|
|
|
|
Putin vows payback after Kremlin confirms bomb downed Russian plane over Egypt -- President Vladimir Putin vowed to hunt down those responsible for blowing up a Russian airliner over Egypt and intensify air strikes against Islamists in Syria, after the Kremlin concluded a bomb had destroyed the plane last month, killing 224 people. "We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them," Putin said at a somber Kremlin meeting broadcast on Tuesday. The FSB security service swiftly announced a $50 million bounty on the bombers. Andrew Osborn/Reuters Related: Egypt detains two airport staff in connection with Russian air crash - sources
|
Flights at Denver International Airport cancelled as storm moves through Colorado -- Airlines at Denver International Airport canceled about 150 flights for Tuesday. "Delays will be possible as the Federal Aviation Administration slows traffic into Denver during the storm," according to airport spokesman Heath Montgomery. Montgomery said conditions at the airport at 5 a.m. were "blustery snow," but that crews were keeping the runways clear. United, Delta, American and JetBlue offered snow waivers for passengers who can change their plans. ABC7 Denver
|
'Flap' issue forces LAX emergency landing of San Diego to Dallas flight -- An American Airlines flight that took off from San Diego, bound for Dallas, was diverted to Los Angeles Monday afternoon because of a mechanical problem. The pilot of American Airlines flight 2472 reported "a flap issue," according to the Federal Aviation Administration's Allen Kenitzer. The Boeing 757-200 touched down at Los Angeles International Airport and taxied to the gate at 3:42 p.m., Kenitzer said. Mirna Alfonso/City News Service
|
Stranded passengers on flight to LAX get kosher meal courtesy of Montana Jewish community --About 300 international travelers found themselves stuck in the Billings Logan International Airport on Sunday without access to food, and members of the Billings community did their part to help make a bad situation a little easier to bear. Donna Healy jumped into action when she heard a El Al Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles made an unplanned stop in Billings. As a member of Congregation Beth Aaron, a Jewish community in Billings, Healy understands that many of the folks in Israel and aboard the flight keep a kosher diet. Jordan Niedermeier/Billings Gazette
|
Airport installing new public art -- With its recently completed expansion of Terminal 2, the San Diego International Airport installed nearly a dozen new public art works. The goal was in part to enhance the "customer experience," but on a more basic level it was to create a positive impression of San Diego for travelers. "The airport is not only a physical gateway, it's a cultural gateway," airport art program manager Lauren Lockhart said. Now, with the new $316 million Rental Car Center nearing completion - it opens. James Chute/San Diego Union-Tribune
|
Laguna Woods resident's paintings on display at John Wayne Airport -- From now through December 16, John Wayne Airport is displaying a collection of paintings by Orange County resident Dori Murnieks as part of JWA's Community Focus Space Program. The artwork can be viewed on the Departure (upper) Level near the security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C, and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4. JWA News Release
|
Live concerts at the airport? Katy Perry kicks off Dubai International's music campaign -- The thought of live concerts at the airport to while away the time before your flight is pretty fantastic. Dubai International Airport says it's planning to do just that, launching a series of concerts designed to entertain passengers. To get things started for what's called musicDXB (those are the airport's call letters), pop star Katy Perry last Tuesday belted out a dazzling set to an invitation-only Dubai Air Show gala dinner at a hotel. Mary Forgione/Los Angeles Times
|
JetBlue's airport farm adds a touch of green to JFK -- As the temperature on an October afternoon began to dip, Sophia Leonora-Mendelsohn walked briskly outside JetBlue's departures lobby at Kennedy International Airport and ran her hand across the top of a crate of kale seedlings just beginning to sprout. The season's first frost seemed only days, if not hours, away, and she wore a look of obvious concern. All her work - 3,000 crates, lined up and stuffed with herb and vegetable plants - would need to be removed before the plants perished in the cold. Zach Schonbrun/New York Times
|
San Jose may ease up on taxis to level playing field with Uber, Lyft -- Despite a two-day taxi strike protesting deregulation last week, San Jose lifted fingerprint and background check requirements for ridesharing services Uber and Lyft. Come Tuesday, the City Council will vote on whether to extend similar treatment to traditional taxi companies. Jennifer Wadsworth/San Jose Inside
|
United's on-time at Newark beats average despite DOJ claim, analyst says -- A veteran airline analyst said the Department of Justice may be overstating the case against United Airlines at Newark Airport. A week ago, the DOJ's antitrust division sued to keep United from leasing two dozen Newark slots from Delta. United currently controls 73% of the 1,233 slots at Newark; the June transaction would marginally increase its share. Ted Reed/TheStreet
|
