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It hasn't exactly been a clear takeoff for Alaska Airlines-Virgin America deal -- Alaska Air CEO Brad Tilden and his senior management team came to the Bay Area Tuesday to meet with Virgin America employees in an effort for the two companies to find common ground. But signs of the cultural divide between the two airlines persist. It was just last week that Alaska emerged as the winning bidder against JetBlue for Virgin America. Mark Calvey/San Francisco Business Times
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American Airlines hits out at 'unacceptable' TSA lines -- If you think the waits at airport security are bad now, just wait until summer. That's the warning from American Airlines, the latest in a growing chorus of Transportation Security Administration critics who say the agency isn't doing enough to make sure passengers make their flights. Jon Schuppe/NBC News
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American Airlines, others lose dispute over allocation of coveted Haneda routes -- The U.S. Department of Transportation said Thursday it will continue with its plans to take a "completely fresh look" at route allocations to Tokyo's Haneda Airport over the objections of American, United and Hawaiian Airlines. The decision means airlines will have to compete for newly available daytime slots at the close-in Tokyo airport rather than switching over existing routes currently flown at night, the course American, United and Hawaiian all preferred. Conor Shine/Dallas Morning News
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Delta dumps one of the most hated airline fees -- Well here's something you don't hear every day: An airline is eliminating a fee. Delta Airlines is no longer charging customers a fee to speak with an actual human being while booking flights. In the past, the Atlanta-based airline charged travelers $25 per ticket for booking over the phone and $35 when buying at an airport. Kathryn Vasel/CNN Money
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Airlines to share safety ideas with automakers -- U.S. auto safety and aviation regulators have invited automakers to a joint summit on April 22 to examine whether airline industry safety practices can be adapted to help improve safety on the road. The event, which will be closed to the public, will be co-hosted by Mark Rosekind, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta, according to an invitation to the event obtained by Automotive News. Ryan Beene/Automotive News
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Emirates just bought the jumbo jets that helped bankrupt another airline -- Emirates has expanded its already massive fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbos with two additional aircraft. Airline CEO Sir Tim Clark confirmed the order in a statement on Wednesday. According to Bloomberg's Andrea Rothman, the two additional A380s come from Skymark Airlines' canceled six-aircraft order. Airbus scrapped the Japanese budget carrier's $1.7 billion order in July 2014 after the airline fell behind on its financial obligations. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
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Airlines fined up to $550K for disabilities complaints -- Three European airlines - Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa - were penalized up to a combined $550,000 for dealing improperly with complaints from disabled travelers, the U.S. Transportation Department announced Thursday. The cases involved the airlines not following U.S. rules for responding to numerous complaints received from 2012 to 2015. The airlines were supposed to either admit or deny that they violated rules for dealing with disabled travelers. Bart Jansen/USA Today
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Opinion: Is United's biofuels 'first' a blueprint for airlines? -- United Airlines recently initiated regular flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) with biofuels. The announcement triggered well-deserved media coverage. The Washington Post, for example, called it "a really big deal." What United and fuel provider AltAir Paramount have done represents the first time that biofuels will be used routinely by a U.S. commercial carrier for a regularly scheduled flight. Annie Benn/Aviation Week & Space Technology
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Security breaches at Van Nuys Airport concern city leaders -- A Los Angeles City Councilman has asked airport officials to appear before the council next week to explain what they are doing about re-occurring incidents of security breaches and vandalism at Van Nuys Airport. Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who is chairman of the city's Innovation, Grants, Technology and Trade Committee, which oversees airports and harbors, submitted a motion requesting the hearing at Wednesday's council meeting and he will question Los Angeles World Airports officials next Tuesday. Gregory J. Wilcox/Los Angeles Daily News Council Motion
