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Weekly UpdatesMay 31, 2009
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun collecting biometrics -- digital fingerprints and photographs -- from non-U.S. citizens departing the United States as part of a pilot program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Since 2004, biometrics have helped DHS prevent the use of fraudulent documents, protect visitors from identity theft and stop thousands of criminals and immigration violators from entering the United States. May 29, 2009
Improved colour vision requirements for flight crew could lead to a 35 percent increase in the number of prospective pilots meeting the minimum medical threshold. Colour-blindness research sponsored by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority and the US FAA, and carried out by London City University's Applied Vision Research Centre, has established a more accurate assessment of colour deficiencies in pilot applicants' red-green and yellow-blue colour range. May 29, 2009
AirClic
AirClic, the leading mobile solutions provider offering organizations real-time 360-degree visibility to manage mobile resources throughout their entire operation, today announced that it has been selected as a winner of the Red Herring 100 North America Award. AirClic was honored as one of the year's most promising private companies for its best-in-class technology, proven business strategy and expert management team. May 28, 2009
American Airlines
Due to heavy summer loads and high volumes of checked baggage, customers traveling on American or American Eagle to certain destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America will not be able to check extra bags or boxes during the embargo period. The baggage embargo applies to San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa and San Salvador in Central America; Maracaibo, Cali, Medellin, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Quito in South America; Santo Domingo, Santiago, Port-au-Prince, Grenada and Kingston in the Caribbean; Nassau, George-Town, Exuma, Marsh Harbour and Freeport in the Bahamas; as well as Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua and Leon in Mexico. All American Eagle flights to and from San Juan are also included. American is a founding member of the global oneworld Alliance. www.aa.com May 29, 2009
American Airlines
Summer is fast approaching, so American Airlines and American Eagle, its regional affiliate, are reminding customers about the box and bag embargo on flights to certain destinations from June 6 through Aug. 25, 2009. May 28, 2009
American Airlines
American Airlines Cashless Cabins Begin Monday Onboard U.S. Domestic and Canada Flights. On June 1, American Airlines will go cashless onboard flights within the continental United States, as well as flights to and from Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada. For inflight purchases such as headsets, fresh meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages, American will accept American Express Cards and other major credit or debit cards only. Flight attendants utilize a hand-held Onboard Sales Recorder to charge credit and debit cards, eliminating the need to search for small bills or change. American, a founding member of the global oneworld[umlaut] Alliance, has used these hand-held devices since May 2006. Receipts will be provided to passengers upon request. Cashless cabins will not be implemented onboard American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights - only cash will continue to be accepted onboard those flights, just as it is today. May 27, 2009
American Eagle
American Eagle will launch twice-daily Dallas/Fort Worth-Manhattan, Kan., service on Aug. 25 aboard an ERJ-145. May 28, 2009
American Eagle
American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, unveiled its schedule for two previously announced round-trip flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) in Manhattan, Kan., which will begin Aug. 25. The new service will be operated with 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets. May 26, 2009
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Great Lakes Brewing Company to Open the Tap at the AIRMALL at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The award-winning lagers, ales and porters from Great Lakes Brewing Company, a Cleveland original, will soon flow from the tap at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). BAA Cleveland, developer of the AIRMALL at CLE, has forged a lease agreement with Cleveland Partners, LLC, who will introduce an enhanced, brand-approved version of the Great Lakes Brewing Company restaurant and bar in the AIRMALL, bringing more regional flavor to the airport. May 28, 2009
Colgan Air, Bombardier
