Frustration soars at airport

Dozens of flights cancelled. U.S.-bound passengers complain of airlines' poor customer service

 

 

 

1. A flight information board shows the status of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Blizzard warnings and heavy storm surges hitting eastern Canada and the United States since Sunday have spared Montreal but left many holiday travellers frustrated at airports across the country.

The biggest lineups at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport yesterday were for travellers stranded after their flights through New York, Newark, Boston, Atlanta and Philadelphia airports were cancelled or delayed.

One tear-streaked woman pushing a caddy piled with suitcases and a caged cat cried into her cellphone that she wouldn't be able to get a flight to Panama for five days.

Ticket-holders for popular Continental Airlines complained yesterday of shoddy customer service because the airline refused to respond to telephone calls after cancelling New York flights.

A recorded message directed travellers to Continental's website: " ... due to the weather in the northeast we're experiencing unusually high call volume and are unable to take your call."

Julien Dupasquier, 20, was to fly to Switzerland via New York with his two older brothers for a ski holiday and discovered on the website that the flight was cancelled.

"They should have let us know," he said, standing in a lineup of 50 people that snaked slowly up to a counter.

"They are telling us nothing," he said as his brother Pierre failed to find a direct flight to Geneva with another airline for under $2,500 per person.

"There goes plan B," he said. "We might have to cancel the trip altogether."

An Aeroports de Montreal spokesperson said at least 67 flights to and from the northeastern U.S. were cancelled yesterday, as well as another 22 domestic flights to and from the Maritimes.

Brendan Rehel, a McGill University track-and-field team member heading to San Diego for field training camp, said he was lucky to find a flight in three days.

"I was looking for any other route. I'm losing three days, but hey, bad weather happens," Rehel said.

But Carole St. Jean said she already lost 48 hours trying to rebook her boyfriend's flight back home to Davie, Fla., where Tom Nolan runs an equestrian business.

His Continental flight had been arranged via Air Canada, she explained, but rather than handling the booking, officials referred travellers to Continental. An anxious Nolan said he's worried about getting home to take care of business.

Several passengers, including Carol Renshaw, a West Island school teacher going to London via Newark, used their cellphones to hunt for new routes while inching forward in the lineup.

By late afternoon, Renshaw hit the jackpot. "I got a total refund and a flight on Air Canada at 7:30 p.m. that's direct and cheaper," she said.

Airline officials said New York and Newark airports were to reopen as of last night. But it's not clear when Montreal flights will resume.

Thermoses get extra scrutiny at airports

Canada has joined the U.S. in scrutinizing Thermoses and similar containers that airline passengers want to carry onto planes.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority announced on its website that passengers must remove insulated beverage containers from carry-ons and place them in a bin for inspection.
U.S. officials have also issued an alert about the containers.
Adm. James Winnefeld, head of the U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Friday that the Transportation Security Administration is "always trying to think ahead."
Winnefeld said officials responsible for homeland security are always a bit more alert over the holiday season. He says there has been a lot of chatter online about potential terror activity, but nothing specific.

Passenger sues Air Canada over missing gifts

An Air Canada passenger is suing the airline for $2,463, claiming someone stole gifts from his baggage. (CBC)
An Air Canada passenger is suing the airline, saying his Christmas presents were stolen from his baggage.
Peter Darcy flew from London to Vancouver on Dec. 15. Sometime after he checked his bags in with Air Canada at Heathrow airport, someone broke the locks on the luggage and took the gifts that were inside.
It wasn't until Darcy got his bags home on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast that he saw someone had tampered with the locks and made off with about $1,000 worth of valuables, he said.
He said he called Air Canada and asked the woman who answered if the theft was a matter for the airline or the RCMP.
"She asked me what an RCMP was," Darcy told CBC News. "I asked her where she was and she told me that she was in Delhi."
He reported the theft to police after what he said were two more days mostly spent on hold with Air Canada's automated phone systems.

Security concerns

On Thursday, Darcy filed suit in small-claims court for his losses and his time, which he calculated to be $2,463.
Darcy said it's easy to imagine more sinister baggage scenarios than what happened to him.
"One of the concerns I would have … is not just the fact that someone can break in and take something out. It's someone could break in and put something in."
The airline has been slow to respond, Darcy said.
"I'm as aggrieved at wasting four days of my time as I am of being a victim of the whole thing," Darcy said. "It's quite frustrating."
Air Canada declined to comment on the lawsuit and Darcy's allegations.

Canada signs airline agreement with Egypt

The Canadian government has signed an agreement intended to improve air service between Canada and egypt

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Air Canada is currently the only airline offering flights between Canada and Egypt. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press) The expanded agreement allows airlines to operate more flights between Canada and Egypt.
Air Canada is currently the only airline offering flights between the two countries. EgyptAir, which is Air Canada's Star Alliance partner, offers flights only part of the year.
The new agreement also allows the airlines to offer service between the two countries using other carriers, in what are known as code-sharing services.
"This expanded agreement better responds to the needs of travellers between Canada and Egypt, and puts in place a framework that allows more convenient, direct air services," said Transport Minister Chuck Strahl.
It's the second air transport agreement signed by the government this week. On Tuesday, a new open skies agreement was signed with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Airlines' fortunes looking up in New Year

 

 

Improving yields for WestJet and Air Canada should continue into 2011, says analyst Cam Doerksen.

