American Airlines to begin merging reservations platforms this summer --American Airlines said on Tuesday it will begin uniting its reservations platform with US Airways' as early as July, setting a three-month timeframe for a data migration process other merged carriers have struggled with. Parent American Airlines Group Inc, formed by the two airlines' 2013 merger, said that as early as July it will transfer about 10 percent of reservations booked on US Airways to American's existing reservations platform. Jeffrey Dastin/Reuters

Southwest Airlines' ramp agents will walk picket line at carrier's annual meeting Wednesday -- Southwest Airlines isn't off the hook yet. Despite plans to hire some 500 new ramp agents in some of its largest markets, Southwest's 8,000 unionized ramp agents, members of Transport Workers Union Local 555, said today they plan to picket the carrier's annual meeting slated for Wednesday in Houston, where the airline's record-breaking profits no doubt will be celebrated by CEO Gary Kelly and his management team. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal

United Airlines comes up with new website product that pushes personalization -- Clearly, United Airlines is banking on the theory that more is indeed more when it comes to online flight booking. The Chicago-based carrier today unveiled a beta version of its new website design. The operative theme that appears to have driven creation of the new site is ensuring customers get to pick everything they could possibly want to have a hand in selecting when they make United reservations. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal

Here's the right way to treat a kid with autism (United Airlines, take note) -- There has been a big story in the news recently about a family being kicked off of a United Airlines plane due to a fear that the daughter with autism mom would disrupt the flight.  According to reports, the non-verbal daughter was in the early stages of feeling hungry, and her mom knew she needed to eat to avoid a meltdown. But the only warm food on the plane was for the first class passengers. Lauren Swick Jordan/Washington Post

Iran: Blacklisted airline buys planes -- An Iranian airline blacklisted under United States sanctions has bought nine used Airbus passenger planes, in a move that could further complicate the multilateral talks aimed at resolving Iran's disputed nuclear program by the end of next month. The Iranian news media reported Sunday that the airline, Mahan Air, bought the aircraft - eight Airbus A340s and one A321 - for an undisclosed amount from unidentified sellers, and that they were placed into service last week. Rick Gladstone/New York Times

Meeting on high-speed rail plans slated -- Burbank residents will have an opportunity on Monday to discuss the latest details on plans under consideration for a bullet-train running from the Palmdale Transportation Center to a proposed station near the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. Those plans - part of what could be the largest infrastructure project in the United States and its first high-speed rail line - include multiple proposed routes, some involving tunneling under the Angeles National Forest and constructing an underground station near Bob Hope Airport. Chad Garland/Burbank Leader

Palm Springs airport site of mock drill -- Drivers may notice an airplane crash at Palm Springs International Airport Wednesday, but it will only be for a drill. The training exercise will take place about 10 a.m. on the runway off East Alejo Road. It will not be open to the public. The drill will help firefighters train for an actual airplane crash. It's required by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Palm Springs city staff. Colin Atagi/The Desert Sun

Former Chicago aviation chief lands new job with U.K. airports owner -- Former Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino has been named CEO of British airport owner MAG's new North American division. Andolino, who left her post with the city in November, will oversee a New York-based team that will develop and operate terminal and retail solutions, passenger lounges and parking facilities in North American airports, the company said Tuesday. Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz/Chicago Tribune

Grocery, more restaurants weighed as possible upgrades to Pittsburgh airport -- One day, a flight home might include a stop at the grocery or the dry cleaner - right inside Pittsburgh International Airport. Both are among the options that Ricondo & Associates Inc. will study as part of an effort to upgrade the concessions in the Findlay airport's landside building for travelers returning home after flights or arriving in Pittsburgh for visits. Mark Belko/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Casino, Bradley Airport make dynamic combination -- The Mohegan Sun just announced it will be creating a "gateway entertainment city" with a casino, amusement park, concert and sports arena, stores, and a private jet terminal for wealthy visitors. The first of its kind in the world. I would love to visit, but going to South Korea where they are building it is not in my upcoming travel plans. My guess is only a few Connecticut residents will have the ability to see it. Peggy Sayers/Hartford Courant

