Airlines
Improved Control
A new passport control system at DFW International Airport is "significantly reducing" wait times for US and Canadian citizens who arrive from their international travel at the airport. The 30 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks that the airport has introduced have helped to alleviate lines by allowing returning travellers to enter their own passport information on touch-screens and register their return to the country electronically. Sean Donohue, chief executive officer at DFW Airport, said: "The Automated Passport Control system is a simple and efficient way for U.S. and...
Now Wait Just A Minute
The American Anti-Trust Institute (AAI) -- joined by several consumer groups, including AirlinePassengers.org, Association for Airline Passenger Rights, Business Travel Coalition, Consumer Travel Alliance, and FlyersRights.org -- has filed comments with the Department of Justice (DOJ) arguing that the DOJ's settlement of its case against the merger of U.S. Airways and American Airlines is not in the public interest, and urging DOJ to renegotiate or take the case to trial. After joining with six states in seeking to enjoin the merger, the government settled the case in Nov. 2013,...
Changes At The Top
The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) has appointed Carsten Spohr as the future chairman of the Executive Board & CEO during its most recent meeting. Currently, Spohr oversees the business segment Lufthansa Passenger Airlines in his capacity as board member and will assume his new role effective May 1st, 2014. After graduating with a degree in industrial engineering, Carsten Spohr qualified for a commercial airline pilot's license from the Lufthansa Flight Training School. He also holds the Lufthansa captain's license. He then spent a short time at Deutsche...
Air Canada rouge ups Athens, Rome service
In response to strong market demand, Air Canada rouge will offer additional non-stop flights to Europe in May from its Toronto and Montreal hubs, available for sale immediately. From Toronto to Athens, Air Canada rouge will offer additional non-stop flights on May 14 and May 21. Additional non-stop flights will operate from Montreal to Athens on May 16 and May 19, and from Montreal to Rome on May 22 and May 23. Toronto to Athens non-stop service runs until Oct. 14, up to five times weekly, and is the most frequent non-stop service from Toronto to Athens offered by any carrier. Air...
Healthy demand in the air
IATA reports that full-year traffic results for 2013 showing a 5.2% increase in passenger demand compared to 2012. The 2013 performance aligns with the average annual growth rate of the past 30 years. Capacity rose 4.8% and load factor averaged 79.5% up 0.4 percentage points over 2012. Demand in international markets (5.4%) expanded at a slightly faster rate than domestic travel (4.9%). Strongest overall growth (domestic and international combined) was recorded by carriers in the Middle East (11.4%) followed by Asia-Pacific (7.1%), Latin America (6.3%) and Africa (5.2%). The...
WestJet reports record full-year net earnings
WestJet has announced its fourth quarter and year-end results for 2013, with record net earnings of $268.7 million, or $2.03 per diluted share, up from the net earnings of $242.4 million, or $1.78 per diluted share reported for the full-year 2012. For the fourth quarter, the airline reported diluted earnings per share of $0.52, up from $0.46 reported last year. This represents WestJet’s 35th consecutive quarter of profitability, and based on the trailing 12 months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.9%, compared with the 13.8% reported in the previous...
Icelandair rocks with Amadeus
Amadeus and Icelandair have signed a new agreement to develop a baggage reconciliation system, Amadeus Airport BRS, capable of offering real-time, automated loading, tracking and management of baggage. As launch partner, Icelandair will deploy this solution as of mid-2014 on all its worldwide flights handled from its hub at Keflavik International Airport. The new solution, which is fully integrated into the Amadeus Airport IT portfolio and the Altea DCS platform, will simplify existing baggage processes as all data required to manage baggage will be available via a user-friendly...
WestJet Hits The Jackpot in Vegas
If you listen closely, you can hear the champagne corks popping as Las Vegas and WestJet celebrate the fact that the Canadian carrier deliver 1 million passengers to McCarran International Airport in 2013 and will also be increasing its nonstop service into Las Vegas with 18 additional weekly flights starting this summer. Beginning in June, WestJet will boost its Vegas offerings in multiple cities to a total of 76 weekly, non-stop flights. John Weatherill, WestJet's director, network and schedule planning, observed: "In 2013, WestJet became the first foreign airline to carry over 1...