Terrorist bus bombs trouble tourists
Terrorist bus bombs trouble tourists — The smell of scorched diesel was still discernible on the waterfront at Kusadasi yesterday, though the road where the minibus exploded had been strewn with red and white carnations. The mid-morning blast in the popular Aegean resort - possibly the work of a suicide bomber - killed a British woman, an Irish holidaymaker and three Turks. (The Guardian)
Can US Airways fly at $60-a-barrel oil? — When US Airways and America West proposed their merger in May, airline executives predicted the new, leaner carrier could make money despite $50-per-barrel oil. Now, the question is: Can it still make money with oil hovering near $60? (Post-Gazette)
Emily prepares for final act — Gearing up for the final act in its dramatic weeklong march across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Emily grew better organized and picked up more power Monday night as it moved ever closer to northeastern Mexico. (CNN)
Spirit Air gets $100 million to offset fuel prices — Spirit Airlines, the nation’s biggest privately held carrier, plans to announce today that it has obtained $100 million in new financing, which it will use to try to offset the soaring price of jet fuel. The financing consists of $70 million from Spirit’s lead investor, Oaktree Capital Management, and $30 million from the investment bank Goldman Sachs. (The New York Times)
Airline lounges are getting crowded — As the summer tourist season picks up, the 150 airline clubs at United States airports that were once islands of tranquility for the harried are becoming crowded, noisy outposts that travelers want to avoid. The surge in air travel to levels like those before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, is an obvious explanation for the overcrowding, with 200 million people expected to board planes this summer - the most in five years. But more is at work than that. (The New York Times)
FAA will let passengers carry oxygen — Air travelers who suffer from emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses may breathe a little easier beginning Aug. 11. After pondering the problem for nearly a year, the Federal Aviation Administration this week has approved a rules change that will allow passengers to carry their own portable oxygen concentrators on all phases of a flight, including take-off and landing. (Palm Beach Post)
Suspicious napkin grounds plane — An American Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, Puerto Rico has been diverted after a passenger found a suspicious note written on a napkin behind her tray table, an FBI spokeswoman told CNN. (CNN)
California pilots indicted for fraud — Grand juries across California have indicted 40 pilots for fraud after they falsified medical records to hide disabilities like schizophrenia and severe heart problems that would have grounded them, federal officials said on Monday. (Reuters)
Subzidize Southwest? No way, says Seattle — Southwest Airlines should pay for the costly improvements needed to accommodate the discount airline if it moves to Boeing Field, say some King County Council members. Councilman Dwight Pelz, D-Seattle, said the legislation he will introduce today “isn’t intended to stop Southwest Airlines. It’s intended to set some ground rules. (Seattle Times)
Housekeeper finds a really big “tip” — A housekeeper at a motel found nearly $8,000 in a room she was cleaning and promptly notified management of her discovery. Mary Williamson found two rolls of bills in the vacant room. (AP)
Northwest wants more Euro links — Airlines typically don’t get together to coordinate their schedules and pricing and divvy up customers. That’s illegal. For the most part. Over the years, about two dozen exceptions have been granted, including one for Northwest Airlines’ alliance with Dutch carrier KLM. And now Northwest wants another one. (Free Press)
Indy jets graze wings — Two commercial jetliners grazed wings Monday on a taxiway at Indianapolis International Airport. Officials said the scrape caused no injuries and minimal damage. (Star)
Northwest mechanics authorize strike — Mechanics at Northwest Airlines Corp. voted Tuesday to authorize a strike, a day after the airline declined arbitration. The strike authorization was approved by 92.4 percent of mechanics, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said. Balloting ended Tuesday morning. (AP)
Correspondents: Skip Bowman, Richard Wong, Carrie Charney, Leslie Friedman, John Frenaye, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra.