Trains, Planes & Autos

(Newser) - Merger talks between Delta and Northwest appear to be headed for a hard landing after pilots for the carriers called off their own negotiations over seniority issues, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The airlines boards will meet this week to decide whether the merger should go forward, but Delta's CEO is on record saying it hinges on the pilots' agreement. More »

(Newser) - Italian automaker Alfa Romeo is ready for a second run at the US market, hoping to provide a stylish alternative to BMWs and Audis, the Los Angeles Times reports. A cultural icon in Italy, Alfa failed to win over Americans in the past—and is now sparking skepticism from auto experts. “Do we really need another marque?” asked one automotive writer. More »

(Newser) - Southwest Airlines grounded 44 planes today after having admitted to flying aircraft that were past due for inspections for structural cracks, the AP reports. The FAA fined Southwest $10.2 million—the largest ever levied on an airline—but the agency itself is under fire for not grounding the jets last year after it learned of the missed inspections. More »

(Newser) - A quick nosedive by a Delta pilot narrowly averted a mid-air collision of two passenger planes over Pittsburgh this morning, after an air traffic control trainee told a Delta pilot to turn into another jet’s path. The planes, carrying 120 passengers between them, missed each other by a scant 400 feet. The second pilot, flying for PSA, also took evasive action. More »

(Newser) - Southwest Airlines faces at least $3 million in fines sought by the FAA for failing to inspect 46 older Boeing 737-300 jets for structural flaws identified in a 2004 safety directive, reports the Wall Street Journal. The expected penalty would be the largest imposed on an airline in 20 years. When the planes were finally inspected last spring, six had cracks up to 4 inches long in the fuselage. More »

(Newser) - Green was the color of opening day yesterday at the International Auto Salon in Geneva, another show full of hybrids and other low-emission vehicles, with green lighting and nature-friendly slogans to prove car companies care, Der Spiegel reports. Still, cautions General Motors' CEO to those set to pronounce the gasoline era dead, "We're just at the beginning of this changeover." More »

(Newser) - A tumbling US economy hit Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and Toyota today as all four posted declining sales for last month, Bloomberg reports. Chrysler fell 14% as Ford dropped nearly 7% and GM suffered almost a 20% drop in light truck sales. "Primarily it's driven by the weak economy,'' one analyst said. "It's been difficult for people to refinance and get credit.'' More »

(Newser) - 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. More »

(Newser) - The 2009 Nissan Murano snagged the best safety rating out of 10 midsize SUVs in industry-run crash tests, the Detroit Free Press reports. The Murano was the only one to receive the top "good" rating in front, side, and rear crashes. The Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, and the Mitsubishi Endeavour also fared well overall but missed out on the top ranking for not offering enough protection against whiplash. More »

(Newser) - 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. More »

(Newser) - Northwest and Delta merger talks are stuck on the runway today, as  pilots continue talks on a deal to combine their workforces, AP reports. Representatives for the 12,000 pilots are hung up on issues of seniority, insiders said; directors of the airlines hoping to announce their $20-billion merger plans today are waiting for a breakthrough. The pilots unions have agreed on a joint contract, but seniority lists are crucial to determine rankings for benefits. More »

(Newser) - Directors at Delta and Northwest meeting tomorrow could announce a marriage of the two airlines by day’s end if a crucial deal with the airlines’ 11,000 unionized pilots can be reached, reports the Wall Street Journal. The resulting company would be the largest airline in the world, and would almost certainly face tough scrutiny from regulators. More »

(Newser) - Amtrak is stepping up security, with random screening of carry-on bags and security teams packing machine guns and leading bomb-sniffing dogs patrolling platforms and trains, reports AP. The new system, beginning this week, echoes stricter security procedures at the nation's airports. Amtrak insists there should be no additional departure delays . More »

(Newser) - A scared black kitten lost in the New York City Subway system more than three weeks ago has been found safe and well. Georgia escaped from a carrying case 25 days ago and scampered into a subway station to survive passing trains, the electrified third rail and some of Manhattan's meanest rats, among other hazards. Two subway workers with Georgia on their mind found her by repeatedly meowing, reports the New York Daily News. More »

(Newser) - He vanished on a routine flight five months ago, and now daredevil Steve Fossett has been declared dead at the age of 63, the AP reports. The famous world record breaker was last seen flying a small plane over western Nevada where 15-20 private planes have disappeared since 1950. The first man to circle the world solo in a hot air balloon, Fossett aspired to "be the best in everything." More »

(Newser) - The airline industry is bracing for what would be a mammoth double wedding, as merger talks between Delta and Northwest airlines shift into second gear, and Continental and United Airlines begin their courtship. Currently on the Delta-Northwest plate is a market price stock-for-stock transaction, with no premium for either company, the Wall Street Journal reports. More »