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Pilots' union calls Lufthansa strikes for Tuesday, Wednesday -- The German pilots' union will extend its strike at Lufthansa into Wednesday after a walkout already planned for Tuesday in a long-running dispute over pay, benefits and cost cuts. Tuesday's strike, the 13th in 18 months, affects long-haul passenger and cargo flights out of Germany from 2 a.m. EDT to 5.59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, while Wednesday's 24-hour strike targets short-haul Lufthansa and Germanwings flights, it said on Monday. Victoria Bryan & Peter Maushagen/Reuters
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Petition calls for airline seat standards to end the cabin crush -- With commercial airlines packing more passengers per plane, many fliers believe that the federal government should adopt minimum airline seat standards for legroom and width to ensure the safety and comfort of travelers. That is the sentiment of more than 30,000 people who signed a petition that was sent last month to Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta. The petition, circulated by the passenger rights group FlyersRights.org, points out that many airlines have installed narrower seats with less legroom to boost capacity. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
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American Airlines leaving downtown Tempe -- American Airlines next year will leave the downtown Tempe building that served as the headquarters for US Airways, the company said Friday. Most of the 500 workers will be relocated to the airline's other facilities in the state when the company moves out at the end of 2016, officials said. Ryan Randazzo & Darren DaRonco/Arizona Republic
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Hiring spree brings new blood to American Airlines -- As a kid growing up in Southlake, Ryan Tate watched American Airlines jets fly over his house as they prepared to land at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Now the former military pilot is ready to hop into the cockpit and fly those jets himself as he starts his career at American. Tate, 30, is one of thousands of new hires at the Fort Worth-based company, which has been in expansion mode since its 2013 merger with US Airways. In the first eight months of 2015, American has hired more than 8,700 workers systemwide, including both new jobs and open positions. Andrea Ahles/Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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Judge keeps alive TWA pilot lawsuit against APA, American Airlines -- U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane has refused to toss out a lawsuit by former Trans World Airlines pilots who accused the Allied Pilots Association of failing in its "duty of fair representation" and American Airlines of "colluding" with APA. But Lane did rule against the TWA pilots in their efforts to challenge the seniority list that put close to half of them far down in the seniority list and the rest of them behind all American pilots after AA acquired TWA in April 2001. Terry Maxon/Dallas Morning News
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Mesa Airlines handing out bonuses as Republic Airways mulls options in contract showdown -- Talk about contrasting situations in the world of regional airlines. While regional carrier Republic Airways and its pilots plot their next moves in the increasingly tense showdown over a new pilot contract, Phoenix, Arizona-based regional carrier Mesa Airlines has been happily handing out bonuses exceeding $1 million to employees in recent months. Privately-held Mesa operates regional flights for both Chicago-based United Airlines and American Airlines. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal
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Key revenue measure still falling at Delta Air Lines; fare wars taking a toll? -- Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that a key revenue measure fell again in August, further indication that spotty fare wars are taking a financial toll on the airlines. Delta said passenger revenue for every seat flown one mile fell 6.5% last month compared with August 2014. It blamed lower international fuel surcharges, the strong dollar, and weaker revenue in "select" U.S. markets. With jet fuel cheaper than a year ago, airlines have been adding flights and seats in recent months. AP
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Delta's Philadelphia refinery running at 110 pct, margins swell -- Delta Air Lines Inc is running its Philadelphia area oil refinery at a near-record 110 percent of capacity, according to a person familiar with operations, a sign of the surprisingly strong summer profits U.S. refineries are generating. While collapsing global crude oil markets have cast a dark shadow over much of the energy industry, refiners are running flat out this summer to meet record U.S. demand for gasoline. Some have pressed beyond their theoretical limits as rivals suffered unexpected breakdowns or glitches last month. Jarrett Renshaw/Reuters
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Editorial: Big 3 U.S. airlines demand truly Open Skies -- At first glance, most U.S. travelers might not be terribly disturbed to learn that the governments of United Arab Emirates and Qatar are heavily subsidizing their countries' airlines. If it means the opening of new routes, low prices and world-class amenities during a layover in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha airports ... well, what's not to like? San Francisco Chronicle
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Emirates touches down in Orlando, shows off its Airbus A380 superjumbo -- Emirates airline has commenced its newest U.S. route, connecting one of America's top tourist destinations to one of the world's fastest-growing aviation hubs. Just after 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Emirates touched down at Orlando International Airport. Its inaugural daily non-stop flight -- Emirates Flight 219 -- arrived nearly 16 hours after taking off from Dubai International Airport. Susan B. Barnes/USA Today
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For Latin America, a new airline-every year -- How's this for an ambitious growth plan: VivaLatinamerica, the holding company that operates Mexico's VivaAerobus and Colombia's VivaColombia, is on track to launch a third airline next year. It then plans to start a new Viva-branded airline every year after that. The company is launching a Costa Rica-based airline that will operate throughout Central America, says VivaLatinamerica CEO Joseph Mohan. Madhu Unnikrishnan /Aviation Week
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Airlines must confront hacker threats, cyber expert warns -- Airlines facing increasing threats from hackers should not forget the dangers for backroom technology such as reservation and flight planning systems amid the headlines about aircraft safety risks, a local cyber expert has warned. Aon Risk Solutions cyber risks practice leader Eric Lowenstein says there are already examples of these type of attacks in the aviation industry, including a world-first incident in June which saw 10 planes grounded at Polish airline LOT after computers that issued flight plans were hacked. Steve Creedy/The Australian
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Bomb threat at LAX turns out to be false alarm -- Authorities investigated a bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday afternoon that caused a partial evacuation in some areas, but the incident turned out to be a false alarm, authorities said. The FBI issued the warning to LAX officials around 2:18 p.m. that a white van parked by the curb between the Tom Bradley International and American Airlines terminals contained explosives, LAX police spokesman Rob Pedregon said. Angel Jennings/Los Angeles Times AP
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Wanted: Airport director with wings -- Ontario is looking for an airport director who's willing to take a leap of faith: Sign on to head an airport the city doesn't actually own yet. But the recruiter hired last week to seek out candidates for the job isn't fazed. Tim McNamara, of the Boyden global executive search firm, said Ontario International Airport will attract a candidate who relishes a career-defining challenge, an opportunity to build something from the ground up at the struggling airfield. Cassie MacDuff/Riverside Press-Enterprise
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Traveler's aid - how it happened -- It occurred to me that as we continue our travels, I could "give back" in a more formal way. ENTER, Traveler's Aid of the Inland Empire. I volunteer at an international airport that I love! It's exciting...there are people of all ages who have questions, seek information, encouragement, reinforcement, assistance or simply a smile and voice of "Welcome." I'm a genuine, trained volunteer wearing a red vest with wings and the Traveler's Aid logo and an array of national flag pins. Gary Garfield/Huff Post Travel
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Newport council to consider new noise monitoring system for JWA flights -- Aging equipment that monitors aircraft noise in Newport Beach from John Wayne Airport would be replaced with new technology under a proposal the City Council will consider Tuesday. For years, the city and Orange County have maintained 10 noise monitoring stations, three of which were placed in the arrival corridors and seven in the departure corridor near Newport Heights and the Back Bay. Hannah Fry/Daily Pilot Also: In O.C., a fear of more jet noise
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Airport authority commissions set to meet in Burbank on Tuesday -- The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Commission and its operations, legal and finance committees are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning in Burbank. The operations and development committee meeting is slated for 8:15 a.m. in the Airport Skyroom at the Bob Hope Airport, 2627 Hollywood Way. The full airport authority board will meet following the operations committee at 9 a.m. also in the Airport Skyroom, immediately followed by the legal committee. Chad Garland/Burbank Leader
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TSA screener stole passenger's pricey watch, then smashed it, cops say -- A TSA screener at JFK Airport pilfered a passenger's pricey watch - then smashed it to bits as she panicked when officials viewed surveillance video, law enforcement sources say. Margo Lauree-Grant, 41, was busted about 9 p.m. Wednesday for allegedly swiping the Canadian man's $7,500 Diamond Master on Aug. 26 after he passed through a checkpoint at Terminal 7, sources said. The man reported his timepiece missing after realizing he'd left it behind during screening, a source said. Philip Messing/New York Post
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Lambert Airport hands out free parking cards to government insiders, former officials -- Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has been good to the area's well-connected when they jet out of town on business or pleasure. For decades, airport officials have doled out little-known, free-parking cards to everyone from mayors to senators to lobbyists - and even the spouses of former elected officials. Documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch under open records laws show airport officials have given free access to some of St. Louis' biggest names. Nicholas J.C. Pistor/St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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In rare move Dallas council to revisit vote that grounded $41 million Braniff building redo -- In the word of Liz Lemon: Twist! Just days after the Dallas City Council voted to kill a years-in-the-making deal with car-and-charter-jet-dealer Randall Reed to redevelop the late Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field, five council members have asked Mayor Mike Rawlings to reconsider that no vote - a fairly rare occurrence at Dallas City Hall. Robert Wilonsky/Dallas Morning News
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Does McCarran growth mean it's time for that new airport? Not just yet -- With all the news flying around about McCarran International Airport in the past 10 days, you'd think it's time to start packing up the desert tortoises hanging around the Ivanpah Valley and paving runways for Southern Nevada International Airport. Richard N. Velotta/Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Construction booming at Orlando International Airport -- Eight cranes dot the southern horizon of Orlando International Airport, which is in the early stages of a $1.1 billion expansion that sets the stage for another $1.8 billion worth of work. Construction crews and heavy-equipment operators are busy building a train depot and six-story parking garage, as well as extending a people-mover system that will connect to the main terminal a mile to the north. Dan Tracy/Orlando Sentinel
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New billion euro high-tech 'city' on the way for Dublin Airport -- The Dublin Airport Authority is developing a €1 billion plan to build a 3.2 million square foot airport-style 'city' in North Dublin. According to documents seen by The Sunday Business Post, the development will be constructed over 15 years in one of Ireland's largest ever building projects - three times the size of The Dundrum Town Centre. The project will be called 'Dublin Airport Central' and create a high-tech airport city in a bid to attract both multinational and domestic tenants. Mary McDonnell/Newstalk 106-108FM
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FAA's switch to satellite technology could mean more flight paths under proposal -- The Federal Aviation Administration is planning on switching from ground-based to satellite technology to track and guide planes to their destination. The move, according to Ed Mertz of KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO, may mean planes will have more pathways due to the technology's precision. The website, according to FAA Spokesperson Ian Gregor, also shows the location of current flight tracks, as well as the location of the new ones under the proposed plan. CBS LA
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Helicopters buzz O.C. coast but little can be done -- If you're on an Orange County beach and a helicopter flies so low it nearly blows sand in your face, there's not much you can do about it. But if you're in Los Angeles County and a helicopter flies too low for your liking, at least you can report it, thanks to the launching this year by the Federal Aviation Administration of a dedicated helicopter noise complaint system in the county to our north. For years the FAA has excluded helicopters from the 1,000-foot rule that applies to fixed-wing aircraft. David Hansen/Daily Pilot
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New hotel fees include a charge to guarantee the room you want -- Taking a cue from the airline industry, hotels are squeezing customers with higher nightly rates as well as extra guest fees, such as charges to check in early and to guarantee you get the room you want. The average rate of a hotel stay in the U.S. is expected to increase to $120 this year, a 5% increase over 2014, according to a forecast by PricewaterhouseCoopers. On top of that, U.S. hotels are expected to collect a record $2.47 billion in extra fees and surcharges, a 5% increase over the record $2.35 billion collected last year. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