Dallas asks court to stay FAA investigation related to the Dallas Love Field gate fight -- The latest development in the fight over gate use at Dallas Love Field is that the city of Dallas has asked a federal court to stay a Federal Aviation Administration investigation into the city's role in that matter. The city last week asked the U.S. District Court in Dallas for an "emergency request" for an immediate stay of the FAA's investigation "until further order of the court." Sheryl Jean/Dallas Morning News
|
TSA failing to detect weapons, bombs at NY airports: sources -- Security screeners at Kennedy and Newark airports have consistently failed to find weapons and bombs being smuggled by undercover operatives posing as airline passengers, The Post has learned, lapses made all the more alarming by the Paris terror attacks. One law enforcement source familiar with security procedures at the New York area's two international airports blasted the bungling by Transportation Security Administration workers, revealed in a chilling report made public just days before the ISIS strikes in France. Phillip Messing/New York Post
|
U.K. to boost counterterrorism, aviation security -- The British government detailed a string of measures aimed at boosting security amid heightened concerns about the threat of terrorism, including intensifying policing efforts, increasing intelligence staff and beefing up aviation security. The details came as a 41-year-old French man arrested over the weekend at London Gatwick airport appeared at a U.K. court for a bail hearing Monday, after being charged in relation to possessing an air rifle and a knife. Nicholas Winning & Alexis Flynn/Wall Street Journal
|
Delta says it will no longer let pets fly as checked baggage. They'll have to fly freight -- Delta won't let you check your pets as baggage next year. Starting in March, bigger animals will have to fly on Delta's cargo service. That's typically pricier than checking pets as baggage. It can also be less convenient since the pet may not be shipped with a customer's flight. United Airlines also doesn't allow pets to be checked in as baggage. Delta Air Lines Inc. will allow certain members of the military to check pets as baggage as well as customers with service or emotional support animals. AP
|
United Airlines takes a serious look at its coffee service on board -- Oscar Munoz may be sidelined, but his spirit of reform nonetheless is giving United Airlines a jolt. A java jolt in particular. With United CEO Munoz recuperating from a heart attack last month and not expected to return to his post until the first quarter of 2016, the airline nonetheless has been in hot pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee in recent weeks. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal
|
American Airlines AAdvantage eyes Qantas tie-up -- The world's largest frequent flyer program, American Airlines' AAdvantage, wants to form closer links with Qantas Airways' frequent flyer scheme, which could lead to mutual upgrades on both airlines - a benefit not allowed under the Qantas-Emirates alliance, to the annoyance of many Qantas frequent fliers. Such an agreement would be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of Australians who travel in the US, and increase the number of American tourists flying on Qantas domestic flights. Jamie Freed/Sydney Morning Herald
|
American shakeup: Airline changes its nut mix for premium passengers -- Call them nutty, but nothing gets by frequent fliers. Some American Airlines' customers noticed that the "warmed mixed nuts" served to passengers in the first-class and international-business cabins on some flights contained more than the normal number of cashews. It's true, the Fort Worth-based airline said. It changed the mix of nuts in snack ramekins because of higher prices for almonds. Sheryl Jean/Dallas Morning News
|
KLM gets its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner -- KLM has become the world's latest airline to add the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" to its fleet. The Dutch carrier celebrated the delivery of its first 787 on Saturday at a ceremony at Boeing's assembly line in Everett, Wash. "We are very proud to welcome our first Boeing 787 Dreamliner today," KLM CEO Pieter Elbers said in a statement timed to Saturday's delivery. "This aircraft symbolizes a new phase in the future of KLM. Investment in our customers is one of our priorities. This efficient aircraft is part of that investment." USA Today
|
Las Vegas becomes center of private aviation industry this week -- Yes, that may have been a business jet you saw on Swenson Street in the early-morning hours over the weekend. About 100 business aircraft have flown into Southern Nevada, as Las Vegas becomes the center of the private aviation industry universe this week, hosting the 68th National Business Aircraft Association convention. Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak on Monday welcomed the organization to Henderson Executive Airport, which will have a flight line of more than 80 jets and planes that serve as flying executive offices for some companies. Richard N. Velotta/Las Vegas Review-Journal
|
FAA offers steps to reduce NextGen plane noise -- The Federal Aviation Administration has a technical three-phase plan for exploring ways to quiet new and noisy flight paths that have been irking Bay Area residents for months. Similar complaints are being cried out across the country as the FAA rolls out its NextGen program at some airports. The FAA is upgrading to a satellite system and hopes to reduce air traffic congestion with more direct and condensed routing into airports, such as San Francisco International. Samantha Clark/Santa Cruz Sentinel
