American Airlines Alliance Doesn’t Violate Pilots’ Contract, Arbitrator Rules
In the ongoing dispute between American Airlines and its pilots union, an independent arbitrator has ruled that the company’s proposed alliance with British Airways does not violate the pilots’ contract.
After a series of discussions with representatives of the airline and Allied Pilots Association, which represents 11,500 pilots at American, the arbitrator decided in favor of the carrier, citing the likely economic benefits of the alliance.
In 2008, the union filed a grievance with American, saying the company’s proposal for antitrust immunity violated the “scope clause” in its labor contract. A scope clause defines a company’s work that is reserved for union members.
But American said it offered protections to the pilots union that ensured American’s share of the flying, as part of the joint venture with British Airway, would “remain relatively proportional over time.” The airline, owned by Fort Worth-based AMR, said the pilots union rejected that offer.
“We knew this was more about rhetoric than the facts of our agreement,” said Kevin Cox, American’s vice president for state and community affairs. “The fact is, this is designed to allow us to continue to grow and compete on a level playing field. This is good for consumers and our employees.”
The proposed venture between American, British Airways and Spain’s Iberia would allow the carriers to coordinate operations, marketing, schedules and other services on trans-Atlantic routes.
An antitrust immunity application for the alliance is under review by the U.S. Transportation Department and the European Union. A decision from the department is expected by the end of the month.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents about 26,000 American employees, favors the alliance, while the Association of Professional Flight Attendants has not commented on it.
The pilots union said it is worried that if immunity is granted, it will cost pilots jobs and flying time.
A pilots union spokesman, First Officer Scott Shankland, said the union is disappointed by the arbitrator’s ruling and has taken its job protection concerns to Washington. On Wednesday, the union held informational picketing at Transportation Department’s headquarters.
“AMR’s proposal for an expanded alliance with British Airways and other airlines is a merger, and mergers mean downsizing and job cuts,” Shankland said.
“Ensuring job protections in that scenario is a reasonable goal.”
Delta Airlines Filed Permit Application for Additional Flight Service Between Heathrow London Airport and Boston
Delta Air Lines today filed applications with the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting permission to operate twice-daily year-round service between London’s Heathrow Airport and Boston, and daily year-round service between Heathrow and Miami.
Delta’s new service would benefit consumers by increasing competition among airlines and airline alliances between the U.S. and Heathrow, which is tightly restricted by airport slot restraints. The oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines and British Airways, holds 47 percent of Heathrow’s takeoff and landing slots, while the Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines, US Airways, BMI and Lufthansa, accounts for 25 percent of Heathrow’s slots.
SkyTeam, whose members include Delta, Air France-KLM and Alitalia, holds only 5 percent of Heathrow’s slots.
“Delta’s new service would provide more choices and competition for customers traveling between these important U.S. cities and London, one of the most popular destinations in Europe for both business and leisure travelers,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president – Network Planning and Revenue Management. “Awarding these slots to Delta and SkyTeam would significantly enhance competition among the major alliances across the Atlantic.”
The slots for the new service are available following the U.S. and E.U. governments’ approval of an immunized trans-Atlantic alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. The government required the airlines to divest some Heathrow slots in order to enhance competition in the most tightly restricted markets.
If approved, Delta’s Heathrow service from Boston and Miami would begin March 27, 2011, and would be offered in cooperation with its trans-Atlantic joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia.
Boston – Heathrow
Boston is one of the largest markets between the U.S. and Heathrow, with more than 270,000 passengers annually. The route is popular with business travelers in the financial services and technology industries.
Delta, the second-largest carrier in Boston with 75 peak-day departures to 17 cities, would operate two flights daily to Heathrow, using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft equipped with 36 seats in BusinessElite and 180 in Economy.
Delta’s proposed Boston-Heathrow summer 2011 schedule:
Flight Departs Arrives Frequency
270 Boston at 7 p.m. Heathrow at 6:45 a.m. (next day) Daily
144 Boston at 9:50 p.m. Heathrow at 9:35 a.m. (next day) Daily
271 Heathrow at 10:30 a.m. Boston at 1:25 p.m. Daily
145 Heathrow at 1:30 p.m. Boston at 4:25 p.m. Daily
New Delta service between Heathrow and Boston would complement existing trans-Atlantic service offered by the SkyTeam alliance from Boston, including year-round flights to Paris operated by Air France, Rome operated by Alitalia and Amsterdam operated by Delta.
Miami – Heathrow
As Florida’s largest carrier offering international service, and the second-largest carrier in Miami, Delta and its SkyTeam partners are well-positioned to enhance competition between Miami and Heathrow. If approved, Delta would operate one daily flight on the route using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Delta’s proposed Miami-Heathrow summer 2011 schedule:
Flight Departs Arrives Frequency
260 Miami at 5:30 p.m. Heathrow at 7:30 a.m. (next day) Daily
261 Heathrow at 10:20 a.m. Miami at 3:25 p.m. Daily
New Delta service between Heathrow and Miami would complement existing trans-Atlantic service offered by the SkyTeam alliance from Miami including year-round flights to Paris operated by Air France and Rome operated by Alitalia.
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 367 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 45 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.
source : Delta Air Lines
Indian Aviation Industry offers U.S. Airline Companies to establish Aviation Manufacture Base and Investment in Indian
India has asked US aviation companies to think of establishing manufacturing bases and investing in aviation infrastructure like airports in India for a long-term commitment.
