2 Airlines Fined $300M Each for Price Fixing

British Airways and Korean Air socked with $300M fines in ongoing investigation

(NEWSER) - British Airways and Korean Air have agreed to plead guilty and pay $300 million each in criminal fines for engaging in massive conspiracies to fix the prices of passenger and cargo flights for the past six years, the US Justice Department said yesterday. BA will pony up another $247million fine to the UK government for discussing fuel surcharges with rival Virgin Atlantic Airways. More»

(NEWSER) - Air fares as low as $13 across the Atlantic are being promised as Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier, challenges the major players—British Airways and Virgin Atlantic—to a price war. Other budget airlines, like Southwest and JetBlue, are expected to jump into the fray, the London Times reports. More»

False alarm panics people on British Airways flight

(NEWSER) - It's 3am and you're snoozing on an overnight flight to London when a message plays over the PA: This plane may be about to crash. That's what happened to passengers on a British Airways flight from Miami last week, before the cabin crew told everyone it had just been a mistake, the Telegraph reports. "An alarm sounded and we were told we were about to land in the sea. I thought we were going to die," said a passenger. "My wife was crying and passengers were screaming." More»

Industry makes vow to UN ahead of Copenhagen summit

(NEWSER) - The airline industry is pledging to cut carbon emissions by 50% in 2050, reports the Guardian, in a reluctant concession meant to stave off more dramatic action—but one that will likely increase fares and trigger a race for new, greener technology. The plan will be presented at the UN today and will be on the agenda at the critical climate change summit in Copenhagen this December. Beyond the emissions promise, the airlines are pledging 100% carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and entry into a global carbon trading scheme by next year. More»

Docs blast 'nonsense' plan to keep ill off airplanes

(NEWSER) - British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will refuse to check in passengers with symptoms of swine flu unless they have doctors' notes saying they're healthy, reports the Times of London. Passengers with runny noses, headaches, or sore throats will be told not to board their flights. The new policy has outraged the British Medical Association, which calls the plans unworkable and "absolute nonsense." More»