|
Don't fall for drone registration scams, warns FAA -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hasn't revealed its plans for drone registration yet, but that hasn't stopped at least one company from trying to make a buck from confusion about the rules. In early November, the FAA and Department of Transportation said they intend to set up a registry that will likely cover many small consumer drones, but it's yet to happen. A task force established to propose registration rules is due to deliver its findings on Friday, but even then the FAA will have to come up with formal rules and propose them. Martyn Williams/IDG News Service
|
New chief of FBI office in Buffalo is well-versed in counterterrorism -- On that horrific day in September, the day when America watched in disbelief as the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell, Adam S. Cohen was halfway across the world, already knee-deep in the world of counterterrorism. It was still early in his career with the FBI, but Cohen, a Brooklyn native working out of the New York City office, had already gained a reputation for his work on the millennium bomb plot. The FBI investigation disrupted a plan to blow up Los Angeles International Airport on the eve of the millennium and sent ringleader Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian national who trained with Islamic terrorists, to prison. Phil Fairbanks/Buffalo News
|
|
|
|
How Boeing is doing more work with fewer workers -- For most of its 100-year history, when Boeing turned out more planes, employment soared and the Seattle-area economy prospered. When the rate of production fell, layoffs followed and the local economy crashed. The cycle was so predictable that Boeing workers had a phrase for it: "Headcount goes by rate." Now that longstanding cycle has broken down. The world's largest plane maker is in the midst of its biggest peacetime boom, churning out 20 percent more planes than when the last big cycle peaked in the 1990s. Reuters
|
Homeowners give new helicopter rules a whirl -- A coalition of homeowner groups has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation to set new regulations regarding helicopter activity in the L.A. region. The petitions filed last month address four areas of concern to the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition - minimum altitudes, hovering restrictions, mandatory media pooling and a coastal shoreline route. Mark R. Madler/San Fernando Valley Business Journal
|
L.A. Expo Line hasn't reduced congestion as promised, a study finds -- Contrary to predictions used to promote the first phase of the Expo light rail line between downtown and Los Angeles' Westside, a new study has found that the $930-million project has done little to relieve traffic congestion in the area. The analysis released Monday by USC researchers found that the 8.6-mile line did accomplish a worthy goal: boosting transit ridership in a dense, car-choked corridor. Dan Weikel & Alice Walton/Los Angeles Times
|
Fresh off Bay Area victory, tech giant Airbnb may set sights on L.A. -- In San Francisco's bruising fight to put new limits on vacation rental business Airbnb, few players were more important than the hotel workers union. Unite Here Local 2, working with housing activists and community groups, helped draft the package of restrictions known as Proposition F. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times
|
No reliable way to track L.A. police on tax-free full salary injury leave, audit finds -- The Los Angeles Police Department has no reliable way to track employees on extended injury leave, a program that pays officers 100% of salary, tax-free, for up to a year and costs the city tens of millions of dollars annually. The poor record-keeping will be reported to the Police Commission on Tuesday by Inspector General Alex Bustamante, a year after a Times investigation found a dramatic rise in the rate of injury claims filed by police and firefighters and eight months after a city audit that criticized a culture of filing "excessive" injury claims at the two departments. Jack Dolan/Los Angeles Times
|
L.A. could fund sidewalk repairs in front of businesses -- Los Angeles lawmakers tentatively backed the idea Monday of ponying up money to fix broken sidewalks in both residential and commercial areas, in a first step toward setting out a road map for smoothing out city walkways for years to come. City Council members are trying to hash out a policy as Los Angeles starts to invest tens of millions of dollars annually in its sidewalks: Under a pending settlement with attorneys for the disabled, the city has pledged to spend $1.4 billion over the next three decades to fix its massive backlog of buckled walkways. Emily Alpert Reyes/Los Angeles Times
|
Garcetti's overhaul of LAFD hiring hasn't met aim of diversifying -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's overhaul of how the city hires new firefighters - launched 16 months ago amid allegations of nepotism and bias - has so far failed to meet his aim of diversifying the LAFD and may require further reforms to succeed, according to interviews with city officials and a Times analysis of government data. In March of last year, the mayor halted hiring at the Fire Department after a series of Times reports prompted him to condemn the city's selection methods as "fatally flawed." Ben Welsh/Los Angeles Times
|
|
|
|
|
|
