We all remember the BA 777 that lost power and crash-landed at London/Heathrow, right? Last September, an interim report was put out on the accident saying that ice buildup blocking the fuel flow was the likely culprit. Now Boeing is not only agreeing with that conclusion, but it is … Read the post
Category: Fuel
Southwest Reports Q4 Loss on Hedges
Hedges and other “special items” brought Southwest down to a Q4 loss, but it was the announcement on growth that had people turning their heads.
Southwest Sees Strong Revenue Performance in Fourth Quarter
Is that no-fee strategy working for Southwest? The airline has definitely … Read the post
Report: Investors Looking to Abandon Virgin America
Financial Times is reporting that Virgin America’s US investors may be looking to bail out. What does this mean for the future viability of the airline?
American Flight Attendants Begin Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)
American’s flight attendants have agreed to improve safety … Read the post
Airlines Successfully Test Biofuels in Droves
Air New Zealand and Continental have both recently tested jatropha on actual flights, and the results have been extremely promising.
Alaska and Horizon Says December Storms to Cost Up to $13 Million
Those December storms that hit the Pacific Northwest are hitting the bottom … Read the post
Mesa Settles Aloha Lawsuit, Wants to Use Aloha Name
Mesa wants to use the name of its now vanquished rival, Aloha, on its airplanes. There are so many reasons this is a bad idea, it’s not even funny.
Continental’s November Traffic Performance Shows Ominous Signs
Even Continental’s revised unit revenue … Read the post
“Airport Security in America is a Sham . . .”
Effective security may be unpleasant, but it’s worthwhile and important. Is what we have today effective? What else can airlines be doing?
Mayor Villaraigosa’s Misguided Strategy for LA Airports
LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is as it again. He continues to … Read the post
Vegas Hotel Rooms Growing; Flights Shrinking
Hotels rooms in Vegas are growing rapidly but flights are disappearing. How are they going to find enough people to fill all those rooms?
Hawaiian Adds Winglets to Some of Its 767 Fleet
Hawaiian is putting winglets on nearly half its 767 fleet. Why … Read the post
I know this isn’t entirely about the traveler experience, but I thought it would be a very interesting way to close the week nonetheless. 
I had the chance to speak with British Airways’ Head of Environment, Jonathon Counsell, yesterday. We spoke about a new program they’ve launched in cooperation with … Read the post
DOT Rejects Blanket Dormancy Waiver
The DOT has decided to deny the request by seven airlines to allow them to suspend international routes without losing the rights. This could get interesting.
Ramping Up Alternative Propulsion Systems
With fuel prices climbing, engine manufacturers are looking for new ways to reduce fuel … Read the post
The price of fuel continues to rise, but I don’t think it’s easy for most people to really grasp how devastating this is, because it’s rarely put in normal terms. $125 a barrel? What the heck does that mean in reality? JetBlue, when they pulled out of LAX before even … Read the post
It’s earning season, and most airlines are doing their best to mask their weak fourth quarters. It’s hilarious to see the headlines talking about what a great year it was. Then they bury their fourth quarter loss down below.
Just today, we saw US Airways and Alaska talking about how … Read the post
WestJet Offers Incentives for Travelers Not to Fly
With all the bad weather around the country, WestJet needed to find a way to get people home. They opted to try using bribes.
Southwest Sees Benefits of RNP, Retrofits Older Aircraft
Say goodbye to the old round dials and hello to … Read the post