Independence Air will shut down Thursday
Independence Air will shut down Thursday — FLYi Inc., parent of low-fare airline Independence Air, said Monday it will discontinue flights after Thursday evening because of its continued financial challenges. (AP)
Hot topic: B.O. on board.
Decline of in-flight meal leaves airline caterers hungry — Getting a free meal at 30,000 feet, in coach class at least, is going the way of the biplane. And that’s causing turbulence in the airline catering business. (Los Angeles Times)
Cracks appear in British Airline safety — A string of midair incidents involving British Airways, one of the three European airlines servicing Australia, has raised questions about widespread safety problems at the airline. (The Australian)
Heavy rain washes across California — The second major storm in two days washed across Northern California on Sunday, prolonging the threat of flooding as residents tried to clean up thick layers of mud and debris left behind as the first wave of floodwater receded. (AP)
Direct flights planned between Boston and China — Boston travelers would be able to fly directly to China by the end of this year under a deal worked out between China-based Hainan Airlines and Massport, city and state officials said yesterday. (The Boston Globe)
Airline tickets went for $120 — For at least $120 and the right connection at the Bexar County Courthouse, you were free to move about the country. Such is one of the claims unfolding amid a probe that has several people sweating over the feds’ pointed questions into at least 4,000 round-trip Southwest Airlines tickets allegedly taken illegally. (San Antonio Express-News)
For Amtrak riders from Florida, NY run becomes a crawl – Amtrak’s Silver Meteor train arrived in New York from Florida yesterday more than 28 hours late, releasing more than 100 exhausted, hungry and angry passengers. (AP)
Airline rebound seen continuing in 2006 — Airline industry analysts and watchers see a sector in much better shape than a year ago with some airlines poised to return to profitability in 2006. (Reuters)
Calling from abroad at reasonable rates – While internationally capable cell phones make calling home from abroad convenient, they’re not always the most economical choice. For travelers looking for inexpensive alternatives, there are several options: new Internet-based voice services, callback services and prepaid calling cards. (The New York Times)