The return of business travellers, fuller planes and rising ticket prices meant a better year for the country's airlines, but industry watchers say emerging from the recession's lows was still a slow climb in 2010.
However, most anticipate that recovery hitting a faster pace in the new year.
"I would sort of characterize 2010, probably for both WestJet and Air Canada, as really sort of a slow recovery off a pretty bad year," said analyst Cam Doerksen, of National Bank Financial.
"Things have slowly improved.
"Things are certainly moving in the right direction through the year and that bodes well for 2011."
After a shaky 2009, when the number of people flying dropped steeply, the 2010 results were an improvement, even if they were increasing at a pace below predictions.
Both major airlines - WestJet and Air Canada - increased the number of seats available for sale and still saw fuller planes on average than the year before.
"Travel demand is slowly picking up and I think that's clearly a good sign that the rebound is sustainable," Doerksen said.
Also during the past year, WestJet saw an abrupt change in leadership, with Sean Durfy moving on and Gregg Saretsky taking over.
The Calgary-based carrier has also announced a run of new partnerships - including its first code-sharing deal, with Cathay Pacific, and a first U.S. partnership, with American Airlines - as well as introducing self-tagging kiosks for checked bags and its own rewards program.
Karl Moore, a professor at McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management, said with Air Canada posting better financial results and WestJet resolving troubles with its reservation system, the industry's future looks good.
"Despite the considerable increase in capacity, particularly WestJet, the load factors, the number of passengers on the planes, has gone up fairly well," he said. "With an improving world economy, I think it should be a very strong, solid year for the industry in Canada."
He added that Saretsky seems to be a "good match with what they need these days," while Air Canada's CEO Calin Rovinescu is making positive moves to try to change the culture at the country's largest airline.
Doerksen said airline yields - the average revenue per mile per paying passenger - are also starting to slowly improve.
"The indication in the fall, in the last sort of quarterly results WestJet reported, and I think confirmed basically by Air Canada, is that they are seeing improvement on the pricing side," Doerksen said. "Once you start to get business travellers back on the planes, that's what really tends to drive the yields and if that continues I think that'll be good for both airlines.
"The yield momentum that we're seeing is probably going to continue into 2011."
The International Air Transport Association, reporting on the first 10 months of the year, found business and premium travel worldwide is up at an annualized rate of seven to eight per cent. Economy travel is three per cent over pre-recession highs, it stated.
But a stronger airline industry isn't always good news for passengers. Improvements in pricing for the airlines means the cost of tickets is rising - although analysts point out they're still not back to the prices of the boom years - and Canada's two major carriers will begin charging for a second checked bag in January.

Doerksen said there are a few things to watch in the new year that can affect airlines bottom lines.

One is the price of fuel and airport costs.

"We've had some strengthening of prices in 2010 and that'll probably be one of the more closely watched items in 2011. To some extent that's going to dictate pricing as well," he said. "There's a limit to how much they can raise the ticket price, so they need to find other ways to generate the revenue."

Doerksen said 2011 will be the first time in the past few years that domestic capacity will be stable, with airlines not adding a significant number of new flights within the country.

"For the most part they're putting all their capacity into their sun destinations and transporter markets," he added.

"I think the lesson that we've seen south of the border is the airlines can get pretty significant profitability improvements if they don't add much capacity, or cut capacity, and I think that's something the airlines in Canada have noted.

"And certainly it's in their best financial interests to keep capacity growth at a pretty reasonable rate."

WestJet shifted three planes scheduled to arrive next year and in 2012 to 2017.

Canada signs Caribbean airline agreements

1.             Canadians will soon find it easier to get to a pair of popular Caribbean destinations.

 

A Canadian jet sits on the tarmac at Montego Bay, Jamaica. Under a new agreement airlines from Canada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will have better access to each country.

  Canada has signed open skies air transportation agreements with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The deals give airlines more flexibility in selecting new routes, schedules and prices. Open skies agreements already exist with the Caribbean nations of Barbados and the Dominican Republic.
"These agreements will reinforce Canada's commercial relationship with two of our most significant trade partners in the Caribbean community," said Peter Van Loan, minister of international trade.
Air Jamaica currently flies out of Terminal 3 at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Caribbean Airlines provides service between Toronto and various Caribbean destinations.
The agreements will allow new air services to begin immediately.
Canada now has open skies deals with 11 nations. It signed an enhanced agreement with Switzerland in October that allows airlines from either country to take on passengers in Switzerland or Canada, and carry them to other nations along the airline's route.
A similar deal with signed with El Salvador in April.

WestJet lease of bigger plane spurs long-haul talk

* Current fleet comprised only of Next-Gen 737 aircraft
* International routes proving to be profitable
VANCOUVER Dec 21 (Reuters) - WestJet Airlines Ltd's (WJA.TO) announcement on Tuesday that it will lease a big long-range plane has sparked speculation the airline is thinking of abandoning its commitment to a single-type fleet of planes so that it can fly longer-haul routes.
WestJet, Canada's second-biggest airline, said on Tuesday it will operate a leased Boeing 757-200 to provide nonstop service between its base in Alberta and Hawaii from mid-February to end-April next year.
Until now, WestJet has operated a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, flying to destinations in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico.
The single-type fleet has been a key plank in its low-cost strategy as flying only one type of plane reduces costs such as training and maintenance.
But the 737's range is limited and WestJet could be looking for avenues to expand.
"We view the news as an indication that WestJet may introduce larger aircraft into their fleet going down the road in an effort to compete on longer-haul routes," RBC Capital Markets airline analyst Walter Spracklin said.
"Other airlines are growing significantly in international routes due to the sizable demand. We know these are profitable routes," he said.
Air Canada (ACa.TO) (ACb.TO), WestJet's bigger rival, boosted operating income five-fold in its most recent quarter, partly because of strong demand on international routes.
WestJet said there was no truth to the talk that it would add variety to its fleet to fly further afield.
"This is not the beginning of a new fleet type or a fleet change, but rather, a clear demonstration that we have the creativity, flexibility and commitment to assert our competitive advantage in the market, particularly in Alberta," spokesman Robert Palmer said.
The winter and spring months are a popular time for Canadians to escape to warmer destinations such as Hawaii. WestJet last spring also operated a nonstop flight from Alberta to Hawaii using its own 737-700 aircraft, but it could not sell all the seats due to weight and fuel constraints.
WestJet is leasing the 757-200 from North American Airlines, a charter air service provider and a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings [GLALG.UL].
North American will provide pilots, flight attendants and maintenance engineers to operate and service the aircraft.
WestJet's stock was down 1 Canadian cent at C$13.70 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Tuesday afternoon against the trend of a firmer market.

Airlines challenge EU regulation

During the Icelandic volcano delays, some airlines challenged that rule. Ryanair would only reimburse passengers for the cost of their tickets.

 

Passengers camp out in Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport. While European rules dictate that airlines must provide reasonable food and accommodation to passengers, it's up to the airline how that rule is applied. 
According the British government, passengers flying from a European airport on an EU carrier are covered by that rule. British citizens flying a Canadian carrier from Canada are not.
"Our federal regulator, pretty much Transport Canada or the Canadian Transportation Agency, doesn't have any jurisdiction in the European market, only in the Canadian market. So even if there was some protection, it's really limited to the country of origin," Erickson said in an interview with CBC News.

WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer told CBC News that his airline has a policy of providing food and accommodation for passengers who are stranded overnight, even though its not obligated to do so.
"It was about four years ago now we decided it shouldn't matter whether your flight is delayed or cancelled by Mother Nature, even though that's an act of God and beyond our control, it doesn't change the fact that you're our guest," he said in an interview.
WestJet does not offer flights to Europe and does not have any passengers stranded because of the travel chaos there.

