Judge reduces award for flight attendant who sued Southwest
December 6, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — A federal judge cut a flight attendant’s $5.1 million jury award to about $800,000 but ordered Southwest Airlines to rehire the woman, who had claimed that the airline and her union conspired to fire her for expressing opposition to abortion.
Dutch prosecutors won’t appeal sole acquittal in MH17 trial
December 1, 2022 GMTTHE HAGUE (AP) — The Dutch prosecutor's office said Thursday that it will not appeal the acquittal of a man charged in the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet as it flew over eastern Ukraine in 2014, citing concerns over the stress it would place on the families of the 298 people killed in the tragedy.
Plane returns to Raleigh-Durham airport after hitting coyote
November 30, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An airplane departing from Raleigh-Durham International Airport returned to the airport shortly after takeoff when the flight crew reported striking a coyote on the runway.
Southwest Airlines Flight #1221 had been on its way to Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday but returned to the North Carolina airport about 8 p.m.
India’s Tata Sons to merge Air India with Vistara airlines
November 30, 2022 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — India's oldest and largest conglomerate, Tata Sons, will merge its Air India with Vistara, which it jointly runs with Singapore Airlines, in a major step toward revamping the country’s debt-laden national carrier.
Canada’s transport safety agency: plane overshoots runway
November 26, 2022 GMTTORONTO (AP) — Canada’s transportation safety agency is investigating after a plane overshot the runway at an airport west of Toronto on Friday.
The Transportation Safety Board said a Boeing 737 belonging to Flair Airlines overran the runway after landing at Waterloo International Airport in Waterloo, Ontario.
Mexico’s domestic airline industry in shambles
November 25, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s domestic airline industry is in shambles, plagued by safety problems, a ratings downgrade by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and vandalism.
This week alone, passengers missed connections because thieves cut the fiber optic cables leading into the Mexico City airport, forcing immigration authorities to return to using slow paper forms.
Why booking directly with airlines can be more expensive
November 23, 2022 GMTEarly in the pandemic, many travelers experienced headaches while trying to rebook air travel purchased through third parties such as Orbitz and Kayak. Overloaded customer service centers and constantly changing airline policies resulted in a big mess at these agencies, prompting many travelers to book directly through the airline to avoid future issues.
Plane hits vehicle on runway, catches fire at Lima’s airport
November 19, 2022 GMTLIMA, Peru (AP) — A LATAM Airlines plane taking off from Lima's international airport struck a firetruck on the runway and caught fire Friday. Authorities said the plane's passengers and crew were all safe, but two firefighters in the truck were killed.
US bid to kill American-JetBlue partnership goes to judge
November 18, 2022 GMTAirline lawyers and the Justice Department delivered starkly contrasting views of an alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue during closing arguments Friday in a case that will test the Biden administration’s aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws.
3 convicted in 2014 downing of Malaysian jet over Ukraine
November 18, 2022 GMTSCHIPHOL, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Thursday convicted three men of murder for their role in shooting down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard the aircraft as it flew over a separatist-controlled region of eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Frontier, 5 other airlines to refund more than $600 million
November 15, 2022 GMTFrontier Airlines and five foreign carriers have agreed to refund more than $600 million combined to travelers whose trips were canceled or significantly delayed since the start of the pandemic, federal officials said Monday.
Flying home for the holidays will cost you more this year
November 14, 2022 GMTPeople still looking to book trips home to visit family or take a vacation during the holidays need to act fast and prepare for sticker shock.
Airline executives say that based on bookings, they expect huge demand for flights over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
Emirates earns record-breaking $1.2B half-year profit
November 10, 2022 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The group owning long-haul carrier Emirates saw record-breaking half-year profits of $1.2 billion this year, the company announced Thursday, as global travel resumes after the lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tanzania: Plane crashes into Lake Victoria; 19 dead
November 6, 2022 GMTNAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A plane crashed Sunday morning into Lake Victoria as it approached an airport in Tanzania, killing 19 people on board, the country's prime minister said. A senior policeman said it was raining when the aircraft plunged into the water.
Flashy Dubai will cash in on a World Cup a short flight away
October 30, 2022 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The FIFA World Cup may be bringing as many as 1.2 million fans to Qatar, but the nearby flashy emirate of Dubai is also looking to cash in on the major sports tournament taking place just a short flight away.