Visiting Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel told senior US officials like Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Thursday that Washington should also explore the possibility of liberalising the export control regime.
Locke and LaHood told Patel that US companies were very impressed with the growth displayed by India’s aviation sector and were keen to contribute to the growth, according to an Indian embassy press release. In response, Patel said these companies needed to “show a long-term commitment beyond just exporting to India” and should seriously “explore the possibility of establishing manufacturing bases and investing in aviation infrastructure like airports”.
At meetings with Locke, LaHood and Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt, both sides acknowledged the positive role of aviation in improving connectivity between the two countries, since the signing of the Open Skies Agreement in 2005.
The civil aviation sector has emerged as the fastest growing component of bilateral trade, accounting for about 15 percent of US exports to India. Patel invited both the secretaries to visit India to see the numerous opportunities that India offered for mutually beneficial partnerships in general and in aviation, in particular.
Addressing a luncheon round table at the US Chamber of Commerce where a large number of the major US companies engaged in aviation-related activities were present, Patel gave them an update on recent developments and encouraged them to deepen their technological collaboration with India.
Patel later addressed a 200-strong gathering of US government officials, US business representatives, NRIs, and Indian-Americans at the celebration “Air India’s Capital to Capital Connectivity: Bringing Washington and Delhi Closer”.
The cultural reception was organised by the US India Business Council with a few partners to publicise the new Air India link between Washington DC and New Delhi that commenced December 1. It provides the only single-plane link between the two capitals.
Cheap flights to Tenerife from Norwich this Christmas
This Christmas and New Year you can fly from Norwich airport direct to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This is marvellous news for our clients in East Anglia say specialist cheap flight travel agency Airflights.co.uk. Cheap flights to Tenerife are in great demand over Christmas and New Year from all departure airports in the UK. It is wonderful news that that our clients who want to fly from Norwich airport will be able to This Christmas say airflights.
Cheap flights to Tenerife get you to the beaches, year round sunshine and blue waters of Tenerife. With cheap hotels in Playa de Las Americas, Costa Adeje, Los Gigantes and Los Cristianos who wouldn’t want to go say airflights! These special flights for the festive season depart Norwich on the 19th and 26th of December and are expected to be extremely popular with Holiday makers from the East Anglian region who normally have to travel to Birmingham, Luton, East Midlands, Stansted or even London Gatwick. Book cheap flights to Tenerife from Norwich and all other airports with airflights.co.uk either on line or call them free on 0800 093 2615. Airflights.co.uk offer cheap flights to beach destinations in Europe including cheap flights to Skiathos,Samos, Rhodes, Salonica Corfu, Kefalonia, Zante in Greece.
Heraklion and Chania in Crete, Malaga, Alicante in Spain, Dalaman, Izmir Adnan and Bodrum in Turkey, Paphos and Larnaca in Cyprus, the Canary islands including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Arrecife in Lanzarote as well as Cheap flights and All Inclusive hotels to Egypts famous Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada which are famous for the world class scuba diving.
To book with airflights visit www.airflights.co.uk on line or call free on 0800 093 2615. Car hire, transfers and Airport parking is also available at discounted rates.
source : airflights.co.uk
Global Airline Accidents Review for 2008
An assessment of global airline crashes for 2008 at 23 December shows a considerable rise in the number of fatal accidents, but a fall in the number of resulting deaths.
This squares with the International Air Transport Association’s snapshot of the year to 1 December, in which it revealed that airline safety has stopped improving, although IATA’s figures are based on jet hull-loss accidents, and not all of these involve fatalities.
Flightglobal’s safety snapshot for the year to 23 December shows 33 fatal airline accidents, whereas the whole of 2007 produced only 25, which was an all time low.
But this year to 23 December has seen only 589 fatalities worldwide compared with the 744 recorded by the end of 2007.
A lot can happen in eight days, however. Flightglobal will review global airline safety for the entire year 2008 during the last week of January 2009, together with an analysis of trends, lessons learned, and industry concerns.
In this year to 23 December there were six fatal accidents involving scheduled jet airliners in which a total of 349 people died.
There were three fatal crashes involving chartered aircraft, killing a total of 49 (none of these was a holiday charter and none involved jets).
The commuter and regional airlines worldwide suffered 8 fatal accidents killing 129 people, but the commercial air transport category in which most fatal accidents occurred was non-passenger operations.
The latter includes cargo flights, but also positioning flights and test flights after maintenance. In 2008 to 23 December there were 16 accidents in this category, killing 62 people.
The year’s worst single accident so far was the 20 August Spanair Boeing MD-82 crash during take-off at Madrid Barajas airport Spain, which followed failure of the crew to set the flaps to the take-off setting combined with the failure of the onboard alerting system that is supposed to warn them the aircraft was not correctly configured for take-off.
All six crew died in the accident, and 154 of the 166 passengers. There have been some serious accidents that, fortunately, were survived by all on board.
Among these were the 17 January British Airways Boeing 777 crash-landing short of the runway at London Heathrow airport, the November Ryanair 737-800 which was badly damaged by a heavy landing at Rome Ciampino airport after hitting a huge flock of starlings on final approach, and the Continental Airlines 737-500 that ran off the runway at Denver airport, USA on 20 December during the pilots’ attempt to abort the take-off.
