[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[an error occurred while processing this directive] 09/05/2008

FAA audit finds airlines in 98% compliance with safety directives

American Airlines grounded its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80s in April.

FILE/Getty Images

American Airlines grounded its fleet of MD-80s in April to comply with FAA directives.

The audit was prompted by several embarrassing revelations for the FAA, including the March revelation that Southwest Airlines had continued to fly planes that should have been grounded until the aircrafts' outer skin had been inspected for cracking.

Blog: Airline Biz

Continental Airlines to charge $15 for 1st checked bag
In doing so, Continental joins American Airlines, which implemented the fee in June, and several other carriers who have since added it.

DFW Airport may get more international flights if alliance OK'd
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport may get more flights to London and a new nonstop flight to Madrid if regulators approve a proposed alliance of American Airlines Inc., British Airways PLC, Iberia and other carriers, a D/FW official suggested Thursday.

09/04/2008

Southwest Airlines' August traffic falls 5.2%
The Dallas-based carrier said it filled 74.6 percent of its seats with paying passengers last month, down 5.4 percentage points from August 2007.

09/03/2008

American Airlines sends layoff notices to 469 workers
Continuing its cutbacks planned for this fall, American Airlines Inc. has sent notices to 469 employees at five U.S. airports warning that they could lose their jobs around Nov. 1.

Airlines' July on-time performance improves
Fort Worth-based American Airlines, which had the worst on-time performance in June, was fourth from the bottom in July, at 69.51 percent. Dallas-based Southwest had the third-best overall performance.

Trade group now expects airlines to lose $5.2 billion in 2008

Revised predictions are based on estimates that crude oil will average $113 per barrel and that jet fuel will average $140 a barrel in 2008.

The International Air Transport Association, warning of a worsening situation for the world's airlines, more than doubled its estimate of industry losses for 2008. Almost all the losses will come in North America.
Graphic: Fees for fliers
Airlines' July on-time performance improves
Blog: Airline Biz

American Airlines reports filling fewer seats

American Airlines Inc. said Wednesday that it filled 83.5 percent of its seats on its August flights, down 1.5 percentage points compared with August 2007.

09/01/2008

American Eagle flights to Chicago from Love Field filling more seats
For American Airlines Inc. and regional partner American Eagle, the fifth try from Dallas Love Field may be the charm.

09/02/2008

Major airlines, including American Airlines, begin flight cutbacks
Fewer flights will be available to U.S. travelers this month as airlines begin trimming their schedules to cope with high fuel costs and growing losses. But the real hit won't occur until November and December, as major carriers make the deep cuts in capacity that they've been promising.

08/29/2008

American Airlines wants to delay new Chicago-Beijing route to 2010
American blamed “extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry.”

American Airlines unions plan joint approach to talks

FILE/AP

All three American Airlines unions are in negotiations for new contracts.

Leaders of the Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union said the employees deserve to get better pay, benefits and working conditions.
American Airlines alliance faces EU probe
Blog: Airline Biz

American Airlines alliance faces EU probe
The European Commission will investigate a revenue-sharing deal between British Airways PLC, American Airlines and Spain's Iberia SA to see whether the pact among the three airlines violates competition rules, an EU spokesman said Friday.

08/28/2008

One small hitch for FAA, one giant mess for fliers
When a computer system that distributes flight plans nationwide came rolling to a halt this week because of a software glitch, so did airplanes on tarmacs from Orlando to Chicago. The ensuing delays drove home just how easily an apparently isolated problem can trigger network-wide disarray in the country's aging air traffic control system

08/26/2008

Southwest Airlines to miss FAA deadline to pay $10.2M fine
Southwest Airlines Co. said Tuesday it has told the Federal Aviation Administration that it doesn't intend to meet Friday's deadline to pay a $10.2 million fine for operating jets that required fuselage inspections.

Woman's underwire bra sets off security alarm at Oakland airport
When Nancy Kates arrived at Oakland International Airport to board JetBlue flight 472, she thought she was heading off on a routine journey to visit her mother in Boston. Instead she ended up in a standoff with Transportation Safety Administration officials over her bra.

FAA: Data network failure causing flight delays
A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman said there are no safety issues and officials are still able to speak to pilots on planes on the ground and in the air.

Airline Biz blog

Link: Check your flight

08/25/2008

Southwest Airlines to cut 190 flights in winter schedule
Southwest Airlines Co. will cut nearly 200 flights throughout its system and add only six as it implements its winter schedule Jan. 11.

