There hasn’t been much to cheer about for the nation’s airline industry over the past year.
The industry, which lost more than $7 billion last year and already has lost $3.4 billion this year, still is struggling to recover from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the slump in business travel.
But there are glimmers of improvement on the horizon.
Singapore Airlines, which suspended its three-times-per- week round-trip service between Chicago and Singapore, began flying the route again on Wednesday.
And a new airline has begun serving O’Hare International Airport.
USA 3000 Airlines says it is offering service from Chicago to places such as Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. The service is being offered in conjunction with travel booked through Apple Vacations, one of the largest tour operators.
Unlike most charter carriers, USA 3000 says it will be using new Airbus A320 aircraft with only 168 seats rather than the typical 180 seats.
Granted, USA 3000 is only a charter carrier, but combined with Singapore’s relaunch, it’s an indication that at least some people in the industry believe that daylight is just around the corner.
Denver International expanding: It appears that Frontier Airlines will be operating from a vastly expanded concourse at Denver International Airport long before the first shovel is turned for either the terminal expansion or runway reconfiguration at O’Hare.
On Wednesday, Denver officials unveiled plans to add 10 jet gates and six commuter gates and to greatly expand the ticket counter space at DIA. Frontier says it will use seven of the new jet gates and all of the new commuter gates.
Unlike Chicago’s terminal and runway expansion projects that are mired in controversy, Denver says it will have its $270 million addition open by 2004.
The Denver project, along with the new terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport that opened in February, will give travelers another choice for sidestepping the gridlock at O’Hare.
New meals are coming: More than a year ago United Airlines removed beef from its trans-Atlantic flights from Europe to the U.S. due to European concerns about hoof-and-mouth disease.
Now United says it is revising its menu and reintroducing beef on its flights from London and other European cities.
For United, seeking to conserve money where it can, the meal changes are significant. United is spending $4 million to $5 million more per day than it is receiving in revenue.
“To remain competitive and meet our customers’ expectations, we need to continuously look for innovative ways to allocate our meal service dollars. As a result, we were able to redesign the entire menu at no additional cost,” said Teri Fujiwara, senior staff representative for food and beverage planning.
United First and Business class customers will be able to choose from tenderloin steak and potato and rotisserie chicken with celery stuffing. Customers also can choose a pasta entree or a regional entree developed by local chefs.
On flights departing from London, United First and United Business customers will be offered tea with scones and fruit preserves.
In response to competition from American Airlines and British Airways, Fujiwara said, United also will begin offering a midflight snack. Offerings include cheese and crackers, candy bars, fruit baskets and cookies.
