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American Airlines beats street 1Q forecasts -- American Airlines Group Inc. today reported first-quarter earnings of $932 million. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company said it had net income of $1.30 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and pretax expenses, came to $1.73 per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.70 per share. The world's largest airline posted revenue of $9.83 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. AP Terry Maxon/Dallas Morning News AA Press Release
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Hawaiian Airlines reports $26M profit in Q1 2015 -- Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, reported a profit of $25.88 million, or 40 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015, compared to a loss of $5.08 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter last year. Hawaiian Holdings also reported an adjusted pre-tax margin of 7.4 percent, compared to negative 0.2 percent during the same time in 2014. Jason Ubay/Pacific Business News
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John Wayne Airport posts March 2015 statistics -- Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in March 2015 as compared to March 2014. In March 2015, the Airport served 832,213 passengers, an increase of 7.2% when compared to the March 2014 passenger traffic count of 776,360. Commercial aircraft operations increased 1.9%, while commuter aircraft operations decreased 5.2% when compared to March 2014 levels. Total aircraft operations decreased in March 2015 as compared to the same month in 2014. JWA News Release
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AIG unit can arbitrate LAX contractors' claims, judge says -- A California federal judge agreed on Thursday to allow an American International Group Inc. unit to arbitrate a coverage dispute with clients involved in a contract suit with the city of Los Angeles over a $250 million project at Los Angeles International Airport, dismissing claims that the insurer's arbitration clause was unenforceable. Judge Philip S. Gutierrez granted Lexington Insurance Co.'s motion to compel arbitration with a joint venture formed by Tutor-Saliba Corp. and O&G Industries Inc. Joe Van Acker/Law360
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In Ontario airport lawsuit, judge denies L.A's attempt to get dismissal -- It will be up to a jury to decide if Ontario can seek damages as a result of alleged malfeasance by Los Angeles World Airports over management of L.A./Ontario International Airport. Riverside Superior Court Judge Gloria Connor Trask on Thursday denied Los Angeles' motion to dismiss Ontario's lawsuit to gain local control of ONT. The ruling by Trask allows Ontario to seek damages on three claims - breach of fiduciary duty; contract; and covenant of good faith and fair dealing - when the case goes to trial on Aug. 17. Liset Marquez/Los Angeles Daily News Richard K. De Atley/Riverside Press-Enterprise City News Service
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SFO: Airport unveils new automated passport kiosk -- International travelers arriving at San Francisco International Airport will be able to get through customs a little faster now thanks to new Automated Passport Control kiosks. The airport unveiled 40 new kiosks -- touch screen devices that can scan a passport and customs declaration form. The machine then issues a receipt for the traveler to hand to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. Checking out with the machine only takes about 90 seconds, airport officials said. Bay City News
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Airlines, airports clash over plane ticket fees -- Airports and airlines clashed in a Senate hearing on Thursday over the amount of money airline passengers should be charged to help pay for airport improvements. American Association of Airport Executives President Todd Hauptli told members of the Senate panel that oversees transportation issues that the cap on the amount airports are allowed to charge on every airplane ticket should be increased from $4.50 to $8.50 to help finance facility improvements. Keith Laing/The Hill
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Judge refuses to dismiss Orlando International Airport lawsuit against Uber -- An Orlando judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority against Uber, the ride-sharing company. The authority filed it Nov. 14, asking a judge to permanently block Uber drivers from picking up passengers at Orlando International Airport and to pay more than $150,000 in damages. Rene Stutzman/Orlando Sentinel
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SkyWest unclear on why plane passengers lost consciousness -- A day after three passengers lost consciousness on a commercial plane traveling from Chicago to Hartford, Connecticut, airline officials remained unclear on what had caused the travelers to pass out. The pilot of SkyWest Airlines flight 5622, operating as United Express, began a rapid descent of the plane after learning that a passenger had passed out from possible cabin pressure issues, said airline spokeswoman Marissa Snow. Reuters
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United Airlines expects another record profit in 2nd quarter -- Chicago-based United Continental Holdings, parent of United Airlines, on Thursday said it earned record profit in the first quarter, more than a $1 billion improvement over the previous year's first-quarter loss. And CEO Jeff Smisek said he expects the second quarter, despite lower revenue, to set a profit record too, on the wings of lower jet-fuel prices and continued efforts to rein in costs. U.S. airlines are in a period of prosperity, benefiting from full planes and lower oil prices. Gregory Karp/Chicago Tribune
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United Airlines swaps 10 Boeing Dreamliners for 777-300ER jets -- United Airlines said Thursday that it has swapped 10 orders of Boeing Co 787 Dreamliners for 10 larger 777-300ER jets, marking a victory for the plane manufacturer as it seeks to sell out the 777 planes before their production ends. The news follows months of speculation that Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc would make the swap, which allows it to move aircraft on to different routes to better fit customer demand. Jeffrey Dastin/Reuters
