Airports
Committee says Bob Hope Airport should get the Hollywood treatment in branding effort -- Bob Hope Airport officials have made it clear that they do not want the airfield's future name to be associated with Los Angeles. The operations and development committee of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority unanimously voted to recommend to the board that Hollywood Burbank Airport should be the airfield's new branding name. "Burbank is not Los Angeles and Los Angeles is not Burbank," Commissioner Don Brown said. Anthony Clark Carpio/Los Angeles Times
Why United is flying a Boeing 787s between Newark and Los Angeles -- Starting in June, United Airlines will fly a Boeing 787-9 between Los Angeles and Newark. Do you know why? It has little to do with ensuring domestic passengers can fly United's most modern aircraft. Instead, it is the result of a recent dispute between United's management and the Association of Flight Attendants, or AFA. BrianSumers.com
Disney's 'Paint the Night' parade wins industry award -- Disneyland's "Paint the Night" parade lit up the Themed Entertainment Association's Thea Awards banquet by securing an award for Outstanding Achievement for a parade. Los Angeles International Airport also secured an award for an Environmental Media Experience that recently opened in the revamped International Terminal at the airport. Mark Eades/Orange County Register
Without official OK, Carlsbad airline readies launch -- California Pacific Airlines, a North County startup that has tried for years to take flight, announced Tuesday at a press conference it was prepared to launch in three to four months. The only problem? Officials from San Diego County, owner of the McClellan-Palomar Airport, said the airline cannot take off until it gets environmental approval - a process that could take eight months to more than two years. Airline founder Ted Vallas, 95, was defiant at the press conference that was held in an office room at the airport and attended by more than 20 people, that the county was wrong. Phillip Molnar/San Diego Union-Tribune
Taxation is coming to the UAE, starting with airport passengers -- Airports in the UAE are starting to hit passengers where it hurts, by charging exit fees. Last week the Dubai authorities announced that passengers at the city-state's two airports, Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, will have to pay a 'service fee' of AED35 ($9.50) on all flights taking off from June 30. Now the neighbouring (and far smaller) emirate of Sharjah says it will do the same, with a levy of AED35 on departures from its airport. Dominic Dudley/Forbes
Alaska Air Acquisition of Virgin America
Is the Virgin America name worth keeping? -- As Alaska Air Group Inc. executives took a victory lap after sealing the deal to buy Virgin America Inc., one thing was clear: The familiar Eskimo on the tail of their planes was there to stay. What's unclear, though, is the fate of the arguably better known Virgin America brand. Globally, Richard Branson's urbane splash of red has helped sell a diverse array of businesses, from water and wine to mobile phones, health clubs, and even banking services. Justin Bachman/Bloomberg
Even Virgin America's founder is dismayed over Alaska Airlines' takeover -- Virgin America's plans to be acquired by Alaska Airlines in a $2.6 billion megadeal Monday set off a firestorm of criticism from Richard Branson and other loyal flyers. On March 15, Virgin America elaborately began service from Denver to San Francisco, with CEO David Cash saying the airline was already looking to expand service out of Denver. Virgin America backer Richard Branson was lamenting the loss of Virgin America Monday in a reflective blog post. Mark Calvey/San Francisco Business Times
A stronger Alaska Airlines creates new challenges for Southwest Airlines in California -- Alaska Airline's acquisition of Virgin America is a deal with California dreams at its heart, but its impact is likely to be felt by both travelers and airlines based in North Texas. The deal, valued at $4 billion including debt and assumed leases, is the latest step in an industry-wide trend toward consolidation that has concentrated more than 80 percent of domestic travel in the hands of four airlines. Conor Shine/Dallas Morning News
Alaska's bid for Virgin America good for investors, sad for us -- Virgin America is selling out. For investors, that's a great thing. Alaska Airlines is paying $2.6 billion to acquire the Burlingame airline: at $57 per share, investors are getting a 90 percent premium over the company's stock price just two weeks ago. But if we judge the acquisition by what Virgin originally set out to do - prove that superior customer service and a cool flying experience can overcome brute size and cost cutting - then we must conclude that the company ultimately failed. Thomas Lee/San Francisco Chronicle
Five factors determining whether Alaska keeps Virgin America's A320s -- If a computer program designed a Boeing vs. Airbus test case, it likely couldn't come up with a better scenario than the proposed Alaska Airlines-Virgin America merger. Both airlines (excepting Alaska regional affiliate Horizon Air's fleet) are all-narrowbody aircraft operators with North America-only networks and both have signed up for next-generation, re-engined narrowbodies. Aaron Karp/Air Transport World
Is there room for more airline consolidation? -- Now that Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has made its $2 billion bid for San Francisco-based Virgin America, one of many questions is: what could potentially be the next airline merger or acquisition? Then-US Airways CEO Doug Parker said in 2014 that merging his carrier and American Airlines would be "the last major piece needed to fully rationalize the industry." Airline industry observers agree that that giant airline mergers are done - for now. Benet J. Wilson/Airways News
Airlines
United's surprising friends in fight with activist shareholders -- United Airlines has won over some surprising friends in its board fight with two activist shareholders: unions that represent the vast majority of the carrier's workforce. Today, members of the pilots association at United, the union that represents ramp workers and gate agents and other labor groups are scheduled to picket PAR Capital Management and Altimeter Capital Management outside of the companies' Boston offices, protesting the effort the hedge funds launched earlier this year to install six new members on United's board after what the investors said were years of underperformance at the company. Micah Maidenberg/Crain's Chicago Business Related: United Continental investors launch website about director nominees
