Fierce competition and rising fuel costs push carrier over the edge
Honolulu Advertiser Mar 31, 08 7:11 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Unable to find a buyer and running out of cash, Hawaii’s ubiquitous Aloha Airlines is shutting down operations after today, idling 1,900 workers and ending more than six decades of island-hopping and transpacific flights, the Honolulu Advertiser reports. The airline filed for bankruptcy March 20 because of rising fuel prices and fierce competition from startup go! airlines.
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Buys pre-assembly plant that caused serious delays
Chicago Tribune Mar 29, 08 1:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Seeking to stem mounting delays in the production of its breakthrough 787 jetliner, Boeing is getting more involved in the early steps of the assembly process, the Chicago Tribune reports. Boeing said yesterday it will buy out a partner's share of a South Carolina plant that assembles two rear sections of the Dreamliner's fuselage, allowing them to get the company's assembly line and 300 workers back on track.
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Following American's shutdown, voluntary inspections ground older planes
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mar 27, 08 9:52 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Delta Airlines canceled dozens of flights today and tomorrow after voluntarily grounding 133 of its older jets for inspections, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. As with American Airlines, Delta is checking wiring on some McDonnell-Douglas jets to ensure compliance with FAA directives. "It's an inconvenience," one traveler said, "but I'd rather be on a safe airplane."
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Service awaits nod from EU aviation safety boards
Reuters Mar 26, 08 5:58 PM CDT
(Newser)
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British air travelers may soon be able to use their cell phones while in flight, Reuters reports. UK telecom regulator Ofcom approved airline proposals to offer mobile service, pending assent by the European aviation safety authorities. Passengers would be able to make calls once the aircraft was in the air by connecting their phones to a base station in their seats.
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Dozens of planes grounded to check out wiring issue
Chicago Tribune Mar 26, 08 10:25 AM CDT
(Newser)
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American Airlines canceled 171 flights today, benching almost its entire fleet of Boeing MD-80 twinjet aircrafts, the Chicago Tribune reports. American said it was inspecting how a “certain bundle of wires” was attached to ensure it complied with an FAA directive. But American said the grounding was voluntary, not FAA-mandated. The planes will be brought back into service throughout the day.
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Federal deregulation law takes precedence
Bloomberg Mar 25, 08 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A New York law, known as the airline “passenger bill of rights,” was rejected today by a US appeals court, Bloomberg reports. The measure required airlines to provide food and water when their delayed plane has sat on the tarmac for more than three hours. The court said it was pre-empted by a 1978 statute to decrease federal regulation of airlines.
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Major US carriers downgrade as hard times loom
Christian Science Monitor Mar 20, 08 4:02 AM CDT
(Newser)
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America's major airlines are getting ready for tougher times ahead, slashing jobs and cutting back operations. As the Christian Science Monitor reports, soaring fuel prices will inevitably lead to higher ticket prices, which will lead to less passengers—which, in turn, will force airlines to hike fares again to cover flying costs. "The party's over, particularly for leisure travelers," one industry analyst said.
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PC World takes a look at getting connected in the air
PC World Mar 18, 08 2:42 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Travelers who want to stay connected while they're on the move get an assist from PC World , which finds that some airlines and airports are soaring ahead in the technology stakes while others are stuck on the runway. Virgin America leads the way, with a power port in every seat, in-flight WiFi rolling out this year, high-tech entertainment, and an on-board system that lets you IM other passengers—or order a meal.
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Struggling Italian carrier sells for 81% below market value
BBC Mar 17, 08 3:07 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Embattled Italian airline Alitalia has accepted a severely discounted buyout from Air France, the BBC reports. The $1.17-billion deal, which includes both the airline and its debt, sees Air France take over the Italian carrier at 81% below company's current share price. Alitalia has been in the red for the past five years, and failed to find a buyer at auction last year.
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Thanks to Virgin America, ticket prices dip as fuel prices soar
Los Angeles Times Mar 3, 08 11:25 AM CST
(Newser)
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Even as fuel prices soar, Los Angeles airline passengers are enjoying an old-fashioned fare war sparked by newcomer Virgin America, the LA Times reports. Sir Richard Branson's brainchild has drawn United, Alaska, Southwest, and even longtime LAX holdout JetBlue into a feud that's seen one-way fares as low as $44. "We've become a hotbed of competition," says an airport exec.
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So far, proposals skirting key Delta concerns
Wall Street Journal Feb 27, 08 3:13 AM CST
(Newser)
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An airline merger isn't going to take off until Northwest comes up with a proposal that addresses Delta's concerns, according to Delta executives. So far, offers haven't jelled with Delta priorities, including maintaining employee seniority rankings, according to a Delta memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal . Delta plans to continue with its "stand-alone" plan until it sees a “potential transaction that meets all our principles,” the company’s CEO and CFO wrote.
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Longtime customer weighs defecting from Boeing to Airbus
Reuters Feb 22, 08 7:23 PM CST
(Newser)
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Japan Airlines may abandon its plan to stock up on Boeing Dreamliners because of tie-ups in production of the new 787, Reuters reports. The carrier, a loyal Boeing customer, planned to buy 55 Dreamliners, but the delivery date has slipped again, to early 2009. Now JAL is checking out the Airbus A350 XWB, which would allow it to offset fuel costs by flying more midsize planes.
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