Paper
airline tickets on verge of extinction
Feb. 28, 2007 - Paper airline tickets, once the industry standard,
are on the fast track to oblivion. If the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) has its way, airlines will issue
only electronic tickets by the end of 2007, sending paper
tickets the way of other rapidly disappearing industry services
such as in-flight meals and free pillows.
 Fans
of the A380 forecast blue skies, but critics predict turbulence
Mar. 23, 2007 - There are no caterwauling babies on this test
flight of the world's newest and biggest airliner. Absent,
too, are the slumped shoulders and ashen countenance of the
typical long-haul passenger, wedged into an aluminum tube
for hours on end as it hurtles toward a destination a continent
away.
Airline
alliances and the Rule of Three
Mar. 14, 2007- In the business world, three is an iconic number.
The USA has three major automobile makers. In fast food you
have McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's. There are even three
leading peanut butter brands (Peter Pan, Jif and Skippy).
In an open market, three major competitors often emerge. And
so it is in the travel industry. For many years, three large
U.S. network airlines dominated the skies. And in turn those
mega-carriers — American, Delta and United — created
three global alliances — oneworld, SkyTeam and the Star
Alliance respectively. It is also no accident that the three
largest European airlines — British Airways, Air France/KLM
and Lufthansa — have each joined a different alliance.
Airports
push for higher passenger fees
Mar. 22, 2007- If the nation's airports get their way, the
price of flying will increase further this fall as they push
for higher boarding fees used to fund airport improvements,
ranging from new runways to expanded terminals.
Fliers
could see lower fares, more choice as open-skies deal gets
OK
Mar. 22, 2007 - Europe's transportation ministers agreed Thursday
to scrap most restrictions on trans-Atlantic flights, holding
out the prospect of cheaper fares and a bigger choice of airlines
for passengers.
E.U.,
U.S. Agree to Ease Barriers to Flights
Mar. 23, 2007 - The European Union agreed Thursday to liberalize
air traffic between Europe and the United States with major
deregulation steps that airline analysts said should increase
the number of transatlantic flights and lower fares.
Priceline's
missing connection
Mar. 21, 2007 - One reason you buy a ticket through a third
party like Priceline, and not directly from the airline, is
that if something goes wrong, there’s someone to turn
to. That’s why they call them “agents” —
because they are your advocates. But Priceline was not able
to persuade Delta to help one of its customers, and ultimately
your sister was left holding a worthless airline ticket.
Rail
Project For Dulles Raises Concerns
Mar. 23, 2007 - If Virginia transportation officials and a
private contractor resolve their differences over costs and
strike a deal to build the Metrorail extension to Dulles International
Airport, Northern Virginia commuters and landowners paying
most of the $4 billion bill are likely to know very little
about the terms of the agreement. |
