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Southwest upgrades reservations system
Southwest Airlines has retained Amadeus IT to upgrade its reservation system. "We are the largest domestic carrier in the United States, and we believe having one reservation system will provide a better operation for our employees and our customers as we embark on our very bright future domestically and abroad," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said.
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Alaska Air Group traffic increased in April
Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, announced a 4.9% increase in total system traffic for April on a year-over-year basis. The load factor for Alaska Air Group was 86.1% for April, unchanged since April of the prior year.
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Delta announces plan to repurchase stock, boost dividend
Delta Air Lines Inc. on Tuesday unveiled plans to repurchase up to $2 billion of its shares and boost its dividend by 50%, saying its strong cash-flow generation will allow it to reward shareholders. Delta, which has a market valuation of about $31.8 billion, said it expects to complete the stock buyback by the end of 2016.
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AA, US Airways to launch new routes to Midwest cities
American Airlines and merger partner US Airways on Monday announced eight new domestic routes. The new flights will be added at the airlines' hubs at Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Phoenix. The routes include service to Bismarck, N.D., a city not currently served by either American or US Airways. The move comes as American and US Airways continue to connect the dots between each other's route maps as part of their merger.
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DOT airfare advertising rule costs airlines $1B
The Transparent Airfares Act would boost the U.S. airline industry by removing onerous advertising rules imposed by the Department of Transportation, writes blogger Vinay Bhaskara. Experts estimate the current advertising rules cost U.S. airlines more than $1 billion in lost revenue each year. "That $1 billion in revenue likely means hundreds of millions of dollars in profits and millions of dollars in profit sharing checks for front-line employees," Bhaskara writes.
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BTS releases Q4 and annual financial data
The top 26 U.S. airlines collectively reported $12.7 billion in net profits last year, up from $98 million in 2012. "It's worth noting, while finances for the U.S. airline industry are improving, we still lag the S&P 500 average profit margin, and face tens of billions of dollars in debt, which airlines are actively working to pay down," said Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.
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Airbus shows off A350 for American Airlines at DFW
Airbus displayed one of its test A350s at Dallas/Fort-Worth Airport for American Airlines employees and the media on Monday. "We've worked very closely [with Airbus] to try to determine how we can design something that is even more efficient than today's aircraft and more reliable than today's aircraft," said Capt. John Dudley, a pilot for American.
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FAA comments on computer error
An air traffic control glitch that caused hundreds of flight cancellations or delays across Southern California last week was triggered by a computer misinterpreting the flight path of a U-2 spy plane, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday. A computer problem at an air traffic control center in Palmdale, California last Wednesday forced The delay or cancellation of more than 200 flights at Los Angeles International Airport. Dozens of flights were also delayed at smaller airports across the region, as well as commercial airliners headed for Southern California from across the country. "On April 30, 2014, an FAA air traffic system that processes flight plan information experienced problems while processing a flight plan filed for a U-2 aircraft that operates at very high altitudes under visual flight rules," FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said in a written statement issued by the agency. Lunsford said the computer system misinterpreted the U-2 as a more typical low-altitude operation and became overwhelmed in trying to make sure that its flight path did not conflict with other air traffic in the region.
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AT&T enters the Wi-Fi race for domestic flights
AT&T has entered the fray for Internet providers on domestic flights, signaling a shift in the in-flight Wi-Fi market, experts say. "When a major corporation like this gets into the market, it's a sign the market has matured," said Michael Planey, an aviation consultant. Gogo Inflight Internet is the Wi-Fi provider for around 80% of U.S. airlines.
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Frontier CEO discusses changes at carrier
Frontier Airlines, the ultra-low cost carrier, is not "nickel-and-diming" customers by charging them for carry-on bags, CEO David Siegel told CNBC on Monday. Frontier announced the new fees last week. Travelers now must pay $20 to $50 to place bags in overhead bins, depending on whether they pay online or at the airport gates. Siegel said the airline wants to change the culture of air travel and have more customers check bags rather than scramble for overhead space. "We're trying to create a more civilized experience on board and not have this crush of bags at the gate and not have this fight for bin space," Siegel said on "Squawk on the Street."
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Aviation Quote

There is no need for them to be pilots, it's sort of like a union regulation.

— a 'senior Pentagon official', regards the current requirement for USAF UAV operators to be rated pilots. General Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, said in the same article that the requirement will be dropped in the future. Reported in Newsweek magazine, 28 September 2009

On This Date

---In 1927VARIG is founded as the first Brazilian airline.

---In 1936... Amy Mollison lands at Wingfield Aerodrome, Cape Town, South Africa, to set a new record of 3 days, 6 hours, 26 minutes for a flight from England.

---In 1937... The first successful pressurized airplane cabin is achieved in the Lockheed XC-35.

---In 1956…National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) announces the start of a new research program and a new airplane, the Lockheed U-2. This was the first public acknowledgement of the existence of the U-2. The NACA announcement listed, high altitude research, air turbulence studies, connective cloud tests, wind sheer testing, jet stream research, cosmic rays studies, ozone and water vapor studies. All this research happened much later. The U-2 was a spy plane, the research projects were just a cover story. (Q)

---In 1960…The Soviet Union exposes an American cover-up about the status of a USAF Lockheed U-2 spy plane that was shot down over Russia six days prior. Assuming the aircraft was destroyed and the pilot killed, the US said a weather recon aircraft was lost, added NASA titles to a different airframe for media photos, and said the aircraft reported problems with oxygen before disappearing. Russia then came forward, adding information previously held back, that the pilot had survived and much of the spy aircraft was intact, proving the American scheme. Pilot Frank Powers would be returned to the United States in February of 1962.

