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LA councilman calls out FAA over noisy LAX flights -- The Federal Aviation Administration's answer to why residents of Westside communities are reporting more airplane noise from Los Angeles International Airport has prompted an angry letter from City Councilman Mike Bonin. Bonin asked the FAA to explain what had changed at the airport recently that might account for the increase in complaints. The response he got frustrated the councilman. Sharon McNary/KPCC
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Delta's big move at LAX -- It was just last June that Delta put the finishing touches on a $229 million overhaul of its Terminal 5 home at Los Angeles International Airport. And now it's planning to move out. Delta chief executive Richard Anderson told employees that the airline has signed a letter of intent with Los Angeles to relocate its LAX operations to Terminals 2 and 3 after it renovates them. The plan is still subject to approval by directors of Los Angeles World Airports, the operating authority for LAX. TravelSkills
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Notification final step in offering new flights at Long Beach Airport -- Long Beach Airport officials have put everyone - airlines and opponents - on notice that nine new daily commercial slots are available in 2016. An advertisement in the Gazette and the Long Beach Press-Telegram last week made the same case that airport director Bryant Francis made to the City Council in December. An analysis of the cumulative noise made by commercial jets showed that the airport had to go from offering a minimum of 41 commercial flights a day to 50 a day to stay within the parameters of the city's noise ordinance. Long Beach Gazettes
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Inland Empire economy looking up thanks to 2 major developments -- Record job growth, continued migration into the region because of affordability and an energized logistics sector were key highlights in an annual economic speech given by Inland Empire economist John Husing to members of the business community Tuesday. Two recent developments are key, Husing said. First, local control of L.A./Ontario International Airport should bring more travelers - and eventually carriers and jobs - back to ONT. A second positive sign, Husing said, is that more residential construction is on the horizon. Neil Nisperos/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Ed Coghlan/PublicCEO
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San Jose: In eye of Super Bowl, airport's front line trained on spotting human trafficking -- With the Super Bowl's imminent arrival, the glamour of the country's biggest sporting event was evident at the South Bay's main airport Wednesday, with multistory banners cascading down from the tops of parking garages and other insignia draped across the facades of its terminals. And in the literal shadow of those adornments, front-line employees were being schooled in combating another influx that also operates in the shadows. Robert Salonga/San Jose Mercury News
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The Best and Worst Airlines of 2015 -- Customers have plenty of issues with airlines: how they shrink space while inflating fees, make upgrades harder, lose bags and strand passengers. But overall the industry is actually getting more reliable. It's canceling fewer flights, staying on schedule more often and investing profits in better equipment and even more baggage handlers. This year's annual Middle Seat Scorecard, which ranks airline performance on seven different measures important to travelers, reveals progress in air travel. Scott McCartney/Wall Street Journal
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Qatar Air threatens split from Oneworld alliance and American Airlines -- Qatar Airways said it may seek to form a breakaway group within the Oneworld alliance should American Airlines Group continue to lend its weight to a U.S. push to curb the growth of Gulf rivals. Qatar Air, which joined Oneworld in 2013, won't tolerate a situation where "conditions are no longer conducive to a fair business relationship and mutual respect," Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in an interview. James Nash & Deena Kamel Yousef/Bloomberg News John Nguyen/AirlineReporter
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When he returns from his heart transplant, United CEO Munoz could be better than before -- In the opening sequence of the 1970s TV classic The Six Million Dollar Man, a doctor, referring to the title character, Steve Austin, says: "We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was." Forty years later that may very well be what a team of doctors at Northwestern Medicine's Heart Transplant Program in Chicago has done for United Airlines' still-new CEO, Oscar Munoz. Dan Reed/Forbes
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Frontier Airlines targets 'overpriced' routes in expansion push -- Frontier Airlines, one of a trio of discount carriers roiling the U.S. airline industry, is sharply expanding service this spring by targeting routes where it thinks it can substantially undercut larger rivals, a top executive said. Frontier this month announced 56 new routes it will begin by June. Though that's a roughly 40% increase from the carrier's current 120 routes, it represents about a 20% increase in total capacity. Susan Carey/Wall Street Journal CAPA Centre for Aviation: Spirit and Frontier: A merger in the short to medium term makes little sense, despite suggestions
