April 23, 2010

Developments in volcanic ash affecting air travel‎

Eurocontrol, the air traffic agency, expects traffic to be at normal levels on Thursday

-- between 28,000 and 29,000 flights.

-- A small number of cancellations can be expected due to some limited restrictions and the logistical problems of airlines resuming their regular schedules.

-- Almost all European airspace is available, with a few exceptions in parts of Southern Finland, southern Norway, northern Scotland, and western Sweden.

-- On Wednesday, there were 22,189 flights in European airspace --almost 80 percent of normal traffic levels.

-- The International Air Transport Association estimates that the Icelandic volcano crisis had cost airlines more than $1.7 billion in lost revenue through Tuesday

-- six days after the initial eruption. At its peak, the crisis impacted 29 percent of global aviation and affected 1.2 million passengers a day.


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European air travel close to normal

Air travel over most of Europe returned to normal Thursday, with a few airports in the north closed due to volcanic ash sent there by shifting winds.

Some airports in Finland, Sweden and Norway were closed after a new cloud of ash was blown over the region. The countries are permitting overflights at high altitudes, however. Read more

Q&A: Who gets to fly first?

With more flights beginning to take off on schedule, airlines are attempting to clear the backlog of passengers who have been waiting for days because of the volcanic ash cloud over Europe. But with tens of thousands waiting to travel, there are questions over who gets to go first and how long the delays will last. Read more

More airline surcharges expected to pop up

With hiking oil prices, the already down air travel industry is aiming for revival by adding charges left and right. Consumer Specialist Ric Romero advises consumers on what surcharges to watch out for. Airlines are a long way from making their economic recovery. Just Monday, American Airlines reported a loss of a half billion dollars. Read more

Spirit Airlines adds non-reclining seats to new planes
Florida-based airline Spirit sent shock waves through the travel community last week when it announced plans to start charging a fee for carry-on luggage. The airline is taking heat once again for a move to install seats that don't recline in new aircraft, the Palm Beach Post is reporting.

AirTran May Seek NYC, DC Slots If United Does Merger
AirTran Holdings Inc., the low-fare carrier that flies mostly in the eastern U.S., is interested in Washington and New York-area flight slots that may become available should United Airlines find a merger partner.

5 Airlines Pledge No Carry-On Fees
The carriers are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways. The low-budget carrier Spirit Airlines recently said it planned to charge up to $45 for carry-on bags that do not fit under seats.

Talks deepen between United and Continental
United Airlines and Continental Airlines are in the early stages of exchanging financial information that could lead to a deal to combine and create the world's biggest airline, people briefed on the talks said Tuesday.

US Airways calls off merger talks with United Airlines
US Airways officials called off merger talks with United Airlines Thursday after discovering United preferred to combine with Continental Airlines instead.

Gov't won't exempt airlines from tarmac time limit
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday he has turned down requests from five airlines for temporary exemptions to a rule against keeping passengers waiting longer than three hours on airport tarmacs.

 

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