Carrier

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    Delta Air Lines CEO to Chair Air Transport Association Board

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2010 — The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, announced today that Delta Air Lines CEO Richard H. Anderson has been elected chairman of the ATA Board of Directors. Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Gary C. Kelly was named vice chairman.

    Anderson, who succeeds United’s Glenn F. Tilton and Kelly both will serve a two-year term.

    “Richard Anderson is a strong leader and a proven chief executive, with the necessary credentials to further propel the mission of ATA as it faces the challenges and priorities in this next Congress,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Richard Anderson, Gary Kelly and incoming ATA President and CEO Nick Calio will complement each other as the association’s board representatives with the administration and the new Congress.”

    “I look forward to working cooperatively with the administration, Congress and regulatory agencies to advance initiatives that support continued improvements in the financial health of the U.S. aviation industry and maintain our focus on safety,” said Anderson. “Airlines are a vital industry in the U.S. and provide 11 million jobs annually. Our association’s focus is to move tax and regulatory oversight in a direction that fosters growth and makes us an even stronger economic engine for America.”

    “I look forward to serving as ATA Board vice chairman,” Kelly said. “I am committed to our continued work to help ensure the long-term stability and viability of the aviation industry.”

    Richard Anderson became Delta Air Lines CEO in September 2007 and was the architect of the airline’s merger with Northwest Airlines, which closed in October 2008. Prior to joining Delta, Anderson was executive vice president at UnitedHealth Group and served as president of UnitedHealth’s Commercial Markets Group. He also served as CEO of Northwest Airlines from 2001 to 2004.
    Kelly began his career at Southwest Airlines as controller in 1986, moving up to chief financial officer and vice president of finance, then executive vice president and CFO, before being promoted to CEO and vice chairman in July 2004. Gary assumed the role of chairman in May 2008 and president in July 2008. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines in 1986, Gary was a CPA for Arthur Young & Company in Dallas and controller for Systems Center, Inc.

    ATA recently named Nicholas E. Calio president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Calio currently leads Global Government Affairs for Citigroup, both in the United States and in the more than 100 countries in which the company does business. Prior to joining Citigroup in 2003, Calio was the assistant to the president for legislative affairs and service as chief liaison to the U.S. Congress for President George W. Bush, the same position he held under President George H.W. Bush.

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    Frontier Flight Survives Turbulence, 5 Minor Injuries


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Bruce Leibowitz

    What: Frontier Airlines/Chautauqua Airlines Embraer ERJ-135 en route from Saint Louis to Milwaukee
    Where: Milwaukee
    When: Nov 30th 2010, arriving in Milwaukee at 10:02 a.m.
    Who: 26 passengers, 3 crew, 6 injuries
    Why: While en route, the plane encountered turbulence which injured five passengers and a flight attendant. Rescue services were waiting when the plane landed. The Embraer aircraft incident is out of service for repairs.

    Frontier officials commented that passengers should keep their seat belts fastened.

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    Delta Diverts for Stroke Victim


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer David Roura – Iberian Spotters

    What: Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle France to Atlanta,GA
    Where: Stephenville
    When: Nov 30
    Who: 1 passenger
    Why: Due to a passenger apparently having a stroke, the flight diverted to Stephenville Canada where a passenger was rushed to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital. ATC suggested Saint Johns, but the weather was not permitting. The medical emergency delayed the arrival in Georgia by four hours. The ill passenger arrived at the hospital in critical condition

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    Flybe Struck By Lightning

    What: Flybe de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Jersey to Guernsey
    Where: Guernsey
    When: Nov 28th 2010
    Who: 66 passengers
    Why: On approach to Guernsey, the plane’s nosecone was struck by lightning. The plane made a safe landing and no one was injured. The nose cone received some visible damage. Subsequent to the strike, the plane was grounded for inspection.

