07/05/2008

Waiting to buy winter airfare is a gamble
Airfare increases and capacity cuts by the nation's airlines have left would-be winter holiday travelers with a troubling dilemma.

07/04/2008

Waiting to buy winter airfare is a gamble, experts say
Airfare increases and capacity cuts by the nation's airlines have left would-be winter holiday travelers with a troubling dilemma.

07/03/2008

D/FW Airport expects fewer passengers next year
With airlines nationwide cutting back on flights this fall, officials said Thursday that they expect passenger totals at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to drop to 54.1 million next year.

Virgin Atlantic objects to American Airlines alliance
An alliance between British Airways PLC, American Airlines and Iberia SA should be blocked, competitor Virgin Atlantic Ltd. said on Thursday, amid reports the trio are close to applying for U.S. antitrust immunity to form a trans-Atlantic joint venture.

07/02/2008

American Airlines' parent AMR to cut 6,500 or more jobs

LARA SOLT/DMN

American Airlines may furlough 900 flight attendants as of Aug. 31.

AMR Corp. will shrink to its smallest workforce in two decades by reducing its headcount by 6,500 or more jobs by year's end. The 8 percent cut in jobs will leave AMR, parent of American Airlines Inc., with fewer than 80,000 jobs, a level it hasn't seen since 1988.
Blog: Airline Biz

Dallas Love Field federal security director leaving
Mr. Dodson, who took the position at Love Field a year ago, previously spent 29 years working for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's public safety department.

Report: FAA hasn't done enough to ensure safety concerns are investigated
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general recommended Wednesday that regulators establish an independent watchdog within the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate inspectors’ safety concerns.

American Airlines parent to take $1.1B-$1.2B charge for aircraft

FILE/DMN

American Airlines plans to park 40 to 45 jets later this year, the majority from its fleet of 300 MD-80s.

AMR will write down the value of its smallest regional jets and its aging fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft in the second quarter. AMR said it will also incur severance-related expenses of $70 million as it cuts its workforce by about 8 percent.
American Airlines may lay off 900 flight attendants in August

Southwest Airlines, Continental see emptier planes in June
Southwest Airlines Co. and Continental Airlines Co. are both reporting more empty seats in June, the first full month of the summer season, than they recorded in June 2007.

06/30/2008

Airlines to crack down on oversize carry-ons
Checked bags are now a moneymaker for US Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines, and officials say they're going to keep a closer watch on how much you take on board as they begin their new baggage fees.

Airlines have lost much of their market value
Over the past year, the combined market capitalization – the price of a share of stock multiplied by the number of shares outstanding – of the 10 largest airlines has plummeted 57 percent, losing $23.5 billion in value.

06/27/2008

Delta Air Lines to add fuel surcharge to frequent-flier awards
Delta announced Friday it will begin adding a fuel surcharge of $25 for free frequent-flier tickets in the United States and Canada and $50 to all international destinations except Canada.

Transportation Department launches probe into FAA oversight
The department said its probe will examine the FAA's system for reviewing flight risk, its air carrier compliance measures and its oversight of maintenance practices.

American Airlines, flight attendants end efforts for a quick deal
American Airlines Inc. and its flight attendants’ union ended their attempt to negotiate a short-term contract extension Thursday night, and now will start regular negotiations later this summer, the two sides said Friday.

06/26/2008

Airlines pay $504M to settle price-fixing scam
Four international airlines have agreed to pay $504 million in fines to settle charges they conspired to fleece consumers by driving up cargo shipping prices.

Denver wins big in Southwest Airlines' schedule changes
Dallas Love Field is not scheduled to pick up or lose any flights in the new schedule. The big winner is Denver, where Southwest intends to add 22 flights to 13 cities while cutting two flights in two other cities, for a net increase of 20 flights in November.

American Airlines to reduce management, support ranks 8%

FILE/AP

American Airlines announced May 21 that it was reducing its flying in response to skyrocketing prices for jet fuel.

