Archives: September 2009

Sully's Back -- Time for a Media Circus

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 30

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, US Airways’ Hudson River “hero pilot,” returns to his flying job on Thursday, with flights to and from New York’s LaGuardia – the same airport where...

British Airways Gives Bankers a New London-NY Flight Option

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 28

British Airways (BAY) launches its new, 32-seat, all-business-class service on Sept. 29 from London’s City Airport to JFK. The flight is designed around bankers, with the small airport situated near...

Airlines Set New ‘Premium’ Charge For Holiday Travel

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 25

A new $10 surcharge for three popular travel dates this winter could make visiting family more expensive. American Airlines (AMR) imposed a $10 charge on domestic flights for Nov. 29...

For Airlines, Climate Change Goes Global

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 22

As some 100 world leaders gathered Tuesday in New York to discuss climate change, the world’s airlines sought to make a bit of a splash by reiterating the carbon-reduction goals...

American Nabs New Funds, Bolsters Hub Flying

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 17

American Airlines’ parent AMR Corp. (AMR) moved to shore up its balance sheet, announcing $2.9 billion in financing on Sept. 17. The company also said it will revamp broad portions...

Denmark Tourism Video Sparks an Uproar

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 16

Here’s an item for the “What Were They Thinking?!?” file. Danish tourism officials produced the following video, which they posted Sept. 10 on YouTube, telling the story of a woman...

Time to Buy Airline Stocks, JP Morgan Says

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 10

A prominent Wall Street analyst says it’s time to buy into airlines. And not just their public debt, but the actual equity. The rationale -- in a report Thursday by...

Airlines Unbundle, and a Reader Asks: 'Is This Good or Bad?'

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 09

A Traveler’s Check reader, Lauren, posed an interesting question after reading the summary I posted Tuesday on the enormous leap in airlines’ ancillary revenues. “Is this good or bad?” she...

Airline Fees are Big Money; a Whopping 345% Jump

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 08

Everyone knows the growth of airlines' ancillary revenues has been extraordinary, but now there’s a worldwide figure on just how extraordinary: $10.25 billion in 2008. That tally represents a stunning...

You're the New Airline Czar. What Would You Do?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 04

What if you could impose by fiat your solutions for the U.S. airline industry, becoming a benevolent dictator dispensing fixes in your role as airline czar? Uncle Sam set up...

Virgin America: Will the DOT Find Its Owner Fit?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on September 03

The very long, contentious dispute surrounding Virgin America’s citizenship took another incremental inch forward today when that airline responded to the latest legal blast from Alaska Air Group (ALK). Its...