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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1504.PDF
AtR TRANSPORT WORKSHOP ++ AAR Aircraft Component Services, based in Amsterdam, has been awarded a five-year con tract extension by Binter Canarias, Iberia's regional opera tor, for the repair of components for its nine ATR 72s. ++ FLS Aerospace has secured a deal with Indian Airlines to conduct a C check on an A320. A further six air craft could follow. ++ Uzbekistan Airways and Mongolian Airlines have contracted Lufthansa Engineering and Operational Services to supply their mainte nance bases with Airbus A310 tooling and ground support equip ment. ++ SR Technics has signed a contract with Thai Airways International to undertake heavy maintenance on two Boeing MD- 11s during June and July, while it has also concluded a three-year component support agreement with the airline on the MD-11. MetroJet takes on Southwest RAMON LOPEZ/BALTIMORE US AIRWAYS launched its low-cost MetroJet operation at Baltimore/Washington Inter national Airport on 1 June, leaving industry7 analysts waiting to see whether Southwest Airlines drops its already low ticket price to pro tect its market share. Metrojet's initial fares match those of Southwest, but that could change if the newcomer begins to take customers away from the pio neer in no-frills airline services. A prolonged fares war could push MetroJet into sizeable losses as its costs per seat kilometre appear to exceed those of South west, primarily because MetroJet flight attendants continue- to be paid at US Airways rates. US Airways says it has not set a cost per seat kilometre for Metro Jet, but expects it to be "competi tive" with its low-cost rival. US 73"'-200s from US Airways form the backbone of Metrojet's fleet Airways has among the highest costs in the US airline industry, at around 8c per seat kilometre (12c per seat mile). Initially, MetroJet is serving four cities in the eastern USA from Baltimore, with five Boeing 737- 2()()s. The fleet will grow to 20 by year-end and could eventually total 54 - the limit allowed in the Air Line Pilots Association contract with US Airways. Rival Southwest has begun new routes from Balti more, using new 737-700s. Part of Metrojet's success will depend upon thesuccesful negotia tion of a new employment contract for cabin crews, which is underway. The Association of Flight At tendants says the carrier is report ing record profits while escalating its demand for concessions. • To Us It's One Of To You m 200 Critical Testing Situations, It's A Runway 150 Quality-Control Checkpoints, Landing At 190 mph. 14 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL June 10 - 16 1998
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