Independence Air grounding to boost rivals
Independence Air grounding to modestly boost rivals — The grounding of Independence Air, a regional airline turned low-cost carrier, is expected to provide a modest boost to its rivals, especially on the U.S. East Coast, where its discounting has depressed fares. (Reuters)
We loved that airline to death — Most of the Independence Air workers this writer spoke to while flying and hanging out at departure gates over the past two days do not blame the company’s demise on management. Most blame the passengers and their expectation of a bargain. The enemy is us. (The Washington Post)
Delta’s on-time flights ranking low, but improving — Delta Air lines Inc.’s percentage of on-time flights improved in November 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released Jan. 5. The bankrupt Atlanta airline was on time 70.1 percent of the time in November, putting it in 13th place among the 20 major airlines tracked. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
Northwest may launch regional carrier — Bankrupt Northwest Airlines Thursday detailed plans for a new regional carrier, further outraging its pilots and other workers who have said they may strike if the airline wins court permission to void their labor contracts. (Reuters)
Extra airline charges lighten fliers’ wallets — Forking over for airline meals was just the beginning. Paying àla carte for everything from a choice seat to a checked bag is a trend that’s taking off. (USA Today)
Irish girl missing in Gulf of Mexico — A search operation is continuing off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula for an Irish teenager who is believed to have fallen overboard a cruise ship in the early hours of yesterday morning. (RTE News)
Passenger taken into custody at San Jose airport, later released — A Frontier Airlines passenger on a flight from Denver who had a notebook that contained the words “suicide bomber” was taken into custody Wednesday and questioned for several hours before being released to his family, police said. (AP)
Boeing beats Airbus for 2005 airline orders — Boeing announced record commercial aircraft orders for 2005 on Thursday and is expected to have outsold Airbus for the first time since 2000. (Financial Times)
Woman dies on flight from Cleveland to Phoenix — A 45-year-old woman died on an America West flight from Cleveland to Phoenix, forcing an unscheduled landing in Colorado Springs on Thursday. (AP)
Alaska Airlines jet damaged in on-ground incident — An Alaska Airlines jet was damaged at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after being inadvertently shoved into a jetway and a vehicle used to load baggage a week and a half after a similar incident caused an in-flight scare on a different Alaska Airlines flight. (AP)
US Airways cuts fares to 20 destinations — US Airways Group on Thursday reduced fares on its flights to nearly 20 cities from its eastern hubs as the airline attempts to revive itself as a low-cost carrier. (AP)
JetBlue: $25 from D.C. to Boston — JetBlue is wasting no time gunning for the business that’s up for grabs after Independence Air ’s demise. It begins nonstop flights from Dulles to Boston on Jan. 17, offering up to six daily flights and fares for $25 each way. (Washington Business Journal)
Federal air marshal chief to resign — The director of the Federal Air Marshal Service last night submitted his resignation letter effective Feb. 3, saying he intended to retire from the agency he has headed since it was transferred to the Homeland Security Department in 2003. (The Washington Times)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.