Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, Jan 4, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Ryanair, a low-cost carrier based in Ireland, has reached a labour contract agreement with its pilots. Under the new agreement Ryanair will offer pilots share options in return for moderate wage growth (15% over five years to 2005) and higher productivity. Some 220 pilots will receive USD119,600 worth of Ryanair shares under the deal, Reuters reported.

Asiana Airlines, a Korean carrier, has joined the Asia Miles Travel reward Programme, bringing the total number of participants in the scheme to 15. All members can now also redeem Asia Miles on Asiana Airlines for round trip or one way tickets. Further information can be found at http://www.asiamiles.com.

Dense fog at the international airport in New Delhi, India caused numerous cancellations on 3 January as the airport was shut down from midnight on 2 January through 0900 local time the next day. The fog also resulted in a backlog of flights and diversions to Bombay and Karachi, Pakistan.

British Airways has launched a New Year's sale in the Canadian market and is offering round-trip fares starting at CAD398 from Toronto and Montreal to London, UK. Fares for travel from Vancouver are priced from CAD598. The sale fares are available through 17 January for travel from 12 January through 3 March 2001. Travel from 4 March through 10 May is also on sale, priced from CAD495 for return flights from Toronto and Montreal to London, and from CAD659 when departing from Vancouver. Special hotel rates are also available and restrictions and other charges may apply.

Taiwan's EVA Airways is to purchase two A330-200 aircraft and lease six others from Airbus Industrie, the European aircraft manufacturer. It is expected that the deal will be finalised in March with delivery scheduled for 1Q'2003, UPI reported.

Russia's Domodedovo airport was closed for over four hours on 3 January due to dense fog. The fog resulted in delays to the departure of 15 flights, while 19 aircraft were diverted to other airports according to AllNews.ru.

Delta Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, is offering USD5 off all one-way tickets and USD10 off all round-trip tickets purchased online before 31 January. SkyMiles members will also receive 1,000 bonus miles for a round-trip purchase or 500 for a one-way journey. Certain restrictions apply.

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