Archive for March, 2008

Aloha to end passenger service

Posted by admin on March 31, 2008

photo by Cubbie_n_Vegas
Only days after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (for the second time in as many years), Hawaiian carrier Aloha Airlines announced that it will terminate all passenger service effective today. The airline has been fighting a three-way price war with Hawaiian Airlines and startup go!, [...]

"Defective airplanes or parts"? I think not

Posted by admin on March 27, 2008

This morning I reported on how several U.S. airlines that operate the MD-80 had to perform additional checks on wiring covers. A few hours later, I received a comment on that blog post that was rather entertaining. (Here are a few excerpts – for the entire comment in all of its gloriousness, click here.)

[...]

American, Delta inspect MD-80s

Posted by admin on March 27, 2008

photo by Kevin Boydston
American Airlines yesterday announced that it was canceling 300 flights on Wednesday in order to inspect wiring covers in its 300-strong [...]

ANA to start budget airline

Posted by admin on March 26, 2008

photo by Giyu (Velvia)
Japan’s All Nippon Airways, which has been experiencing increased pressure in recent years from growing low-cost carriers in Asia, has announced plans to launch a budget airline of its own. ANA is considering a joint venture with another Asian airline, and the new carrier could be flying as early as March 2009. [...]

Emirates introduces in-flight mobile phone service

Posted by stephen on March 25, 2008

Emirates Airline has announced that it has launched in-flight mobile phone service, making it the first commercial airline to allow mobile phone usage while in flight. The service was introduced on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca in Morocco on March 20 onboard an Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
The plane is the first in the airline’s fleet [...]

United to downsize fleet

Posted by admin on March 19, 2008

photo by Drewski2112
United Airlines, facing a slumping economy and rising fuel prices, announced today that it would ground 10 to 15 of its “older, less fuel efficient, narrowbody aircraft” as part of a plan “to offset what could be more than a $1 billion increase in fuel costs [...]

Northwest: $100 oil to lead to mergers

Posted by admin on March 11, 2008

photo by caribb
Oil, which has been hitting record highs seemingly every day now, has always been a problem for airlines. But when the price of oil starts getting above $100, it becomes a really big problem. On a pre-recorded telephone message for Northwest employees, CEO Doug Steenland said that oil was becoming a “serious budget-breaker”. [...]

Singapore Airlines to offer all-business class flights from US

Posted by stephen on March 11, 2008

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to offer all-business class seating on its non-stop flights to Singapore from New York and Los Angeles, starting mid-May.
Under the new configuration, the airline will replace the existing two-class, 181-seat layout on its five Airbus A340-500 planes with 100 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat will have direct [...]

Top 7 US short city break destinations

Posted by stephen on March 5, 2008

Las Vegas, NevadaThe fun never ends in Las Vegas. The city is today the largest playground for grown-ups and one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. To start with, take a stroll along the Strip and see some of the world’s most famous hotels & casinos. Visit The Venetian and take a gondola [...]