Airline News Archives

Hawaiian Airlines on Wednesday said it has settled its lawsuit with Mesa Air Group for $52.5 million.

This is the real prize-- complimentary upgrades on any AA flight, including long-hauls to Europe and Asia. But even the lowest level of elite membership will get something nice at the end of the year-- 10,000 extra miles, nice luggage tags, or one free pass to the Admiral's Club.

United Airlines and US Airways could be the next airlines to agree to a merger, according to a person close to the negotiations.

Continental Airlines said Sunday that it had abandoned merger talks with United Airlines and was planning to remain an independent carrier, a blow to lengthy efforts by United to find a merger partner.

When Eos Airlines Inc. launched its first flights in 2005, the startup carrier named for a Greek goddess came with enthusiastic business travelers looking for more space who didn't mind hefty fares for premium ...

United Airlines and Continental Airlines are getting closer to a merger agreement and would like to wrap up a deal by the end of next week, people with direct knowledge of the discussions said Friday.

Federal and airline officials admitted that the classified codes on the computer provided the pilot, through a keypad, access from the gate to the plane and down to ground level right below the plane.

The CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines defended their proposed $3.1 billion merger before a House committee Thursday, addressing lawmakers' concerns that the deal would stifle competition.

US Airways Group Inc and Alaska Air Group Inc posted quarterly losses on Thursday, citing surging fuel costs that have inflicted pain on the entire industry.

While financial woes mount for its airline customers, Boeing Co. unveiled unexpectedly strong quarterly earnings Wednesday that sent its shares soaring 4.5 percent and sparked a broader stock market rally.

Delta Air Lines Inc., the nation's third-largest carrier, said Wednesday its loss widened in the first quarter to a whopping $6.39 billion because of soaring fuel prices and the steep decline in the company's ...

United Airlines parent UAL Corp. lost nearly a third of its market value Tuesday after reporting a $537 million first-quarter loss due to soaring fuel costs and saying it is cutting flights and 1,100 jobs.

Air France-KLM said Monday that its offer to buy struggling Italian airline Alitalia for $220 million is 'no longer valid,' and left no impression that it planned to return with another bid.

Northwest Airlines said it would boost the payout for Chief Executive Doug Steenland if he stays until its combination with Delta Air Lines is finished.

The new agreement also takes away a financial incentive for Steenland to leave in June.

Northwest added another $3.6 million to his payout if he leaves after the company changes hands, to a total of roughly $11.4 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. The new money is based on Friday's share price and will rise or fall with it. Read more

A passenger who left his seat to pray in the back of a plane before it took off, ignoring flight attendants' orders to return, was removed by an airport security guard, a witness and the airline said.

The Orthodox Jewish man, who wore a full beard, a black hat and a long black coat, stood near the lavatories and began saying his prayers while the United Airlines jet was being boarded at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday night, said Ori Brafman, a fellow passenger who spoke about the incident by phone from San Francisco, where he lives. Read more

US Airways To Charge For Some Window, Aisle Coach Seating APRIL 17, 2008 -- US Airways beginning May 7 will charge customers at least $5 per leg for window and aisle seat assignments "in the first several rows ...

Airlines would have to relinquish some of their coveted takeoff and landing rights at New York's LaGuardia airport under a plan to ease delays announced on Wednesday by the U.S. government.

Ltd. on Wednesday became the fourth foreign airline to admit to price-fixing and agree to pay a multimillion-dollar fine to the U.S. government.

Frontier Airlines shares are being delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market. Frontier said today it received a notice from Nasdaq saying that as a result of Frontier's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, ... via Denver Post

“We have slipped from a top position to the worst in the industry right now”

American Airlines pilots stood silently outside the buildings of the airline's biggest customers and investors Tuesday to protest what they claim is penny-pinching management that is undermining the nation's ... via Boston.com

“But that doesn't change the fact that Southwest did not comply with its obligations.”

Four passengers have filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, saying the company broke its contract with travelers by carrying them on planes that missed safety inspections over a period of about six years. via KGO

Two senior executives at British Airways are leaving the firm after the airline's disastrous move to Terminal 5. In a statement, BA said: "Gareth Kirkwood, director of operations, and David Noyes, director of ... via Shropshire Star

Delta and Northwest airlines announced a merger Monday night, altering the face of the industry and leaving Houston's Continental Airlines with a tough choice.

