Washington – More flights across the nation were delayed in July than the same month a year ago, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Denver International Airport ranked No. 5 among major airports for on-time-arrival performance with 75.84 percent of flights arriving on time in July, down from 78.97 percent in July 2006. That’s better than the national on-time- arrival rate of 69.8 percent in July for the 20 carriers reporting performance.
Denver-based Frontier Airlines had the lowest rate of canceled flights.
Additional business news briefs:
NEW YORK
First Qwest dividend since 2001 predicted
JP Morgan analyst Jonathan Chaplin wrote in a research note released Tuesday that he expects Qwest to announce a “large, recurring dividend” by October. The Denver-based telecommunications company’s last dividend payout was June 29, 2001.
Bank of America analyst David Barden said in a recent research note that Qwest is in position financially to pay recurring cash dividends in the coming years.
HOUSTON
Copano Energy buys into Colo. market
Copano Energy LLC said it will acquire Denver-based Cantera Natural Gas LLC and its Rocky Mountain gas-gathering and -pipeline systems from Metalmark Capital, a New York-based private-equity firm, for $675 million.
The deal will allow Copano, a Houston-based natural-gas pipeline and processing company, to expand its reach from Texas and Oklahoma into the Rocky Mountains, one of the fastest-growing onshore gas producing areas in the U.S.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.
Swift plant’s error led to 15-ton return
JBS Swift & Co.’s plant in Grand Island was the one that sent a mislabeled box that set off alarms among South Korean inspectors, said company spokesman Marco Sampaio.
The box contained rib bones, which are banned because of fears of mad cow disease.
The entire 15.5-ton shipment that arrived in South Korea on Aug. 10 was sent back, and the Grand Island plant’s approval to export beef to the country was revoked.
Sampaio said the move by Korean officials shouldn’t affect employment at the Greeley-based company, which is adding a second shift at its Greeley plant.
DENVER
Kroger recalls two of its potato salads
Kroger Co. has recalled two varieties of its potato salad from its King Soopers and City Market stores.
The company recalled Kroger-brand mustard potato salad and Southern-style potato salad because they may be contaminated with a potentially deadly strain of li bacteria. The products are dated as “best if used by” Sept. 5.
No illnesses have been reported, company officials said. The recall was prompted by routine food-safety testing, which discovered the bacteria. Consumers should return the product to the original store of purchase for a refund or call Kroger at 866-221-4141.
CHICAGO
United flights fuller on reduced capacity
United Airlines said its planes were 86.3 percent full in August, a record for the month. In August, United cut total capacity measured by available seat miles by 1 percent compared with the same month a year earlier, including a 4.2 percent cut in North America.
FORT COLLINS
17 former Albertsons stores change hands
Brokerage firm ZTI Group Inc. purchased 17 former Albertsons stores with Hampton Partners/Inland Retail Group.
The stores, accounting for more than 1 million square feet, are in Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Aurora and Greeley.
According to ZTI, which will be managing the leasing of the portfolios, negotiations are underway with major national retailers including Office Depot, Staples, Dollar Tree, Sunflower Market and Ross Dress for Less.
DALLAS
Southwest leads way in boosting fares
Southwest Airlines Co. led seven of the biggest U.S. airlines in boosting round-trip fares as much as $20 to help offset higher fuel costs.
Southwest’s tickets rose $1 to $10 each way, depending on distance, on Friday.
SUNNYVALE, Calif.
Yahoo purchasing online-ad network
Yahoo is buying online-advertising network BlueLithium for $300 million cash, building on an expansion aimed at ending a financial malaise that has ravaged the Internet pioneer’s stock price.
The deal announced late Tuesday marks the latest step in Yahoo’s attempt to regain some of the ground it has lost to Google Inc.