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Trio of intruders prompts Memphis airport fence upgrade -- Memphis International Airport is getting a taller fence topped by razor wire along Airways and Shelby Drive after three people trespassed on the airfield in the past six months. Airport president Scott Brockman said the airport is negotiating with federal officials over proposed fines of up to $11,000 per event. Airport police detained the individuals and charged them with criminal trespassing and entering an airport restricted area. The incidents occurred last Nov. 7 and 19 and Jan. 23, according to offense reports. Wayne Risher/Memphis Commercial Appeal
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LA Kings fans can cut lines at LAX during playoffs -- We've all been there: Standing, waiting at the airport gate. Watching the privileged few with spiffy first-class seats or gold-member status board the plane while you stand there with your suitcase and one personal item, hoping there's space left in the overheads. Guess who doesn't have to suffer through this at Los Angeles International Airport for the foreseeable future? Los Angeles Kings fans, as long as they're rocking Kings gear at a Delta Air Lines gate. Greg Wyshynski/Yahoo Sports
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Video: Socal man booted off flight after insulting passengers, bragging about wealth, IQ -- A Southern California real estate mogul was kicked off a flight after yelling obscenities at passengers and bragging about his wealth, among other things. "Eat s--- and die. I wasn't f------ talking to you," local businessman David Brackett is heard saying. The tirade was captured by a fellow passenger. When someone calls him a loser, he fires back, "You're right. I'm a loser. I own six houses." "I'm 28. I make $4 million a year. What do you do?" He is heard saying. ABC7
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Consultant says proposed Las Vegas stadium won't affect airport operations -- A consultant hired by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Campus Improvement Authority says a domed stadium on 42 acres at Tropicana Avenue and Koval Lane would not disrupt operations at McCarran International Airport. Ben Doyle, president and owner of Alexandria, Virginia-based Capitol Airspace Group, said Wednesday that, based on existing Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, a $1.3 billion stadium would not interfere with flights at McCarran. Richard N. Velotta/Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Costa Rica airport restricts liquids in carry-ons -- Starting April 19, the Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) will enforce the same airport restrictions on liquids, aerosols or gels in carry-on luggage as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The new rules will apply to all passengers departing or in transit through Juan Santamar�a International Airport (SJO). Passengers are restricted to 3.4 ounce or 100 milliliter containers of liquid products in their carry-ons, and the items must be placed inside a transparent, closeable plastic bag. L. Arias/The Tico Times
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Proposal would arm aviation police officers at Chicago's airports -- A new ordinance that looks to arm aviation police officers at Chicago's airports was introduced to the City Council Wednesday. The measure, which was introduced by Ald. Chris Taliaferro, could lead to moving Chicago Police officers out of the the city's airports to assist in Chicago's neighborhoods. "This is a way we can put more boots on the ground without costing the city any money," Taliaferro told Ward Room. Tom Scuba & Mary Ann Ahern/NBC Chicago
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Slow descent: How economic and regulatory factors are changing the regional airline industry and the potential effect on the nation's airport -- Republic Airways Holdings, the second largest provider of regional jet operations to the major airlines, is in the midst of a significant reorganization stemming from dynamics that may be a harbinger of changes in the regional airline industry that could have implications for small and mid-sized airports of which municipal bond analysts and investors should be aware. Peter Stettler/MuniNet
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Senate creeps closer to passing FAA bill -- The Senate inched closer Thursday to wrapping up work on a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, voting 94-4 to end debate on a substitute amendment to the bill. Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a motion to invoke cloture on a substitute amendment from Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) that would greenlight FAA programs through fiscal 2017. The agency's current legal authority expires on July 15. Melanie Zanona/The Hill
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Official recommends FAA plan to control space traffic -- With the Pentagon looking to remove itself from the role of managing an ever-increasing amount of space traffic, FAA's Office Of Commercial Space Transportation is preparing to take on the mission and recommending the development of a plan to make that happen. The goal, says George Nield, who leads the FAA office, is to manage the traffic without creating a regulatory burden that might force commercial space companies abroad in search of fewer rules. Jen DiMascio/Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
