Airline Post » US airways

8$ for your airline blanket

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:48:48 +0000

Sleeping while flying is suddenly more expensive, if you’re on an American Airlines flight. The airline will charge you for a pillow and blanket in coach as of recently.

Starting May 1st, American Airlines will charge you 8$ for a blanket and pillow in coach on domestic flights and some international ones that are longer than 2 hours. International flights where this fee will be applied are those going in and out of Hawaii, the Caribbean, Central America, Canada and Mexico.

American evaluates all aspects of the business to ensure that economic decisions are prudent and strategic for the long-term success of the company,” said Andrea Huguely, spokesman for the company.

A fleece blanket and an inflatable pillow will be sold in a pouch and will come with a coupon for $10 discount for a $30 purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond. The pouch will remain free in premium-class.

Ever since 2008, when economic recession reared its ugly head, airlines have started charging passengers for things that were until then free. JetBlue and US Airways imposed a 7$ fee for a blanket-and-pillow set.

New Changes in Continental Airline Company

Abbey — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:03:38 +0000

In order to struggle among three large alliances of global airlines, Continental Airlines decided to change its teams. It means that Continental comes out of Delta Air Lines’ shadow. Such move will help Continental to become closer to United Airlines as they are planning to work together on marketing and pricing. For that reason customers of Continental will be able to have a wide choice of flights and at the same time the company will have an opportunity to get a new international airlines’ roster due to which it will be possible to earn and spend miles.

On Tuesday Continental officially shifted from SkyTeam to the Star Alliance that includes United, US Airways, Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) and Lufthansa. When Continental joins the Star Alliance, Air Canada that is considered to be the largest carrier of Canada will get new revenue from Continental and at the same time its customers will get access to new destinations. Also customers of Air Canada and Continental may collect and buy back Aeroplan (TSX:AER) miles.

Connecting to Continental, Air Canada will be able to obtain revenue from customers as a number of flights from America to Canada will increase, also it stands to receive a separate joint venture that will start working on profitable Atlantic routes in 2010.

According to Jeff Smisek, president of Continental, the integration of Delta and Northwest referred the airline company to junior-partner status for that reason it was decided to come out from SkyTeam.

Officials of Continental said that the airline was going to add flights to Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro in order to connect to Star Alliance partners and they also underlined that new flight would add new jobs.

In July, Continental received immunity from antitrust laws that enables the airline to work with its new Star partners on setting prices and schedules for many international routes. But at the same time it will not be permitted for Continental and United to work on pricing of flights within the U.S..

FAA Imposes Huge Fines for Safety Violations

Abbey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:53:20 +0000

United Airlines and US Airways in Chicago are supposed to be fined for millions of dollars as a result of negligence and infringements of safety measures as reported by The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday. These safety violations are becoming more than dangerous as it was recently discovered that a plane was flying in the sky with engines packed with shop towels, left there by engine men.

The transportation agency stated that US Airways, based in Tempe, Ariz., is subject to a fine in the size of $5.4 million dollars, referring to the fact that 1,647 flights for the time period from October 2008 to January 2009 were conducted just by eight planes which is by itself considered to be a flagrant violation either of safety measures or of internal maintenance regulations.

One more $3.8 million fine is supposed to be levied in relation to United Airlines for serving 200 flights with a Boeing 737 for the reason of applying shop towels in stead of protection covers on oil collecting tanks.

According to the regulations of The Federal Aviation Administration, there is a 30 day time period for the companies to provide the facts of alleviating circumstances before final imposing of penalties in the form of enormous fines. This is a rather common event to reduce the amount of fines in the course of negotiations.

These huge fines are directly-proportional to a number of flights, carried out with a brazen violation of safety directives and maintenance rules.

As reported by The FAA, US Airways did not perform duties on examinations of Boeing 757’s engine functioning which was engaged in 505 flights. Airbus A320 also achieved a number of 855 flights without compliance with directives of the maintenance program.

But, Southwest Airlines was recognized as a ruthless abuser of requirements and inspections because its jets had operated nearly 60,000 flights in 2006 and 2007 without obligatory check-ups for structural wholeness and 1,451 flights after receiving notification on missed examinations.