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    Continental Receives Top Honors in Business Travel News’ Annual Airline Survey

    CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

    Continental Airlines received top honors in Business Travel News’ (BTN) Annual Airline Survey for the third consecutive year. The recognition marks the sixth time Continental finished first in the 13 years BTN has measured corporate travel buyer perceptions of airline performance in delivering service and maintaining preferred relationships.

    “We are honored to once again receive this recognition, which reflects the hard work of my co-workers over the past year,” said worldwide sales senior vice president Dave Hilfman. “We’re going to look top to bottom in our approach to the market to ensure the new airline continues to do those things that are appreciated and recognized by our key corporate buyers.”

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    Standard & Poor´s revised Deutsche Lufthansa Rating Outlook to stable

    The rating agency Standard & Poor´s today affirmed the credit ratings of Deutsche Lufthansa at BBB- long-term and A-3 short-term and revised the outlook to stable from negative. The outlook revision reflects an improvement in Lufthansa´s financial profile that has been supported by an upswing in airline industry conditions, a strong recovery at Lufthansa Cargo, a stable performance from other non-airline businesses and good cost control. A sustained revival in industry conditions, combined with a further strengthening of Lufthansa´s financial profile could lead to rating upside.

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    American Airlines: In the Mud


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer P Bisho

    What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Montreal
    Where: Montreal
    When: Nov 30th 2010
    Who: 105 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: After landing safely, the plane missed the turn to the proper taxiway and ended off the pavement, described as the front tires sliding “off the runway at low speed” Passengers disembarked via stairway with no injuries, and only minor injury to the plane.

    George’s Point of View

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    Emergency Landing in Belarus False Alarm


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Szabo Gabor

    What: Austrian Airlines Fokker 100 en route from Vienna to Minsk
    Where: Minsk
    When: Nov 29th 2010, 02:39
    Who: 81 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: On landing in Minsk Belarus, the crew reported an unsafe indication, later determined to be caused by a fauly sensor.The crew made an accommodation and made a safe landing. No injuries were reported.

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    No Emergency Landing in Wellington


    Pictured: An Air New Zealand Link (Mount Cook Airline) ATR ATR-72-500 (ATR-72-212A) at Christchurch – International
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jan Heistermann

    What: Air New Zealand/Mount Cook Avions de Tranport Regional ATR-72-500 en route from Wellington to Dunedin New Zealand
    Where: Wellington
    When: Nov 29 2010
    Who: 59 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the crew reported smoke in the cockpit. They returned to make a landing (termed “no emergency landing” by New Zealand officials) in Wellington, with emergency services (euphemistically called airport services) on standby.

    Passengers were booked on alternative flights.

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    MBI Diverts from Lebanon to Romania


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Manuel Fernandez

    What: BMI Airbus A321-200 en route from London to Beirut
    Where: Bucharest Romania
    When: Nov 28 2010
    Why: While over Bucharest, the plane indicated smoke in 2 cargo holds. On making an emergency landing in Bucharest, no smoke or fire was located. Passengers disembarked and were provided hotel accommodations, and an alternative flight on the 29th.

    The plane was grounded for inspections.

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    Air Baltic Flight Cancelled


    Pictured: An Air Baltic De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 at Dusseldorf – International (
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Rainer Bexten

    What: Air Baltic de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Riga Latvia to Brussels
    Where: Riga
    When: Nov 29th 2010
    Who: 73 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: Before takeoff, the flight was delayed due reportedly to overweight baggage. Then en route, the Dash 8 developed cabin pressure problems. The flight circled for an hour to burn fuel, then the flight returned to Riga to make a safe landing. Passengers were provided ( 1.50 lats, about $2.78 US) meal vouchers and provided a replacement jet. Krišj?nis Kari?š and Sandra Kalniete (European Parliament members) were aboard the flight.

    * A lat is equal to 1.85259 dollars.