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Getting a handle on drones -- No one knows for certain what will happen if an errant drone crashes into a passenger jet. Maybe nothing - birds collide with planes all the time with little consequence. But not always. From time to time, a little bird causes big damage to an airplane. Who wants to find out for sure? Better to keep drones and planes well out of each other's way. One important step is for Congress to pass the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that's working its way through the Senate this month. Times Editorial Board/Los Angeles Times
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Modern cures for a fear of flying -- Around 2-3% of people in developed countries have clinical aviophobia: an intense and irrational fear of flying. Symptoms include increased blood pressure, hyperventilation, gastric upset and panic attacks. Sufferers are usually aware that air travel is one of the safest forms of transportation, but are unable to shake off anxieties about crashing, or losing self-control. Gulliver - The Economist
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Who's supposed to break up brawl on airplane? -- Three passengers involved in an in-flight fracas on Spirit Airlines last month have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County, California, against the carrier, alleging it provided excessive alcohol and failed to protect them from injury. The plaintiffs allege that three other female passengers on a flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles International Airport were inconsiderate and inebriated. According to the plaintiffs' account, these women blasted music from a speaker and sang and danced in the cabin. Danny Cevallos/CNN
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Travellers embracing efficiencies of self-service bag drop -- The automation of key processes brings many advantages for growing airports, particularly in achieving the twin desires of increased efficiency and an optimal traveller experience. Self bag drop is among the most important and successful developments. "The passengers themselves are developing a stronger tendency to use these systems, as they shorten waiting times and allow them to freely choose their walking paths at airports," says Lieselotte Neste, Executive Vice President, Business Line Mobility, Materna. Airport Business
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This is how often you should stand up on a flight -- Planes may not be not the easiest places to hit your daily step count, but it's important to try: Immobile legs pose a health threat, even to fit travelers. When you're crammed into a tiny airplane seat, your body has a hard time pumping blood from your legs back to your heart to keep it circulating, says Aaron Aday, M.D., a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. On the flip side, when you're walking around, your calf muscles effectively work to pump blood back up to your heart. Cassie Shortsleeve/Conde Nast Traveler
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Bombardier near deal to sell up to 125 jetliners to Delta -- Delta Air Lines Inc. is finalizing a huge order for a new Bombardier Inc. passenger jet, potentially breathing new life into the struggling Canadian plane maker's challenge to the industry's U.S. and European giants. The No. 2 U.S. airline by passenger traffic plans to acquire as many as 125 CSeries jets, according to people familiar with the negotiations, in what would be a major victory for Bombardier. Jon Ostrower & Jacquie McNish/Wall Street Journal
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| Transportation Network Companies |
Uber and Lyft have devastated L.A.'s taxi industry, city records show -- The rise of Uber and Lyft have dealt a swift, brutal blow to the Los Angeles taxi industry, city records show. Since the ride-hailing services began operating in Southern California three years ago, the number of L.A. taxi trips arranged in advance has fallen by 42%, according to city data, and the total number of trips has plummeted by nearly a third. The steepest drops were in the city's most popular nightlife and tourist destinations: the Westside, Hollywood and downtown. Laura J. Nelson/Los Angeles Times
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Taxi-for-kids service Shuddle plans to close, citing fundraising challenges -- The tough fundraising environment has claimed another victim -- Shuddle, the Bay Area taxi service for kids, which announced that it will shut down Friday. Shuddle was one of several California companies that contracted with vetted caregivers to transport minors -- a kind of Uber for kids. Parents could book and pay for rides ahead of time. The company, which launched in fall 2014, operated only in the Bay Area and had 32 employees. Its last funding round was $9.6 million, raised in May 2014. Tracey Lien/Los Angeles Times
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Garcetti talks up economic recovery in 2016 State of City speech -- Mayor Eric Garcetti sought to draw attention to Los Angeles' march toward economic recovery during his annual State of the City speech Thursday, celebrating falling unemployment even as he acknowledged that many Angelenos - including tens of thousands who sleep on the streets each night - have missed out on the city's rebounding jobs and real estate market. Peter Jamison & Emily Alpert Reyes/Los Angeles Times
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