Short Reports

Cargo passing through the Spokane International Airport increased 8 percent the first six months of 1999 - 29,676 tons this year, compared with 27,468 tons - airport officials reported. For June, 5,148 tons of freight came through the airport, an increase of 12.3 percent over June 1998. Total airport passengers during the first six months of the year increased less than 1 percent from a year ago, at 1.42 million, up from 1.4 million, officials said. June passenger traffic totaled 135,306, a 2.7 percent increase over the 131,750 in June 1998.

Reaching inside its own ranks for a new leader, Compaq Computer Corp. named chief operating officer Michael D. Capellas as chief executive on Thursday. Capellas, 44, succeeds Eckhard Pfeiffer, who was forced out in April after Compaq’s firstquarter profit came in at less than half of analysts’ expectations.

American Express has launched its own Internet bank, betting that a well-known brand name will persuade consumers to give up the security blanket of a local branch. Membership Banking can be reached through the American Express Web site at www.americanexpress.com