Each department will be able to decide whether to offer ways to reduce its payroll costs 8 percent without involuntary layoffs. An American Airlines spokesman declined to put a number on the actual number of jobs to be cut.
Airline Biz blog

06/25/2008

American Airlines to cut 42 flights at DFW Airport

FILE/DMN

American will eliminate 19 flights at D/FW Airport and American Eagle will cut 23 flights.

The Fort Worth-based airline also announced plans to reduce flying at its other hubs and major airports in November. American and many other U.S. airlines have announced plans to reduce flying capacity in response to soaring jet fuel prices.
Airline Biz blog

06/24/2008

FAA manager blamed in inspection lapses at Southwest Airlines retires
A Federal Aviation Administration manager in North Texas who was blamed for allowing Southwest Airlines to skirt safety regulations has retired from the agency, FAA officials said Tuesday.

Delta, Northwest Airlines pilots agree on joint contract
Delta Air Lines said Tuesday it has reached an agreement for a joint contract with the Air Line Pilots Association at both Delta and Northwest Airlines. The deal will go into effect if the two airlines merge as planned.

American Airlines to begin testing inflight broadband
The Fort Worth-based carrier and technology provider Aircell LLC said Tuesday that they are planning a dress rehearsal of the service on a round trip flight between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles.

06/22/2008

Airlines to cut supply of seats to force fare prices up
Faced with a looming financial disaster, the U.S. airline industry is boning up on an Economics 101 principle for its salvation: supply and demand.

06/20/2008

Comparing costs: Airlines' private lounges may be worth it

Northwest Airlines'

Northwest Airlines' WorldClub

Once the bastion of dealmakers and constant fliers, airlines' private lounges now afford even casual travelers a wealth of perks often worth the annual cost. Here's a comparison of seven airlines' private clubs.
Photos

06/19/2008

Continental Airlines opts to join alliance with United Airlines

FILE/Getty Images

Continental had rejected overtures from United for a merger, but said at the time that it was reviewing its alliances.

Continental Airlines, which had been talking to American Airlines and British Airways about joining their Oneworld alliance, announced Thursday that it will join the Star Alliance and develop stronger ties with United Airlines instead.
Airline Biz blog

06/18/2008

Airlines say price hikes are waiting in wings amid soaring fuel costs
Executives from the nation's biggest airlines bravely told investors Wednesday that their companies are making the adjustments necessary to survive the highest jet fuel prices they've ever faced.

American Airlines, Delta to add flights from New York to Buenos Aires
In its ruling, the DOT gave Delta and American a Dec. 28 deadline to begin their service, based on their application that they wanted to begin offering the flights on or before Dec. 18.

Delta Air Lines to cut U.S. flying by 13 percent for rest of 2008
Delta in March had announced a 10 percent reduction on its North American routes for the last six months, but said deeper cuts were needed to counter rising fuel costs.

American Airlines parent expects over 50% jump in fuel costs

Getty Images

American Airlines' projection for fuel costs soared even though it now expects to buy 115 million fewer gallons of jet fuel than it did in late March.

Gerard Arpey said the company is pushing up fares and fees and cutting costs as quickly as possible to close the gap between its revenues and expenses.
Delta Air Lines to cut U.S. flying by 13% for rest of 2008
Continental Airlines studying first-bag fee
Southwest Airlines will grow little or none in 2009
Airline Biz blog

Southwest Airlines will grow little or none in 2009, CEO says

Getty Images

Southwest Airlines will do what it has to do to respond to rising jet fuel prices, CEO Gary Kelly said.

Southwest Airlines has slowed its growth this year to about 4 percent, chairman and chief executive officer Gary Kelly said at a conference Wednesday. The Dallas-based carrier is also unlikely to consider acquiring another airline now because of the high cost of fuel, he said.
Airline Biz blog

Report: Many air traffic controllers at DFW Airport lack experience
Many of the controllers who guide flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Houston's William P. Hobby Airport are recent hires with little training, the Government Accountability Office said in a report issued last week.