Delta and Northwest are betting that cost cuts and the benefits of a bigger route network would outweigh the potential operating chaos and labor unrest that can result from airline mergers.

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has taken a A$650 million paper loss in just over a year on its investment in the Australian budget carrier that it launched in 2000.

American Airlines has returned all of its grounded jets to the skies, and passengers will see normal service today, an airline spokesman said.

Frontier Airlines' future now hinges on how it navigates bankruptcy reorganization, what happens to the price of oil and whether proposed airline mergers and acquisitions among other carriers play out.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines may announce a merger to create the world's largest carrier as early as Tuesday, people familiar with the talks said.

Italians voted Sunday in a general election that could bring conservative billionaire Silvio Berlusconi back to power, as the nation grapples with mounting problems that are sure to challenge the winner. via Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“This includes the placement of Qantas and Jetstar executives in key management roles within Jetstar Pacific, and the supply of a range of aviation services.”

Qantas Airways Ltd subsidiary Jetstar has entered into a strategic and commercial partnership with Vietnam's Pacific Airlines to grow the airline in Vietnam and Asia under the Jetstar brand. via Manawatu Evening Standard

“The issue is not where maintenance is performed but that maintenance requires effective oversight”

An aging fleet is catching up with domestic airlines, and the maintenance issues that inevitably arise are likely to worsen as the industry's jets grow older and its finances weaken. via International Herald Tribune

“That surprised investigators and caused real concern”

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines accelerated inspections and related work on Friday to get its MD-80 planes back in service after a nightmare week for the carrier that saw it cancel more than 3,000 flights over a recurring safety issue, affecting 300,000 travelers.

American, a unit of AMR Corp, said it hoped to have all of its 300 MD-80 aircraft ready to go on Saturday afternoon, with expectations it would run its first full daily schedule in nearly a week on Sunday. Read more

“I travel to Minnesota once a month, and not knowing how I'm going to get there in advance is very tough”

Last month Frontier sold four of its planes to cut costs, but that wasn't enough to keep them from filing for bankruptcy. via CW2 Colorado KWGN-TV

“We had drifted a little bit too much toward the overcloseness and coziness between regulator and regulated”

For all the headaches of flying in the United States, the domestic airlines were until recently considered a logistical marvel, moving 2 million people a day with remarkably few accidents. via The Boston Globe

American Airlines had to cancel another 595 flights on Friday, bringing the week's total to 3,079 amid a safety inspection crackdown. via The London News.Net

“AirTran Airways is one of the strongest low-cost carriers operating today”

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. , today updated financial information in response to late market volatility. via Earth Times

“That's just an unprecedented amount of people whose trips have been changed, altered or canceled”

More Federal Aviation Administration whistle-blowers are beginning to step forward with fresh allegations of a "culture of complacency" between the FAA and the airlines industry, the head of the government ... via Leader-Telegram

“This is a sensible move which gives time to make sure everything works smoothly.”

British Airways is to postpone moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow's T5 because of continuing problems at the 4.3 billion terminal, union sources said. via Daily Express

Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc., a full-service commercial airline company, filed for bankruptcy, becoming the fourth airline to seek protection in less than two weeks.

Even before the recent flight cancellations, airlines and passengers were facing a new wave of travel misery.

The CEO of embattled American Airlines said today the cancellation of nearly 2,500 flights this week will cost the airline ``in the tens of millions of dollars.'' Gerard Arpey said that it was too early to put ...

DALLAS - American Airlines canceled more than 900 flights Thursday to fix faulty wiring in hundreds of jets, marking the third straight day of mass groundings as company executives offered profuse apologies and ...

This week's flight cancellations by American Airlines are likely to spread to other U.S. airlines in the weeks ahead as federal regulators step up a by-the-book review of carriers' compliance with maintenance ...

Among the jobs little boys dream of - policeman, fireman, bulldozer driver - airline pilot long held the added virtue of satisfying grown-up dreams: pay that reached $300,000 a year, 20 days a month off work, ...

A women who flew into Sea-Tac Airport on March 26 had an active case of the measles, a potentially serious disease, and might have spread it to fellow passengers or others at the airport before departing for ... via The Olympian

Aloha Airlines, ATA, Skybus -- one week, three airlines out of business. Add in soon-to-be-defunct Champion Air and December casualty MAXjet Airways, and last week's rapid-fire round of airline failures starts ...