Stranded Canadians have little protection

Canadians stranded in Europe, and Europeans stranded in Canada because of weather related travel chaos are likely going to be out of pocket for their additional expenses, though that depends on the airline and the airport where the passenger is stranded.
 

Passengers in Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport wait for their long-delayed flights. Passengers flying from European airports on EU flights are entitled to help from the airlines, though some have balked at paying for hotel rooms. (Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press)
"Most of those passengers are probably going to have to take it on the teeth themselves," airline analyst Rick Erickson told CBC News.
"There's a lot of arcane bits and parts to this and generally each carrier has its own procedures and operations for these eventualities, and it differs a little bit between the international arena and the domestic arena as well."
While it may not seem like it to most stranded travellers, being stuck in Europe and flying on an EU regulated airline has far more advantages than being in Canada, or flying with a Canadian airline.
Air Canada, in a written statement to CBC News, said it has assisted customers in postponing travel at no cost, provided alternative itineraries, and offered refunds. It also said it has provided some customers with hotel accommodation and meals. However, the airline said it won't do this any more.
"In view of the prolonged nature of the disruption, we are no longer in a position to assume these additional costs and are now encouraging customers to return to their point of origin," the airline stated.

EU says airlines should provide meals, accommodation

The European Commission on Mobility and Transport sets out specific rights for air travellers. Those rules state that passengers "should be adequately cared for while awaiting a later flight."

'[Passengers] should be adequately cared for while awaiting a later flight.'—European Commission on Mobility and Transport

While international air rules deem that weather delays are considered extraordinary circumstances, the EU has in the past insisted that European airlines fulfil that obligation to passengers.
In April, European airlines were held responsible for looking after passengers stranded by a cloud of ash that originated from a volcano in Iceland.
According to the British government, passengers who are rerouted are entitled to "reasonable meals and overnight accommodation." However, once a passenger accepts a refund from the carrier, that rule no longer applies.

Robert Milton gives up job as president of ACE Aviation, remains CEO

MONTREAL - Robert Milton is giving up his job as president of ACE Aviation Holdings, but will remain chairman and chief executive of the company that holds a minority stake in Air Canada.

Brian Dunne, will assume the role of president and will retain his duties as chief financial officer.

The company declined to explain the reasons behind the change, which takes effect Jan. 1.

Nor would a spokesman indicate if Milton will take a pay cut or how Dunne's salary would change.

Earlier this month, ACE Aviation (TSX:ACE.B) said it was further reducing its once majority stake in Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) with the sale of 44 million shares of the airline for $162.8 million, taking ACE another step towards a complete windup.

The Montreal-based company said it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and TD Securities Inc.

Canada's largest airline will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of its B shares at a price of $3.70 each.

The transaction, which is expected to close around Dec. 23, will reduce ACE Aviation's total stake in Air Canada to 11.15 per cent, from approximately 27 per cent.

ACE was formed in 2004 to be the airline's parent company as part of Air Canada's court-supervised restructuring.

There have been expectations that ACE Aviation Holdings will eventually be dissolved after disposing of its assets, although there's no firm timetable.

ACE Aviation has previously spun off the Aeroplan (TSX:AER) frequent flyer program and regional airline Jazz Air (TSX:JAZ.UN) as well as the technical service division.

ACE Aviation shares closed at $13, up 10 cents in Tuesday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Air Canada shares gained 10 cents, or 2.85 per cent, to $3.61.

‘Too early’ to gauge storm’s wallop on Canadian airlines

It’s too early to assess the damage to Canada’s air travel industry as a result of the dozens of flights grounded by severe winter conditions at major European airports, but it’s safe to say it won’t come close to the impact of the volcanic ash-cloud disruptions earlier this year.

“I’m sure there will be some financial impact [to Air Canada ],” said National Bank Financial Inc. analyst Cameron Doerksen. But he said the winter storm “is not as significant an issue” as the volcanic ash cloud that spewed from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano in April, closing European airspace for five days and costing Air Canada about $20-million in operating profit as a result of flight cancellations.

PI Financial Corp. analyst Chris Murray said it’s premature to gauge the financial fallout for Air Canada but “it may in fact end up not being overly material” to the air carrier.

Air Canada has an extensive network of transatlantic routes to European destinations, including London’s Heathrow, which has been hit particularly hard by the harsh winter weather that blew in over the weekend and nearly closed the busy airport, stranding thousands of passengers.

Rival WestJet Airlines Ltd. of Calgary doesn’t fly to Europe, while Montreal-based charter carrier Air Transat has some European flights but concentrates more heavily on its north-south routes during the busy end-of-year holiday season.

More planes were allowed to fly in and out of Heathrow on Monday, and the usual night-flight restrictions were eased to clear some of the backlog.

But Air Canada was only able to operate about one-third of its normal schedule because of still-tight restrictions. The airline said it was allowed only five flights out of Heathrow to Canada during the day on Monday, with an additional three flights to London from Canada in the evening.

The carrier said the rough weather is also causing “lengthy delays at other northern European airports.”

An Air Canada spokeswoman said in an e-mail message Monday that it was “too early” to comment on the possible financial impact of the grounded flights in Europe.

David Tyerman, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity Corp., said the weather disturbance doesn’t appear to be affecting Air Canada’s stock, which was unchanged on the Toronto Stock Exchange Monday.

“For these kind of companies, such weather-related events frequently don’t have any effect because they’re transitory and relatively rare,” he said.

Steve Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, said member airlines are trying to ease the pain for passengers by taking measures such as waiving cancellation fees and making it easier to change travel times and destinations.

“They’re trying to provide some flexibility,” he said.

Palm Springs Airport Dealing With Winter Weather Delays

Airline Passengers Face Challenges Flying To Palm Springs 

PALM SPRINGS -- Due to the winter weather around the country most airline passengers flying into Palm Springs International Airport have a story regarding their travel day.Colin Jeffares of Edmonton, Canada, he and his family were delayed an hour and half from leaving Denver because the plane taking them to Palm Springs was stuck in Canada.Better news for Mike and Christine Borlet who flew in from Dallas-Fort-Worth. After starting their day in Newark, New Jersey they said their flights ran smoothly and were on time.Then there was Shannon Thompson who was on the same flight from Dallas-Forth-Worth. She began her day in Atlanta and almost didn't make her flight in Dallas because of a delay in Atlanta."Had we been five minutes later we would have missed our connecting flight," said Thompson. "After getting off the plane they put us on a ramp, put us in a van and drove us to the next plane. A little bit delayed today because of rain."Thomas added the stress was worth it since she's re-united with family for the holidays.

