Delta Flies Out of Bankruptcy

Airline will emerge from bankruptcy with fewer workers

(AP) - The parent of American Airlines wants to eliminate about 13,000 jobs—15% of its workforce—as the third-biggest US airline remakes itself under bankruptcy protection. The company aims to cut labor costs by 20%, and will soon begin negotiations with its three major unions. AMR Corp. CEO Thomas W. Horton said today that the company hopes to return to profitability by cutting spending by more than $2 billion per year and raising revenue by $1 billion per year. More»

US Airways, Delta in the running

(NEWSER) - Fellow airlines and a private-equity firm are considering buying American Airlines' parent company, which filed for bankruptcy just months ago . Though AMR has struggled in recent years—American hasn't turned a profit since 2007—its decades-old airline holds the No. 3 position among US carriers by traffic. A merger with Delta or US Airways would further shrink the number of major national airlines: There are currently just five, about a third of the number that existed some 20 years ago, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Find tickets, new flights, even lounges

(NEWSER) - Every air traveler armed with a smartphone should load up on these five apps, says the Travel section of USA Today:

• SkyScanner (Free): This app will hunt down the best price for your ticket. It scans not only all of the airlines' websites but all of the online travel agencies (Expedia, Priceline) as well.
• Next Flight ($2.99): Yeah, it's relatively pricey, but worth the cost when needed. If your flight is canceled or delayed, or you just plain miss it, the app provides a list of all available flights from all carriers over the next two days. If none are there, it searches for hotels and car rentals.
• Priority Pass (Free): This app supplies a list of all the lounges at your airport. You can look through photos and amenities before deciding whether to shell out money for a pass.

Parent firm says voluntary move best choice for firm

(AP) - American Airlines and American Eagle's parent companies are filing for bankruptcy protection. AMR Corp. and AMR Eagle Holding Corp. said today that they filed voluntary petitions to reorganize, saying it's in the best interest of the companies and its shareholders. American says it sought protection to reduce its costs and debt to remain competitive in the airline industry. American was the only major US airline that didn't file for bankruptcy protection after the 2001 terrorist attacks. American says labor-contract rules force it to spend at least $600 million more than other airlines. Fox News adds that rising jet fuel costs also contributed to the airline's massive debt. More»

Fellow passenger took photo of laptop to alert cops

(NEWSER) - An engineering professor from the University of Utah was busted on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City on Saturday after a fellow passenger sent a message to alert police that he was viewing child pornography on his laptop, according to investigators. A passenger behind Grant Smith in the first-class section took a photo of what appeared on Grant's computer, and emailed it to a relative with a message to contact police, reports the Boston Globe . Grant was arrested at Logan Airport in Boston, and investigators found "disturbing images of child pornography" on his computer, said a police spokesman. He has been charged with possession of child porn and will be arraigned today. He has already been placed on administrative leave by the university. More»