Archives: April 2008

My 2 cents on airline mergers

Posted by: Dean Foust on April 28

Yeah, I'm alive, though you wouldn't know it from my lack of posts over the past few weeks. On vacation, on the road, on assignment (including this story that ran...

Check in, work out

Posted by: Dean Foust on April 28

Hotels are really scratching for ways to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. Wi-Fi, free breakfasts, business centers, and even concierge services just aren’t enough anymore. So when...

Independent in Texas

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 27

So is M&A perhaps not the path to success in this era of sky-high jet fuel prices? That seems to be what Continental Airlines is saying, deciding that it...

Skip the Flight, Meet Online?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 25

Were you among the hundreds of thousands of travelers snared this month and last as the FAA and airlines sorted out the contours of the agency’s renewed “by-the-book” policy on...

Innovating in Coach

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 24

Here's one idea that may make you smack your forehead and wonder "Why didn't they think of this sooner?" Thompson Solutions, an aviation products firm based in Northern Ireland, is...

Behind the Delta-NW Mega Loss

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 23

Delta Air Lines and Northwest made a bit of a financial splash on Apr. 23, reporting a combined loss of $10.5 billion. This red ink wasn’t, however, an operating number....

The Wake-Up Alarm From United

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 22

When Americans reminisce about the era of flights that often cost less than a baseball game, there may be one day that encapsulates the true end of our great domestic...

United's Quarterly Loss

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 22

If you still had any doubt about whether Delta-Northwest would be the first and last of the big 2008 merger stories, doubt no more. Here’s the latest from United Airlines...

Southwest's Singular Achievement

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 17

Even with oil prices raging, Southwest’s remarkable milestone remains intact: 68 quarters of profitability in an industry widely considered the financial equivalent of the Ebola virus. The discount pioneer reported...

Delta's Deal: Is There a Math Problem Here?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 15

The early reviews on Delta’s deal for Northwest are rolling in, and investors appear unimpressed. Granted, the transaction was elucidated on the same morning that crude oil futures soared...

New Expectations Needed for Airlines

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 14

It’s been a remarkable two weeks in the U.S. airline industry. Historic, in fact. On Mar. 31, bankrupt Aloha Airlines stopped flying and dismissed 1,900 employees – the first domino...

Wheel Well Wiring, Redux

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 08

If you have a ticket this week on American Airlines it would be a good time to check on the status of your flight. Step 1: Ascertain whether you're scheduled...

The Great Mileage Pursuit

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 03

The New York Times carried an interesting story earlier this week about the explosive growth of frequent flier programs and how they represent a nifty little bonanza for the airlines....

ATA, R.I.P

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 03

ATA Airlines ended service today, scrubbing all flights as of 4 a.m. EDT. The immediate cause of its demise was the loss of a military charter contract, but oil above...

Brangelina? How about "Deltalina"?

Posted by: Dean Foust on April 02

She’s been called “Deltalina,” given her physical resemblance to Angelina Jolie (if Jolie were a red head, better looking and not so weird, that is), but her real name...