Canadian collision puts Emirates A380 out of action

Emirates has 90 firm orders for A380s, making it the jet’s largest customer by far

Adding to Emirates Airline’s recent poor fortunes in the Canadian aviation market, an accident involving a catering truck has put one of the carrier’s superjumbo jets out of action for several weeks.

The incident took place at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

"Emirates can confirm that an incident occurred on 6 December involving a catering truck and that damage was sustained to the inboard starboard wing and wing root of one of our A380 aircraft,” an Emirates spokesperson told Arabian Business.

“Another A380 has been deployed on to our Toronto route whilst the damaged aircraft is being repaired."

Storms in Europe strand travellers in Montreal

Hundreds of airline passengers across Canada are stranded as a blast of nasty winter weather hits Europe causing flight delays and cancellations.

 
Several airports in Europe have set up make-shift beds for stranded passengers.  

(CBC) Snow and ice have shut down runways at London's Heathrow and other major airports in European cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Florence.

Dominik Rozkrut is trying to get home to Poland for the holidays but his Air Canada flight, which was supposed to leave Montreal on Sunday, was cancelled because it was due to go through London.

"I'm worried because, actually, my father has gone to the hospital and I would really like to get there quickly, so it's double the problem," he said.

Rozkrut, who came to Quebec on business on Dec. 9, has managed to get a flight to Berlin out of Trudeau International Airport on Wednesday. From there, he plans to rent a car and drive to Poland.

Griba Furtado's niece was scheduled to fly to India with a connection at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Furtado said the young woman is getting married over the holidays but she's now stranded in Montreal trying to make alternate plans.

"They wanted to be there early, so they tried other means. Hopefully it works out," said Furtado.

Canadian airline officials are urging passengers to check the status of their flights online before heading to the airport.

Air Canada issued a travel advisory on Monday saying it would have only five flights from Heathrow to Canada "including two to Toronto and one each to Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver and there will be one flight in during the day from Dublin."

In the press release, the airline says it is awaiting information from Heathrow before determining "which flights from Canada will operate to London in the evening of Dec. 20."

"We are going to work very, very hard to get people to their destinations," said Air Canada spokesperson Isabelle Arthur.

"But our ability to increase capacity is very very limited due to slot constraints at Heathrow."

European weather delays mean turbulence for Canadian travellers

 

Passengers rest at terminal five at Heathrow Airport on December 20, 2010 in London, England

 

 TORONTO — Severe winter weather in Europe is continuing to affect thousands of Canadian air travellers hoping to make it home for the holidays, with Air Canada forced to cut two-thirds of its flights through London Heathrow Airport Monday while other airlines experience delays or cancellations on the mainland.

Snow and freezing fog have disrupted air travel across Europe for the past three days with as much as 20 centimetres of snow falling in parts of the U.K.

Airlines including Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic have been forced to cancel flights in the past 24 hours.

Air Canada chief operating officer Duncan Dee said the airline is able to operate one-third of its normal schedule due to restrictions at London Heathrow, meaning only six takeoffs and landings at the airport were allowed Monday.

“We will be using those flights primarily to return aircraft to Canada from London as well as moving to London one aircraft and passengers earlier diverted to Dublin,” Dee said in a statement.

“We recognize the inconvenience this situation is causing passengers anxious to travel and we are taking all measures to ensure customers travel safely to their destinations as soon as possible. However our ability to increase capacity is very limited due to slot constraints at Heathrow and the fact our flights are already fully booked for the holiday season.

“Customers and others going to the airport should consult our website for the latest information as conditions at the London airport are continually changing and we will be updating it through the day.”

Air Canada planned to operate five departures from London on Monday, including two to Toronto and one each to Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver.

The airline is encouraging would-be passengers to defer all non-essential travel plans and is waiving fees for flight cancellations and date changes.

Monday’s delays and cancellations come just a day after Air Canada was forced to cancel all of its departures from London to Canada.

The airline also said Monday that winter weather is causing lengthy delays at other northern European airports, notably Heathrow but also Gatwick Airport, south of London, which cancelled 30 flights Monday and was expecting freezing fog to mid-morning with snow flurries in the afternoon.

Amid the Heathrow crowds a Canadian doctor saw his holiday plans turned to mush by the snowstorm that shut down the airport.

Dr. Gerhard Benade, his wife and their two children have been stuck for two days waiting to fly out of England to see their relatives in South Africa, and now aren’t scheduled to leave until Christmas Eve.

“If you watch the media here, you would think it’s the greatest snow drop in history, but walking around the airport grounds here it’s maybe a couple of inches,” Benade said in a telephone interview Monday.

“They seem totally unprepared … maybe they should get a few Canadians or Albertans to show them how to deal with it.

“You would have a hard time finding enough snow to build a snowman.”

“They seem totally unprepared … maybe they should get a few Canadians or Albertans to show them how to deal with it.”

Patricia Krale, a spokeswoman for the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, urged passengers to get in touch with their air carriers directly if they have any questions about possible delays or cancellations.

Pearson International Airport reported numerous delays and cancellations Monday, affecting outgoing flights to London, Montreal, Ottawa, Cincinnati, Boston and Calgary. The problems came at the busiest time of the year for the airport, with about 200,000 people passing through its gates during this past weekend.

Heavy snow in Europe causes travel headaches in Canada, chaos across Atlantic

 

TORONTO - Heavy snow that has blanketed European airport runways is causing travel headaches for Canadians looking to cross the Atlantic.

London's Heathrow Airport has stopped accepting arrivals, forcing the cancellation of several flights leaving from Toronto and Montreal.

Air Canada has issued a statement warning customers flying to London to expect delays or cancellations today and tomorrow.

The airline is also advising those travelling to Paris to expect long waits or even cancellations.

Paris' Charles de Gaulle has cut air traffic by a quarter as heavy snow has brought the French capital to a standstill during an unusually cold winter.

Air Canada says it has revised its ticketing policy for affected customers to allow them to make alternative travel plans, space permitting, without any penalty.

Travellers have the option to change their flights through the airline's online rebooking tool before they arrive at the airport.

