Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, August 4, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

American Airlines has been named as the official airline of Tennis Masters Canada and the Rogers AT&T Cup Championships. For the second consecutive year, the airline will be a gold sponsor at the Tennis Masters Canada in Montreal between 2 and 10 August and a bronze sponsor of the Rogers AT&T Cup in Toronto between 9 and 17 August.

To celebrate the launch of a new Delta Connection service between St. Louis and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Delta Air Lines is offering a special introductory fare on the route, served by Comair. Customers may purchase special fares of USD198 and USD298 round trip, with all purchases by 8 August 2003. The USD198 fare requires a 14-day advance purchase and a Saturday night stay, while the USD298 fare requires a seven-day advance purchase. All travel must be completed by 15 October 2003.

A civilian car hit a suspected land mine on the road to the US base at Baghdad International Airport yesterday (3 August). The explosion left the Iraqi driver badly injured. The airport in Iraq is expected to reopen to commercial air traffic in the future, with a number of airlines submitting applications to operate services to and from Baghdad.

Indian chartered flight company Deccan Aviation is planning to launch a low-cost, no-frills airline. The airline will be launched through the company's subsidiary Air Deccan on 25 August 2003, with fare prices expected to be announced on 18 August 2003. The airline will begin operations with 24 flights daily which will increase to 75 by November 2003.

Action film actor Jackie Chan is to star in a television advertisement designed to revive tourism to Hong Kong, which has declined following the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The advertisement will be broadcast in 30 cities around the world, with Chan greeting potential travellers in several languages.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a special airworthiness certificate to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) for its 1903 Wright flyer reproduction. The certificate will enable the EAA to fly the aircraft near the dunes of Kitty Hawk, N.C. On 17 December 2003, the aircraft will attempt to recreate the first powered flight by the Wright brothers.

A propeller aircraft made an emergency landing on 2 August after experiencing technical difficulties. The aircraft, carrying 11 passengers and a pilot, landed on a hockey pitch outside Essen, Germany after it lost power to its instrument panel. None of those onboard were injured, however the pilot and a passenger were treated for shock.

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