From Reuters | U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told a congressional panel that the United States will take “time that is necessary” to review the planned $3.2 billion merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The deal is expected to get approval from the Justice Department since there is little overlap of common routes
and no shared hubs, though some divestiture could be required.
Get the full story: reuters.com
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US to take ‘time necessary’ to review United merger
Order for six 787 Boeing aircraft is canceled
Dow Jones Newswires | Boeing Co. said Thursday that an unidentified customer had canceled an order for six of its new 787 aircraft, though it gained two orders for the larger 777.
The cancellation leaves the aerospace group with 850 orders from 57 customers for the aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery to launch customers All Nippon Airways Co. in the fourth quarter, some two-and-a-half years behind schedule. The number of customers remains the same as last week.
Continental faces FAA fine over landing gear
Associated Press | Federal aviation officials say they want to
fine Continental Airlines $325,000 for operating a plane on at least a
dozen flights without fixing a problem with its landing gear.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that in December 2008
the crew of a Continental Boeing 737 flying from Houston to Los Angeles
saw a warning light related to the plane’s landing gear, but decided to
continue the flight.
UAL CEO joins US transportation advisory panel
Associated Press via Bloomberg | Glenn Tilton, the chairman and CEO of United Airlines parent UAL
Corp., has been named to a federal advisory committee on the future of
aviation.
Tilton said he looked forward to working with Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood and others on policy measures to strengthen the
airline industry and the economy.
The panel is called The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee and
includes other airline executives.
Get the full story: ShoreBank still in capital talks with investors.
Airlines improved on-time performance in March
Associated Press | The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday that airlines averaged an 80 percent on-time arrival rate in March, better than February and better than March 2009. Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines had the best on-time ratings. JetBlue, ExpressJet and American Airlines had the worst. Chicago-based United Airlines ranked fourth.
Get the full story: Airlines improved on-time performance in March.
U.S. airlines’ fuel costs rose 34% in March
Dow Jones Newswires | U.S. airlines’ average fuel cost per gallon for scheduled flights jumped 34 percent in March from last year’s low levels, and increased 1.9 percent from February, according to the Department of Transportation.
The DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said airlines spent an average $2.19 a gallon on fuel in March, up from $1.64 a year earlier and $2.15 in February. Fuel costs for international flights rose one percent on the month and climbed 1.9 percent for domestic flights.
American Airlines to begin Chicago-Beijing service
Associated Press via Forbes | American Airlines will begin nonstop service from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Beijing on May 25, the carrier said Monday.
There will be four flights per week and on May 27, American will initiate the same number of nonstop flights from Beijing to Chicago. American will offer daily departures from both cities starting July 3.
Get the full story: forbes.com.
JetBlue offers $10 seats for last-minute trips
(AP Photo/Rick Maiman)
Associated Press | Sometimes being impulsive comes in handy.
For today only, JetBlue is selling all remaining seats on nonstop flights Tuesday and Wednesday to 59 destinations for $10 each way. The airline didn’t specify how many seats are available in the online-only sale.
JetBlue Airways Corp., based in Forest Hills, N.Y., serves 61 cities in the U.S., Caribbean and Central America with 650 daily flights.
United, Continental left out of new Tokyo routes
Associated Press | The Transportation Department says it plans to award four new routes to Tokyo to Delta Air Lines, American, and Hawaiian. Continental and United were left out.
Boeing books 20 777 orders in April
Associated Press | Boeing Co. says it booked orders for 20 of its 777 aircraft last month. The aircraft manufacturer did not identify the customers. Last month, 777 customer El-Al Israel Airlines canceled an order for four of those planes.
So far this year Boeing has booked orders for 112 planes, well ahead of Airbus, which reported orders for 67 aircraft.
Key lawmaker opposes United-Continental merger
| By Jon Hilkevitch | A leading congressional force on aviation issues came out Thursday against the proposed merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines.
U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the proposed $3 billion merger announced this week would accelerate the consolidation of the airline industry and lead to higher fares, downgraded service and fewer choices for travelers. |
See also • Oberstar’s letter objecting to the merger.
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Orbitz narrows loss, beats expecations
Dow Jones Newswires | Orbitz Worldwide Inc. significantly
narrowed its loss in the first quarter — its second-straight period in
the red — absent $331.5 million in 2009 write-downs partly related to
declines in the online travel company’s stock price. The results beat
analysts’ expectations, and Orbitz also reported significantly stronger
bookings.
United first airline to test synthetic fuel
From Earth 911 | United Airlines recently made the first commercial flight powered by synthetic fuel, using RenJet which is derived from natural gas. “This flight confirms our assumptions about how this fuel performs on a commercial aircraft and is the next step in our effort to stimulate competition in the aviation fuel supply chain, promote energy security, environmental benefits and the creation of green jobs,” said Joseph Kolshak, United Airlines senior vice president of operations.
Get the full story: earth911.com
Continental CEO apologizes for ‘ugly girl’ comment
Associated Press | Nothing good ever comes of calling someone “the ugly girl.”
It was the most-quotable moment to come out of Monday’s announcement that United Airlines would acquire Continental Airlines. Continental Chief Executive Jeff Smisek was describing his thoughts after hearing earlier this month that United Airlines was in merger discussions with US Airways Group Inc.
Pentagon tanker award moved to No. 12
Associated Press | The Pentagon is delaying the award of a huge
contract for its new tanker jet by almost three months, pushing it past
the November midterm elections. The contract is worth at least $35
billion to build 179 refueling jets. Bids are expected from Boeing Co.
and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.
The Pentagon’s choice
between Boeing, based in Chicago, and France-based EADS will be highly
charged. Each company has allies in Congress who are eyeing jobs
promised for their districts.