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Low-cost airlines Allegiant, Frontier and Wow break out new routes -- Three ultra-low-cost airlines announced new routes on Tuesday in a sign of the dramatic change that is underway in an increasingly segmented airline business. Allegiant, Frontier and Norway's Wow Air are all considered to be "ultra-low-cost carriers," or ULCCs, because they charge rock-bottom fares, limit frequencies, squeeze passengers into seats with minimal "pitch" or space between them, and pile on the ancillary fees. Ted Reed/The Street
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United, Delta seek dismissal of antitrust lawsuit over Newark slots -- United Continental Holdings Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc asked a federal judge to dismiss a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to stop United from expanding its large presence at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The Justice Department in November challenged Delta's agreement to lease 24 Newark takeoff and landing slots to United, in exchange for United's agreement to lease 30 slots to Delta at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Jonathan Stempel/Reuters
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Pilots demand a larger slice of airline pie -- Last year, pilots at Delta Air Lines and Southwest overwhelmingly rejected proposed contracts and then elected union leaders who led them through earlier contract scuffles. The message was loud and clear: It's time for payback after years of sacrifice. After pilots at American, the largest U.S. carrier, agreed to a long-term deal with hefty raises a year ago, some 34,000 pilots at the three next-biggest carriers moved to collect a larger part of now-record profits flowing into U.S. airline coffers. Justin Bachman/Bloomberg Business
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Hawaiian Airlines CEO details big plans for Maui -- The president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines says more flights could be headed to Maui over the next few years as the company expands its fleet and operations. Mark Dunkerley spoke at a Maui Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday and outlined what future developments for the company could mean for the island, Maui News reported. AP
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Airlines launched more than 3,000 new services in 2015 -- 2015 was a year of growth and profit-making for airlines all around the world. According to the New Route Database maintained by Airline Network News and Analysis (anna.aero), 3,100 new services were added worldwide in 2015. That was over 500 more than the number of new services added in 2014. This is truly a worldwide statistic. The 2015 total includes new services from more than 350 airlines operating in 173 countries. Josh Lew/Travel Pulse
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Airline profits are soaring, so why is it still so expensive to fly? -- In just the first three quarters of 2015, U.S. airlines made almost $18 billion in profit. During that time, they were on pace to pass 2014's record of $3.5 billion in baggage fees, their planes flew 85% full, and the steep drop in fuel prices had the carriers cashing in. "With everything from the seat to the baggage to everything being on as extras, and the prices are still not decreasing," passenger Rita Moss said. Kris Van Cleave/CBS News
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Former Spirit CEO Baldanza could get $1M in severance plus airline tickets for life -- Former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza could get $1 million in severance - twice his annual salary - for leaving his job. The severance would be doled out in equal payments over 24 months, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Baldanza, who resigned as president and CEO on Jan. 4, also would get a lifetime travel pass for Spirit flights, good for himself, his spouse and dependents. Arlene Satchell/ Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
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Lufthansa is looking for the world's best child announcer -- Have a kid who lives to fly? Lufthansa may have the promotion for you. The German airline says it is looking for world's "best child announcer." Kids between the ages of six and 10 may enter, and if they win, they'll earn a free flight with up to two companions to any European Lufthansa destination. The kid will get to make an announcement on the outbound flight. Lufthansa will film the winner, so this isn't great for a kid who is publicity shy. BrianSumers.com
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Model that predicts time from gate departure to takeoff could cut airport congestion, fuel waste -- Most frequent fliers are familiar with long lines at airports: at the check-in counter, the departure gate, and in boarding a booked flight. But even after passengers are buckled in, the waiting may continue-when a plane leaves the gate, only to sit on the tarmac, joining a long queue of flights awaiting takeoff. Such runway congestion can keep a plane idling for an hour or more, burning unnecessary fuel. Massachusetts Institute of Technology/phys.org
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How to find day rates at airport hotels -- In working on a story for NBCNEWS.com about hotel booking sites trying to stand out by offering a twist - including Winston Club, which plans to match people up to share top hotel rooms - I discovered a good resource for travelers who find themselves stuck at the airport. HotelsbyDay.com is a site that helps travelers find good rates for short stays at hotels during the day. These aren't the, ahem, one-hour or less kind of stays. Harriet Baskas/Stuck at the Airport
