Delta Delays Comair Sale

Skies unfriendlier than ever

(NEWSER) - Airline passengers on domestic flights are unhappier than they've been in years, with consumer complaints up 60%, according to the annual Airline Quality Rating survey. Long delays, cancellations, overbooking, late arrivals, and lost baggage accounted for most of the complaints, which haven't been this bad since 2000, reports the AP. Complaints doubled on US Airways and Comair, and increased for 15 out of 16 carriers in the study. The sole exception was Mesa Airlines. More»

Delta-Northwest deal likely to spark more consolidation

(NEWSER) - The Delta-Northwest merger will create the world's biggest airline—but that title could fall before the ink is even dry on the deal as industry pressures force other carriers into shotgun weddings, the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysts believe United and Continental would be a good match and a deal between the two is widely expected, possibly in a matter of weeks. More»

Everyone has their travel hell story, but which airlines are the true villains?

(NEWSER) - Lost luggage, canceled flights and appalling delays seem to be par for the course in air travel these days. But some airlines are worse than others. Forbes provides the hit list:

1. Atlantic Southeast Airlines
2. Comair (a division of Delta Air Lines)
3. American Eagle Airlines (a division of American Airlines)

Aims to shave jet fuel costs in unprecedented deal

(NEWSER) - Delta Air Lines is pocketing a Pennsylvania oil refinery in an industry-first move to clip its ever-burgeoning jet fuel costs, which soared to $12 billion last year. The $150 million deal—about the cost of a new jetliner, notes Reuters —is set to satisfy 80% of the airline's US fuel needs, while simultaneously saving it $300 million a year. Delta will also sink $100 million into upgrades at the idled ConocoPhillips plant in Trainer, Pa., so that it can better refine jet fuel. 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»