There'll be no quick decision in the Southwest Airlines-Delta dispute over Dallas Love Field gates -- The dispute over Dallas Love Field access apparently won't be decided by the time that Southwest Airlines wants to kick Delta Air Lines out of Southwest's gates. A six-month agreement to let Delta operate its five flights a day at Southwest's gates ends as of July 6, and a court battle to clarify what Southwest must do won't be done by that time. Terry Maxon/Dallas Morning News

NTSB: Controllers, software complicit in wrong-runway landings -- The NTSB says air traffic controllers handling a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 and an Atlas Air Boeing 747-400LCF freighter that landed at the wrong airports in January 2014 and November 2013, respectively, did not follow standard procedures in alerting the pilots of other airports "in close proximity" to the intended destination airport, and more needs to be done to prevent issues in the future. John Croft/Aviation Daily

The car rental company Silvercar adds locations -- Silvercar, which has won notice for avoiding the problem of lines at car-rental counters, recently announced plans to add five more destinations to its lineup before the end of year. Currently available at eight airport locations around the country including Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas Love Field and Denver International Airport, the service will launch at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 15, Chicago's O'Hare in mid-June and then add a city every month or two thereafter. Shivani Vora/New York Times

Which airport ranked last in the nation in on-time performance? -- LaGuardia Airport had the worst on-time performance record of any major U.S. airport for the month of March, with Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy International following right behind, according to federal figures. LGA, derided by Vice President Joe Biden last year for what he called its "third world" character, ranked dead last among the nation's 29 biggest airports by passenger volume for on-time arrivals (61.6%) and departures (66.9%), according to data released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics on Tuesday. Steve Strunsky/NJ Advance Media

Boeing: AA, United modified Dreamliner orders to enhance fleet mix -- Boeing executives said Tuesday that delays in airline orders for 787 Dreamliners from American and United airlines stemmed from matching aircraft with their needs, not any disappointment with the innovative aircraft. "Nothing about our fundamental view of the market has changed," Jim McNerney, Boeing's CEO, said during an investor day conference. "Airlines are increasingly profitable," and are investing in new aircraft, he said. Bart Jansen/USA Today

Ohio defends status as 'birthplace of aviation' amid dispute from Connecticut -- Ohio's fight to maintain its status as the "birthplace of aviation" soared forward Tuesday in a unanimous vote to repudiate Connecticut's claim that another aviator beat the Wright brothers as first in flight. The Ohio House approved a measure disputing Connecticut's challenge, and it heads next to the state Senate. Lawmakers are responding to a 2013 Connecticut resolution that honored aviator Gustave Whitehead as beating Dayton-born Orville and Wilbur Wright's 1903 flight off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, by two years. AP

Flying Aviation Expo ramps up, signs on two premiere sponsors -- The Flying Aviation Expo, which will take place at the Palm Springs Convention Center from October 15-17, continues to ramp up for an impressive follow-on to last year's successful debut.  All of the most popular events and activities from last's years Expo will be back, only bigger and better. In addition to cool aircraft on display and the best of new products from leading aviation innovators, this year's show will focus on new technologies, from ADS-B to the Apple Watch, that will give pilots (and aviation enthusiasts) insights and hands-on experience with the hottest next-gen flying gear. Flying Magazine

Carsharing coming to a parking meter near you? -- Carsharing could soon become much more common in Los Angeles - as common as parking meters, in fact. The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to expand a program for carsharing companies in the city, allowing customers of companies such as Boston's Zipcar to pick up and drop off vehicles at some metered parking spots in the city. Howard Fine/Los Angeles Business Journal

L.A. minimum wage up for discussion; business group says issue rushed -- Los Angeles lawmakers are expected to take up the question of increasing the citywide minimum wage at a special hearing Wednesday afternoon that could begin the final process of hammering out crucial details of the hotly contested plan. One group of business leaders sharply complained that the city was rushing the process because the meeting agenda was not released until midday Tuesday, giving people little time to rearrange work schedules or make other plans to attend.