Mexico leader: open domestic flights to foreign airlines
October 25, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday he wants to allow foreign airlines to operate domestic service between Mexican cities, to drive down prices.
Mexican law currently prohibits foreign carriers from operating purely domestic flights.
Tentative deal would boost pay for 8,000 Southwest workers
October 24, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — More than 8,000 customer-service workers at Southwest Airlines would get raises of 16% to 25% over four years under a tentative contract, a sign of cost pressures facing airlines in a tight labor market.
Delta Air settles with pilot who raised safety concerns
October 21, 2022 GMTDelta Air Lines has settled allegations by a pilot who said the airline ordered her to undergo a psychiatric examination and barred her from flying in retaliation for raising safety concerns to company executives.
Amazon will use Hawaiian Airlines to operate cargo planes
October 21, 2022 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Hawaiian Airlines will operate 10 cargo planes for Amazon.com starting next fall under a deal that could eventually involve more planes and give Amazon a 15% stake in the airline.
The airline’s parent company, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., said Friday that it will fly and maintain an “initial fleet” of 10 leased Airbus A330-300 jets for the retail giant.
American Airlines posts $483 million profit for late summer
October 20, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — The three biggest U.S. airlines enjoyed a boffo summer, reaping a combined profit of more than $2 billion as Americans jammed on to planes despite fares that were sharply higher than a year ago.
Spirit Airlines shareholders approve $3.8B sale to JetBlue
October 19, 2022 GMTSpirit Airlines shareholders voted Wednesday to accept a $3.8 billion buyout from JetBlue Airways, but the deal could still face a challenge from federal antitrust regulators.
JetBlue emerged as the winner in a bidding war with Frontier to acquire Spirit, the nation's biggest budget airline.
United Airlines reaps $942 million profit on strong summer
October 18, 2022 GMTUnited Airlines earned $942 million in the third quarter as vacationers paid higher fares and packed planes over the summer, and the airline offered an upbeat forecast of late-year earnings.
United's CEO said Tuesday that concern about inflation and the economy does not seem to be discouraging people from buying airline tickets.
Delta posts $695 million Q3 profit, expects big holiday rush
October 13, 2022 GMTDelta Air Lines expects travelers will pack planes during the upcoming holidays despite higher fares and growing concerns over inflation and the economy.
Delta posted a profit Thursday of $695 million in the third quarter as higher fares this summer and a lucrative credit-card business more than offset higher fuel prices.
Miami to Barbados flight evacuated due to fumes in cabin
October 13, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — An American Airlines flight from Miami to Barbados returned to the airport after fumes filled the cabin, officials said.
Flight 338 departed Miami International Airport at Wednesday night, but had to return due to a strong chemical odor coming from a passenger's carry-on item, spokesman Greg Chin told The Associated Press.
United Airlines starts early on summer 2023 plans for Europe
October 12, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — Buoyed by full planes across the Atlantic this summer, United Airlines is planning another increase in its summer service from the United States to Europe next year.
United said Wednesday that it will resume seasonal flights from Newark, New Jersey, to Stockholm, which it dropped in 2019, and launch new summer service from Newark to Malaga, Spain.
American Airlines hikes 3Q revenue forecast on strong summer
October 11, 2022 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines said Tuesday that its revenue rose faster than expected over much of the summer, but costs also increased sharply.
The airline said third-quarter revenue rose about 13% over the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, compared with its previous forecast of a 10% to 12% gain.
Families of crash victims rain wrath on Airbus, Air France
October 10, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — Distraught families whose loved ones died in Air France's worst-ever crash on Monday shouted down the CEOs of the airline and of planemaker Airbus as the two companies went on trial on manslaughter charges for the 2009 accident over the Atlantic Ocean.
American invests in firm aiming to supply hydrogen to planes
October 10, 2022 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines said Monday that it invested in a company that hopes to deliver hydrogen for use in planes, one prong of the airline industry's approach to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Japan eager to welcome tourists from abroad amid cheap yen
October 10, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — It's hard to tell from his serious demeanor, but Akky International Corp. Chief Executive Hideyuki Abe can barely contain his excitement.