06/17/2008

Airline Biz blog: American Airlines jet gets bumped by a truck
An unmanned American Airlines maintenance truck rolled into the wing of a jet at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Monday, the Fort Worth-based airline said.

Satisfaction with airlines falls in J.D. Power survey
Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines earned three stars each.

06/16/2008

Flight caps departing O'Hare
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is removing flight caps at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, saying new runways will reduce congestion at the nation's second-busiest airport.

Southwest Airlines flight from Austin evacuated after fire
A Southwest Airlines flight landed at Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday with flames coming from a wheel in its right rear landing gear.

American Airlines' $15 bag fee takes effect
Under Fort Worth-based American's plan, many domestic passengers will now have to pay $15 each way for the first piece of checked luggage.

06/13/2008

Analyst: Air fares could double if oil prices keep rising

Airlines may have to double fares this year if crude oil prices rise above $150, industry analyst Michael Boyd warned Friday. Ticket prices will need to jump 80 percent to 100 percent to cover the airlines' jet fuel if oil prices go that high, he said.
More airlines to charge for soda, checked baggage
Blog: Airline Biz

American Airlines wants to boost New York-Buenos Aires flights
American Airlines applied Friday for the right to fly five more flights a week from New York's Kennedy International Airport to Buenos Aires, to go with its current single daily flight.

Airline Biz blog: Terry Maxon checks out body-imaging machine at D/FW Airport
I visited Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Friday morning to look at the new "Millimeter Wave Whole Body Imaging technology," or body scanner for short.

06/12/2008

New security scan at DFW Airport has privacy advocates worried

L-3 Communications Holdings Inc.

The millimeter wave machine uses two antennas that project electromagnetic waves over a person's body to construct a 3-dimensional image within 2 seconds.

The Transportation Security Administration has been quietly testing two "millimeter wave whole body imaging" machines – elevator-sized screening devices that reveal what's underneath travelers' clothes.
Link: See how it works
Tell us: What do you think about the technology?
Airline Biz blog: Screening Q&A

US Airways to charge $2 for soda

The free can of soda has withstood every attempt by major U.S. airlines to squeeze more money out of passengers. But no more.

Southwest Airlines not yet reserving seats past October
While you can make a reservation on most other carriers for travel next spring, Southwest hasn't yet posted a schedule for the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

06/10/2008

FAA whistle-blowers to receive award, but safety issues linger, they say
The congressional investigation into regulators' flawed oversight of Southwest Airlines has prompted a record number of complaints from other whistle-blowers reporting similar problems, officials said Wednesday.

06/09/2008

American Airlines' $20 fare increase doesn't stick
American Airlines tried to raise fares on domestic routes $20 round trip, but gave up on the effort Monday afternoon.

06/08/2008

Fuel costs may ground more airlines
It's certain that the summer of 2008 won't be pretty for the airline industry: higher fares and fees for customers, more red ink for the airlines.

06/09/2008

Airfare hikes spur use of frequent-flier miles
Some summer vacation travelers may have sticker shock if they've looked at airfares lately, and those higher prices are prompting more consumers to try to cash in frequent flier miles.

Engine failure over Texas convinces woman never to fly again
It only a few moments on American Airlines Flight 1853 on Friday convinced Katherine McGinniss to never again fly the skies.

06/10/2008

'Dear American Airlines' by Jonathan Miles: baring one's soul during a layover at O'Hare
From a marketing standpoint, Jonathan Miles' novel Dear American Airlines is a brilliant conception. In an era of often-frustrating travel, a book in the form of a complaint letter to an airline ought to appeal to readers with enough money to buy tickets, which means they also have enough money to buy the novel. Furthermore, the book is brief enough to read during a long wait at an airport.