AIRLINE NEWS
Thursday, May 29, 2008
American Airlines to end New York-Stansted flights
American Airlines said Wednesday it will stop flying between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and London's Stansted Airport less than a year after launching the route.
The move, which takes effect July 2, is part of the leading U.S. carrier's plan to cut costs and shed capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the face of rapidly rising fuel prices. Flights to London's Heathrow Airport are not affected by the change.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American launched service to Stansted in October, hoping to gain a larger share of the lucrative trans-Atlantic business travel market. Its entry was seen as partially responsible for the failures of all-business class carriers MAXjet Airways and Eos Airlines Inc., which quit flying from the airport in recent months.
On Tuesday, American said it will discontinue its Chicago-Buenos Aires service and Boston-San Diego service on Sept. 3, and Chicago-Honolulu service on Jan. 5. It will also restructure American and American Eagle operations at San Juan, Puerto Rico, beginning in September.
Source: money.cnn.com
The move, which takes effect July 2, is part of the leading U.S. carrier's plan to cut costs and shed capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the face of rapidly rising fuel prices. Flights to London's Heathrow Airport are not affected by the change.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American launched service to Stansted in October, hoping to gain a larger share of the lucrative trans-Atlantic business travel market. Its entry was seen as partially responsible for the failures of all-business class carriers MAXjet Airways and Eos Airlines Inc., which quit flying from the airport in recent months.
On Tuesday, American said it will discontinue its Chicago-Buenos Aires service and Boston-San Diego service on Sept. 3, and Chicago-Honolulu service on Jan. 5. It will also restructure American and American Eagle operations at San Juan, Puerto Rico, beginning in September.
Source: money.cnn.com
Labels: american airlines, New York, stansted
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Port Authority steps up planning for 2 new terminals at JFK
The days may be numbered for the two oldest passenger terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took a first step Thursday in planning the replacement of Terminals 2 and 3, which were state-of-the-art buildings when they opened in the early 1960s but are now overcrowded and obsolete.
The authority, which operates JFK, said it would spend $20 million planning for a new mega-terminal that would have modern security features, space for new amenities and many more gates.
Both existing terminals are now operated by Delta Air Lines Inc., which is part way through a major expansion at JFK.
The airline, which would be a partner in the construction of the replacement terminal, has projected that it will be flying 18 million passengers through JFK by 2017, about double the number it served last year and well more than triple the 5 million it handled in 2002, Port Authority officials said.
Port Authority Aviation Director William DeCota said the reconstruction would be a "huge undertaking," but a necessary one if the airport is to accommodate planned growth in air travel.
"They were built in a different era," he said of the aging structures.
Terminal 2 opened in 1962 and was initially used by Northeast Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Braniff.
Terminal 3, built for Pan American, was slightly more storied. When it opened in 1960, the circular building's most striking design was its huge, flying-saucer-like roof. The building had a 114-foot overhang intended to shelter passengers from rain as they boarded parked aircraft - a feature rendered obsolete by the development of the jetway.
The terminal was renamed the "Worldport" when it expanded in the early 1970s to accommodate the Boeing 747.
The plans for demolishing and rebuilding the terminals are being made at a time when JFK is undergoing several major operational changes as a result of its growth spurt.
After near-record flight delays last year, federal authorities capped the number of hourly flights allowed at the airport, saying the airlines had scheduled too many takeoffs and landings.
The FAA followed that up with an announcement that it intended to ration those flight slots by auctioning them to the highest bidder - a procedure that could, potentially, make it somewhat risky for an airline to invest in new terminal facilities.
Though the specifics of the auction plan have yet to be worked out, airlines have complained that they could spend millions of dollars building gates and lounges, only to see their flight slots auctioned off to some other airline.
"The reality is, this creates a great deal of uncertainty," DeCota said. The Port Authority has opposed both the flight caps and the auction plan, saying the airport can accommodate many more flights than the FAA currently allows.
DeCota added, though, that concerns over flight rationing aren't yet severe enough to stall the plans for the terminals, which would be the final stage in a $9 billion-plus overhaul of the airport's facilities that began in the 1990s.
Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the renovations will help the airline lower costs, reduce taxi times and streamline its baggage handling system.
There is no estimated cost of the new terminal yet, she said. Coming up with a price tag and construction timeline will be part of the planning study.
Source: newsday.com
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took a first step Thursday in planning the replacement of Terminals 2 and 3, which were state-of-the-art buildings when they opened in the early 1960s but are now overcrowded and obsolete.
The authority, which operates JFK, said it would spend $20 million planning for a new mega-terminal that would have modern security features, space for new amenities and many more gates.
