiian FAs reach agreement on contract for new jets
Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), said Feb. 1 they have reached a tentative agreement with management on contract terms that would extend to 16 new Airbus A321neo aircraft on order. Details of the agreement are being sent to Hawaiian's more than 1,400 flight attendants, with voting scheduled for Feb. 8 through 27. "Through our collaborative efforts with management, we have reached an agreement that will advance our careers while recognizing our professionalism," said Sharon Soper, president of the AFA local at Hawaiian. "We look forward to the continued growth and job creation made possible through this agreement."

[POSTED February 5, 2013]

Boeing begins building 737s at a higher rate
Boeing has begun assembly of the first Next-Generation 737 that will be built at the increased rate of 38 airplanes per month, the company announced Jan. 29. Over the past two years, production of the popular 737 has risen more than 20 percent, from 31.5 to 38 airplanes a month; next year, the rate will increase again—to 42 airplanes a month. On Jan. 29 mechanics loaded initial parts of the airplane's wing spars—the first step in building the wings, marking the start of major manufacturing—into an automated spar-assembly machine. Employee teams have been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative efficiency improvements in 737 manufacturing. The first Next-Generation 737 built at the new rate is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of this year.

[POSTED February 5, 2013]

American adding 76-seat regional jets
American Airlines announced Jan. 24 that it has signed a 12-year capacity purchase agreement with Republic Airways Holdings to provide large regional jet flying for the first time in the company's history. The agreement, subject to bankruptcy court approval, was made possible by American’s new pilot contract. Republic Airways will acquire 53 Embraer E175 jets that will enter service at the rate of two to three aircraft per month beginning in mid-2013, with all 53 aircraft delivered by the first quarter of 2015. American Eagle, also in bankruptcy organization, was not able to bid on the large regional jet flying just awarded to Republic, Dallasnews.com reported. The website of the Dallas Morning News said Dan Garton, American Eagle’s president and chief executive, told employees in a message last week that Eagle was “not in a position to meet a key requirement of securing and financing large regional jets in the timeframe requested.” Garton added that the carrier is on track with its own plans to replace smaller regional jets with larger planes.

[POSTED JANUARY 29, 2013]

US Airways, AFA reach tentative agreement
US Airways announced Jan. 24 that it has reached a new tentative agreement on a collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which represents the airline's 6,800 mainline flight attendants. AFA said the tentative agreement, reached under the supervision of the National Mediation Board, would allow for immediate economic improvements and provide all US Airways flight attendants with the strongest position possible for any discussions related to the next merger. "This agreement provides US Airways flight attendants with a strong position for our future. Doug Parker's plan for a US Airways/American merger provides the best opportunities for US Airways flight attendants, and we are now poised to make the most out of those opportunities," said AFA US Airways presidents Roger Holmin and Deborah Volpe.

[POSTED JANUARY 29, 2013]

Hawaiian pilots ratify narrow-body agreement
Hawaiian Airlines pilots have ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this month between the company and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) on new contract terms covering the operation of long-range, single-aisle aircraft the carrier plans to acquire to complement its current fleet of wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft serving Hawaii from the U.S. West Coast. On Jan. 7, Hawaiian announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with airframe manufacturer Airbus to acquire 16 new A321neo aircraft between 2017 and 2020, with rights to purchase an additional nine aircraft. The carrier is in talks with the Association of Flight Attendants about a similar agreement. The A321neo fleet expansion is expected to generate roughly 1,000 additional jobs at Hawaiian.

[POSTED JANUARY 29, 2013]

787 probe continues; batteries may not be cause
Investigators continue to search for the cause of incidents that grounded all of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in service around the world Jan. 16, including the only six Dreamliners operated by U.S.-based United Airlines. The batteries that burned aboard 787s in both the United States and Japan apparently did not overcharge, AIN Online reported Jan. 29. However, AIN Online said, the investigation remains focused on the lithium-ion batteries used in the aircraft’s electrical power conversion system. Boeing said that it will not comment directly on the ongoing investigations, in order to ensure the integrity of the process and in adherence to international protocols that govern safety investigations.