Foreign tourists are coming back, those big-spending visitors from abroad who used to flock into his colorful store in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district, its colorful shelves filled with watches and souvenirs like samurai swords and toy cats with bobbing heads.
Pilot sues Southwest after colleague exposes himself
October 5, 2022 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Southwest Airlines pilot is suing the company, her union and a former colleague who pleaded guilty last year to dead-bolting the cockpit door during a flight and stripping naked in front of her.
US to require more rest between shifts for flight attendants
October 4, 2022 GMTAirlines will be required to give flight attendants at least 10 hours off duty between shifts, one more hour than currently, under a rule announced Tuesday by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said that the extra hour of rest would contribute to safety.
Malaysia aims to add US flights after safety rating boost
October 1, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has upgraded Malaysia's air safety rating to Category 1, allowing the country's carriers to expand flights to the United States after a three-year hiatus, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said Saturday.
Myanmar accuses rebels in east of shooting passenger plane
October 1, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government accused rebel forces in the eastern state of Kayah of firing at a passenger plane as it was preparing to land Friday, wounding a passenger who was hit by a bullet that penetrated the fuselage.
JetBlue, Southwest spar over slots in antitrust trial
September 28, 2022 GMTSenior executives of JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines argued in court Wednesday over JetBlue's controversial partnership with American Airlines that the Biden administration is seeking the thwart.
JetBlue CEO first witness in US lawsuit against 2 airlines
September 27, 2022 GMTGovernment lawyers used airline executives' own words in trying Tuesday to persuade a federal judge to kill a partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways.
The government argued that the deal is, in effect, a merger that will cost consumers $700 million a year in higher fares.
White House: New rule will show ‘true cost’ of plane tickets
September 26, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced a new initiative Monday that would eventually allow consumers to see a more complete price on airline tickets — including baggage and change fees — before they buy, as the White House continues to search for ways to lower costs for Americans amid persistently high inflation.
US case against American Airlines and JetBlue heads to court
September 26, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — The government's antitrust lawsuit against American Airlines and JetBlue begins Tuesday and the outcome could determine how closely the Biden administration examines other airline deals, including JetBlue's pending attempt to buy Spirit Airlines.
Tronox, Best Buy fall; Wynn Resorts, PG&E rise
September 26, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Monday:
Wynn Resorts Ltd., up $7.15 to $66.80.
The casino operator gained ground on reports that the gambling haven of Macao will ease some travel restrictions starting in November.
Passenger arrested after seen punching a flight attendant
September 22, 2022 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A man who was apparently caught on video slugging a flight attendant in the back of the head during an American Airlines flight was arrested after the plane landed in Los Angeles.
Cyberattack steals passenger data from Portuguese airline
September 22, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal’s national airline TAP Air Portugal says hackers obtained the personal data of some of its customers and have published the information on the dark web.
No payment data was taken in the cyberattack, the flag carrier said in a statement late Wednesday.
United Airlines grounds 25 planes after missed inspections
September 20, 2022 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines canceled about 18 flights this week when it realized that some of its Boeing 777-200 planes had not undergone required inspections of the front edges of the wings.
The airline canceled flights Monday night and Tuesday morning, and said it's trying to rebook stranded passengers.
FAA rejects airline request to hire less-experienced pilots
September 19, 2022 GMTFederal officials have rejected a request by a regional airline facing a pilot shortage to hire co-pilots with half the usual minimum amount of flying experience, saying it would reduce safety.
Republic Airways asked for permission to hire pilots with at least 750 hours of flying time if they complete the airline’s training program.
Southwest forecasts a slower recovery in business travel
September 15, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines said Thursday that corporate travel is recovering more slowly than the airline had expected, although that is offset by continuing strong demand from leisure travelers even after the end of the traditional summer vacation season.
French court awards damages for 2009 Yemenia plane crash
September 14, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — A French court on Wednesday ordered a Yemeni airline that operated a passenger plane that crashed into the Indian Ocean in 2009 to pay damages to the flight's lone survivor and the families of 65 French citizens who died.
Ryanair cancels Hungary routes over windfall tax dispute
September 13, 2022 GMTBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Budget airline Ryanair announced Tuesday that it will cancel several routes through Hungary and cut flights on several more following a months-long dispute with the country's government over a special windfall tax placed on airlines.