"Air Canada is monitoring the situation closely and is working to get you on your way safely and as quickly as possible," the airline said in a statement posted on its website.

Meanwhile, British Airways is warning all travellers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on flights that are operating.

The airline says it is "working hard" to finalize its flying schedule for the next 12 to 24 hours.

Frankfurt airport has cancelled around 40 per cent of flights, but departures from Canada appeared to be on schedule as of Sunday morning.

In London and Amsterdam airports, many passengers spent the night in makeshift dormitories.

Heathrow said no planes would land on its runways on Sunday and that only a small number of flights would likely depart.

There was chaos in the tunnels leading from the underground station to Heathrow terminals, with hundreds of travellers told by airport staff to go back and call their airlines for updates.

Rail services and road travellers also continued to face disruption as a result of the snow. Icy conditions in Britain caused three deaths on Saturday, police said. A teenage girl was killed in a sledding accident, while a mother and her 10-year-old son died in a traffic crash.

In northern France, TGV fast trains were running slower than usual, tacking about 20 minutes on to each journey. Eurostar trains to Britain and Thalys trains to Belgium and the Netherlands were also affected.

In Italy, Florence's airport remained closed Sunday morning due to the snow and ice storms that blanketed Tuscany.

At Frankfurt airport, Germany's biggest, more than 500 flights were cancelled Sunday out of a planned total of 1,330 departures and arrivals.

While the runways at Frankfurt itself were clear, flights were disrupted by problems elsewhere in Europe, with some passengers left waiting for their flights since Friday. Germany's Lufthansa cancelled several domestic and regional services to and from its main hub, though long-haul flights were little affected.

In Amsterdam, the airport's snow plow teams had cleared three runways, and planes were arriving and leaving. However, because of problems at other European airports some 30 flights had been cancelled by late morning.

Airline switches to Boeing

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines is upgrading its aircraft that flies to Vancouver in Canada from Manila three times a week to carry more passengers and save cost, an official said late Thursday.

“Boeing aircraft will be used in our flights to Vancouver starting March,” company president Jaime Bautista said.

The Boeing 777-300 would be replacing the Airbus 340-300 because it will save over 20 percent in fuel and maintenance cost, Bautista said.

The B777 would also be carrying 370 passengers instead of 264, and 28 tons of cargo instead of 23, he said.

PAL flies to 46 destinations in 14 countries and territories.

The carrier is 84.67-percent owned by PAL Holdings Inc., which is 97.71-percent owned by Trustmark Holdings Corp. Trustmark and PHI are part of the Lucio tan Group of Companies.

The airline carried 9.2 million passengers in 2009 and is looking at ending the year with over 10 million passengers. It has seven Boeing aircraft and 30 airbuses.

Virgin America launches new service to Los Cabos

Dec 18, 2010 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- Virgin America has launched its first flight from San Francisco International Airport to San Jose del Cabo International Airport in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Los Cabos will be Virgin America's second international destination after Toronto, Canada launched in June 2010, and the 13th destination in the new airline's network. The airline will operate the service on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Pinnacle, Colgan, Mesaba Airlines, ALPA Reach Tentative Agreement

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwire - December 17, 2010) - Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL) has announced that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) on a single contract covering pilots at all three of Pinnacle's operating subsidiaries -- Pinnacle Airlines, Inc., Colgan Air, Inc. and Mesaba Aviation, Inc.

The single contract, if pilots vote to approve the tentative agreement, would complete negotiations that were underway at Pinnacle and Colgan prior to Pinnacle's acquisition of Mesaba on July 1, and provide a new contract for pilots at Mesaba that would supersede their present contract. Pinnacle has 1,289 pilots, Colgan has 540, and Mesaba has 940.

"Our Pilots have helped make us a force in the industry, and this agreement provides well deserved pay increases in the midst of a rapidly changing industry. I have confidence in our Pilot group and its leadership," said Philip H. Trenary, President and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. "As we have said all along, we have the best Pilots in the industry and they deserve a new contract. We look forward to continuing the operational excellence we have achieved together."

About Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL), an airline holding company, is the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.; Colgan Air, Inc.; and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. operates a fleet of 142 regional jets as Delta Connection in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Colgan Air, Inc. operates a fleet of 52 regional turboprops as Continental Connection, United Express and US Airways Express in the eastern United States and Canada, Texas and Louisiana. Mesaba Aviation, Inc. operates a fleet of 60 regional jets and 30 jet-prop aircraft as Delta Connection in the United States and Canada. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. operating subsidiaries fly 282 aircraft on more than 1,650 daily flights to 182 cities and towns in North America. The corporate headquarters is located in Memphis, Tenn. Airport hub operations are located in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City.

Air Canada tops list for business travel

Air Canada has come out on top in Business Traveler magazine’s best-of list for 2010.

Of 53 awards, Air Canada took five, including best North American airline for international travel, more than any other company this year.

Meanwhile, South Korea emerged as a force in world travel, with two of its carriers, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air, taking three awards each.

American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Expand Codeshare Cooperation

LONDON (Dow Jones)--British Airways PLC (BAY.LN), American Airlines and Iberia, the airlines, Friday announced that they are adding another 317 codeshare flights to their trans-Atlantic joint business between North America and Europe.

MAIN FACTS:

-This is in addition to the more than 2,700 codeshares that were introduced at the launch of the three airlines' joint business in October.

-At the time codeshares were introduced between the U.K. and U.S. and Spain and the U.S.; This sees the carriers begin codesharing on flights to Canada, Mexico and many cities across Europe.

-Codeshares allow an airline to apply their flight number to a service operated by a partner carrier, giving customers a wider range of destinations to choose from.

-American will add its (AA*) code to an additional 57 British Airways flights to 16 destinations and four Iberia flights to two destinations.

-British Airways will add its (BA*) code to 42 additional American Airlines flights to 18 destinations and 56 Iberia flights to eight destinations.

-Iberia will add its (IB*) code to 72 American flights in 23 destinations and 86 British Airways flights to 24 destinations.

-In total, as a result of the joint business, British Airways' code will be published on over 2,800 American and Iberia flights serving more than 366 destinations.

-American Airlines' code will be displayed on over 800 British Airways and Iberia flights to 174 destinations, and Iberia will publish its code on more than 90 British Airways and 264 American Airlines flights to 80 destinations.

-All together, the joint business will serve more than 400 destinations in over 100 countries with more than 5,200 daily flights.

-These new codeshare flights will go on sale from Dec 20 with travel starting from Dec 28.

