Delta pilots say judge shows bias
Delta pilots say judge shows bias — The union for Delta Air Lines pilots on Thursday called for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Prudence Beatty to disqualify herself from a case that could cut their salaries, saying that she had shown bias against airline pilots in various prior statements. (Reuters)
Delta says ‘need is real’ for givebacks — Delta Air Lines Inc. on Wednesday told a bankruptcy court that the “need is real” for $325 million in wage concessions from its pilots for the carrier to survive its current crisis. (Reuters)
WHO warns of bird flu outbreaks — China is likely to suffer more outbreaks of bird flu among poultry and possibly people in coming winter months, a WHO official said on Thursday after China confirmed its first cases of human infection. (Reuters)
Europe to create unsafe airline blacklist — The European Parliament voted Wednesday to create an EU-wide blacklist of airlines that do not meet international standards, one of a series of measures aimed at improving air safety. (AP)
Judge tells airline: pay bumped passenger — Thatcher A. Stone, an aviation lawyer, was awarded $3,110 by a Manhattan judge for his expenses and inconvenience after he and his 13-year-old daughter were kept off a Continental Airlines flight at Newark Airport on Christmas Day 2004. (AP)
Airline pilots get break in U.S. pension bill — Thousands of current and retired pilots at major U.S. airlines would be eligible for more money than current law allows when pensions are terminated under legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Federal agency approves $7.2 million for coast airports — Three south Mississippi airports will receive more than $7.2 million to repair terminal buildings, hangars, airfield equipment and other facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced Wednesday. (AP)
Gay honeymoons ‘in short supply’ in UK — Travel agents are expected to struggle to supply enough gay honeymoons when same-sex weddings become legal in the United Kingdom next month. (The Independent)
U.S. hotel revenue rises 13.4 percent in week — U.S. hotels posted a 13.4 percent year-over-year increase in room revenue for the week ended Nov. 12, Smith Travel Research reported on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Harrah’s to reopen, but no date set — Harrah’s Entertainment’s downtown New Orleans casino will reopen next year, but the company says it does not have an exact date and does not know the number of employees that will be needed. (AP)
Manhattan’s Theater District gets parking meters that accept credit cards — Change is good, but plastic now rules when it comes to parking meters. The Department of Transportation has installed credit card parking meters in Manhattan’s Theater District. (AP)
Airliner defense system displayed — Northrop Grumman Corp. has unveiled a 6-foot-long canoe-shaped device that would be attached to the belly of an airliner to defend against a missile attack. The equipment would work by emitting a laser beam that would jam the guidance system of a shoulder-fired missile. Northrop put the device on display last week at Mojave Airport. (The Los Angeles Times)
Judge dismisses suit over O’Hare expansion — A federal judge on Wednesday cleared the way for the city to resume buying properties in the path of a planned expansion at O’Hare International Airport aimed at reducing some of the nation’s worst flight delays. (AP)
A grander Dulles on the horizon — In the next few weeks, officials at Dulles International Airport will present federal officials with a soaring 25-story air traffic control tower that is nearly twice as tall as the airport’s 1962 original. (The Washington Post)
Leery of smoking ban, casino group forecasts economic doom — Nervous about calls for a smoking ban that could include them, New Jersey casinos warned Thursday of economic doom for the gambling halls, saying smoke-free blackjack tables and slot parlors would cause job losses and cut the state’s share of casino revenues. (AP)
Carrie Charney, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.