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Passenger hailed as a hero after attempting to save heart attack victim's life during flight -- There have been several instances of in-flight heroics, when passengers took charge, worked together and, in some cases, got extraordinarily innovative to help save someone during a medical emergency. Last November, Dr. Patricia Quinlan and some of her fellow travelers saved a man who fell unconscious during a flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Jelisa Castrodale/Road Warrior Voices
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| Transportation Network Companies |
Uber may face $7.6 million fine from the California Public Utilities Commission -- Uber's fate in California will be decided Thursday when the California Public Utilities Commission votes on whether the ride-hailing company will be suspended and fined $7.6 million for failing to meet data reporting requirements in 2014. Last July, an administrative law judge recommended that the San Francisco company be fined $7.3 million and suspended from operating in California. Tracey Lien/Los Angeles Times
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The Rams are expected to bring a psychological and economic boost to L.A. -- We have the Lakers and the Kings and the Clippers and the Dodgers and the Angels and the Ducks. But for many sports fans in Southern California, the lack of professional football has been something of a black mark on the region. With the Rams now slated to come to Inglewood, that stain may well be lifted. And the boost might be economic as well as psychological. Matt Stevens, Ruben Vives & Sarah Parvini/Los Angeles Times Photo: 360-degree view of the Rams' new home in Inglewood
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Winners and losers in the Rams' return to Los Angeles -- Nothing is more heart-wrenching for a die-hard fan than to watch his team move to another city. And nothing is quite as joyful for a fan as having her team return home. But the winners and losers in this high-stakes battle for relocation extend beyond fandom. Stan Kroenke, Winner: He got exactly what he wanted from the NFL and while San Diego figures out what it wants to do, the Rams will have a nice head start on winning over the fan base. Bob Iger. Loser: The Disney head honcho wasn't able to move the needle toward Carson after he signed on to woo NFL owners. Los Angeles Times
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Rams owner Stan Kroenke on how the NFL stadium deal was done -- In a wide-ranging interview with The Times -- Kroenke's first since his plan for a multi-billion-dollar stadium in Inglewood became public more than a year ago -- the owner discussed his final pitch to the league's team owners, the emotional relocation process and his ambitious vision for the site of the defunct Hollywood Park racetrack. Sam Farmer & Nathan Fenno/Los Angeles Times
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Taxpayers score touchdown vs. NFL -- The National Football League is coming back to Los Angeles and the winners are taxpayers. Certainly, local taxpayers won when the NFL chose the St. Louis Rams to move into a privately financed stadium to be built at the Hollywood Park Race Track site in Inglewood. The San Diego Chargers have an invitation to join them. But, taxpayers around the country may also have chalked up a victory with this decision. Joel Fox/Fox & Hounds Daily
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L.A. crime hits highest level since 2009 amid more gang violence and homelessness -- Los Angeles officials on Wednesday attributed last year's crime jump to increased gang activity and homelessness, among other things. With every crime category increasing last year in the city, total crime stood at its highest point since 2009, according to data released by Los Angeles Police Department. Violent crime was up 20.2% last year compared with 2014, and property crime rose 10.7% during the same span, LAPD figures show. Ben Poston/Los Angeles Times Also: City will pay LAPD officer nearly $1 million to end lawsuit over ticket quotas
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L.A. crime hits highest level since 2009 amid more gang violence and homelessness -- Los Angeles officials on Wednesday attributed last year's crime jump to increased gang activity and homelessness, among other things. With every crime category increasing last year in the city, total crime stood at its highest point since 2009, according to data released by Los Angeles Police Department. Violent crime was up 20.2% last year compared with 2014, and property crime rose 10.7% during the same span, LAPD figures show. Ben Poston/Los Angeles Times
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L.A. landlords and tenants will share earthquake retrofit costs under deal approved by City Council -- Renters and apartment owners must equally share the financial burden of earthquake retrofitting, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Wednesday, capping a more than year-long debate that allows the city to begin implementing the most sweeping mandatory seismic laws in the nation. Rosanna Xia/Los Angeles Times
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Los Angeles doubles its reward for information leading to graffiti arrests -- Looking to intensify the city's fight against blight, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday doubled the reward offered to people who provide information leading to the arrest of a tagger or graffiti vandal. On a 14-0 vote, the council boosted the reward to $2,000, up from $1,000. Councilman Paul Krekorian, who pushed for the change, said the existence of a reward lets the public know that they should report graffiti -- either after it's on a wall or while it's being painted. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times
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