Airports

Feds demand defense info from accused LAX TSA killer -- Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to require defense attorneys to reveal any background or character information that might result in a lesser sentence for the suspect charged in a deadly shooting spree at Los Angeles International Airport, court papers filed Monday show. City News Service

Shuttle collides with airport tug at LAX, minor injuries reported -- An accident occurred on the runways of Los Angeles International Airport on Monday night when a shuttle bus hit an aircraft tug. The driver of the tug, which is used to move luggage or, at times, aircraft, was not injured. There were 12 passengers on the bus, and minor injuries were reported for six. No transfers to the hospital were reported. An investigation was underway. Stu Mundel/KCAL9 MyNewsLA.com

Why enrolling in TSA's faster-through-airport-security program may be easier this summer -- Still haven't signed up for TSA PreCheck? This summer two enrollment centers in Southern California and others around the country are expanding their hours to serve travelers who want to join the expedited airport screening program. Mary Forgione/Los Angeles Times

Detroit won't have street artist Shepard Fairey extradited from L.A. after arrest -- Best known for the iconic "Hope" poster used in Barack Obama's first presidential campaign, street artist Shepard Fairey was recently detained by police as he passed through customs at Los Angeles International Airport. Fairey was wanted by authorities in Detroit, where he was being sought on two counts of malicious destruction of property, police Sgt. Rebecca McKay told The Times last month. Joseph Serna & Matt Hamilton/Los Angeles Times Related: Shepard Fairey's Detroit debacle a mark of street art's rising status 

Heathrow protesters breach perimeter, cause flight back-ups -- Fliers faced delays Monday at London's Heathrow airport after climate change activists breached the airport's perimeter fence and launched a protest on one of the airfield's runways, The Associated Press reports. About a dozen activists from a group called Plane Stupid made it onto the airport grounds Monday morning at about at 3:30 a.m. London time. Ben Mutzabaugh/USA Today

Aviation Safety

Five major risks to flying in Asia -- Asia is the world's fastest-growing aviation market. But experts worry the continent is ill-equipped to handle the increasing traffic. Here are the major risks, illustrated through the course of a fictional flight. Daniel Stacey/Wall Street Journal

Airlines
Airlines carve US into markets dominated by 1 or 2 carriers -- The wave of consolidation that swept the U.S. airline industry has markedly reduced competition at many of the nation's major airports, and passengers appear to be paying the price in higher fares and fees, an Associated Press analysis has found. Over the past decade, mega-mergers reduced nine large U.S. airlines to four - American, United, Delta and Southwest - with the result that travelers are increasingly finding their home airport dominated by just one or two players. David Koenig & Scott Mayerowitz/AP

American adds 8 routes to Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America -- American Airlines revealed plans Monday for eight routes connecting its hubs to destinations in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. American also said it would reinstate its service between New York JFK and Caracas, Venezuela. Of the eight upcoming routes, three will be from American's hub in Los Angeles. Charlotte and Dallas/Fort Worth each get two while Chicago O'Hare gets one. The new routes -- five of which are seasonal -- will be phased in between Sept. 3 and Dec. 19. Ben Mutzabaugh/USA Today

United's customer service woes started before that IT meltdown -- Air travelers were reminded again of the occasional vulnerability of the airline system when United Airlines' computers went down, stranding passengers across the country. Only a year ago, the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control center in Aurora shut down the entire industry after a fire disabled critical electronic components, forcing controllers to revert to manual methods and ad hoc backup centers. Matt Andersen/Crain's Chicago Business

United Airlines is worldwide leader in collecting non-fare fees from passengers -- Low-cost airlines may have led the way in "unbundling" the cost of flying by charging separately for almost everything but your seat on the plane. But a la carte pricing is now standard in the industry, with Cleveland's leading carrier United Airlines raking in more fees for baggage and other "ancillary" options than any other airline worldwide last year. Allison Grant/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Airlines' nickel-and-diming: Your bit of pocket change feeds a $50 billion global haul -- All that nickel and diming that the airlines are hitting you with these days cost you - and each of the other 500 million people who boarded flights in 2014 - a whopping $17.49 per flight. That's up 8.5% from what you paid for so-called "extras" like checking a bag, selecting your seat, or buying lunch onboard when you flew in 2013. Dan Reed/Forbes

Airlines are shedding services because they want passengers to take care of themselves -- As airlines shed customer service representatives in favor of iPads, kiosks and apps, customers are catching on.  SITA, a Swiss air transport technology company, predicts passengers checking into flights on smartphones, tablets and other devices is set to almost triple in the next two years. The Geneva-based conglomerate also predicts that passenger check-ins at traditional ticket counters will drop by 20%. Graham Rapier/Business Insider