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Net orders for Boeing's 747 jumbo drop to zero -- Boeing said Nippon Cargo Airlines Co. scrapped orders for four 747 freighters worth $1.5 billion, leaving the planemaker with zero net orders for the jumbo jetliners this year. The cancellation comes as Boeing prepares to cut output of the hump-backed 747 to one plane a month amid waning demand for four-engine aircraft and an air cargo market struggling to gain lift amid China's economic turmoil. Through the end of August, Boeing had just 29 unfilled orders for the 747-8, the latest model of its iconic jet. Julie Johnsson/Bloomberg News
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Donald Trump's big boost: His own air fleet -- Donald Trump's presidential campaign has a big advantage hidden in plain sight: Trump Air. Mr. Trump's fleet of private aircraft, which includes a Boeing 757, a Cessna Citation X and three Sikorsky helicopters, whisks the billionaire executive to Republican primary events in far-flung locales, some of them difficult to reach by commercial planes. The fleet also allows Mr. Trump to promote his brand. He garnered valuable publicity at the recent Iowa State Fair, for example, by giving children free rides in one of his helicopters with a huge Trump logo on the side. Mark Maremont & Heather Haddon/Wall Street Journal
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| Transportation Network Companies |
Late bill requires deeper background checks of Uber, Lyft drivers -- In the latest attempt to impose tougher rules on companies like Uber and Lyft, an amended California Assembly bill would require drivers to undergo broader criminal background checks. Current standards aren't sufficient to protect riders, argued Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, pointing out that the companies' background checks only cover the seven-year window mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission. "Rider safety is paramount," Cooper said. Jeremy B. White/Sacramento Bee
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L.A. plans to undo 2012 pension cuts in new union pay deal -- At L.A. City Hall, it was the most hotly debated policy initiative of 2012: a new law aimed at reining in retirement benefits for thousands of future public employees. Alarmed by steadily growing pension costs, the City Council voted to scale back the size of pensions offered to each civilian worker hired after July 2013, over the furious objections of organized labor. A proposed four-year salary agreement with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions calls for the council to abandon that 2012 pension plan. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times
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Deal to win City Council support for Olympics could hinder L.A.'s chances -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti squinted in the afternoon sun at the throng of reporters gathered Tuesday at the edge of Santa Monica State Beach, a breeze sweeping the sand that stretched behind him toward the Pacific Ocean. "Breathe this moment in," he said from a small stage erected for the occasion at the Annenberg Community Beach House. "There are few moments like this in our lifetime." The mayor's pride seemed justified. Peter Jamison/Los Angeles Times
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L.A. mayor defends crime-fighting efforts as activists call for anti-violence summit -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti defended the city's crime-fighting strategy Friday, saying more highly trained cops and gang intervention efforts are being deployed in the hardest-hit areas to help reduce a dramatic hike in killings last month. "We are still the safest big city in America," Garcetti said during a news conference at the Los Angeles Police Department's Mission Division, where the department started to roll out its use of body cameras for officers earlier in the week. Javier Panzar & Sean Greene
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Garcetti, Beck defend LAPD body camera policy -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti responded Friday to criticism over the LAPD's policy on officer body cameras, saying that automatically making recordings public could violate the privacy of victims. Garcetti defended the department's stance in the face of criticism from the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which earlier this week sent an 11-page letter criticizing the LAPD's policy to federal officials and urging them not to fund more of the devices for Los Angeles. Javier Panzar/Los Angeles Times
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A Los Angeles plan to reshape the streetscape sets off fears of gridlock -- This city of fast cars and endless freeways is preparing to do what not long ago would have been unthinkable: sacrificing car lanes to make way for bikes and buses. The City Council has approved a far-reaching transportation plan that would reshape the streetscape over the next 20 years, adding hundreds of miles of bicycle lanes, bus-only lanes and pedestrian safety features as part of an effort to nudge drivers out from behind the wheel. Not surprisingly, in the unofficial traffic congestion capital of the country, the plan has set off fears of apocalyptic gridlock. Ian Lovett/New York Times
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