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03/10/2010

European regulators say American Airlines, partners have offered to give up London flights
The European Commission said Wednesday that American Airlines Inc., British Airways and Iberia have offered to surrender enough slots at London’s Heathrow Airport to give competitors six additional flights a day to U.S. cities.

03/09/2010

As bag fees hit a max, new airline charges are taking off

FILE/AP

Industry experts say airline passengers are checking fewer bags – and carrying on more – to avoid fees.

Even as airlines have been losing billions of dollars a year, they've used the ancillary fees on a variety of services and products to lessen the damage, and baggage fees have paid off the most.
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Deals: Cheap flights from D/FW Airport and Love Field

Southwest Airlines looks at ways to add flights to New York
Speaking at a transportation conference in New York, Southwest CFO Laura Wright said the carrier wants more slots at the busy airport.

Continental CEO will cancel flights before fines

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Blog: Airline Biz

03/08/2010

American Airlines flight attendants to vote next month on strike
The union representing flight attendants at American Airlines Inc. has scheduled a vote next month to ask its members to authorize a strike against the carrier.

03/07/2010

Trash-talking erupts as U.S. airlines bid for open Tokyo routes
Five U.S. airlines have applied for the right to offer 11 flights a day from eight U.S. airports to Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, Asia's busiest airport.

03/05/2010

Storms cost Southwest Airlines $15M in February revenues

FILE/AP

Heavy snow blanketed Southwest Airlines jets at Dallas Love Field on Feb. 11. The biggest problems, though, were on the East Coast.

When snowstorms forced airport closings or limited operations, Dallas-based Southwest cancelled more flights than any other airline, according to FlightStats.com.
U.S. airlines feeling storms' impact
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Blog: Airline Biz

Heavy storms took toll on airline flights in February
U.S. airlines canceled nearly 38,000 flights in February, or about one in every 20 flights scheduled, as winter storms disrupted their flying.

03/04/2010

Continental Airlines to charge for extra legroom
Prices will vary depending on the length of a flight and popularity of the route. A spokeswoman said extra room on a Houston-New York flight might cost $59. International fliers would pay more than that.

American Airlines flight attendants may strike
After contract talks with American Airlines Inc. recessed without a deal Wednesday night, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said it will ask the National Mediation Board to start the legal process that could lead to a strike.

American Airlines' passenger traffic down, load factor up
American Airlines Inc. said Wednesday its passenger traffic dropped 2.2 percent in February, but a 4.2 percent decline in flying capacity helped it fill a greater percentage of its seats.

03/03/2010

Airline Biz blog: 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot Sullenberger retires from US Airways
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is retiring Wednesday.

British jets scrambled after disturbance on American Airlines flight from D/FW to London
Police say the Boeing 767 jet landed safely and a woman was arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

02/27/2010

Republic Airways orders 40 Bombardier jets with new Pratt & Whitney engines
Pratt & Whitney got a big win this week when Republic Airways Holdings Inc. ordered 40 Bombardier jets equipped with P&W's new-design jet engine.

Where are you going? Breaking the airport codes
We've all heard tales of passengers en route to Boston (BOS) having their suitcase end up in Bogota (BOG), or sunning on the sands of Daytona Beach (DAB) while their swimsuit and flip-flops languish in Dayton, Ohio (DAY). Is there a method to this three-letter madness? Yes – sort of, and, in some cases, not really.

Blog: Airline Biz

02/23/2010

Nearly a quarter of U.S. airline jobs vanished in decade, data show

FILE 2008/Bloomberg

The number of airline jobs has been shrinking for many reasons, experts say. Factors include the economy, fuel prices, productivity gains from technology and hassles at airports.

As the U.S. airline industry lost tens of billions of dollars over the past 10 years, it also lost a tremendous number of employees. Nearly one in every four U.S. airline jobs disappeared in the 10 years that ended Dec. 31, and the largest airlines were among the hardest hit, according to new data.

02/21/2010

Southwest adjusts schedule in bid to seek more connecting fliers
If Southwest Airlines Co. put up a stone tablet engraved with its operating philosophy, the top item might be: "We are a point-to-point airline."

02/20/2010

American flight attendants seek blanket-pillow sales talks; airline says it's not a contractual issue
American Airlines Inc. and its flight attendants' union are in a pillow fight.

02/19/2010

American Airlines' in-house repair policy is both boon and burden
The latest body blow came Thursday when a government watchdog issued a report that faulted American for longstanding maintenance deficiencies.

02/18/2010

FAA oversight of American Airlines criticized in report

FILE/DMN

An FAA review that looked at American's maintenance of its jets was criticized for being too narrow.

Federal regulators have failed to correct mounting and long-standing maintenance deficiencies at American Airlines despite receiving detailed complaints about the carrier’s problems, according to a federal investigative report released on Thursday.

02/17/2010

FAA hits American Eagle with $2.9 million fine
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $2.9 million civil fine against Fort Worth-based American Eagle Airlines over improper landing gear door repairs.

Transport Workers Union will seek release from mediation if early March talks with American Airlines fail
The Transport Workers Union said Wednesday it will ask the National Mediation Board to release it from mediation if it doesn't get a deal in the next round of contract talks with American Airlines .

02/16/2010

American Airlines to resume service to Haiti
American Airlines and American Eagle will return to Haiti on Friday, about 7½ weeks after the massive earthquake hit the Caribbean nation. American said its flights would be the first commercial flights back into Haiti.

02/15/2010

Airline Biz blog: Director Kevin Smith says he passed armrest test on Southwest Airlines flight
Director Kevin Smith says that he actually passed the carrier's test on whether a "person of size" gets to stay in his seat and not have to buy 2 tickets.

American Airlines enjoys double dose of good news
A week ago, American Airlines Inc. faced a lot of doubt about its airline alliance across both the Pacific and the Atlantic.

02/12/2010

American Airlines, Japan Airlines file request for antitrust immunity
American Airlines Inc. and Japan Airlines Corp. asked regulators Friday to grant them antitrust immunity so they can work more closely together on U.S.-Asia flights.

U.S. airlines report their best on-time record in six years

FILE/Getty Images

Southwest finished first among major carriers in 2009 for arriving on time or within 14 minutes of schedule.

Southwest, which saw 83 percent of its flights arrive within 14 minutes, edged out Alaska Airlines, with 82.9 percent on time, in the U.S. Department of Transportation report.
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Blog: Airline Biz

02/11/2010

Airline Biz blog: American Airlines pays out $10.3 million in Q4 performance bonuses
American Airlines said Friday it is handing out $10.3 million to 70,000 of its employees as reward for improving customer service in fourth quarter 2009.