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Wall Street Journal
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May 30, 08 7:15 AM CDT
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A proposed merger between United Airlines and US Airways is on hold again, the Wall Street Journal reports. United’s CEO told his US Airways counterpart that his airline is close to a deal with Continental, a merger that would be less costly and wouldn’t face as much antitrust scrutiny as a United-US Airways deal, the Journal notes. United’s revelation follows rejection from Continental last month.
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Portfolio
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May 29, 08 6:28 AM CDT
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American Airlines’ plan to charge passengers $15 to check a bag is likely to cost the carrier more money than it generates, Joe Brancatelli argues in Portfolio . “Not only will it infuriate flyers—who are already annoyed with American’s lousy operating efficiency and its recent maintenance snafus—it’s likely to further erode American’s on-time and baggage-handling rates,” he writes.
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Reuters
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May 29, 08 3:19 AM CDT
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A furious lawyer is suing Delta airlines for $1 million for turning a dream trip to Argentina for his mother's 80th birthday into a nightmare, Reuters reports. "Obnoxious and incompetent" airline staff refused to allow the man and his family onto a connecting flight from Atlanta, so it took them three days to get to Buenos Aires and another five to be reunited with their bags, according to the suit.
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Wall Street Journal
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May 28, 08 7:42 PM CDT
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The CEOs from United Airlines and US Airways will meet tomorrow to try to nudge ahead talks of a possible merger, the Wall Street Journal reports. If they make headway, the executives could present a possible deal to their respective boards in mid-June. The deal, in the works for two months but rumored to be in trouble recently, could easily fall through for a host of reasons, including the volatility of the industry over surging oil prices.
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New York Times
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May 28, 08 3:20 AM CDT
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A proposed merger between United Airlines and rival US Airways has collapsed, just a month after a deal between United and Continental fell apart. Some analysts predicted the rising cost of jet fuel would power merger deals, but the failed negotiations have raised serious questions about the success of future consolidation in the airline industry, reports the New York Times .
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Times (UK)
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May 26, 08 9:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Cash-strapped airlines are now being pressured to pay millions of dollars in advance for aviation fuel, reports the Times of London. Mandatory prepayment for fuel has become common in the US and is now moving to Europe as crude oil prices continue to rise and the solvency of the industry is uncertain. Jet fuel costs have soared 60% since January.
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Los Angeles Times
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May 24, 08 3:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Oil prices gushed for 5 years, but the US economy remained blissfully unaffected—until now, the Los Angeles Times reports. Rising gas prices have finally spooked consumers and sparked ominous news from two major airlines, Ford, and even memory card maker SanDisk. “The economic outlook has been taken hostage by the relentless surge in oil prices,” said one economist.
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Associated Press
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May 24, 08 11:05 AM CDT
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The big three US airlines responded to soaring oil prices by boosting most domestic prices by up to $60 roundtrip in the last few days, the AP reports. United led the way with increases from $10 to $60 Thursday; American and Delta followed suit yesterday. Meanwhile, low-cost AirTran raised its leisure tickets $30 and business tickets $50.
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Dallas Morning News
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May 23, 08 10:40 AM CDT
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The airline industry as we know it can’t function on $130-a-barrel oil, industry analysts are saying, and cost-cutting, ticket price increases, and bag-check fees won't make it viable. The Dallas Morning News looks at how hopeless it is for airlines to come anywhere near break-even at current costs, noting that an expert said last fall it couldn't be done at anything more than $80 a barrel.
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Daily Telegraph (UK)
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May 23, 08 7:05 AM CDT
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Jet lag can be beaten—if passengers avoid airline food, new research suggests. The timing of meals has a profound effect on the body's internal rhythms, and passengers who go without for a while—keeping the body's "food-related clock" in check—can dodge much of the exhausting effects of jet lag, reports the Daily Telegraph.
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New York Times
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May 21, 08 1:37 PM CDT
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Airfares are skyrocketing, but deals are still out there. The New York Times offers some pointers: Book directly with the airline. Sign up for private price cuts. Buy one ticket at a time. Make your computer do the work.
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Wall Street Journal
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May 21, 08 11:01 AM CDT
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American Airlines is cutting flights, jobs, and carrying capacity in its effort to withstand skyrocketing oil prices, the company announced today—and it's adding a $15 fee for some customers' first checked bag. US capacity could fall 12% as up to 85 planes are retired, the Wall Street Journal reports. The announcement sent airline stocks plummeting.
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New York Times
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May 21, 08 9:17 AM CDT
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Soaring fuel prices have prompted airlines to cut service—sometimes completely—to some 400 cities nationwide as carriers look for ways to maximize load and cut costs, reports the New York Times . Airlines reduced flights in May by 22,900 from a year ago, a 3% decline, and discontinued service to 30 cities. Analysts say there’s more to come.
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NPR
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May 18, 08 5:14 PM CDT
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With airlines charging more for extra bags, the trick is to fly light. A packing guru offers these tips for stuffing it all in one bag, NPR reports: Make a no-frills list, and stick to it (see onebag.com for ideas). Don't let any space go unused (stuff things into shoes, for example).
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Wall Street Journal
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May 16, 08 1:40 PM CDT
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The FAA is questioning American Airlines' new policy on lightning inspections, and its opener is: Why doesn’t American do them anymore? American recently forbade its mechanics from doing extensive lightning damage checks unless pilots suspected a strike, a move designed to reduce delays and cancellations. Big airlines are typically allowed to tweak safety standards, reports the Wall Street Journal.