Archive for April, 2009
The Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) today blasted the decision by United Airlines to violate the civil rights of people of size by charging them for two tickets if they are deemed to be overweight. United Airlines announced that its ticket agents will begin denying boarding passes to people of size if they are “unable to comfortably fasten a safety belt with one extension or sit comfortably with armrests down,” unless they purchase a second ticket. Read the rest of this entry »
The good news? Fuel costs fell in 1Q. The bad news? So did flight demand.
Cheaper fuel costs helped out airline operators even as fewer consumers can justify the cost of plane tickets given high unemployment rates and employers who are being stingy about expense account travel. In the coming months, airlines will be doing all they can to make sure that flight demand takes-off faster than the price of jet fuel. Read the rest of this entry »
Antigua-based airline, LIAT, says while it will be operating its normal scheduled services to and from Trinidad and Tobago during the Fifth Summit of the Americas, passengers could experience delays due to elevated security levels in that country especially on the three summit days.
More than 30 world leaders, among them United States President Barack Obama, are expected in Trinidad for the event which runs from today until Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »
Airlines worldwide filled 21 percent fewer executive class seats in February than the same month a year ago as fewer people took long-haul business trips, industry group IATA said on Thursday.
The data suggest more trouble ahead for airlines, which have seen numbers of coveted premium class passengers shrink along with the economic downturn that has reduced demand for corporate travel. Read the rest of this entry »
Sight-seeing, beach-combing and eating ethnic foods top many travelers’ to-do lists.
What’s not on them? Being bumped from the flight.
But that’s what happens to a fraction of fliers each year. Though the number is relatively small–last year, 63,612 passengers were kept from overbooked flights, or a rate of 1.10 bumps per 10,000 passengers–for those who fall victim to the practice, it stings. Read the rest of this entry »
The Transport Workers Union said Wednesday the organization believes a powerful message was sent Tuesday afternoon at a rally in which 350 union members turned up to picket outside the American Airlines headquarters, demanding the holding back of executive bonuses.
“We were very pleased with the turnout,” said Tim McAninley, a representative with the Transport Workers Union, which represents American Airlines and American Eagle employees. Read the rest of this entry »
The US leisure industry could reap rich rewards if lawmakers relax Cuban travel bans, but industry experts warn that several hurdles still block a potentially huge payday for cruise companies, hotels and airlines.
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama opened a crack in the decades-old U.S. embargo against Cuba, allowing American telecommunications firms to start providing service for Cubans and lifting restrictions on family ties to the island. Read the rest of this entry »
AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, has reported heavy net losses for the first quarter amid shrinking demand for air travel.
The group said its net loss for the first quarter rose to $375m from $341m in the same period a year ago. Revenues fell 15 percent to $4.8bn due to reduced capacity, passenger and cargo figures, as well as lower fares. Read the rest of this entry »
United Airlines will require obese passengers bumped from full flights to purchase two seats on a subsequent flight, matching the policy of some other carriers.
The change brings United in line with eight other airlines including Continental, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said on Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »
Air France-KLM aims to cut between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs in the next two financial years, a spokeswoman for the carrier said on Wednesday.
The Franco-Dutch company, which posted a 9.4 percent slump in passenger traffic in March, will not renew short-term contracts or replace retiring employees, avoiding compulsory layoffs, she said, confirming an article in newspaper La Tribune. Read the rest of this entry »