Topics: Alma, Horizon, ATR, Islas Airways
Alma Signs with Worldspan
Guadalajara, Mexico-based regional Aerolineas Mesoamericanas (Alma de Mexico) signed with the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS), significantly expanding flight distribution and becoming the first of Mexico’s low-cost carriers to make the move. Worldspan customers worldwide, including traditional and online travel agencies, and business travelers using Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE, have access to all of Alma de Mexico's published fares, Web fares and related inventory. Alma de Mexico, using Bombardier 50-seat CRJ 200s, is the new airline, having launched operations in June 2006 offering point-to-point connections and a growing number of routes between cities in Mexico. Alma anticipates carrying more than half a million passengers during its first 12 months of service.

Horizon Brings Larger Aircraft, Improve Service
Starting July 22 all Horizon flights from Idaho Falls, Ida., will be operated with Bombardier’s (BBD) 74- and 76-seat Q400 aircraft — including the airline’s current nonstop service to Boise, new nonstop flights to Bozeman, Mont., and one-stop, same-plane flights to Portland, San Jose and Seattle. The new service from Idaho Falls includes two nonstops to Boise (one each continuing on to Portland and San Jose) and one nonstop to Bozeman (with continuing service to Seattle). The new schedule replaces the current schedule of three flights to Boise operated with 37-seat Q200s.
“The larger planes and this new flight schedule make more seats available for same-day business trips between Idaho Falls and Boise, and eliminate the need to make a plane change when traveling to Portland, San Jose and Seattle,” said Patrick Zachwieja, Horizon vice president of marketing and planning. Horizon is adding 13 more Q400s to its fleet this year, in many cases replacing Q200s with the newer, larger and faster aircraft.

ATR Books More Orders
Canary Islands-based Islas Airways ordered six new ATR 72-500s, configured with 70 seats, for a total value of around US $ 110 million. For the first time the airline is adding new “–500 series” ATR aircraft to its fleet, currently composed of one ATR 42-300 and four ATR 72-200s. The airline will take delivery of two aircraft in 2007, two in 2008 and two in 2009. ATR has sold 861 new aircraft (402 ATR 42s and 459 ATR 72s) since the beginning of the programme, some of them not yet unveiled.
Islas was founded in Tenerife in 2001 and started its operations in 2003 with two leased ATR 72-200s. Today, the airline operates four ATR 72-200s and one ATR 42-300. Islas Airways transports more than 520,000 passengers per year in some 17,000 flights, and posted gross revenues of around €28 million in 2006. Since 2005, the airline is controlled by SOAC Group, a Canary Island holding whose business range includes ground handling and airport services.

Gryphon Begins Emergency Communications Tests at Horizon
Gryphyn Works begins testing an emergency communications alert system for Horizon Air which takes place over the next two weeks and automatically run at random intervals to verify response times system wide. The purpose of the testing is to ensure all essential Horizon personnel are notified immediately of an emergency alert situation using Gryphyn GSE Maintenance software. The technology allows designated employees to receive the message via pagers, computers and cellular phones. An emergency message can be deployed in text and voice form by entering the emergency alert once in the system. A fully auditable trail is automatically created with each notification. The technology is part of a contract between the two companies announced recently. Related Story
The success of Gryphyn GSE Maintenance application with Horizon Air led to this venture and possible further discussions using the Gryphyn Works Application Services Platform to implement solutions for other departments. Last month, Gryphyn successfully enabled Horizon Air to become the first airline in the world to conduct all its ground support equipment maintenance operations paperless.