This JetBlue video shows you how not to behave at the airport -- We've all been there: waiting outside a departure gate at the airport, ready to storm the jetway like it's the Bastille, hoping to avoid too many sharp elbows in the mosh pit of travelers that's sure to form. JetBlue, though, wants to change all of that. The airline - which made waves recently when it became the latest carrier to completely do away with free checked bags - has posted a humorous video on its Twitter account showing how you shouldn't behave when boarding a plane. Ben Geier/Time

United Airlines will sneak its newest model airplane into Chicago this week for a look-see -- Always thinking ahead, United Airlines will offer a select group of VIP customers, airline employees and media a sneak peek on Friday of a new plane -the Airbus 350 - that won't even enter its fleet until 2018. That's right. Another three years - unless the new model plane is delayed, which always is a possibility in the unpredictable airline and airplane manufacturing industries. But the new Airbus 350 is of great interest to many road warriers who fly regularly or who run airlines. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal

Delta and United labor issues surface even as record profits continue -- Indications of airline labor unhappiness arose Friday when Delta's pilots turned down a tentative contract agreement, which had been expected to pass, and United's flight attendants announced they would demonstrate Thursday as contract talks precede. It's always something in the airline industry. In the past year alone, concerns about security and Ebola, a Department of Justice investigation, oil price fluctuations and economic trends have impacted the sentiment of airline investors. Ted Reed/TheStreet

Voting begins on contract for Southwest Airlines flight attendants -- Southwest Airlines flight attendants began voting Monday on a proposed contract. Voting concludes on Friday, July 24. Negotiators for the airline and Transport Workers Union Local 556 announced the tentative agreement July 3. The union is in the middle of 20 meetings throughout the Southwest system to explain what's in the proposal. The two sides began negotiations more than two years ago. The current contract became amendable in May 2013. Terry Maxon/Dallas Morning News

American Airlines launches global agency review -- American Airlines is putting its global account into review. The carrier has been working with Interpublic's McCann Erickson and its agency TM in New York and Dallas for more than 20 years, an American Airlines spokeswoman said. McCann is invited to participate in the review, which is being handled by AAR. Maureen Morrison/Advertising Age

Qantas, Cathay, Etihad and others offer more pre-flight luxury -- Clubs for first and business-class passengers and premium frequent flyers are becoming increasingly more inviting, with hotel-like facilities and lures such as pre-boarding spa treatments and quality meals served in restaurant-style environments. Susan Kurosawa/The Australian

Transportation Network Companies

Uber, Lyft carpooling bill pulled ahead of key committee vote -- Legislation allowing California commuters to carpool using services like Uber and Lyft could be finished for the year after a committee hit the brakes ahead of an approaching deadline. The chair of the committee, who has worked in the taxi industry, said he considered the bill a "piecemeal" approach to regulating ridesharing companies. Jeremy B. White/Sacramento Bee

Bill would punish Uber, Lyft for hiring sex offenders -- A new ride-hailing bill has surfaced in the state Capitol, and it's sure to add fuel to the political fire smoldering over attempts to regulate the sharing economy in California. SB 372, so-called gut-and-amend legislation that replaces the previous contents of the bill, would make it illegal for companies such as Lyft Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. to "employ" or "retain" any driver required by law to register as a sex offender. It was introduced by Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, on July 8. Cheryl Miller/The Recorder 

Sacramento airport in negotiations with Uber, Lyft -- Sacramento International Airport officials have entered negotiations with Uber and Lyft to allow their drivers to serve airport users, a move that would end a growing cat-and-mouse game between the airport and non-permitted drivers - one that has prompted complaints from traditional taxi drivers. Tony Bizjak/Sacramento Bee

Aviation Data & Analysis
Reported Operating Cost and Utilization of More Than 3,000 Narrowbody Aircraft
Courtesy Oliver Wyman PlaneStats
City Government

Critics question private sale of L.A. fire station to developer -- Earlier this year, Los Angeles city leaders sold an old fire station to a developer with plans to remake a Studio City landmark - the rustic collection of ballrooms and banquet halls known as Sportsmen's Lodge. Once a hangout for Hollywood stars such as John Wayne and Bette Davis, later a go-to spot for political events, the woodsy lodge has long hosted bar mitzvahs and weddings, even the reception for Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Emily Alpert Reyes/Los Angeles Times

LAPD officers undergoing training in de-escalating violent encounters -- Responding to the fatal police shooting of Ezell Ford in South Los Angeles, Police Chief Charlie Beck said Monday that all of the department's officers will be trained in the next month on ways to de-escalate potentially violent encounters as part of a "national conversation" on police use of force. The five-hour-long training session, which will be conducted at all 21 police divisions, began Monday with Topanga Division officers at the New Community Jewish High School in West Hills. Northeast Division officers also received training Monday, LAPD officials said. City News Service

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