Pressured by extraordinary jet fuel prices, Delta and Northwest airlines want to announce a merger deal as soon as next week, according to two sources briefed on the airlines' plans.

American Airlines has grounded up to 300 MD-80 airplanes and cancelled as many as 500 flights as part of an FAA inspection directive.

A number of flights have been cancelled at Heathrow's Terminal 5 because of Sunday's bad weather, British Airways said. via Daily Express

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about to get a $1.2 billion upgrade. The Houston Airport System and its main operator, Continental Airlines, on Monday announced that it will expand its Terminal B from ...

Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Milwaukee Business Journal Paying passenger traffic for Midwest Airlines slipped 2.2 percent in March, but growing traffic at its regional partner, Midwest Connect, ...

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have revived talks about merging, the Financial Times reported on its website Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The first phase of the open-skies agreement, which deregulates flying between the United States and the 27 European Union countries, took effect a week ago, and its initial effect seems to be simple: cheaper ...

Late flights and lost bags, to say nothing of higher fares, are making air travelers grumpy, an annual survey of airline quality says.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Pilots flying for a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines turned back midflight to southwestern Chinese airports early this week, in a rare strike to protest lower pay and other conditions, state media reported on Saturday.

Organized labor strikes are unusual in China, where there is only one legal, government-backed union.

Seventeen flights returned to their departure airports in Yunnan Province after takeoff on Monday and Tuesday, in a protest by pilots of China Eastern subsidiary Yunnan Airlines. Read more

It was dream come true for Jason and Shannon Gross of Waukesha when Jason landed a job with local airline Skyway two years ago.

Travelers have been complaining more often about frequent-flier programs - namely, the lack of award seats on desirable flights, escalating fees for ostensibly free tickets, and quicker expiration dates for ...

Skybus Airlines Inc., a U.S. low- fare carrier that started operations less than a year ago, stopped service today, the third airline to shut down this week as fuel costs soared and the economy slowed.

American Airlines put a freeze on hiring management and support staffers this week as the nation's largest carrier grapples with high fuel costs and a slowing economy.

Beginning May 1, Frontier Airlines plans to start charging customers on most of its flights for snacks that were once free.

Frontier plans to offer five or six snacks on most flights for $3 each. Passengers will still be able to get a beverage free, and Denver-Costa Rica flights will still include a complimentary breakfast sandwich.

Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas says all airlines are looking for ways to save money as fuel costs soar. He says Frontier needs to offset catering costs to keep ticket prices lower. Read more

Low-cost commercial airline flights to Las Vegas are coming to Monterey Peninsula Airport.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air begins introductory $49 one-way nonstop flights between the Central Coast airfield and Las Vegas on May 30. Allegiant flies 150-seat MD-80 airliners.

Flights depart Monterey at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. There are return 45-minute flights those days.

Introductory $49 fares end Sept. 1, when the one-way fares rise to $69.

Airport general manager Tom Greer says Monterey has been working more than a year to bring Allegiant Air to Monterey. Read more

Continental Airlines said Friday it will begin charging some passengers $25 to check a second bag in an effort to help offset rising fuel costs. via MSNBC

“There'll be less seats offered at really deep discounts.”

The abrupt shutdowns of ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines won't keep travelers off Hawaii's shores altogether, but they could make an already expensive vacation destination even pricier and potentially put the leis and luaus out of reach for many.

Flights to and from Hawaii had been a key part of ATA's business ever since the Indianapolis-based carrier scaled back its route network following a previous trip through bankruptcy in 2006.

On Thursday, the airline suddenly quit flying, leaving passengers on the islands and elsewhere stranded as it again headed for bankruptcy court. Virtually all the carrier's more than 2,200 employees were laid off. Aloha Airlines stopped passenger service just days earlier after also filing for bankruptcy. Read more

Troubled Italian airline Alitalia has annouced a new chairman after talks with Air France-KLM collapsed. via Reuters Video

“So far as we are aware B.A. have still failed to offer any explanation as to why her bag went missing at Terminal 5”

Naomi Campbell was arrested at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 on Thursday for allegedly spitting at a police officer, Sky News reported.