---In 1964…Pacific Air Lines Flight 773 crashes in San Ramon California after a suicidal passenger shoots both pilots in-flight. Francisco Gonzales, having financial and marital problems, purchased a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and even notified friends and family that he’d be dying on May 6th or May 7th. He purchased a $105,000 insurance policy at Stockton Airport (SCK) before boarding the Fokker F-27 Friendship (N2770R) bound for Reno, Nevada. A few minutes after reaching their assigned altitude of 5,000ft, a sound is heard on the radio and the aircraft disappears from radar. The final transmission is determined by investigators to be the First Officer saying “Skipper’s shot. We’ve been shot. I was trying to help.” All 44 on the aircraft perish. The daughter of the the Captain, Julie Clark, goes on to become one of the first female airline Captains herself for Hughes Airwest and Northwest Airlines, and then going on to become an aerobatic pilot.

---In 1979... Air France is the first airline to operate the Lockheed L-1011-500, a long-range version of the TriStar with shorter fuselage, more powerful engines, and improved aerodynamics.

---In 1981…Austral Lineas Aereas Flight 901, a BAC-111 (LV-VOX) crashes 9 miles out on approach to Buenos Aires-Jorge Newbery Airport in Argentina. While in a holding pattern over the Río de la Plata, the aircraft succumbs to a violent thunderstorm, killing all 31 onboard after crashing into the river.

---In 1984…The Pilatus PC-9, a low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft, makes its maiden flight.

---In 1986…Aircraft designer Al Mooney dies at the age of 80.

---In 1990.. Air India Flight 132 catches fire on landing at Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport in India. An improperly installed fuse pin on the #1 engine on the Boeing 747 causes a fuel line to rupture after the reverse thrust is activated on landing. All 215 people on the aircraft escape with their lives, although the aircraft is completely destroyed.

---In 1991…The brand new Space Shuttle Endeavour, built to replace the destroyed Challenger, arrives at Kennedy Space Center in Florida atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

---In 2000… Asteroid 2000 EH26 had a Near-Earth Flyby (0.041 AU).

---In 2002…China North Airlines Flight 6163, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (B-2138) crashes into the bay near Dalian, China, after a passenger sets fire to the cabin. The man is said to have terminal cancer, and purchased seven insurance policies worth $1.4 million for himself just prior to boarding the flight, where he uses gasoline snuck onto the aircraft into a water bottle. The fiery crash kills all 112 people aboard, who die mostly from carbon monoxide inhalation.

---In 2005…Aero Tropics Air Services Flight 675 crashes into the side of a mountain while on approach to Lockhart River Airport in Australia, killing all 15 occupants. The Swearingen SA.227DC Metro 23 (VH-TFU) strikes the ridge at a height of 1,200ft, well below the minimum safe altitude of 2,060ft, and is blamed on the crew not noticing their AGL (above ground level) altitude and increased descent rate.

Daily Video

Editor’s Choice

Humor

First Class Vs. Economy

A plane is on its way to Houston when a blonde in Economy Class gets up and moves to the First Class section and sits down.

The flight attendant watches her do this and asks to see her ticket. She then tells the blonde that she paid for Economy and that she will have to sit in the back.

The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to Houston and I'm staying right here!"

The flight attendant goes into the cockpit and tells the copilot that there is a blonde bimbo sitting in First Class that belongs in Economy and won't move back to her seat.

The copilot goes back to the blonde and tries to explain that because she only paid for Economy she will have to leave and return to her seat.
The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to Houston and I'm staying right here!"

The copilot tells the pilot that he probably should have the police waiting when they land to arrest this blonde woman who won't listen to reason.
The pilot says "You say she's blonde? I'll handle this. I'm married to a blonde. I speak blonde."

He goes back to the blonde, whispers in her ear, and she says "Oh, I'm Sorry, " and she gets up and moves back to her seat in the Economy section.
The flight attendant and copilot are amazed and asked him what he said to make her move without any fuss.

"I told her First Class isn't going to Houston."

Trivia

Airline Trivia

1. What airline began as a crop dusting company in Louisiana?
A..American
B. Continental
C. Piedmont
D. Delta

2. What airline was originally headquartered in El Paso, Texas?
A. Southwest
B. Continental
C. American
D. America West

3. Who was the first airline to establish a home page on the internet?
A. United
B. Northwest
C. Delta
D. Southwest

4. What airline was first to ban smoking on all North American flights?
A. Continental
B. American
C. Northwest
D. United

5. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, a Delta airplane takes off every ....
A. 8 minutes
B. 12 seconds
C. 5 minutes
D. 2 minutes

6. What airline was the first to use radio communications?
A. Delta
B. Pan Am
C. United
D. Northwest

7. What airline was the first to have oxygen masks on board?
A. American
B. Northwest
C. Pan Am
D. Alaska

8. Who was the first airline to offer in-flight motion pictures?
A. TWA
B. Pan Am
C. United
D. Northwest

9. What airline was first to offer 'Round the World' service?
A. TWA
B. Pan Am
C. Northwest
D. United

10. Which was the first airline to carry emergency life saving equipment on board?
A. TWA
B. American
C. Pan Am
D. Delta