2 House chairs seek probe into airlines’ use of federal aid
September 9, 2022 GMTTwo leading House Democrats are asking for a federal investigation into whether airlines used any of the $54 billion they received in government pandemic relief to pay employees to quit.
The lawmakers said Friday that buyouts to employees made a pilot shortage worse and contributed to widespread flight delays and cancellations that have ruined travel plans for millions of people.
Syrian airport to resume work days after Israeli strike
September 9, 2022 GMTBEIRUT (AP) — Syria's international airport in Aleppo is to resume business on Friday after the facility was put out of commission by an Israeli missile attack, the country's transport ministry said.
United makes ‘conditional’ order for electric air taxis
September 8, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — United Airlines thinks that in a few years, plenty of big-city customers will pay $100 or more for a one-way ride to the airport in a four-seat, electric-powered air taxi.
The Chicago-based airline said Thursday that it invested $15 million in a startup manufacturer, and signed a “conditional” agreement to buy 200 of the tiny aircraft with options for 200 more.
How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday 9/7/2022
September 7, 2022 GMTStocks ended broadly higher on Wall Street, placing the market on pace to break a 3-week losing streak.
The S&P 500 rose 1.8% Wednesday, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose even more. Small-company stocks outpaced the rest of the market.
United Airlines lifts 3Q revenue estimate after busy summer
September 7, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — United Airlines said Wednesday that third-quarter revenue will be higher than it had expected due to strong summer travel demand, and the upbeat outlook helped push airline stocks higher.
Business Highlights: Business travelers, drifting stocks
September 6, 2022 GMT___
Airlines count on business travelers to keep recovery going
DALLAS (AP) — The summer vacation season is winding down, and for airlines that means the return of business travelers is very important.
Airlines count on business travelers to keep recovery going
September 6, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — With summer vacations winding down, airlines are counting on the return of more business travelers to keep their pandemic recovery going into the fall.
Air travel in the United States, bolstered by huge numbers of tourists, has nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels — even topping 2019 numbers over the Labor Day weekend.
New online dashboard helps flyers with delays, cancellations
September 1, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Amid months of mass flight cancellations and delays, the Department of Transportation has launched a customer service dashboard to help vacationers ahead of the travel-heavy Labor Day weekend.
Lufthansa cancels many flights Friday due to pilots’ strike
September 1, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — German carrier Lufthansa says it is canceling almost all passenger and cargo flights Friday from its two biggest hubs, Frankfurt and Munich, due to planned strike action by pilots.
A union representing Lufthansa pilots said early Thursday that they will stage a walk-out after demands for a pay increase were rejected by management.
US suspends Chinese airline flights in COVID-19 dispute
August 26, 2022 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The U.S. government is suspending 26 flights by Chinese airlines from the United States to China in a dispute over anti-virus controls after Beijing suspended flights by American carriers.
Regional airline operator ExpressJet files for bankruptcy
August 23, 2022 GMTWILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Nevada-based discount airline aha! has stopped flying after its parent, ExpressJet Airlines, filed for bankruptcy protection and said it would sell its assets.
ExpressJet said it faced lower-than-expected revenue because demand for travel weakened with new COVID-19 variants.
Alaska Airlines flight returns, metal panel falls off plane
August 23, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — An Alaska Airlines flight bound for San Diego returned to Sea-Tac International Airport shortly after it left Monday after reports of an “unusual vibration,” the airline said.
Part of the cowling, the metal paneling covering the engine, detached from the plane upon landing, according to a statement from Alaska Airlines.
Hungary’s govt launches investigation against second airline
August 22, 2022 GMTBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's government has ordered an investigation of domestic low-cost carrier Wizz Air over what it calls possible breaches of consumer protection laws, the second such investigation it has launched against an airline since June.
Buttigieg warns airlines to help travelers or face new rules
August 19, 2022 GMTTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has warned airlines that his department could draft new rules around passenger rights if the carriers don’t give more help to travelers trapped by flight cancellations and delays.
Unions push airlines to promise they’ll avoid stock buybacks
August 18, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — Labor unions are pressuring U.S. airlines not to buy back their own stock but instead spend the money on hiring more workers and fixing problems that caused widespread flight delays and cancellations this summer.