United Airlines, machinists union reach deal on new contracts -- United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) reached tentative agreements on new contracts for nearly 30,000 IAM-represented employees. The seven agreements, which run through 2021, call for nearly 30 percent in pay increases over the term of the deal and $100 million in lump sum payments, the IAM said. The agreements are subject to ratification by the IAM-represented employees, United Airlines said. Reuters
De Juniac to leave Air France-KLM to lead IATA -- Air France-KLM chairman and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac will replace Tony Tyler as the next director and CEO of the International Air Transport Association, the airline said Tuesday. De Juniac indicated to the Air France-KLM board of directors that he would accept IATA's offer to lead that organization at its general meeting, scheduled for June 1 to 3 in Dublin. Gregory Polek/AIN Online
Court rules jet can be impounded over compensation to passenger -- Ever been frustrated by an airport delay or by an airline that won't respond to your complaint? One passenger took it to the next level after waiting so long for compensation over a marathon mechanical delay that authorities threatened to impound the airline's jet until it paid her $680.The German vacationer had been waiting four years for the payout after her Thomas Cook Airlines flight from Vienna, Austria, to the Caribbean took off 22 hours late. Alastair Jamieson & Carlo Angerer/NBC News
American Airlines launches new service between Cleveland Hopkins, Washington Reagan in advance of RNC -- Cleveland Hopkins celebrated its newest flight Tuesday - American Airlines' nonstop route to Reagan National in the country's capital - with cookies, balloons and a nod to the influx of Washington politicians that will descend on Northeast Ohio in a few months. "Obviously, with the Republican National Convention coming up, it's a critical aspect of air service at CLE," said Todd Payne, chief of marketing and air service development at the airport. Susan Glaser/The Plain Dealer
What airlines does your favorite baseball team fly? -- What airlines does your favorite baseball team fly? I learned last week that United Airlines is once again flying 13 Major League Baseball team charters this year. All of these teams will take Boeing 737 or Airbus A320s to their away games. And the planes are configured just as they are for passenger flights, with each player generally taking his own row of three seats. It's not so luxurious. Delta is also big in baseball charters. It said last week it will be flying seven teams this year. Brian Sumers/BrianSumers.com 
Aviation Security
Proposal aims to tighten airport, train security after Brussels attacks -- Travelers would see tightened airport and train station security, including additional armed officers and better training for law enforcement, under a proposal endorsed by the secretary of Homeland Security on Tuesday in the wake of the Brussels attacks. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., outlined the bid to nearly double the number of armed Transportation Security Administration teams that patrol airports, train stations and other transportation hubs. Bart Jansen/USA Today
Man sentenced to 9 months for trying to charge cockpit on flight leaving Dulles -- A federal judge in Alexandria sentenced a New York man Tuesday to nine months in prison after authorities said he shouted threatening statements, including saying "jihad," aboard a flight leaving Dulles International Airport. David Patrick Diaz, 36, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., also received three years of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga in the Eastern District of Virginia. Diaz was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants. Dana Hedgpeth/Washington Post
TSA uses high-tech training tool called "IVIEW" to train for terror situations -- It may look like a virtual reality video game, but it's a high-tech training and response tool local police are using to keep you safe in a terror situation. "I would say that's the number one priority, is the protection of the traveling public. Escape routes can be mapped and pre-planned," says the Transportation Security Administration's Jim Bamberger. TSA is behind the program known as IVIEW. Brianne Carter/ABC7 Washington D.C.
Airplanes
What's next for Boeing's Dreamliner? The world awaits the 787-10 -- Four years into the life of the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing is starting work on the aircraft's third variation. Last month, major assembly of the first 787-10 began in Nagoya, Japan, where Boeing partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries began installing circular frames into the midforward section of the fuselage.  The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2018. Launch customers are Singapore Airlines and, in North America, United Airlines. Ted Reed/The Street
How spy probe into leaked C-17 intel wound up as an L.A. child pornography prosecution -- FBI agents investigating a potential data leak at Boeing obtained a secret warrant to search the home computers of a company manager in California for evidence they hoped would connect him to Chinese economic espionage. Instead, they say, they found something else entirely: graphic child pornography. With that discovery two years ago, an investigation of sensational but ultimately unproven allegations of espionage veered into an unrelated child pornography prosecution that won Keith Gartenlaub's conviction in December. Eric Tucker/AP
Transportation Network Companies
California bill advances to regulate prices for Uber, Lyft -- Legislation pushing state officials to regulate prices and do deeper background checks for companies like Uber and Lyft passed its first committee on Tuesday over tech industry objections. Popular transportation companies that allow users to hail rides on apps have been battling an intensifying regulatory push in Sacramento. In perhaps the widest-ranging effort yet, Senate Bill 1035 would push the Public Utilities Commission to consider deeper background checks, price regulation and better accommodations for disabled riders. Jeremy B. White/Sacramento Bee
Aviation Data & Analysis

Data Generated From Projected Global Fleet
Courtesy Oliver Wyman PlaneStats
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