4 killed in Branson, Mo., plane crash
4 killed in Branson, Mo., plane crash — A twin-engine plane with apparent mechanical problems plowed into a self-storage unit and burst into flames, killing all four people aboard but missing the bustling businesses along this resort town’s main strip by only a few hundred feet. (AP)
Fear of flying can cripple workers — Fear of flying cripples — or at least burdens — the careers of millions of Americans. Also known as aviaphobia, it causes many employees to pass up promotions or miss out-of-town meetings, training sessions or sales calls. It can decrease productivity and strain relationships with employers. (USA Today)
Northwest’s prime seats sell, but some fliers don’t buy in — Just one week after Northwest Airlines set off a major customer-service uproar by unveiling a new $15 fee for aisle and exit-row seats, the airline says the response from customers has been better than anticipated. (The Washington Post)
Delta seeking to reject employee stock options — Delta Air Lines, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, asked a judge Monday to allow the nation’s third-largest carrier to void roughly 93 million stock options held by 70,000 current and former employees and directors. (AP)
Airline workers are left at gate, mourning a perk — Through deep pay cuts, shrunken pensions and longer hours, airline employees who survived the endless rounds of layoffs knew they could still count on one thing: free flights. But that perk is now much harder to use because so many flights are full. (The New York Times)
Still loyal to your airline? You must be Looney Tunes — Can airlines afford to lose their most loyal customers as they scrounge for spare change? As airlines simplified their fare structures, they also greatly reduced domestic first-class fares. But in doing so, free upgrades to first class from coach — the prime motivator for elite-status programs — became harder to get. (The New York Times)
Hitting the gym, not the vending machine, on the road — As health care costs rise, companies are increasingly looking at ways to make their employees healthier, and business travelers are particularly at risk for medical problems. They are frequently stressed out and overworked, and often subsist on vending machine snacks and takeout food. (The New York Times)
Drastic rise reported in airline deaths — The number of passengers who died in commercial airline accidents jumped dramatically in 2005, following two of the safest years in the history of the International Civil Aviation Organization. (Canadian Press)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.