08/24/2008

Passengers will see more compensation for involuntary bumps on oversold flights
Airlines are set to shrink their fleets this fall. And airlines are required to offer richer rewards – twice the amount of money they used to pay out – for passengers bumped from a flight.

American Airlines' parent may sell up to $300 million in new shares
The company, which has been hit by surging fuel costs, said it may use the proceeds to repay debt or to help purchase aircraft.

08/23/2008

A traveler's guide to DFW airport

G.L. McCARTHY/DMN

Just below a highway airport sign, a jet can be seen landing at D/FW International Airport.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports. With its five terminals, D/FW can be intimidating and challenging. So take a deep breath and relax, using our airport guide to maps, parking, security screening, Skylink transit, shopping, food and more.

Photos

Maps

08/22/2008

Delta doesn't like American's antitrust immunity request
Delta Air Lines Inc.'s chief executive said Friday that the carrier will fight antitrust immunity for American Airlines Inc.'s proposed hookup with British Airways PLC and Iberia unless other airlines get more landing rights at London's busy Heathrow Airport.

08/19/2008

American Airlines launches in-flight broadband service

SUZANNE MARTA/DMN

American Airlines launched its GoGo in-flight broadband service on Wednesday. For $12.95 per flight, passengers can get online from the air.

For $12.95 per flight, passengers on AA flights using its Boeing 767-200 will be able to surf the Net, check e-mail, instant message and access corporate VPN accounts using the system by Aircell LLC.
Blog: Aviation Biz

Continental Airlines will furlough up to 180 pilots
The furloughs are part of about 3,000 jobs cuts that Continental expects.

08/18/2008

Labor Day air travel forecast to fall 5.7%
High fuel costs, rising airfares and cuts to airline schedules are taking a toll on travelers.

08/15/2008

More airlines waive 3rd bag fees for military
When it comes to fees for a third checked bag-- several airlines have had a change of heart when it comes ot the military.

Southwest Airlines names chief technology officer
Bob Young, who worked most recently for an electronics company, will lead Southwest's infrastructure teams.

08/14/2008

American Airlines faces $7.1M in fines for safety violations

American’s fine doesn’t stem from maintenance-related groundings that occurred in April.

FILE/Getty Images

American Airlines' fine doesn’t stem from maintenance-related groundings that occurred in April.

Federal regulators have proposed $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines for a string of violations that include deferring maintenance and violations of employee drug-testing rules.
Blog: Airline Biz

American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia form alliance
The three airlines add that they plan to file for worldwide antitrust immunity from U.S. authorities later Thursday. They will also notify European regulatory authorities.

Engine access panel falls off Qantas flight
An engine access panel fell off a Qantas Airways jumbo jet en route to Singapore from Melbourne, Australia, on Friday, the latest in a string of incidents for the airline.

08/13/2008

American Airlines orders 6 more 737s
American said the deal is part of an amendment under its purchase agreement with Boeing, in which the airline exercised its right to buy 20 737-800s for delivery in 2009 and 2010.

American Airlines to waive 3rd bag fee for military personnel

The move comes after several days of negative attention following news reports about a soldier who was charged $100 for his extra bag. The waiver applies to servicemen and women on active duty.
Tell us: What do you think of American's decision
Blog: Airline Biz

American shifting some work from Kansas City base to Tulsa
American Airlines Inc. plans to shift a significant portion of the work being done at its Kansas City overhaul base to Tulsa, Okla.

American Airlines' pilots union backs dispatchers

08/12/2008

VFW wants airlines to waive 3rd bag fee for military members
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is asking the trade group representing the nation's major airlines to encourage its members to waive fees for a third piece of luggage checked by servicemen and women.

Qantas grounds 6 planes to check maintenance files
Australia's airline safety body said Wednesday it would expand its investigation of Qantas after the company announced it temporarily pulled six aircraft from service because of irregularities in maintenance records.

American Airlines to test inflight broadband
American Airlines Inc. is preparing to conduct a second dress rehearsal of its inflight broadband service this week.

08/11/2008

Pilots say fuel restrictions could put passengers at risk
Pilots are complaining that their airline bosses, desperate to cut costs, are forcing them to fly uncomfortably low on fuel. Safety for passengers and crews could be compromised, they say.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]