-British Airways shares at 1355 GMT down 0.37% at 269 pence valuing the company at GBP3.10 billion.

Moose Jaw Flying Club founder named to Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame

One of the founders of the Moose Jaw Flying Club will be inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame during a ceremony planned for this May.

Richard W. (Dick) Ryan (1896-1992) flew as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force in the First World War.

He taught at Ross Collegiate until 1931 and then moved to Central Collegiate until 1938.

In 1928, Ryan helped established the Moose Jaw Flying Club and served as chief flying instructor before going on to establish Prairie Airways Ltd. in 1934, which was later purchased by Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1942.

Ryan would go on to serve as a vice-president of the airline. He retired from the board of directors in 1965 and died 28 years later at Penticton, B.C.

During the Second World War, Ryan trained navigators for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at the No.3 Air Observer School in Regina.

Jamie McIntyre, a director of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, said annual induction usually includes four individuals.

He said the induction ceremony/dinner gala this year will be held at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ont., on May 26.

There are 204 members of the hall, which is located in the hangar at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alta., south of Edmonton.

Founded in 1973, members have come from all across Canada and have led extraordinary lives as military and civilian pilots, doctors, scientists, inventors, aeronautical engineers and administrators.

McIntyre said the hall aims to increase the public's understanding and interest in aviation history by making its displays, archives, records and artifacts accessible.

Gerry Julian, the current president of the Moose Jaw Flying Club said he welcomed the news of Ryan's induction.

Earnings, revenue uplift at Air Transat

 

 

     Cuba is getting a smaller share of Transat's winter capacity, CEO Jean-Marc Eustache says.

 

CEO Bemoans cutting capacity. Tour operator misjudged appetite for travel last winter, but summer was hot

Last year was truly the best of times and the worst of times for Canada's largest package tour operator, Transat A.T. Inc.

"We had the worst winter ever, followed by the best summer ever," said Transat chief financial officer Denis Petrin after the Montreal company announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.

In a rare frank admission by a company's top executive, the plain-spoken president Jean-Marc Eustache said in a teleconference call that the winter debacle "was a problem largely of our own making."

In anticipation of a slow recessionary winter, Transat took out 10 per cent of its own seat capacity -only to see rivals like Sunwings, WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada eat its lunch by filling a slew of additional seats to sun destinations.

"It was the first time in my life in this industry that I tried to be rational," said Eustache, a co-founder of the company that went public in 1987.

"Never, never again until I die will I again cut capacity."

In fact, the wholesaler is adding 13-per-cent capacity for the coming winter, two-thirds of that on airline seat-only tickets. "We don't think we are an airline," Eustache said. "For us, the airline is a tool" to direct passengers to hotels, some of which Transat co-owns, as well as to coach tours, car rentals and cruises.

But the emphasis on airline-seats-only tickets appears to be a riposte to the recent incursion of "skeds" -Eustache's name for scheduled-flight operators Air Canada and WestJet -into the package tour segment.

Fourth-quarter revenues jumped to $778.6-million from $719.7-million, and net income also spiked to $52.4 million from $18.1 million. Earnings for the year totalled $65.6 million, up from $61.8 million in 2009. Revenues for both years were $3.5 billion.

Investors rewarded the firm by boosting shares $1.71 on the day to $19.46, a nine-per-cent hike.

This year's prospects are good, said Eustache, although he cautioned that it's too early to make a solid forecast.

Cameron Doerksen, an analyst with National Bank Financial, said that adding capacity is a fair bet since prices have remained steady.

"It appears the demand is meeting capacity," Doerksen said.

"And there's reason to believe that the summer should be decent."

The main thorn in Transat's side at the moment is communist Cuba, whose hotel operators have refused so far to lower their prices, unlike Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica in particular, Eustache said.

"Cuba is not sharing in the pain enough," he said. "But they'll have to do something because fewer people will go there. We're dying in that market, so they'll have to (drop prices). They'll have no choice."

Transat negotiates prices directly with hotel owners - mostly Spanish chains in the case of Cuba -but analysts like Laurentian Bank of Canada's Ben Vendittelli said the Cuban government retains significant control over those prices.

Eustache said Cuba used to account for 33 or 34 per cent of Transat's winter capacity, but that has fallen off to 26 or 27 per cent. In terms of revenues, the island favoured by many Quebecers accounts for substantially less than 27 per cent, Petrin said.

As for Transat pumping up its flights-only segment, Vendittelli said that "they might have realized that was a market they were neglecting."

Earnings, revenue uplift at Air Transat

 

 

                 Cuba is getting a smaller share of Transat's winter capacity, CEO Jean-Marc Eustache says.

 

CEO Bemoans cutting capacity. Tour operator misjudged appetite for travel last winter, but summer was hot.

 

Last year was truly the best of times and the worst of times for Canada's largest package tour operator, Transat A.T. Inc.
"We had the worst winter ever, followed by the best summer ever," said Transat chief financial officer Denis Petrin after the Montreal company announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter results.
In a rare frank admission by a company's top executive, the plain-spoken president Jean-Marc Eustache said in a teleconference call that the winter debacle "was a problem largely of our own making."
In anticipation of a slow recessionary winter, Transat took out 10 per cent of its own seat capacity -only to see rivals like Sunwings, WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada eat its lunch by filling a slew of additional seats to sun destinations.
"It was the first time in my life in this industry that I tried to be rational," said Eustache, a co-founder of the company that went public in 1987.
"Never, never again until I die will I again cut capacity."
In fact, the wholesaler is adding 13-per-cent capacity for the coming winter, two-thirds of that on airline seat-only tickets. "We don't think we are an airline," Eustache said. "For us, the airline is a tool" to direct passengers to hotels, some of which Transat co-owns, as well as to coach tours, car rentals and cruises.
But the emphasis on airline-seats-only tickets appears to be a riposte to the recent incursion of "skeds" -Eustache's name for scheduled-flight operators Air Canada and WestJet -into the package tour segment.
Fourth-quarter revenues jumped to $778.6-million from $719.7-million, and net income also spiked to $52.4 million from $18.1 million. Earnings for the year totalled $65.6 million, up from $61.8 million in 2009. Revenues for both years were $3.5 billion.
Investors rewarded the firm by boosting shares $1.71 on the day to $19.46, a nine-per-cent hike.
This year's prospects are good, said Eustache, although he cautioned that it's too early to make a solid forecast.
Cameron Doerksen, an analyst with National Bank Financial, said that adding capacity is a fair bet since prices have remained steady.
"It appears the demand is meeting capacity," Doerksen said.
"And there's reason to believe that the summer should be decent."
The main thorn in Transat's side at the moment is communist Cuba, whose hotel operators have refused so far to lower their prices, unlike Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica in particular, Eustache said.
"Cuba is not sharing in the pain enough," he said. "But they'll have to do something because fewer people will go there. We're dying in that market, so they'll have to (drop prices). They'll have no choice."
Transat negotiates prices directly with hotel owners - mostly Spanish chains in the case of Cuba -but analysts like Laurentian Bank of Canada's Ben Vendittelli said the Cuban government retains significant control over those prices.
Eustache said Cuba used to account for 33 or 34 per cent of Transat's winter capacity, but that has fallen off to 26 or 27 per cent. In terms of revenues, the island favoured by many Quebecers accounts for substantially less than 27 per cent, Petrin said.
As for Transat pumping up its flights-only segment, Vendittelli said that "they might have realized that was a market they were neglecting."

