Thursday, September 09, 1999
TRISTATE BUSINESS SUMMARY
Delta still worst for involuntarily bumping
Despite the declining number of passengers bumped involuntarily from Delta Air Lines flights in the second quarter, the Atlanta-based airline still ranked last on a list of 10 major carriers tracked by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The DOT rankings released Wednesday shows that Delta bumped 5,519 passengers — at a rate of 2.07 per 10,000 — against their will. That figure has fallen from a rate of 3.33 passengers for each 10,000 involuntarily bumped during the first quarter.
The 10 major airlines averaged a rate of 0.89. Passengers are involuntarily bumped when a flight is oversold and not enough volunteers give up their seats.
In July, Delta officials acknowledged its shortcomings and promised improvement.
Dave Anderson, Delta's Cincinnati spokesman, said the airline will report involuntary bumping rates of 1.29 per 10,000 passengers for July and 0.37 per 10,000 passengers for August.
“Two months does not a trend make, but it shows improvement,” Mr. Anderson said.
DOT figures also showed that the rate of passenger complaints against Delta almost tripled in July compared with a year ago. Industrywide, complaints against domestic carriers also nearly tripled July 1998 to July 1999.
Lafarge wallboard plant will be built in Florida
Lafarge Corp. said its gypsum division will build an $85 million wallboard manufacturing plant in northern Florida, almost identical to one under construction in Silver Grove, Ky.
“When the Florida and Kentucky plants come on line, Lafarge will effectively blanket the entire U.S. east of the Mississippi with a reliable, low-cost supply-and-distribution network, which will work to the benefit of all customers,” said John Piecuch, Lafarge president.
The Florida plant, with annual capacity of 900 million square feet of wallboard, will be built adjacent to two large electrical generating units operated by Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc., southwest of Jacksonville.
Mexico plant sale means $2.6M gain for Baldwin
Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. said it expects a one-time gain of $2.6 million, or 75 cents a share, from the sale of its Juarez, Mexico, plant.
Selling the plant and moving operations to a smaller, leased facility in Juarez “will cut manufacturing overhead, improve the music division's return on investment and enhance shareholder value,” Karen Hendricks, Baldwin president and CEO, said in a statement.
The Mason-based company said it sold the plant Tuesday to an undisclosed buyer for $7.2 million.
Heinz profits up 8.3% during first quarter
H.J. Heinz Co. on Wednesday reported an 8.3 percent increase in profits for the first quarter on increased sales of ketchup, sauces, soups, beans and pasta meals.
Heinz, whose Heinz Pet Products and Starkist Foods are based in Newport, said that excluding one-time charges, it earned $236.9 million, or 65 cents a share, in the quarter ended July 28, compared with $223.3 million, or 60 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.
Sales fell about 2 percent, from $2.22 billion to $2.18 billion, because of divestitures, lower prices and unfavorable foreign exchange rates.
Separately, Heinz announced plans to introduce Boston Market Home Style Meals this year and predicted that the new line of frozen food would add $100 million in sales next year.
New hair line from P&G
Greenspan taking vitals on region's economy
College lecture notes free online
How wide is Web? 19 clicks
Dental office message: Relax
Oldenberg buyer to keep area presence
Pilots union wants cap on Comair
TRISTATE BUSINESS SUMMARY
INDUSTRY NOTES: REAL ESTATE
Commercial real estate tranfers
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