[POSTED JANUARY 29, 2013]

FAA grounds Dreamliners
The FAA ordered the immediate grounding of all U.S.-registered Boeing 787 Dreamliners on Jan. 16, requiring a corrective action plan before operations can resume. The grounding comes days after the Jan. 11 announcement that the FAA would conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787's critical systems to validate the work conducted during the certification process. United Airlines is the only U.S. carrier operating the new model, and has grounded its six Dreamliners; two carriers in Japan operating the 787 also grounded the planes Jan. 16 after one of them made an emergency landing. "We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service," Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement. "Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible."

[POSTED JANUARY 22, 2013]

Southwest, AirTran add Super Bowl flights
Southwest Airlines and its subsidiary, AirTran Airways, on Jan. 21 announced extra flights to New Orleans for San Francisco Forty-Niners and Baltimore Ravens fans attending the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. Flights added by the carriers include nonstop service they don't normally offer from San Francisco International. On Jan. 31, Southwest will offer two daily nonstops from San Francisco, and two from Baltimore; AirTran is adding an additional nonstop from Atlanta. On Feb. 4, Southwest will operate two nonstops from New Orleans to San Francisco. The carriers said they have added other flights to New Orleans that already have sold out.

[POSTED JANUARY 22, 2013]

Alaska to base flight attendants in San Diego
Alaska Airlines has announced that it will open a flight attendant base in San Diego on April 1. The fifth base in Alaska's network will be home to between 150 and 200 flight attendants, and is expected to save Alaska more than $1 million annually in travel-related costs. "As one of our fastest-growing cities, the time was right to open a base in San Diego—a city where many of our flight attendants already live," said Andy Schneider, Alaska Airlines' vice president of inflight services. The new San Diego base also is expected to improve on-time performance, because flight attendants will live in the region, rather than commuting from another location. Alaska currently has flight attendant bases in Anchorage, Alaska; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore., and Seattle.

[POSTED JANUARY 22, 2013]

Court OKs Pinnacle plans for bankruptcy exit
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. announced Jan. 16 that the comprehensive agreements it reached with Delta, the Air Line Pilots Association, and the creditors' committee in Pinnacle's Chapter 11 cases have been approved by the bankruptcy court. Pinnacle said that together, the agreements provide a path for the company to emerge from bankruptcy with a competitive cost structure and a viable long-term business plan. Pinnacle's plan calls for a transition to operating a fleet of 81 fuel-efficient regional jets for Delta. The carrier will receive Delta Connection's next 40 CRJ-900 aircraft awarded, setting Pinnacle's long-term fleet plan at 81 CRJ-900 aircraft; deliveries are anticipated between fall 2013 and the end of 2014. A new collective bargaining agreement with Pinnacle's pilots—as well as a bridge agreement that provides transitional payments, furlough benefits, and specified career opportunities at Delta to Pinnacle's pilots—were among the agreements approved.

[POSTED JANUARY 22, 2013]

FAA to review Boeing’s 787
Following a small fire aboard an aircraft parked at a gate and several other reported incidents, the FAA announced Jan. 11 that it will conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787’s critical systems to validate the work conducted during the certification process. A team of FAA and Boeing engineers and inspectors will conduct the joint review, with an emphasis on the aircraft’s electrical power and distribution system. “We are confident that the aircraft is safe. But we need to have a complete understanding of what is happening," said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. FAA technical experts logged 200,000 hours of work during the 787 type certification and flew on numerous test flights. The review is expected to begin in Seattle, but may expand to other locations over the course of several months. “We look forward to participating in the joint review with the FAA, and we believe it will underscore our confidence, and the confidence of our customers and the traveling public, in the reliability, safety, and performance of the innovative, new 787 Dreamliner," said Boeing Chairman, President, and CEO Jim McNerney. United Airlines is the only U.S. carrier currently operating the 787, with six airplanes delivered. Worldwide, 50 of the new twinjets are in service.

[POSTED JANUARY 15, 2013]

Pinnacle pilots ratify new contract
Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., announced Jan. 15 that its pilots group, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, ratified the tentative agreement reached in December. The changes in the ratified agreement, which covers pilot pay, retirement, work rules, and benefits, will become effective when concessions are implemented for the airline's other labor groups and nonunion employees. "This is a significant milestone in our restructuring and represents substantial progress that we expect will allow us to successfully emerge from bankruptcy," said John Spanjers, president and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. A hearing is scheduled on Jan. 16 for the bankruptcy court to consider approval of the tentative agreement. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. is the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., which operates 191 regional jets for Delta Connection.