Air Canada flight turned back to Vancouver

An Air Canada plane bound to Toronto from Vancouver made a quick landing Thursday after an oil indication light went off in the cockpit, according to the airline's spokeswoman.

"As per Air Canada's Standard Operating Procedures, crew immediately returned to YVR," said Angela Mah. "No emergency was declared, and emergency response vehicles were called strictly as a precaution."

The plane made a routine landing and is expected to remain on the tarmac through the morning until maintenance teams complete their assessment

The flight is expected to re-depart Thursday afternoon.

Transat earnings climb in fourth quarter

Last year was truly the best of times and the worst of times for Canada's largest package tour operator, Transat A.T. Inc.
"We had the worst winter ever followed by the best summer ever," said Transat chief financial officer Denis Pétrin after the Montreal company announced better than expected fourth-quarter results.
In a rare frank admission by a company's top executive, the plain-spoken president Jean-Marc Eustache said in a teleconference call that the winter debacle "was a problem largely of our own making."
In anticipation of a slow recessionary winter, Transat took out 10 per cent of its own seat capacity - only to see rivals like Sunwings, WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada eat its lunch by filling a slew of additional seats to sun destinations.
"It was the first time in my life in this industry that I tried to be rational," said Eustache, a co-founder of the company that went public in 1987.
"Never, never again until I die will I again cut capacity."
In fact, the wholesaler is adding 13 per cent capacity for the coming winter, two-thirds of that on airline seat-only tickets.
"We don't think we are an airline," Eustache said. "For us, the airline is a tool" to direct passengers to hotels, some of which Transat co-owns, as well as to coach tours, car rentals and cruises.
But the emphasis on airline-seats-only tickets appears to be a riposte to the recent incursion of "skeds" - Eustache's name for scheduled-flight operators Air Canada and WestJet - into the package tour segment.
Fourth-quarter revenues jumped to $778.6-million from $719.7-million, and net income also spiked to $52.4 million from $18.1 million. Earnings for the year totalled $65.6 million, up from $61.8 million in 2009. Revenues for both years were $3.5 billion.
Investors rewarded the firm by boosting shares $1.71 on the day to $19.46, a nine-per-cent hike.
This year's prospects are good, said Eustache, although he cautioned that it's too early to make a solid forecast.
Cameron Doerksen, an analyst with National Bank Financial, said that adding capacity is a fair bet since prices have remained steady.
"It appears the demand is meeting capacity," Doerksen said. "And there's reason to believe that the summer should be decent."
The main thorn in Transat's side at the moment is Communist Cuba, whose hotel operators have refused so far to lower their prices, unlike Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica in particular, Eustache said.
"Cuba is not sharing in the pain enough," he said. "But they'll have to do something because fewer people will go there. We're dying in that market, so they'll have to (drop prices). They'll have no choice."
Transat negotiates prices directly with hotel owners - mostly Spanish chains in the case of Cuba - but analysts like Lauren
tian Bank of Canada's Ben Vendittelli said that the Cuban government retains significant control over those prices.
Eustache said that Cuba used to account for 33 or 34 per cent of Transat's winter capacity, but that has fallen off to 26 or 27 per cent. In terms of revenues, the island favoured by many Quebecers accounts for substantially less than 27 per cent, Pétrin said.

As for Transat pumping up its flights-only segment, Vendittelli said that "they might have realized that was a market they were neglecting."

Transat earnings climb in fourth quarter

 Last year was truly the best of times and the worst of times for Canada's largest package tour operator, Transat A.T. Inc.
"We had the worst winter ever followed by the best summer ever," said Transat chief financial officer Denis Pétrin after the Montreal company announced better than expected fourth-quarter results.
In a rare frank admission by a company's top executive, the plain-spoken president Jean-Marc Eustache said in a teleconference call that the winter debacle "was a problem largely of our own making."
In anticipation of a slow recessionary winter, Transat took out 10 per cent of its own seat capacity - only to see rivals like Sunwings, WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada eat its lunch by filling a slew of additional seats to sun destinations.
"It was the first time in my life in this industry that I tried to be rational," said Eustache, a co-founder of the company that went public in 1987.
"Never, never again until I die will I again cut capacity."
In fact, the wholesaler is adding 13 per cent capacity for the coming winter, two-thirds of that on airline seat-only tickets.
"We don't think we are an airline," Eustache said. "For us, the airline is a tool" to direct passengers to hotels, some of which Transat co-owns, as well as to coach tours, car rentals and cruises.
But the emphasis on airline-seats-only tickets appears to be a riposte to the recent incursion of "skeds" - Eustache's name for scheduled-flight operators Air Canada and WestJet - into the package tour segment.
Fourth-quarter revenues jumped to $778.6-million from $719.7-million, and net income also spiked to $52.4 million from $18.1 million. Earnings for the year totalled $65.6 million, up from $61.8 million in 2009. Revenues for both years were $3.5 billion.
Investors rewarded the firm by boosting shares $1.71 on the day to $19.46, a nine-per-cent hike.
This year's prospects are good, said Eustache, although he cautioned that it's too early to make a solid forecast.
Cameron Doerksen, an analyst with National Bank Financial, said that adding capacity is a fair bet since prices have remained steady.
"It appears the demand is meeting capacity," Doerksen said. "And there's reason to believe that the summer should be decent."
The main thorn in Transat's side at the moment is Communist Cuba, whose hotel operators have refused so far to lower their prices, unlike Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica in particular, Eustache said.
"Cuba is not sharing in the pain enough," he said. "But they'll have to do something because fewer people will go there. We're dying in that market, so they'll have to (drop prices). They'll have no choice."
Transat negotiates prices directly with hotel owners - mostly Spanish chains in the case of Cuba - but analysts like Lauren
tian Bank of Canada's Ben Vendittelli said that the Cuban government retains significant control over those prices.
Eustache said that Cuba used to account for 33 or 34 per cent of Transat's winter capacity, but that has fallen off to 26 or 27 per cent. In terms of revenues, the island favoured by many Quebecers accounts for substantially less than 27 per cent, Pétrin said.