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    Lufthansa first airline to use biofuel on commercial flights

    Bio-synthetic kerosene to be used from April 2011

    At a joint press conference today, Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, with Peter Hinze, Parliamentary State Secretary and Government Aerospace Coordinator, and Professor Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), presented a biofuel project planned by Lufthansa. The project is backed by the government within the framework of its aviation research programme aimed at underpinning the sustainability of air traffic.

    In April 2011, Lufthansa is to begin a six-month trial with an Airbus A321 on scheduled com-mercial flights on the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route. Pending certification, one of the aircraft’s engines will use a 50-50 mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene. The primary pur-pose of the project is to conduct a long-term trial to study the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life. During the six months trial, Lufthansa will save around 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions, said Lufthansa Chief Wolfgang Mayrhuber in Berlin today. “Luft-hansa will be the world’s first airline to utilise biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial. This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for many years successfully pursued and implemented,” said Mayrhuber.

    Peter Hintze, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, said: “With its aviation research programme (LUFO), the Federal Government is supporting the German aviation industry in its efforts to master the technological challenges of establishing a safe and sustainable air traffic system. That backing is afforded within internationally comparable framework conditions.

    About 77 per cent of LUFO funding is directly or indirectly related to the environment and sustainability. Only an integrated research approach of the like practised in research net-works, above and beyond the classical discrete disciplines, offers the chance of achieving the ambitious climate protection objectives by 2020 and, simultaneously, safeguarding the technological competitiveness of the German aviation industry.”

    The “burnFAIR“ project dedicated to the testing of biofuel, unveiled by Lufthansa today, is a successful example of integrating research efforts for the purpose of realising climate care objectives. This project is part of an overall “FAIR” initiative (Future Aircraft Research), in which other issues – alongside biofuel compatibility – such as new engine and aircraft con-cepts or other fuels, e.g. liquified natural gas (LNG) are under study. The Federal Government is contributing a total of five million euros towards the “FAIR” initiative, of the total 2.5 million euros is earmarked for the Lufthansa “burnFAIR” project.

    Prof. Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), dwelt on the project background at the Berlin press conference: “Our “burnFAIR” project is designed to research the long-term alternatives to conventional aviation jet fuel. The object is to gather data on pollutants from biofuel in com-parison with conventional kerosene over a longer period. The measured pollution pattern related to diverse stresses in flight and the composition of the exhaust gases will allow us not only to draw conclusions about the compatibility of biofuel but also about the maintenance needs of aircraft engines. Since, above all, we expect a significant reduction in soot particles.

    Lufthansa is currently making intensive preparations for the practical tests. Aside from the actual research project, the acquisition of biofuel in sufficient volume and the complex logis-tics it involves is proving a challenge in the run-up to the trial. The aircraft, for example, will be fuelled only in Hamburg. Furthermore, an array of internal processes must be modified, since Lufthansa does not normally deploy a plane exclusively on a single route, but always in a rotation chain on flights to different destinations.

    The project will cost Lufthansa an estimated 6.6 million euros. “We know that biofuel is an issue we must address carefully. We can see the opportunities this fuel offers and give seri-ous attention to the debate on the requisite raw materials. But we first want to acquire expe-rience in daily practice in the use of biofuels. We are doing pioneering work in that no other airline to date has operated an aircraft engine with biofuel over a longer term,” observed Wolfgang Mayrhuber. “Our fuel is sustainable. No rain forest will be deforested for Lufthansa biofuel. In the procurement of biofuel, we ensure it originates from a sustainable supply and production process. Our licensed suppliers must provide proof of the sustainability of their processes.“

    Production of the bio-synthetic kerosene utilised by Lufthansa rests on the basis of pure bio-mass (Biomass to Liquid- BTL). The producer is Neste Oil, a fuel refining and marketing company from Finland. The company has years of experience in biofuel production and has cooperated with Lufthansa for many years. Certification of its biofuel is expected in March 2011.