[POSTED JANUARY 15, 2013]

Southwest announces service to Dominican Republic, Jamaica
Southwest Airlines Co. began selling tickets Jan. 10 for new nonstop service between Chicago (Midway) and both Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Operations on the new routes will begin this spring, subject to governmental approvals, four times per week; they will be flown by Southwest subsidiary AirTran Airways. Service to Montego Bay will begin April 14, and the first flight to Punta Cana is scheduled for May 19.

[POSTED JANUARY 15, 2013]

Horizon pilots ratify 6-year contract
Horizon Air and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced Jan. 9 that the carrier's 610 pilots ratified an agreement to extend the current contract for three years, creating a new six-year pact. Among pilots who voted, 77 percent approved ratification. "The fact that the extension was achieved three years before the contract became amendable demonstrates the effectiveness of our sincerely collaborative approach with our union-represented workgroups," Horizon President Glenn Johnson said. The new contract includes wage increases, improvements in productivity and quality of life, and better job security.

[POSTED JANUARY 15, 2013]

American, US Airways pilot agreement could pave way for merger
American Airlines and US Airways have completed discussions with the Allied Pilots Association and US Airline Pilots Association that could pave the way for a possible merger of the carriers, US Airways Group, Inc. announced Jan. 4. A memorandum of understanding, achieved with counsel for American’s Unsecured Creditors Committee and approved by both pilot unions’ boards, frames the terms of employment for pilots and provides a process for pilot integration in the event the carriers merge. Details of the memorandum are subject to the terms of a nondisclosure agreement and cannot be further disclosed at this time, US Airways Group said. Tom Horton, chief executive officer of American parent AMR Corp., told employees in a memo that the company expects to reach a decision about the merger within weeks, Bloomberg Businessweek reported Jan. 3.

[POSTED JANUARY 8, 2013]

Trade group rejects cargo pilot rest, duty changes
Airline industry trade organization Airlines for America on Jan. 7 reaffirmed its support for new FAA pilot duty and rest time rules. It urged congress to reject legislation recently introduced by U.S. Reps. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) that would extend those rules beyond passenger airlines to all-cargo carriers. “All stakeholders actively participated in the rulemaking, which was composed of a scientific review of existing safety measures, fatigue mitigations, and diverse airline operating environments—and the rule as put forward by the FAA builds on our safety record,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio.

[POSTED JANUARY 8, 2013]

Pinnacle plans to emerge from bankruptcy as Delta subsidiary
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. announced Jan. 3 that it and its wholly owned subsidiaries have entered into comprehensive agreements that could allow the company to emerge from bankruptcy with a fleet of 81 fuel-efficient regional jets, under the ownership of Delta Air Lines Inc. or a subsidiary. Under an amended operating agreement with Delta, between fall 2013 and the end of 2014 Pinnacle will receive Delta Connection's next 40 CRJ-900 aircraft; Pinnacle's 140 CRJ-200 aircraft will be removed from operation over the next two to three years. A bridge agreement would provide Pinnacle’s pilots with transitional payments, furlough benefits, and specified career opportunities at Delta. The reorganization plan provides for Delta or an affiliate to acquire the equity in the reorganized Pinnacle Airlines Corp. after it emerges from bankruptcy.

[POSTED JANUARY 8, 2013]

Hawaiian to add 16 long-range Airbus jets
Hawaiian Airlines announced Jan. 7 the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to acquire 16 new A321neo aircraft between 2017 and 2020, with rights to purchase an additional nine aircraft. Hawaiian said the long-range, single-aisle aircraft will complement its existing fleet of wide-body, twin-aisle jets used for long-haul flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. The A321neo will seat approximately 190 passengers and has a range of 3,650 nautical miles. The new acquisitions are contingent upon Hawaiian signing new agreements with its pilot and flight attendant unions covering operation of the new aircraft type. If new agreements are reached, the fleet expansion is expected to generate roughly 1,000 additional jobs at the carrier.

[POSTED JANUARY 8, 2013]