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June 2016

Spirit and ground handlers edge towards agreement

It is understood that Spirit Airlines and its ramp service team members (located at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport) have ratified a tentative agreement, completing the negotiation of their first collective bargaining agreement.

According to a Spirit spokesperson, the team members ratified an interim agreement in June that covers wages, job security, union security and benefits.

This agreement also addresses job scope, workers’ hours of service and overtime, seniority and uniform as well as health and safety issues.

 

June 2016

American Airlines Cargo launches operations in New Zealand

American Airlines Cargo today launched a daily nonstop service between its Los Angeles hub and Auckland, New Zealand.

The new route will connect traffic through Los Angeles to over 200 destinations in North and Latin America. Thanks to the fuel-efficiency of the Boeing 787 aircraft, AA Cargo will be able to reach this new international location directly. The Auckland route is part of the company’s efforts to expand operations in the Pacific, including other new routes to Haneda and Sydney.

Managing Director, Cargo Sales – West, Joe Goode, commented positively on the development, saying: “Our teams at LAX and in the Pacific have been especially excited for the launch of the new 787 service to New Zealand. We look forward to a strong demand on the cargo front between AKL and LAX, and anticipate additional demand beyond New Zealand into Australia using our interline partners.”

On its debut journey out of Los Angeles, America’s freighter aircraft is carrying a variety of perishables and other consolidated freight, and will return from Auckland carrying medical supplies and mining machinery. Reportedly, some of the most common commodities shipped into and out of the region include e-commerce goods, perishables, horticulture products and chilled fish and meats.

Complementing the company’s existing role for the carrier, American Airlines has appointed GSA Cargo Service as its sales agent in Auckland. Menzies Aviation will provide ground handling services for the carrier, with freight reception through its cargo central facility.

June 2016

SAT FOD 2 (REN)FOD highlighted by FSS

Flight Services and Systems hosted its First Annual FOD Awareness Day on June 14 in an effort to increase awareness over the subject and to discuss and promote the safety topic of FOD.  Each of its stations that has a ramp operation participated in the FOD Awareness Day.

In the event, all of the stations discussed FOD with their teams throughout the day; in fact, FOD was the safety topic for the pre-flight safety huddles and for each safety briefing. Every FSS Station Leader also hosted an open discussion on the topic of FOD to ensure that each of the company’s employees fully understood a number of points, including what to do in the event of locating FOD and whether a report needs to be filed.

June 2016

Delta and Virgin announce new routes between the US and UK for 2017

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic yesterday announced changes to summer 2017 schedules, in a drive to improve their joint network between the US and the UK.

For Delta Air Lines, the move sees the addition of three new services, launching next year.

Initially, the airline will add a second London Heathrow to Detroit service as of March 26, 2017. This new flight replaces Virgin Atlantic’s daily Detroit to London Heathrow service. A new four times a week seasonal service from London Heathrow to Portland will then begin on May 26, 2017, which is to be the first between this US West Coast city and London. The day prior, on May 25, the airline will initiate a third London Heathrow to Atlanta frequency, taking over the second daily service currently operated by Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate one daily London Heathrow to Atlanta service.

For Virgin Atlantic changes will also be taking place next year. Beginning March 26, 2017, the airline will start flying daily service between London Heathrow and Seattle, replacing the one currently operated by Delta. Additionally, a daily nonstop service between Manchester and New York JFK will commence May 25 next year, replacing the one currently operated by Delta. Delta will then resume this service for the winter 2017.

May 2016

Saker gets off to a flying start

Saker Aviation Services, which operates in the aviation services segment and serves as the operator of a heliport, an FBO and acts as a consultant for a seaplane base, has announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Revenues and operating income for the three months totaled US$2,967,080 and US$373,078 respectively; these figures are up by 19.3% and 341.5%, compared to figures taken for the same period last year. A 17.6% upturn in total fuel gallons offset lower average fuel costs, which led to lower average fuel prices charged: this had the effect of driving fuel sales revenue up 9.9%. A corresponding increase in services and supply items contributed to the 19.3% rise in total revenues.

Commenting on the results, company President Ron Ricciardi said that it was an excellent beginning to the year, with double-digit increases in revenue and triple-digit improvement to operating income.