    The use of biofuel is one element in a four-pillar strategy aimed at reducing overall emissions in air traffic. Ambitious environmental goals can only be achieved in future with a combination of various measures, like ongoing fleet renewal, operational measures such as engine washing and infrastructural improvements. Projects dedicated to these themes are also underway under the aegis of the aviation research programme. Thanks to new technologies, Lufthansa has improved its fuel efficiency by 30 per cent since 1991. Average fuel consump-tion per passenger is now down to 4.3 litres of kerosene over 100 kilometres.

    Deutsche Lufthansa AG
    Media Relations, FRA CI/P

  • Continental Airlines and Its Fleet Service Employees Reach Tentative Agreement on New Labor Contract

    CHICAGO and HOUSTON, Nov. 29, 2010

    United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced that Continental Airlines has reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) representing Continental fleet service employees. The IBT is expected to hold a ratification vote in the coming weeks.

    “This tentative agreement is the product of a lot of hard work by the negotiating committees, and I’m pleased that the Continental ramp, cargo and airport operations agents have the opportunity to ratify an agreement that is fair to our co-workers and fair to the company,” said Scott Dolan, senior vice president of Airport Operations at United. “We look forward to continuing the productive working relationship with the Teamsters.”

    The agreement covers approximately 7,000 Continental fleet service employees located throughout the United States.

    About Continental Airlines

    Continental Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL). Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 142 domestic and 131 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. Continental has hubs serving Cleveland, Guam, Houston and New York/Newark Liberty, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.

    United Continental Holdings, Inc.became the holding company for both United and Continental upon close of the merger transaction.The two airlines will operate separately as they begin to integrate key customer services, marketing activities and airport processes. For more company information, go to continental.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

    SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.

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    Cathay Pacific Diverts to Karaganda


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Co van den Heuvel

    What: Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 en route from Amsterdam to Hong Kong
    Where: Karaganda
    When: Nov 28 2010
    Who: 306 passengers and 20 crew
    Why: While en route, the cabin suffered a loss of pressure. Oxygen masks were released and the crew descended to a lower altitude as they diverted to Karaganda Kazakhstan. The plane landed at the nearest airport, and were served breakfast aboard the plane while “emergency visa exemptions” were secured for the passengers. Hours later, passengers were taken to hotels to await the arrival of another flight.

    Cathay Pacific confirmed the air pressure problem related to outflow valve assemblies they are replacing on their fleet.

    George’s Point of View

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    Emergency Landing in Little Rock

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Boston to Dallas to Los Angeles
    Where: Little Rock National Airport, Arkansas
    When: November 28, 2010
    Who: 165 passengers, 2 pilots, 4 flight crew
    Why: While en route, the plane made 15 explosive bangs, jerking with the impact of each. The engine stalled, and pilots landed the plane safely in Little Rock. When the jet was grounded for maintenance, Passengers transferred to another plane that continued without a problem.

    The issue with the plane is being compared to a car backfire. Unlike a car, a 757 has 2 engines. Normal procedure when an engine is having issues, is to shut down that engine and land with the one remaining engine.

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    Continental: Fuel Leak in South Carolina


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer N94504

    What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Glasgow, SC
    Where: Glasgow
    When: Nov 24th 2010
    Who: 158 passengers, 8 crew
    Why: On approach to Glasgow, a fuel leak was discovered in the right engine. The pilot landed safely in Glasgow, but the return flight was cancelled, and the plane was scheduled for maintenance.

    George’s Point of View

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    Sun Way Crash in Pakistan

    What: Sun Way Ilyushin IL-76 freighter en route from Karachi Pakistan to Khartoum Sudan
    Where: Karachi
    When: Nov 27 2010, 1:53
    Who: 8 crew members
    Why: While carrying 31 tons of supplies to the Sudan, the plane crashed near Dalmia. Everyone aboard perished in the crash and there were additional victims on the ground. Buildings in the Naval Housing Colony were on fire, 2 buildings destroyed.