Both existing terminals are now operated by Delta Air Lines Inc., which is part way through a major expansion at JFK.
The airline, which would be a partner in the construction of the replacement terminal, has projected that it will be flying 18 million passengers through JFK by 2017, about double the number it served last year and well more than triple the 5 million it handled in 2002, Port Authority officials said.
Port Authority Aviation Director William DeCota said the reconstruction would be a "huge undertaking," but a necessary one if the airport is to accommodate planned growth in air travel.
"They were built in a different era," he said of the aging structures.
Terminal 2 opened in 1962 and was initially used by Northeast Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Braniff.
Terminal 3, built for Pan American, was slightly more storied. When it opened in 1960, the circular building's most striking design was its huge, flying-saucer-like roof. The building had a 114-foot overhang intended to shelter passengers from rain as they boarded parked aircraft - a feature rendered obsolete by the development of the jetway.
The terminal was renamed the "Worldport" when it expanded in the early 1970s to accommodate the Boeing 747.
The plans for demolishing and rebuilding the terminals are being made at a time when JFK is undergoing several major operational changes as a result of its growth spurt.
After near-record flight delays last year, federal authorities capped the number of hourly flights allowed at the airport, saying the airlines had scheduled too many takeoffs and landings.
The FAA followed that up with an announcement that it intended to ration those flight slots by auctioning them to the highest bidder - a procedure that could, potentially, make it somewhat risky for an airline to invest in new terminal facilities.
Though the specifics of the auction plan have yet to be worked out, airlines have complained that they could spend millions of dollars building gates and lounges, only to see their flight slots auctioned off to some other airline.
"The reality is, this creates a great deal of uncertainty," DeCota said. The Port Authority has opposed both the flight caps and the auction plan, saying the airport can accommodate many more flights than the FAA currently allows.
DeCota added, though, that concerns over flight rationing aren't yet severe enough to stall the plans for the terminals, which would be the final stage in a $9 billion-plus overhaul of the airport's facilities that began in the 1990s.
Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the renovations will help the airline lower costs, reduce taxi times and streamline its baggage handling system.
There is no estimated cost of the new terminal yet, she said. Coming up with a price tag and construction timeline will be part of the planning study.
Source: newsday.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
New York airport slots to be auctioned
Slots for taking off and landing at New York-area airports will be auctioned to increase competition and reduce air travel delays that ripple through the country, the Transportation Department said Friday.
Airlines quickly opposed the planned auctions, calling them an experiment with dubious legal authority that will raise prices for passengers while doing nothing to ease congestion.
The changes are likely to affect airlines with large operations at JFK such as Atlanta-based Delta and New York's JetBlue, which frequently flies to Florida.
The Transportation Department also said airlines and the government must do better when dealing with maintenance and safety to avoid disruptions.
Last month, wiring inspections grounded MD-80 planes from American Airlines and other carriers, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers.
The department also said it will require airlines and travel agents to disclose fees for checking a second bag before people buy tickets. Airlines, financially battered by rising fuel costs, have been raising fares and adding fees.
The auctions involve some slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Similar changes were announced last month for New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The three airports had the worst on-time records last year and are the source of much of the nation's snarled air traffic.
In December, the Bush administration announced flight caps for the airports, forcing airlines to cut back during the busiest hours.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Friday that the slot auction proposals are meant to "ensure that airport caps do not become an economic drain on the region or the rest of the country."
"We need a way to keep aviation competition alive," Peters said. "Our plan strikes a sound balance between protecting investments by incumbent carriers, ensuring that all airlines have the opportunity to fly to Newark and JFK, and improving service, choice and fares for travelers."
The Air Transport Association, representing the biggest U.S. airlines, called the auctions "ill-conceived and unlawful proposals" that won't reduce delays.
"This experiment will penalize the public," ATA President James May said. "Instead of focusing on modernizing and expanding the airspace infrastructure as the traveling and shipping public expects, the government seeks to curb that demand by making it more costly to fly."
Steve Gorman, Delta operations vice president, agreed, saying that enacting "costly and untested schemes like slot auctions fails to recognize substantial investments by U.S. carriers."
"Confiscating slots from U.S. carriers to award them to the highest bidder is likely to result in handing over significant service to financially stronger foreign flag carriers," he said.
The government proposal, expected to be final in 60 days after a comment period, calls for airlines at Newark and JFK to get up to 20 slots a day for the 10-year life of the rule.
At JFK, there are two options that could lead to up to 179 slots of the airport's 1,245 being auctioned over 10 years.
