Airlines
Southwest Air tops profit estimates, sees unit revenue rise -- Southwest Airlines Co on Thursday reported a quarterly profit above analysts' estimates and said it expected unit revenue to rise "modestly" in the second quarter. The U.S. budget carrier, whose shares rose 4 percent in premarket trading, said it had earned $511 million in the first quarter, up from $453 million a year earlier. The airline offered a bright picture of U.S. travel demand that contrasted with Wednesday's report from bigger rival United Continental Holdings Inc, which said flights were exceeding consumer interest. Jeffrey Dastin/Reuters
United Airlines beats earnings expectations despite 38% drop in net income -- United Airlines beat analyst expectations on first-quarter earnings Wednesday while suffering a 38% drop in net income, which the carrier blamed on the strong dollar and a larger decrease than expected in business travel. The Chicago-based carrier reported net income of $313 million, or 88 cents per diluted share, down from $508 million or $1.32 per diluted share, for the same period a year earlier. Bart Jansen/USA Today
Alaska Air profit tops estimates on low fuel costs -- Alaska Air Group Inc. reported better-than-expected earnings in the latest quarter amid declining fuel costs, as the company seeks regulatory approval for its proposed marriage with Virgin America Inc. U.S. airliners have reported strong financial performance in recent quarters, the result of slower growth, less competition and cheaper fuel. Seattle-based Alaska Air reported its aircraft fuel expenses, including hedging gains and losses, had declined 29% to $167 million. Joshua Jamerson/MarketWatch
Airports
Appeals court rejects forced medication of ex-TSA screener who threatened LAX -- An ex-Transportation Security Administration screener accused of making threats directed at LAX terminals on the eve of the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks should not have been forcibly medicated with an anti-psychotic drug, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena determined that Nna Alpha Onuoha's medical treatment was not appropriate based on the dosage and administration of the drug. Fred Shuster/City News Service AP
Former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Star Jim Marchese arrested at airport for alleged domestic violence -- Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Jim Marchese, was arrested and transported off a Virgin America flight after he allegedly had a domestic dispute on the aircraft. The Los Angeles International Airport police department tells ET that at around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, airport police were called to Terminal 3 and escorted a male suspect and female victim off a Virgin America plane. Jackie Willis/Entertainment Tonight
In-bound Virgin America flight struck by laser en route to San Diego -- An inbound Virgin America flight was struck with a laser multiple times, police said Wednesday. The flight was hit by the green light three or four times while en route to Lindbergh Field shortly before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to San Diego Police Officer Frank Cali. No one was injured, Cali said. City News Service
Denver's airport finally getting a rail link to the city -- It's been a long wait, but on April 22 Denver gets what Seattle, Minneapolis, Portland, Salt Lake City and more than a dozen other U.S. cities have: rail service between the airport and downtown. Until now, the options for getting between the city and the airport have been taxis, an often-crowded bus, car or, as of late 2014, ride-hailing services. Harriet Baskas/USA Today
Brussels Airport offers advice for travelers -- As we approach the one-month mark after the March 22 terrorist attack on Brussels Airport and a Brussels metro station that killed 32 people, airlines serving Brussels and a variety of tourism entities have issued a joint statement updating the world on efforts to return Brussels Airport to the "comfortable, convenient and, most importantly, safe travel hub they've come to rely on." Harriet Baskas/USA Today
German airport's secret emergency plan was on internet for months - ZDF -- A confidential emergency plan for Cologne-Bonn airport was posted on its website for several months, German broadcaster ZDF said on Wednesday, heightening concerns about security after attacks at Brussels airport. ZDF said the document, which was over 230 pages long and meant for internal use only, included instructions on how to deal with natural catastrophes and air accidents at the airport as well as terrorist attacks, bomb threats or hostage takings. Reuters
Airlines
Airline legend Gordon Bethune bows out as United settles its proxy war -- The factions battling over leadership of United Continental's board of directors have reached a truce. United will immediately add two directors recommended by investors, Altimeter Capital Management, and PAR Capital Management, the carrier announced Wednesday. The company will add another, independent director, approved by both United and the activist hedge funds, in the next six months. Charisse Jones/USA Today
United to stick with Boeing 737 to replace regional jets -acting CFO -- United Continental Holdings Inc does not plan to order a second aircraft type in the next three years on top of Boeing Co 737s it will acquire to replace its 50-seat regional jets, acting Chief Financial Officer Gerry Laderman said on a media call on Wednesday. The remarks deflated hopes for a near-term sale harbored by rival planemakers Bombardier Inc, Embraer SA and Airbus Group SE. Reuters
