Secure Flight program may finally take off
Secure Flight program may finally take off — The government’s long-delayed effort to improve background checks of airline passengers is moving ahead after years of floundering, a congressional investigator told lawmakers Wednesday. (USA Today)
Airlines, markets pummel Airbus on delays — Airlines around the world punished Airbus on Wednesday for delays in the delivery of its A380 superjumbo, demanding compensation, reconsidering orders — and in one case, striking a major deal with its rival Boeing Co. (AP)
Safety officials investigate airliner engine failure at LAX — Safety officials are investigating why an engine on a Boeing 767 blew up during maintenance at Los Angeles International Airport this month. (AP)
NWA flight attendants to negotiate after judge approves deals — Approval of new concessionary contracts for two Northwest Airlines worker unions adds new urgency to the carrier’s talks with flight attendants — a crucial last holdout group needed for the new deals to take effect. (AP)
United Airlines to slash 1,000 jobs by year’s end — UAL Corp., the parent of United Airlines, plans to slash at least 1,000 jobs by the end of this year as part of its overall goal to reduce costs by $400 million, its chief executive said on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Phoenix sweats most but Miami suffers more — Phoenix on Wednesday was named the sweatiest city in the United States, but Miami topped the list as the most uncomfortable American city due to its mix of humidity and heat. (AP)
Idaho hosts final Lewis and Clark event — During their return trip from the Pacific Ocean, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition spent nearly a month rejuvenating themselves among the Nez Perce Tribe. That time will be commemorated starting Wednesday at the Summer of Peace, which runs through Saturday. (AP)
After 8 years, Yellowstone geyser erupts — A large geyser that hadn’t erupted since 1998 surprised two hikers near the edge of Norris Geyser Basin with a roar and burst of steam. The geyser erupted at full bore around 5 p.m. Saturday, sending a plume of steam about 100 feet high. (AP)
TSA underpaid for airline security fees — The $2.50 fee collected from airline passengers for each leg of their flights may not be ending up where it’s supposed to — at the government agency in charge of airline security. The Homeland Security Department’s inspector general reported Wednesday that airlines are underpaying the Transportation Security Administration an estimated $14.5 million every year in passenger security fees. (AP)
Couples take vacations before the stork arrives — If the honeymoon is historically about making babies, the babymoon is about making time for mommy and daddy. Parents-to-be are seizing on the pre-stork period as a time to flee the nest to beach resorts and country inns where they’re treated to massages, chocolates and Junior-safe sparkling cider. (USA Today)
Hawaiian island chain to get national-monument status — President Bush is expected Thursday to create the world’s largest marine sanctuary in a chain of uninhabited islands and atolls 1,200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. (USA Today)
US Airways says last-minute online deals to return — E-mails with US Airways’ last-minute deals on weekend flights have been absent from subscribers’ inboxes for nearly a month, but airline officials say the discount alerts will return within the next two weeks. (Charlotte Observer)
Special airfares may not be bargains — member special airfares for children, seniors, the military and the bereaved? They’re still available, but in fewer numbers and places than they were 20 or even five years ago. Such fares save you money — or not. And you may need a detective to find them. (The Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.