For five years, 10 percent of an airline's slots above the 20 slots a day would be auctioned, with the proceeds invested to improve regional capacity and reduce congestion. Alternately, airlines would auction 20 percent above the baseline and keep the proceeds.
At Newark, the government would auction 10 percent of slots above the baseline annually for the first five years and, unlike one JFK option, airlines could bid on their own slots. Over a decade, the auctions would involve 96 out of 1,219 slots.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the auctions "nothing short of insanity."
Source: ajc.com
Airlines quickly opposed the planned auctions, calling them an experiment with dubious legal authority that will raise prices for passengers while doing nothing to ease congestion.
The changes are likely to affect airlines with large operations at JFK such as Atlanta-based Delta and New York's JetBlue, which frequently flies to Florida.
The Transportation Department also said airlines and the government must do better when dealing with maintenance and safety to avoid disruptions.
Last month, wiring inspections grounded MD-80 planes from American Airlines and other carriers, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers.
The department also said it will require airlines and travel agents to disclose fees for checking a second bag before people buy tickets. Airlines, financially battered by rising fuel costs, have been raising fares and adding fees.
The auctions involve some slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Similar changes were announced last month for New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The three airports had the worst on-time records last year and are the source of much of the nation's snarled air traffic.
In December, the Bush administration announced flight caps for the airports, forcing airlines to cut back during the busiest hours.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Friday that the slot auction proposals are meant to "ensure that airport caps do not become an economic drain on the region or the rest of the country."
"We need a way to keep aviation competition alive," Peters said. "Our plan strikes a sound balance between protecting investments by incumbent carriers, ensuring that all airlines have the opportunity to fly to Newark and JFK, and improving service, choice and fares for travelers."
The Air Transport Association, representing the biggest U.S. airlines, called the auctions "ill-conceived and unlawful proposals" that won't reduce delays.
"This experiment will penalize the public," ATA President James May said. "Instead of focusing on modernizing and expanding the airspace infrastructure as the traveling and shipping public expects, the government seeks to curb that demand by making it more costly to fly."
Steve Gorman, Delta operations vice president, agreed, saying that enacting "costly and untested schemes like slot auctions fails to recognize substantial investments by U.S. carriers."
"Confiscating slots from U.S. carriers to award them to the highest bidder is likely to result in handing over significant service to financially stronger foreign flag carriers," he said.
The government proposal, expected to be final in 60 days after a comment period, calls for airlines at Newark and JFK to get up to 20 slots a day for the 10-year life of the rule.
At JFK, there are two options that could lead to up to 179 slots of the airport's 1,245 being auctioned over 10 years.
For five years, 10 percent of an airline's slots above the 20 slots a day would be auctioned, with the proceeds invested to improve regional capacity and reduce congestion. Alternately, airlines would auction 20 percent above the baseline and keep the proceeds.
At Newark, the government would auction 10 percent of slots above the baseline annually for the first five years and, unlike one JFK option, airlines could bid on their own slots. Over a decade, the auctions would involve 96 out of 1,219 slots.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the auctions "nothing short of insanity."
Source: ajc.com
Labels: New York
New 'OpenSkies' carrier cleared for takeoff
OpenSkies, a new transatlantic airline created by British Airways, said Friday it won approval from US regulators to launch flights between New York and Paris starting in June.
The carrier, which calls itself a "premium" airline and offers codesharing with French-based L'Avion, said it received approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
It claims to be the first airline created on the basis of the US-European Union open-skies pact that allows carriers increased access to each other's markets.
"We are delighted to receive approval for take-off and sincerely appreciate the DOT's efficiency and careful consideration in reviewing our application," said Dale Moss, managing director of OpenSkies.
"As the first airline to be created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, this is a huge step forward as we work to make history and set a new industry standard across the Atlantic. We look forward to bringing travelers an intimate, personalized and premium travel experience between Paris and New York starting in just a few weeks."
The company said it will start taking bookings next week via its website www.flyopenskies.com or by phone, and through travel agents.
OpenSkies will use a Boeing 757 aircraft that is configured to allow the seats to fold into full beds in business class.
It plans to serve additional routes from European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan to New York.
Source: afp.google.com
The carrier, which calls itself a "premium" airline and offers codesharing with French-based L'Avion, said it received approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
It claims to be the first airline created on the basis of the US-European Union open-skies pact that allows carriers increased access to each other's markets.
"We are delighted to receive approval for take-off and sincerely appreciate the DOT's efficiency and careful consideration in reviewing our application," said Dale Moss, managing director of OpenSkies.
"As the first airline to be created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, this is a huge step forward as we work to make history and set a new industry standard across the Atlantic. We look forward to bringing travelers an intimate, personalized and premium travel experience between Paris and New York starting in just a few weeks."