As for Transat pumping up its flights-only segment, Vendittelli said that "they might have realized that was a market they were neglecting."

Airline Mergers Spur Rise in Paint Jobs

VICTORVILLE, Calif.—As a motorized tug nudged a United Airlines 777 out of an airport hangar here one recent day, Sergio Garcia and his colleagues beamed.

The merger of United Airlines and Continental means all the planes in their combined fleet need a paint job.

The massive jet had gone into the hangar 11 days before wearing United's battleship gray. It emerged in the white, blue and gold of United's recent merger partner, Continental Airlines.
"It's nice to see the final paint job," said Mr. Garcia, 30 years old, who has been painting planes since 1997. "We know how much work it takes to paint an aircraft."
Mr. Garcia works for Leading Edge Aviation Services Inc. The company has never been busier, thanks to a slew of repainting contracts from airlines refreshing their colors and two big mergers, which have brought a surge of work.
The fact that the industry is opening its purse strings for nonessential items related to marketing and appearance is a sign it is finally recovering its financial health. Leading Edge repainted about 500 jetliners in 2009, and it has done about 450 already this year, says Mike Manclark, the founder, owner and chief executive.

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Susan Carey/The Wall Street Journal

A Boeing 777 sports United Continental's new look, with United, on the fuselage.

When Delta Air Lines Inc. bought Northwest Airlines in 2008, Delta wanted the combined fleet to sport the Delta livery as soon as possible. Although Delta has its own paint shops, the carrier preferred to expedite the project for branding purposes, says a Delta spokeswoman.

So Mr. Manclark's company, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, converted 400 Northwest planes to the Delta costume in just 14 months. In all, Leading Edge has put 477 Northwest planes and 112 Delta aircraft into Delta's new livery in the past two years, Delta says.
Normally that would have taken years because airlines cycle their planes out of service and into paint shops at a much more leisurely pace. "In the old days, paint was an afterthought," Mr. Manclark says. "Nowadays, it's your calling card."
"Painting is really an art," he says, adding that "in painting commercial airliners, there is no cheating" because the paint must survive pressurization and depressurization, bitter cold at 35,000 feet, searing ground temperatures, as well as lightning and the elements.
A plane's manufacturer applies the initial coat of paint as part of the sale. But when airlines change liveries or refresh paint, which they generally do every five to six years, they frequently turn to outsiders.

 

The Continental colors and globe logo on the tail

Leading Edge is one of several paint shops enjoying the industry updraft. For instance, Dean Baldwin Painting LP just won a contract to paint for JetBlue Airways Corp. Maintenance providers also offer painting around the world, and some carriers, such as Delta and Malaysia Airlines, provide the service. Saltillo Jet Center near Monterrey, Mexico, opened in 2006.
A 777 paint job can cost $100,000 to $200,000, depending on the number of colors involved, and a smaller A320 can cost $50,000 or more. And resurfacing a slightly larger model, a 747, can take nearly two weeks and 180 gallons of paint.
First, technicians use special aluminized paper and tape to protect titanium and composite parts, the windows and engine intakes. Then they use chemicals to strip existing paint, wash the plane, sand composite areas and apply a precoat. Next comes primer, the base color and, after more masking and stenciling, accent colors, speed stripes and logo, and sometimes a clear coat.
Painters wear lint-free suits, hoods and full-face respirators, and they work on 60-foot-high cherry pickers to repaint the largest models. Guided by blueprints, they spray on paint—no brushes or rollers allowed—in ventilated, temperature-controlled hangars. The paint adheres easily because paint pots, painters and the plane itself are grounded negative while the paint guns are positively charged, creating an electrical attraction.
In 20 years in business, Leading Edge, Santa Ana., Calif., has painted more than 5,000 planes. Its clients have included UPS Airlines, Southwest Airlines, regional airlines, the U.S. military, and assorted planes from overseas carriers including Air Canada, Air India and Air France.
Now that United and Continental have merged, Mr. Manclark's painters are working flat out to repaint the United planes in Continental's colors with United's name on the fuselage. The first United plane to get the makeover, a 777, came out of Leading Edge's Amarillo, Texas, hangar in November.
United Continental Holdings Inc. awarded Leading Edge the contract to redo most of the big jets in the combined fleet. The goal is to have all Continental planes renamed by the end of 2011 and to have all United planes get the treatment by the end of 2012, a spokesman said. That is about 16 United and as many as 30 Continental planes a month. The airline declined to say how much it will cost.
Mr. Manclark expects next year to be his busiest ever and plans to hire more workers to augment the 1,000 he already employs. "We were pretty busy before," he says. "Now, with the mergers, we've turned the turbo on."
The company got its start washing corporate jets and now operates paint hangars in three U.S. cities, works on behalf of outside maintenance providers in four other locations, and sends "away teams" elsewhere. It had revenue of about $42 million in 2009 and expects to top $50 million this year.
In Victorville, 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Leading Edge leases space at a former Air Force base outfitted with four paint hangars. The 15,000-foot military runway can accommodate the biggest commercial planes when they come in for touchups.
Last week, Leading Edge's hangars here housed a Horizon Air regional turboprop being painted with Washington State University's red cougar logo, joining others Horizon has decked out in the regalia of Pacific Northwest schools as part of a marketing campaign. Another hangar had a Mesa Airlines regional jet getting a fresh coat. Once the United wide-body exited, a Delta 767 rolled in.
Mr. Garcia, one of the veteran painters at Victorville, estimates he has applied at least 30 different liveries in his career. A favorite was a purple-and-orange Phoenix Suns-themed 757 for America West Airlines. "That was cool," he recalls. "The colors, the graphics, the sun on the tail, the basketball."
Does he ever leave his signature on a completed airplane? "No way," interjects his boss, Pete Robertson, Victorville's general manager. "If it's not on the blueprint, it better not be on the airplane."