Commuter airlines which operate just over half of all US domestic flights are under pressure as business passengers weigh safety problems arising from a crash in February. A federal investigation into the crash of a Colgan Air commuter plane that killed 50 people in New York state has put the focus on regional airlines at a particularly vulnerable time for a business travel industry coping with recession. Colgan, a unit of Pinnacle Airlines, operates under the names of Continental Connection for Continental Airlines, as United Express for United Airlines, and as US Airways Express for US Airways. Colgan was flying Continental Connection Flight 3407 on February 12 when it crashed near Buffalo. Hearings by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) this month exposed issues of pilot fatigue, lack of experience and inadequate training. The poorly paid flight crew of the late-night commuter flight had arrived at work early the day of the crash and had commuted long distances to reach Newark, NJ where the flight originated. The pilot flew in from Florida and may have napped in a crew lounge to save money on a hotel; the 24-year-old co-pilot who earned only USDUSD 24,000 a year spent the previous two nights to get from her home in Seattle to Newark. The two, their voices captured on inflight recorders, discussed their inexperience with aircraft icing as the flight descended in wintry conditions. The captain ignored a warning system and crew members broke cockpit rules by chatting about things not connected to the flight as the plane entered the crucial landing phase. Congress also is looking into the safety of regional airlines that fly the 30- to 90-seat planes. May 26, 2009
Delta Air Lines
Smart airlines offer more to retain its passengers in times of economic trouble, but instead Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday it will charge international travelers USD 50 to check a second bag only on its U.S.-European routes, citing a "competitive decision" for scaling back its plans for the fee. In April, the Atlanta-based carrier said it would charge the fees on all international flights in a bid to raise USD 100 million annually. "We constantly monitor the industry landscape to ensure our fares and fees are competitive," spokeswoman Betsy Talton said in an email explaining the change. The first bag is free on Delta international flights. A better idea might be no charge for bags and better service to compete with its Euro competitors by putting passengers first instead levying petty fees. May 28, 2009
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is offering Delta SkyMiles and Northwest WorldPerks members 2,500 bonus miles for each flight segment purchased and flown on the Delta Shuttle between New York City and Boston or Washington, D.C. from May 26 through July 26, 2009 May 26, 2009
Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines
All Northwest Airlines check-in positions at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport will be consolidated with Delta Air Lines. The move is a continuation of the airlinesO merger in October. Delta will be phasing out the Northwest brand over the next year, making Delta the largest commercial airline service in the world and says all customers flying Delta or Northwest should now check in with Delta. May 26, 2009
Gulfstream International Airlines
A former pilot with regional carrier Gulfstream International Airlines alleges he was fired for refusing to fly a plane with a faulty collision-avoidance system, adding to the scrutiny of the Florida-based airline that serves as a training ground for many regional pilots. May 26, 2009
JetAmerica
A new low-cost airline will begin serving mid-sized U.S. cities that it thinks larger carriers have left behind. Clearwater, Fla.-based JetAmerica said 34 nonstop passenger flights a week will start July 13 at Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Melbourne, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; Minneapolis and Lansing, Mich. Twenty-eight flights start or end at Newark Liberty International Airport. The carrier will add six more flights -- from Toledo to Minneapolis -- starting Aug. 14. JetAmerica is targeting small and midsize cities like Lansing, which has seen the number of daily flights at its Capital Region International Airport fall from 35 to 12 the past five years. The decline is part of a national trend that has seen airfares increase at those airports as daily flights have decreased.
Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines began selling a Business Select fare, in which customers pay more to get to the front of the boarding line, earn extra frequent flyer credit and get a free alcoholic beverage on board, and last fall it also began offering priority security lane access for its business Select and Rapid Reward A-List customers. The push for more business travelers also is one of the main reasons Southwest decided to add service to New York LaGuardia later this year. Southwest said 20 percent of its travelers paid full fare in the first quarter, which is an indicator of the level of business travel (albeit an imperfect one because some leisure travelers buy last-minute fares and some business travelers buy discounted fares). And that figure actually has dropped from about 25 percent because of the recession, which has disproportionately affected business travel. Whether any of this will matter in Milwaukee is another question, because the impact on Midwest will depend in part on which routes Southwest opts to offer its initial services. May 26, 2009
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