United launches exit loan of up to $3B
Jan 9, 2006 — United Airlines' parent company has launched its bankruptcy exit financing loan of up to $3 billion, effectively starting the countdown toward the conclusion of its 37-month restructuring in federal bankruptcy court.

NWA, partners pull application for antitrust immunity
Jan 11, 2006 -- Northwest Airlines Corp. and its SkyTeam alliance partners on Wednesday withdrew their application for antitrust immunity for trans-Atlantic operations.

Mesaba's fleet to shrink
Jan 11, 2006 -- Northwest Airlines' regional partner Mesaba expects its fleet to be cut in half, according to media reports.

Northwest gets more time for bankruptcy plan
Jan 10, 2006 — A New York bankruptcy court judge allowed management of Northwest Airlines six more months to develop a reorganization plan.

Boeing to build maintenance facility in India
Jan 11, 2006 -- The Boeing Co. has committed to building a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul base in India.

Shake-up at ATA Airlines
Jan 11, 2006 -- ATA Airlines, which flies to Hawaii from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, is reassigning its senior executives.

Pilots, Management Move Forward at US Airways Express Carrier
Jan 11, 2006 -- The pilots of Piedmont Airlines have ratified a tentative agreement with their management that provides for quality-of-life improvements to their current collective bargaining agreement.

Labor objects to exec. bonuses at American
Jan 10, 2006 — Leaders of three unions at American Airlines are questioning stock-based bonuses that executives of the money-losing carrier are due to receive in April.

Mexicana, AeroMexico to leave DFW Airport
Jan 10, 2006 — Mexicana Airlines and AeroMexico, facing tough competition from U.S. carriers, say they will pull out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

British Airways overhauls regional unit to improve profits, fight LCCs
Jan 11, 2006 -- Less than two months after he announced a 35% downsizing of British Airways' top management CEO Willie Walsh presented an overhaul of BA's poorly performing regional operations.

Air India buying 68 Boeing planes in $11B order
Jan 11, 2006 -- Air India has signed a firm deal to order 68 airplanes from The Boeing Co., worth $11 billion at list prices.

Spirit Airlines begins service from DFW Airport
Jan 10, 2006 -- Spirit Airlines on Tuesday became the sixth low-cost carrier to begin operating out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Continental bucks turbulence
Jan 9, 2006 -- Shares of Continental Airlines Inc. skyrocketed into 2006, flying in the face of steep fuel costs.

JAL adds to 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter order
Jan 10, 2006 -- Japan Airlines announced it is increasing the number of 747-400BCFs it has on order to eight with four options, up from its October 2004 commitment of three firm orders and four options.

Dolphin not getting along swimmingly with Frontier Airlines
Jan 11, 2006 -- After Flip, the Frontier Airlines dolphin, held a Jan. 8 press conference about his demands to fly to Mexico, Frontier fans and foes flipped out in support of the marine mammal's campaign.

American stopping service at Houston's Hobby airport
Jan 10, 2006 -- American Airlines is discontinuing service from Houston's William P. Hobby airport, effective April 3, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Unions oppose bonuses for American execs
Jan 9, 2006 -- The labor unions representing employees at American Airlines oppose an announcement by American's parent company to give 1,000 managers bonuses under a performance plan approved in 2003.

Alaska Airlines faces fine for improper emergency exit lighting
January 10, 2006 -- US FAA last week proposed to fine Alaska Airlines $500,000 for flying a 737 without required cabin floor lighting on 478 revenue flights between July 12 and Dec. 2, 2004.

Fuel cost moderation helps Midwest Airlines
Jan 10, 2006 -- Midwest Airlines Inc. reported gains in passenger traffic and in a key measure of revenue on a continuing moderation in rising fuel costs in December.

Independence Air closes shop
Jan 6, 2006 -- Independence Air ceased operations Thursday night, 18 months after launching its service as a low-cost carrier.

Most FLYi employees cut loose, one gets golden parachute as airline folds
Jan 9, 2006 -- FLYi, parent of Independence Air, grounded its fleet Jan. 5 following its last flight, an A319 from Tampa that landed at Washington Dulles.Some 2,700 workers were left unemployed by the shutdown.

All Nippon phases out 747SR
Jan 9, 2006 -- ANA said it will retire its last 747SR March 10 following a flight from Kagoshima to Tokyo Haneda.

Outstate airline targets Chicago
Jan 9, 2006 -- A group of Grand Rapids entrepreneurs are launching a commercial airline to fly between small cities and Chicago. They'll start with their own city and St. Cloud.

Southwest's numbers fly to top
Jan 9, 2006 -- If it seems like there are more passengers waiting around the Southwest Airlines gates at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport these days and fewer around those of US Airways, it is not an illusion.

Frontier reaches deal with technicians, looks toward Canada
Jan 9, 2006 -- Frontier Airlines mechanics, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, approved a three-year labor contract.

Air France-KLM denies further interest in Alitalia
Jan 6, 2006 -- Air France-KLM Group denied reports it is increasing its stake in Alitalia. Earlier this week, Finanza e Mercati indicated AF-KLM might take over the struggling Italian carrier.

Sun Country hunts $18M in funding
Jan 9, 2006 -- Sun Country Airlines Inc., which has beat aviation-industry odds several times in recent years, is starting off 2006 with a new challenge: raising nearly $18 million in a private-placement offering.

Rail / Hotel / Car / Cruise News

Enterprise to offer GPS devices
Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced Tuesday a phased national roll-out of portable in-car navigation devices available at its airport locations.

Advantage Rent-A-Car adds four new partners to international program
Jan 9, 2006 -- Advantage Rent-A-Car Inc. has added new affiliated car-rental partners in Spain, the Czech Republic, Honduras and Grenada.

Sky Harbor parking rates set to increase
Jan 9, 2006 -- Parking rate increases go into effect at midnight tonight at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Las Vegas hotel-casino destroyed
Jan 11, 2006 — After spending two shuttered years living up to its name, the Castaways hotel and casino went out with a bang Wednesday morning.

Cruising 2006
Jan 4, 2006 -- In an era in which cruise lines are frantically carving out unique niches, trends are constantly developing and evolving.

Exciting Developments on Tap at Carnival Cruise Lines in 2006
Jan 4, 2006 -- Carnival Cruise Lines has a number of exciting developments planned for the 2006 cruise season, including new year-round four- and five-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., featuring a brand new port of call, Grand Turk.

Other Industry Related News