"Unprecedented" Meeting Targets O'Hare CongestionAll domestic airlines serving Chicago O'Hare this week will meet with Federal Aviation Administration officials to address the airport's chronic congestion problems
(see story). The U.S. Department of Transportation said the "unprecedented" meeting is aimed at matching airline schedules with O'Hare's current capacity. "O'Hare's on-time performance is unacceptable and has a substantial ripple effect on our nation's aviation system," said DOT Secretary Norman Mineta. Almost 14,500 flights were delayed at O'Hare in May, a new record, and delays in June have surpassed annual totals for 2000 and 2002, said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. FAA computer models showed delays at O'Hare contributed to an increase of about 25 percent in the average minutes of arrival delay per day at the nation's 35 busiest airports. In calling for the meeting, to be conducted under a set of rules determined by FAA and the U.S. Department of Justice, Mineta invoked new authority granted by the FAA Vision Reauthorization Act passed last November by Congress that permits airlines to openly discuss system congestion.
Swabiz Growth ContinuesSouthwest Airlines said corporate bookings through its Swabiz portal grew 89 percent in the second quarter year over year, and the number of enrollments jumped 43 percent. "It is a positive illustration of the decision to have a full-time sales team targeting corporate clients," said Scott Anderson, Southwest manager of national accounts. The carrier said it is focusing sales efforts across the country, and Anderson noted "a noticeable increase in requests for Swabiz in the greater Philadelphia area" as Southwest added waves of flights to the market following its May entry.
AA: New Business Class Seat Top PriorityAmerican Airlines is moving "full speed ahead" on development of a new business class seat for its international fleet of widebody aircraft. "A top priority is our widebodies now, with business class seats at the top of the list," said president and CEO Gerard Arpey. "When we finalize that seat we also will finalize our thinking on the coach cabin." Several European carriers currently are updating premium transatlantic cabins, including Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic. Northwest was the last U.S. carrier to announce an international business class revamp
(BTN, Aug. 11, 2003). The new product already is available on eight Airbus A330-300s and 12 of 16 Boeing 747-400s.
US Air Details Pittsburgh Cuts, Plans More Non-Hub FlyingEffective Nov. 4, US Airways plans to cut service at its Pittsburgh hub by more than one-third. The proposed schedule calls for 70 mainline flights, 80 regional jet flights and 90 turboprop flights for a daily total of 240. US Airways currently operates 107 mainline and 373 total daily flights. The carrier said it will maintain nonstop service to 28 of the top 30 markets served from Pittsburgh, but that its operation at the airport will be transformed further in 2005. The carrier plans to operate more local, point-to-point flights throughout its East Coast network, with renewed emphasis on Boston, New York and Washington and a de-emphasis on connections through major hubs.
TTM Links With Former Rosenbluth PartnersTotal Travel Management president Linda Garback this week will detail the super-regional agency's new joint venture with the former global partners of Rosenbluth International, a network of travel management companies known as Global Experts in Travel. Garback was named CEO of GET, which TTM called "a single branded global joint venture that will provide seamless, cost-efficient travel management services to corporate clients across the globe." Incorporated in the United States, the organization also is launching a global travel portal for corporate clients that includes multiple online booking tools, global data consolidation and a multilingual security suite. GET claims $1.8 billion in annual airline sales. The network's talks with Navigant International about a partnership
(BTNonline, Oct. 14, 2003) ended when Navigant hooked up with TQ3 Travel Solutions.
Expedia To Add A Corporate Hotel Rate OptionTo ensure that corporate travelers don't face restrictive cancellation penalties, Expedia Corporate Travel this week is launching Expedia Corporate Rates, which offers somewhat less discounted hotel rates with fewer restrictions. Travelers also can get their frequency points by using these rates. ECT will continue to offer its more restrictive prepaid rates.