Manufacturing Industry

Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, Feb 4, 2002

British Airways, which has reported an operating loss of GBP187m, will reportedly make further job cuts. The airline has already announced 7,200 job losses as it struggles to cope with a slump in air travel on its important transatlantic routes.

Royal Jordanian Airlines plans to lay off around 500 employees out of its 3,500-strong workforce as part of a bid to restructure the company. The airline is reportedly launching a restructuring plan following the decline in the aviation industry and as part of privatisation procedures.

Relatives of the victims of the ill-fated Kenya Airlines flight KQ145 which crashed shortly after takeoff from Abidjan two years ago have begun a legal battle for compensation. A lawsuit has been filed by Martin-Chicho Associates at a high court in France against the manufacturer of the aircraft, Airbus SAS, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which maintained the aircraft.

Vanguard Airlines took delivery of its sixth MD-80-series aircraft last week and is scheduled to take delivery of its seventh today (4 February). The MD-80 aircraft is configured to seat 132 passengers, including 12 SkyBox Business Class seats. The aircraft - leased from a special purpose subsidiary managed by AirFinance - will operate in conjunction with the airline's 31 January schedule, which adds MD-80 service to Atlanta and Los Angeles.

US Airways has launched an online sale fare of USD298 for travel to and from cities in the eastern United States and Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. Sale fare tickets must be purchased via the airline's web site, http://www.usairways.com, at least seven days before departure and within 24 hours of making the reservation. Tickets are available until 6 February and all travel must be completed by 30 April 2002. One Saturday night stay is also required.

American Express Delta SkyMiles Credit Card members can now earn double miles on all purchases made on their card in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah during February 2002. Cardmembers normally earn two SkyMiles for every eligible dollar charged to the card for purchases at supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, home improvement stores, the US Postal Service, wireless phone bills and Delta Air Lines through the Card's Always Double Miles feature. Cardmembers also normally earn one SkyMile for every eligible dollar charged for other purchases.

Frontier Airlines has introduced a special offer for members of its frequent flyer programme, EarlyReturns. Members who fly four round-trip flights to or from Portland or Seattle between 1 February and 15 June 2002 will be awarded one free round-trip ticket to anywhere Frontier flies, in the form of a 15,000-mile bonus to their EarlyReturns account.

US Airways is offering tickets on its new daily service to Grand Bahama Island/Freeport from Charlotte, N.C for USD168 round-trip and USD160 when purchased online at http://usairways.com. From LaGuardia and cities with connecting service, the US Airways fares are USD218 round-trip, or USD207 through the web site. Customers must purchase round-trip tickets at least seven days before departure and no later than midnight on 12 February 2002. A minimum three-night stay is required and all travel must be completed by 13 June 2002.

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