- Easyjet is promoting its vision of a shorthaul aircraft that will generate half as much carbon dioxide and can be delivered by 2015. They are working with aircraft manufacturers to make their dream a reality.
- US Airways won’t be allowed to serve alcohol once again in New Mexico, after being refused an extension on its 90-day temporary liquor license. US Airways has failed to resolve the citation that resulted from the fatal accident that started the state’s review of airline liquor services, which is a fine for a first-offense of $1000-$2000 and suspension of serving alcohol for a day. They also delayed implementation of a state-mandated training program for its flight attendants, who would be serving alcohol to the passengers.
- Frontier Airlines launched its service to Jacksonville on Friday. It was the largest U.S. market, according to the airline, without direct service to Denver. It is also its fifth Florida destination.
- Northwest announced three daily roundtrips between Dallas/Ft. Worth and New York’s LaGuardia Airport effective September 5th, using its Airbus 319 aircraft. Northwest will be allowing passengers currently ticketed with connections to switch to nonstop service. This route, into an American Airlines stronghold hub and between two cities that only have a token Northwest presence seems to make no sense. Many experts believe it to be Northwest’s response to American’s service to Minneapolis from LaGuardia. We will see how it works out. Perhaps the airline has something up its sleeve…or perhaps not…
- We did miss Northwest announcing it would resume service from Osaka, Japan to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, effective December 21st using Boeing 757 aircraft. Northwest operates service to Saipan from Nagoya and Tokyo to Saipan.
- Malaysian Airlines has been ordered to pay an Indian man $5,700 in damages for serving him meat after he asked for a vegetarian meal. The man vomited after he was served chicken in March of 2003. He had never eaten meat in his life…
- Cape Air was forced to ground its fleet of Cessna 402s to replace a potentially faulty engine part. Service was back to normal by the end of the weekend. Abnormal wear on a 6-inch counterweight caused the shutdown of engines in two aircraft…and was able to get the planes repaired in record time.
- Air Canada Jazz inaugurated twice daily service from Vancouver to Sacramento, using 50-seat CRJs. As part of the promotion, it is offering connecting fares from Sacramento through Vancouver to Canada and Asia at sale prices…
- US Airways will be acquiring 60 single-aisle A320-family aircraft and 32 widebodies, including the A350XWB. The A320s will replace existing older aircraft and will be delivered beginning in 2010, and compliment the order of 37 of these aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2009. US Airways will take delivery of the A350s in 2014, becoming the North American launch customer. It already had an order of 20 of these aircraft. Ten A330-200 aircraft will begin delivery in 2009, with the option to convert to 330-300s or A340s. As part of the fleet renewal, US Airways will retire its Boeing 737-300s/400s and its 767 long haul aircraft. Increased fleet commonality by using Airbus aircraft will lead to cost savings…
- Delta has launched a carbon offset program. Passengers will have the option to donate to The Conservation Fund during the booking process. They have also launched a recycling program that expands beyond traditional aluminum can recycling to include all aluminum, plastic and paper products on domestic flights into Atlanta. The program includes recycling newspapers, snack containers, soda cans and water bottles.
- The Rockwell Collins dual Head-up Guidance System has been approved for Category III landings and low visibility takeoffs on the Embraer 190 aircraft. Jetblue is already flying with the HGS, and once their fleet is approved in a little over a year…allowing the planes to operate more efficiently, reducing delays and diversions and improving their on-time performance.