May 2016

AERO Specialties awarded for excellence by US Department of Commerce

During a ceremony in Washington yesterday, AERO Specialties became one of 123 companies and organizations across the US to earn the President’s “E” Award for exporting excellence.

Brad Streeter, General Manager for the company, commented on the achievement.
“It is gratifying to have this award bestowed on us, as we have worked hard to build a global market for our aviation ground support equipment.
“Thanks to the US Commercial Service, AERO Specialties has developed mutually beneficial relationships with many international organizations that have contributed to our success.”

The US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, praised the recipients for their efforts and achievement, saying:”The recipients being honored today demonstrate the opportunity inherent in selling Made-in-America products to the broad customer base that exists outside our borders.Their success contributes to growth, job creation, competitiveness, and the success of the American economy,” she concluded.

May 2016

Dnata looks to North America

Handler dnata has just acquired a 100% stake in Ground Services International, a US ground handling provider. Dnata’s plan is to use this acquisition as a launch pad for further activity within the North American market.

Ground Services International is currently present in 14 cities around the US and provides both cargo and ground handling services. The acquisition comes in the wake of other deals that have seen the handler buy stakes in companies in Brazil, Australia, Holland and Italy.

May 2016

Jet Aviation FBO at Van Nuys

Jet Aviation has been awarded a 30 year lease for a 17 acre site by the City of Los Angeles to establish an FBO facility at Van Nuys airport.

This comes in the wake of Jet Aviation winning a competitive tender process last year and being selected by Los Angeles World Airports to operate the FBO facility. Jet Aviation will offer FBO services in an interim terminal once operational control has been granted by Los Angeles World Airports, which is expected within the next few months. Jet Aviation has also initiated planning for its long-term Van Nuys airport FBO. The company is to build a 10,000 square foot LEED Silver certified terminal as well as two 40,000 square foot hangars and associated back shop and office space, all of which is due to be completed by the end of 2018. The full service FBO will offer domestic and international handling, complete line service and executive conference rooms, along with a crew lounge, a flight planning room and a business center.

Airport Butler now at San Francisco

Airport Butler, the meet-and-greet concierge service, has just opened up operation at San Francisco International. This is an historic occasion since San Francisco becomes the first US airport to officially offer a concierge amenity in its service portfolio.

Airport Butler, which first launched in 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a cutting-edge business model in the North American travel market. A personalized and unique customer service concept is deemed ideal for infrequent travelers or non-English speaking travelers, as well as VIPs, business travelers, senior citizens, travel groups or any passenger who wants a customized experience traveling through the airport. To that end, Airport Butler simplifies the airport navigation process and provides professional and seamless service to clients.

“As Airport Butler sought to expand its unique service offering in the US specifically, San Francisco was a key airport for our future network as it is very innovative in terms of airport service offerings, a primary gateway for Asia Pacific travelers and city full of people seeking new experiences in traveling,” commented Airport Butler/ATS President and CEO, Sally Leible.

Airport Butler services are available for all arriving, departing and connecting passengers, regardless of airline or class of service.

May 2016

Malabar signs agreement with Aero Express

Malabar International has announced that it has signed an agreement with Aero Express to be its exclusive US representative for distributing business jet maintenance equipment. Aero Express will be providing Malabar jacks and other maintenance equipment for Gulfstream, Bombardier Global Express and Challenger series, Embraer Legacy and Dassault Falcon business jet aircraft.

John E Carroll Jr, Malabar’s Chairman and CEO, commented on the agreement. “With our reputation as a supplier of top quality jacks and other maintenance equipment to the commercial, military and business jet markets, adding Aero Express with its experience and capabilities will help us expand in the business jet market within the United States.”

April 2016

RFID for Delta by end of year

Delta Air Lines is set to deploy RFID baggage tracking technology, a first for any US carrier, thereby providing its customers with improved real-time tracking of luggage throughout the travel experience.

This move is something of a milestone for Delta, which handles around 120m bags annually. RFID will replace the traditional barcode hand scanning, which has been the industry standard since the early 1990s. With RFID, scanners emit radio waves to capture the data stored on an RFID chip embedded in the luggage tag: the virtually foolproof technology will drive superior tracking and permit increased transparency within the operation.

Thanks to RFID implementation, customers will be able to see their bags on and off the aircraft during their journey via push notifications to the Fly Delta mobile app. The implementation is due to get underway in the fourth quarter of 2016.

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