Southwest Airlines ready to take off with $143M Love Field operations center expansion -- Southwest Airlines hopes to break ground in late spring on a major expansion of its facilities at Dallas' Love Field. Southwest for months has been working on plans for a new flight training facility to be built on more than 14-acre tract of land on Denton Drive west of Love Field. The Dallas-based airline has filed building permits to construct a $145 million "office building and flight simulator building" at 2175 Research Row. Steve Brown/Dallas Morning News
Where are all the startup airlines to save you money? -- In these heady days for airlines, when they "own" hub cities and can charge $500 to change a ticket, one might wonder what happened to all the entrepreneurs. The kind of people who sketch route maps on cocktail napkins (Southwest) or split from their former airlines and started new ones (Air Florida, People Express, JetBlue). Despite cheap fuel and financing, almost no new, well-capitalized airlines with national aspirations have appeared since the wave of bankruptcies and consolidations of the past decade. Justin Bachman/Bloomberg Technology
Durbin presses airlines on allegations of anti-Muslim discrimination -- Alarmed by recent examples of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Arab airline passengers, a senior Democratic senator pressed the trade association for the major U.S. air carriers to explain what it is doing to prevent future incidents. "Airlines are entrusted with enormous responsibilities to keep our skies safe while respecting the rights of all passengers," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois in a letter to Nicholas Calio, the head of Airlines for America. Ted Barrett/CNN
Travel
Summer travel: Ranking the best airlines, most scenic airports -- Lists crowning the "best and worst" airlines seem to be issued on a weekly basis and it's easy to pass some by. But as the busy summer travel season kicks off, it can't hurt get a refresher on what makes some carriers float to the top or the bottom of the pile. WalletHub's just-released list of 2016's Best & Worst Airlines rates the 10 largest U.S. airlines and three regional carriers that serve those airlines (SkyWest, ExpressJet and Envoy Air) by delays, cancellations, baggage issues, pet care, passenger comfort and several other criteria. Harriet Baskas/USA Today
Travel tips from sportswriters: How to play the game -- Uncertain where his next business trip would take him but determined to get low hotel rates, Mike Monroe booked rooms in five different cities more than a month in advance. Then he canceled all the reservations he didn't need. Such are the lengths sportswriters go at playoff time to chase teams around the country on tight budgets. In the sport of travel, pro basketball and hockey writers compete at an Olympic level. Scott McCartney/Wall Street Journal
FAA
Donald Trump's jet is grounded by the FAA -- Donald J. Trump's Cessna jet has been grounded. The aircraft, which records show has been used to shuttle Mr. Trump to dozens of campaign events in recent months, has been flying with an expired registration since Feb. 1. On Wednesday, a Federal Aviation Administration official informed the plane's pilot that the Cessna cannot fly until it has been reregistered. Susanne Craig/New York Times
Transportation Network Companies
California Uber and Lyft drivers could face new car rental limits -- Uber and Lyft's supply of drivers in California could soon be stifled. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, will consider additional requirements for drivers for Transportation Network Companies (a technical term for companies such as Uber and Lyft) who rent or lease their cars. The proposal would require that drivers sign rental or lease contracts for at least four months. Kia Kokalitcheva/Fortune
High-Speed Rail
California high-speed rail board to consider latest plans -- The board that oversees California's high-speed rail project to link Northern and Southern California is expected to consider dramatic changes at a meeting Thursday in San Jose. The latest proposal calls for a $64 billion system starting in the Central Valley then heading first to San Jose for nearly $21 billion rather than south first to the Los Angeles area as initially planned. California High-Speed Rail Authority officials have pitched that as the only way to ensure a usable segment gets built with the existing funding available. Juliet Williams/AP Ralph Vartabedian/Los Angeles Times
Aviation Data & Analysis
Air Cargo Volume Declines 2.1% US Carriers in January
Courtesy Oliver Wyman PlaneStats
City Government
Garcetti's budget proposal: Homeless spending depends on developer fees, land sales -- Nearly half of the $138 million Mayor Eric Garcetti has proposed to spend on getting homeless people into affordable housing and providing other services would come from fees and property sales that have yet to be approved, according to City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana. The mayor's proposed budget counts on his new Affordable Housing Linkage Fee - which the City Council has not yet acted on - generating $20 million for low income housing in the coming fiscal year. Sharon McNary/KPCC
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