    Witnesses report that leaving Karachi, the right engine was on fire. The current report is 10 fatalities (The entire crew plus two persons on the ground.) Five bodies have been recovered.

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    All Nippon Network/Air Nippon Terrain Warning


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Kevin Scott

    What: All Nippon Network/Air Nippon Boeing 737-800 en route from Nagoya to Asahikawa
    Where: Asahikawa Japan
    When: Oct 26 2010
    Who: 57 passengers and crew
    Why: A controller at the Sapporo Area Control Center apparently forgot about minimum altitudes and instructed pilots of the All Nippon Network/Air Nippon jet to drop to 1,500 meters.

    Area aircraft are not allowed below 3,000 meters.

    Thirty minutes outside of Asahikawa, the plane instigated a EGPWS terrain warning which directed the crew to climb. The pull-up alarm alerts 20-30 seconds prior to projected ground impact.

    The minimum safe altitude warning was triggered because over 2,197-meter Mt Pippu in Hokkaido. The plane corrected its height from (up to as close as) 220 meters above the peak to a greater clearance and made a safe landing thirty minutes later.

    The Japan Transport Safety Board is investigating the incident.

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    Air India Emergency Landing in Delhi

    What: Air India en route from Delhi to Patna
    Where: IGI Airport
    When: Nov 25, 2010, 11:50 am (takeoff) 2 pm (landing)
    Who: 120 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed technical problems, and returned to Delhi several hours later. The plane made a safe landing with no reported injuries.

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    Newcastle: Snowy Runway Overrun


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer DOMINGOS PATENA

    What: Thomson Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote to Newcastle
    Where: Newcastle
    When: Nov 25th 2010
    Who: 189 passengers
    Why: It was snowing when the plane landed at Newcastle, and due to pavement conditions, the plane overran the runway. Passengers disembarked via stairs on the runway and were taken by bus to the terminal. Apparently no one was injured, but anyone who has been a passenger in a hydroplaning vehicle can sympathize with the passengers fear.

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    Air France, Airbus Playing “Hot Potato” with Responsibility

    Air France denies responsibility for the Air France Flight 447 crash, saying that they had raised concerns about the sensors before the crash.

    If they did so, it would seem the memorandum they presented indicates that they were aware of the problem, and therefore responsible. Though Air France “submitted a memorandum to show it had taken ‘all possible precautions” after a series of earlier sensor failures,’ ” it would seem the memorandum would indicate that they were aware of a problem, and should have cancelled flights until the problem was corrected. Certainly passengers were not made aware that there was a potentially serious issue.

    If Airbus had really been concerned, they would have installed the $50,000 backup system used by other carriers in the event of a multiple airspeed sensor failure.

    Watching Air France and Airbus (and Thales) shift blame for the crash back and forth is like watching a child’s game of “hot potato.” When they are finished passing the buck, who ever ends up officially responsible, the victims are still just as dead. Time for someone to “man up.”

    There are rumors that a request will be made to Transport Minister Thierry Mariani to continue the search for the black box. Three earlier searches failed, seeking the Airbus SAS A330, which crashed into the Atlantic on June 1, 2009, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 people aboard. 6,700 square miles was searched for the acoustic pings, but the batteries are now dead, and searches changed to sonar imaging.

    The BEA claims that only the black boxes will tell the truth of what happened but drags its feet in continuing the search. On May 6th 2010, a French deputy minister told the public that the black boxes had been found (meaning, apparently, that their general location had been pinned down.) That report was withdrawn. That fact, combined with the BEA reluctance to continue searching, has led to persistent rumors of a cover-up.

    Private shareholders own 81.4% of Air France, 37% held by former Air France shareholders and 21% held by former KLM shareholders. The Government of France owns 18.6% of Air France—putting the BEA in the awkward position of heading an investigation where it has essentially owes 18.6% responsibility.

    Air France was fined €310 million this month for price fixing. Read about their response to the fine