Police said a 37-year-old woman was arrested at the terminal on suspicion of assaulting police. The Metropolitan Police spokesman refused to identify the woman, or say whether the incident took place inside the terminal or aboard a plane. He spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with police policy.

BAA PLC, the company that runs Heathrow, didn't immediately return calls seeking comment. British Airways PLC, the terminal's sole occupant, referred questions to BAA and London police. Read more

Donna Hogan , Tribune ATA Airlines said Thursday it has ceased all operations. That includes two daily round-trip flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Hawaii destinations.

Northwest Airlines Corp. said Thursday it has raised prices on international flights and will freeze pilot hiring as fuel prices refuse to come down.

Federal Aviation Administration officials said Wednesday four airlines could face penalties for failure to meet required inspections and other infractions, as they fiercely defended the effectiveness of their ...

With Aloha Airlines no longer flying, Hawaiian Airlines has increased its daily seat capacity by 6,000.

Blaine Miyasato is Hawaiian's vice president of customer services.

He's told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin the airline has brought a spare wide-body Boeing 767 into service for an additional six daily trips to Maui.

Miyasato says it's also added a morning and evening rotation to its existing routes.

To fill its expanded schedule, Hawaiian announced it's looking to hire a dozen pilots, 35 flight attendants and seven mechanics. Read more

In this photo released by the Presidential Close-in Photographers Office, PCPO, Malacanang Palace in Manila, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, left, proposes a toast to President Tommy Remengasau, Jr. via HendersonvilleNews.com

An Austin hotel and Houston-based Continental Airlines were selected by a magazine as being especially pet-friendly companies. via KDBC

“We need a change of attitude at the highest level of the FAA”

Two whistle-blowers will be among the lead witnesses at a congressional hearing Thursday that will spotlight a 'culture of coziness' between the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines it regulates, the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure said Tuesday.

The hearing will delve into inspection lapses involving Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, but Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., said his committee's inquiry could also produce evidence of a more widespread pattern of regulatory abuses. Read more

“And that's going to mean planes grounded and probably going to mean more cancellations down the road for passengers.”

Emergency inspections are underway Wednesday morning on more than 50 United Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft.

United says during a review of maintenance records, inspectors discovered that tests were not performed on one of the five bottles in the planes' fire suppression system. That mistake was voluntarily reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, United said.

United officials said they are in the process of checking the fire suppression systems, which are regularly tested before each flight. Until the tests are complete, the planes will not fly, reported CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago. Read more

Passengers were removed quickly from a Delta Connection flight in Cincinnati this morning after the pilot declared an emergency while landing. via WLWT-TV Cincinnati

NEWARK, N.J. - Pilot error and airport night lighting conditions were both involved when a Continental Airlines plane landed on a taxiway instead of a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport in October ... via KSTP

Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland will have about eight million reasons to bail out of the struggling carrier this June.

His contract -- signed the day Northwest entered bankruptcy more than two years ago -- gives him an unusual one-month window to leave voluntarily and collect a special payment of at least $7.8 million. Steenland could get the same windfall if he leaves after a merger, but it's far from certain the carrier's talks with Delta Air Lines Inc. will lead to one.

Compensation experts said such lucrative escape clauses are an incentive to keep the CEO from leaving during the rough times. Others said CEOs whose companies go into bankruptcy shouldn't get that kind of reward. Read more

Delta Air Lines is imposing new or higher fees on a host of travelers, including frequent fliers, passengers traveling with pets and people booking their tickets over the phone.

The fee changes, which go into effect Tuesday, come as Delta and its competitors try to boost revenue to offset record fuel prices. Delta did not say how much revenue it expected from the fee changes, but the parent company of United Airlines said new luggage fees would generate more than $100 million annually. The industry has had mixed success with fare increases. Read more

“We're trhilled that United mechanics voted to join our union by such a large margtin”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union said Monday that United Airlines mechanics have voted 'overwhelmingly' to be represented by the Teamsters, rather than the independent Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

The Teamsters said that, according to a count by the National Mediation Board -- the federal agency which oversaw the United representation vote -- United mechanics voted 4,113 to 2,631 to have the Teamsters serve as their collective bargaining representative.

The Teamsters will become the representative of the Chicago airline's about 9,300 active and furloughed mechanics as soon as the board certified the vote. That will probably be done by Tuesday afternoon, the Teamsters said. Read more