News Highlights

Airlines Set to Ask More of Passengers
U.S. airlines on Saturday will begin asking travelers to provide their birth date and sex for the first time under a new aviation security requirement, federal officials said Wednesday.

TSA and Continental Airlines Expand Paperless Boarding Pass Program
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Continental Airlines announced today the expansion of the Paperless Boarding Pass pilot program at San Diego International Airport. The program will allow passengers to receive boarding passes electronically on their cell phones or PDAs, which will then be scanned by TSA security officers at the checkpoint and eliminate the need for a paper boarding pass.

Major U.S. airlines raise fee on first bag
American, Continental, Delta, United and US Airways all recently raised fees to check the first bag to $20. Air Tran and Southwest, meanwhile, doubled their domestic checked bag fees to $20, round-trip.

Continental to Join Star Alliance
Continental Airlines Inc. said Wednesday that it expected to join the Star Alliance of carriers on Oct. 27, three days after leaving the rival SkyTeam grouping.

JetBlue offers all-you-can-fly plan for $599
JetBlue Airways will offer an "all-you-can-jet" pass for $599 in which passengers can book an unlimited number of flights within a one-month span, the airline said Wednesday.

Alaska Airlines raises rates for companion fares
Alaska Airlines says in a letter to its customers that it is increasing the cost of companion fares available through its Visa Signature card from $50 to $99. The price increase go into effect Oct. 1. The airline says it's the first increase in companion fares in 10 years and still a great deal.

Delta to suspend Salt Lake-Tokyo route beginning Oct. 1
Delta Air Lines is suspending its new nonstop service to Tokyo from Salt Lake City because of the weak economy, a drop-off in air travel and fears about the H1N1 swine flu virus.

Airline to cut flights at JWA
American Airlines will discontinue all flights from John Wayne Airport to the San Francisco Bay region effective Nov. 19, officials said. The plans will have a minimal effect on passenger travel, as JWA offers 46 flights to Bay Area, airport spokeswoman says.

Airlines swap assets in New York, Washington, D.C.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and US Airways, (LCC) intense rivals the past two decades on the Washington-New York-Boston shuttle routes, have agreed to a massive asset swap that will make Delta stronger in New York and US Airways stronger in Washington, D.C.

Airline customers: Passengers or prisoners?
On Wednesday, the White House launched an investigation of a Continental Express flight that stranded passengers on the ground for several hours last week. As the oddly-familiar incident has gained news traction, it has reignited a debate about how airlines should be required to treat passengers.

Airlines Will Be First U.S. Industry to Confront Cap and Trade
The first U.S. industry to face a cap on its greenhouse gas emissions is not, as may be expected, the coal-burning power utilities. It's not the oil refineries, churningthrough crude. It's not the automakers, manufacturing again.