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United Airlines boosting training for closer pilot teamwork -- United Continental Holdings Inc. is stepping up training and in-flight monitoring of pilots in response to a number of serious, previously identified safety lapses. Howard Attarian, senior vice president of flight operations, laid out the carrier's plans-and the justification for dramatic action-in remarks to an industry conference here earlier this week. Andy Pasztor/Wall Street Journal
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American Airlines stock is running a little hot -- The last time that American Airlines Group Inc. did this, its passengers still got meals, Pan Am was a major competitor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played a co-pilot on the silver screen. Last July, the world's largest airline by traffic paid its first dividend since 1980, albeit a modest one, in a sign of its financial resurgence. Investors will get an update on that when American unveils first-quarter results on Friday. Spencer Jakab/Wall Street Journal
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Super-connecting the world -- The Gulf states have been on the radar of the world's airlines since the 1930s. Then Dubai, a pearl-fishing port, served as a stopover for the flying boats of Imperial Airways (a forerunner of BA) on routes connecting London to distant colonial outposts. BA still serves Dubai but most of the tail fins at its vast main airport, which recently overtook London's Heathrow as the world's busiest for international traffic, carry the logo of Emirates, the small state's own network airline. The Economist
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What airlines don't get about delays -- It used to be that road-weary travelers would regale their nightly hosts with tales of rivers forded, vistas taken in, injuries sustained, and possibly even enemies vanquished. In the modern world, that oral tradition has given way to incredulous whining. The closest thing the 21st century has to an archetypal voyage narrative is idling on the tarmac: "40 minutes, can you believe they kept us out there for 40 minutes!?" Joe Pinsker/The Atlantic
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Sleeping baggage handler says he expected to die after waking inside cargo hold: Exclusive --Willa Junior, the baggage handler who fell asleep inside the cargo hold of an Alaska Airlines flight, said he didn't expect to survive. "In my mind I said, 'This is not happening. This is just a joke,'" he said in an exclusive interview with ABC News. The baggage handler said he woke up during the April 13 flight after a piece of luggage fell on his head. Junior said he called his company, Menzies Aviation, and next called 911, but the call was lost after 44 seconds. Sabina Ghebremedhin/ABC News
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Southwest Airlines to explore new IT functions, such as codesharing -- Southwest Airlines Co will explore new functions enabled by a new reservation system after it is in place, such as codesharing flights and assigning seats to passengers, Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said in an investor call on Thursday. He said, however, that the low-cost carrier has not committed to any changes currently and has "absolutely no thought, no plans, no desire to assign seats whatsoever." Reuters
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The 11 best songs of airline commercials (no broken guitars) -- Using melodies that strike a familiar or favored note has long been a way for advertisers to get our notice. In some cases, the songs become as much associated with the brand as the musician or composer. In other cases, it raises the profile of unknown artists. Many tunes used in airline commercials are worthy of being added to your iPod. Here are some picks from today and years' past. Best of all, no guitars were broken putting together this report. Doug Gollan/Forbes
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Should TSA agents carry guns? -- A series of security breaches are raising concerns about continuing vulnerabilities in airport security, and the TSA's union has floated the idea of armed agents. Incidents like the case of a machete-wielding assailant who barged through a security checkpoint in New Orleans last month are prompting the TSA workers' union to renew calls for the creation of an elite unit, which would carry arms and protect screeners and bystanders from attack. Barbara Peterson/Conde Nast Traveler
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L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti launches citywide trash clean-up initiative -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti launched an initiative Thursday aimed at cleaning up the city's trash-strewn streets, sidewalks and alleys. Standing in a Pico Union alley where 13 tons of illegally dumped trash was removed in recent days by sanitation crews, Garcetti signed an executive order and laid out the framework of a $9.1-million "Clean Streets Initative." "Everybody who lives here, who works here, who visits here should be able to walk the streets of our city free of litter and debris," Garcetti said. Ben Poston/Los Angeles Times
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Report advocates housing development along L.A. River -- If Los Angeles aims to add more housing, it should look at the neighborhoods lining its long-maligned river to do it. That's the thrust of a new report out Friday from an influential local business group, highlighting development opportunities in neighborhoods along the Los Angeles River. The city could make a big dent in Mayor Eric Garcetti's goal of adding 100,000 housing units by 2021 if it streamlines permitting and creates incentive zones in places along the river, said the report from the Los Angeles Business Council. Tim Logan/Los Angeles Times
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L.A. could require covers on residential swimming pools -- Los Angeles water officials approved new watering restrictions Thursday that could be imposed if the city's conservation efforts flag in the coming summer months. Residents could be required to cover their swimming pools or limit their watering to two days a week rather than three under revised drought restrictions unanimously approved by the five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners. Taylor Goldenstein & Matt Stevens/Los Angeles Times
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