Airlines sue FAA over crew rest rules
Several of the nation’s largest airlines have joined in a lawsuit to block stronger federal rules on crew rest during the longest international flights. The airlines say that the Federal Aviation Administration bypassed usual rule-making procedures and denied them the right to comment before it notified American Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc. of the new rules in late October. The petition... [Read more]
Pack light or pay up for holiday flights
When airlines started charging some passengers $15 or more earlier this year to check their bags, they blamed soaring fuel costs. Since then, oil has plummeted. Yet the industry hasn’t stowed away the bag fees. Many of us are still paying to fly with a suitcase that doesn’t squeeze into the overhead bin or under the seat. The reason is simple: Airlines are still losing money, though now... [Read more]
Feds cut flights at NYC’s LaGuardia
Federal aviation authorities are cutting the number of hourly flights at LaGuardia Airport as they try to address the worst major airport delays in the country. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced Monday that the government will lower the cap on take-offs and landings at LaGuardia from 75 to 71 per hour. LaGuardia ranks last among the 32 major U.S. airports in on-time arrival performance.... [Read more]
Wonton noodles, free shows delight in Hong Kong
Chances are that by the time you get off a plane in Hong Kong, you’ve already spent half of your trip’s budget on that flight. But even with a reputation for being one of the world’s top five most expensive cities to live, Hong Kong can be surprisingly cheap when you travel and eat as locals do. GETTING AROUND: Hong Kong is the land of public transportation, with an underground transit... [Read more]
AirAsia offers 100,000 free tickets to Thailand
Southeast Asia’s top budget carrier AirAsia said Tuesday it would offer 100,000 free tickets to Thailand under a regional marketing campaign to support its tourism industry battered by recent political unrest. AirAsia said it would collaborate with Tourism Authority of Thailand to bring back tourists and businessmen by “reinstating the core message that it is now safe to travel back to... [Read more]
Airline traffic fell 8.4 percent in September
The number of passengers on U.S. airlines fell 8.4 percent in September, a decline of 5 million passengers from the year-earlier month, the Transportation Department said Thursday in the latest evidence of weakening travel demand. The department said preliminary findings indicate that 54.2 million passengers rode on domestic or international flights operated by U.S. airlines in September. It was the... [Read more]
Flights to Israel get cheaper for couples
Couples flying to Israel this winter from New York or Los Angeles may save by booking directly with El Al. It’s a slightly usual offer, so read closely. Buy a ticket on El Al’s website for one person at the going rate, and you’ll qualify to purchase a companion ticket at a lower price. Is this a deal? I went to El Al’s site and found a nonstop round-trip flight out of JFK for... [Read more]
Protesters break into secure area at UK airport
Dozens of environmental activists broke into a secure area of a London airport Monday and chained themselves to each other in a protest against air-traffic pollution, causing the cancellation of dozens of flights. Protest group Plane Stupid, known for its attention-grabbing stunts, said activists stormed Stansted Airport before dawn and staged their protest near the taxi area where planes travel between... [Read more]
Major airlines ready to cut more flights in 2009
Executives of major U.S. airlines, already seeing signs of slumping travel demand, said Tuesday they were ready to cut more flights, and Delta hinted at more job losses as the carriers jockey to survive the deepening recession. U.S. airlines have been helped by a sudden drop in jet fuel prices, and they already cut capacity this fall to further reduce costs and drive up fares. But traffic has fallen... [Read more]
More Americans stay home for the holidays
Travelers breezed through airport terminals Wednesday and drivers cruised open roads, the effects of a sour economy blamed for keeping people closer to home at the start of the annual Thanksgiving rush. Even though gas prices fell and airlines offered last-minute deals, many Americans appeared to be skipping trips this year. San Francisco resident Sharon McKellar called the Miami airport “shockingly... [Read more]