The company said it will start taking bookings next week via its website www.flyopenskies.com or by phone, and through travel agents.
OpenSkies will use a Boeing 757 aircraft that is configured to allow the seats to fold into full beds in business class.
It plans to serve additional routes from European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan to New York.
Source: afp.google.com
Labels: British Airways, New York, OpenSkies, Paris
Sunday, May 11, 2008
OpenSkies gets OK to launch from Paris Orly-New York JFK
OpenSkies, the new BA subsidiary which plans to operate flights from Europe direct to the US, has received clearance from Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority to take to the skies.
timesonline.co.uk
timesonline.co.uk
Labels: British Airways, New York, OpenSkies, Paris
Friday, April 18, 2008
Airlines resist U.S. plan to unclog LaGuardia
Federal officials unveiled a controversial proposal Wednesday to reduce delays at New York's heavily congested LaGuardia Airport by cutting flights and auctioning off the right for new competitors to fly there.
usatoday.com
usatoday.com
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Unruly passenger forces Paris-bound jet to divert
An American Airlines flight from New York to Paris was diverted to Boston late Wednesday after a passenger refused to cooperate with flight crew, officials said.
theage.com.au
theage.com.au
Labels: american airlines, diverted flight, New York, Paris
Saturday, February 02, 2008
BA to launch business-only US flights
British Airways will launch an all-business-class airline between London and New York next year, despite the prospect of a US recession threatening its most important market.
guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk
Labels: British Airways, business class, London, New York
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Delta, other airlines oppose cutting flights at JFK
Delta Air Lines and other major carriers will lodge their objections Tuesday to what they call a federal proposal for "slashing operations" at delay-plagued John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
ajc.com (page not found)
ajc.com (page not found)
Labels: delayed flights, Delta, New York
Sunday, October 21, 2007
US transportation officials propose flight scheduling limit at JFK airport
Delay-plagued John F. Kennedy International Airport should not try to handle more than 80 takeoffs or landings per hour, substantially fewer than are now scheduled for some peak travel times, U.S. transportation officials say.
nytimes.com
nytimes.com
Labels: delayed flights, New York
Saturday, October 13, 2007
US will discuss JFK schedules with foreign airlines
Overseas airlines will join domestic carriers at an unusual meeting next month with U.S. authorities about flight scheduling practices at delay plagued New York's John F. Kennedy airport, officials said on Friday.
investing.reuters.co.uk (page not found)
investing.reuters.co.uk (page not found)
Labels: delayed flights, New York, US
FAA, airlines brainstorm on NYC airport gridlock
Simple mathematics explain why New York has become the United States' worst air-travel bottleneck. Almost every day, more planes are jockeying for space in the sky than the region's beleaguered air traffic control system can handle.
iht.com
iht.com
Friday, October 05, 2007
American Airlines to fly Stansted-JFK
American Airlines is to go head-to-head with Eos and MAXjet at Stansted on the transatlantic route to New York JFK. The airline announced today that it will launch daily services from the Essex airport from 29 October and will add a second daily service from March 2008.
timesonline.co.uk
timesonline.co.uk
Labels: american airlines, eos airlines, Maxjet, New York, stansted
Monday, July 23, 2007
Plane from NYC lands safely in Virginia despite problem
An American Airlines plane from New York landed safety at Norfolk International Airport early Friday after having hydraulic problems.
newsday.com (page not found)
newsday.com (page not found)
Labels: american airlines, New York, Norfolk
Friday, July 20, 2007
Virgin to fly between NY and California
Virgin America Inc. began selling tickets Thursday in preparation for starting service next month from San Francisco to Kennedy Airport.
newsday.com (page not found)
newsday.com (page not found)
Labels: New York, San Francisco, Virgin America
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Air India to fly Mumbai-NY non-stop
Air India will introduce a daily, non-stop flight from New York's JFK International Airport to Mumbai from August 1.
rediff.com
rediff.com
Labels: Air India, mumbai, New York
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Flights between N.Y., London Stansted set for October
American Airlines will start flying between New York and London's Stansted Airport, becoming the only major airline offering U.S. flights from the facility.
chicagotribune.com (page not found)
chicagotribune.com (page not found)
Labels: american airlines, New York, stansted
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Silverjet begins London - New York route
Business class only carrier Silverjet began its first route between London and New York today, offering passengers a check in time of just 30 minutes while also introducing a mandatory carbon contribution within its fares to offset emissions.
guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk
Labels: London, New York, Silverjet
itravelnet.com - Travel Directory | All Rights Reserved