Category Archives: Transportation Industry

Boeing Dreamliners and Airbus A380 to Join British Airways Fleet

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When two Boeing 787s and the first Airbus SAS A380 arrive in England later this month British Airways will become the first European airline to fly the two wide-bodied liners as part of its line-up of planes.

The Boeing 787s are due to join British Airways (IAG) in two weeks on June 26th and 27th, and the Airbus one week later, on July 4th. IAG is spending 5 million pounds ($7.8 million) upgrading its subsidiary’s fleet.

The Dreamliners were originally scheduled to arrive in the UK in May, but due to issues with the batteries Boeing had to delay deliveries until the problems were resolved. British Air said that the routes of the planes will be “unveiled shortly.” But they did confirm that the A380 will have the route to Los Angeles beginning on October 15, while another route will be added to Hong Kong on November 15.

“Over the next 12 months, we will take delivery of new long-haul aircraft at an average rate of one every two weeks,” BA Chief Executive Officer Keith Williams said.

The A380 is more fuel efficient, and the 787 is made of composite plastic, making both planes more environmentally friendly while also helping to keep costs to a minimum. The more expensive-to-operate Boeing 747-400 jumbos will be phased out as more up-to-date planes join the fleet.

Judge Denies $20 Million Severance Package for AA Chief

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CEO of AMR Thomas Horton
CEO of AMR Thomas Horton

In the wake of the March 27th approval of the merger of AMR with US Airways, the same judge dismissed a proposed severance package of $19.9 million for AMR Chief Executive Officer Thomas Horton.

Judge Sean Lane of the US Bankruptcy court in Manhattan released his decision last Thursday to disallow the large severance package after approval of last month’s $11 billion merger between American Airline’s parent company and US Airways, explaining that the payoff was against federal bankruptcy law.

Lane made the suggestion that Horton’s severance pay be better addressed during the discussion of AMR’s reorganization plan. This plan has not yet been submitted, and will need the approval of creditors.

Tracy Hope Davis, trustee of the US Department of Justice and monitor of the bankruptcy proceedings was equally against Horton’s large payout.

“It’s American Airlines’ current intention to address Mr. Horton’s compensation arrangement in the plan of reorganization,” said Mike Trevino, a spokesman for American.

Atlanta Airport Rated Best in the World

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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport was given the gold medal in a survey conducted by the Travel Leaders Group, one of America’s largest travel firms.

The survey asked 930 travel agents, managers and other people who work for the Group to rate the world’s airports for amenities, food, and making connections to other flights.

Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest airport in the world with over 2,500 flights arriving and leaving there each day. That translates into about a quarter million passengers either stopping in Atlanta or in 95 percent of the cases, making flight connections to take them further along on their journeys.

Business travelers look for particular services at airports, such as good wireless Internet connections, many conveniently located places to charge cell phones and laptops, conference rooms, comfy waiting areas and lots of great choices for eating between those flights, says a spokeswoman for the Travel Leaders Group Kathy Gerhardt.

Hartsfield-Jackson has them all, and a few more for good measure, says Louis E. Miller, the general manager of aviation at the Atlanta Airport.

“It’s like a city here,” Miller explained, noting that there are 125 restaurants and snack bars, 90 shops, a bathroom for pets, and a place where travelers can rent a small room with a daybed sofa to catch a few winks, all within the 130-acre terminal.

Hurricane Sandy Raining Havoc on Airline Industry

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Hurricane Sandy Causing Major Airline Disruptions

US-based airlines were forced to cancel over 7,000 scheduled flights in to and out of the Northeast corridor on Sunday.

Flight cancellations began in the region from Washington D.C. to Boston as early as Sunday evening as states and municipalities began to make preparations for what some are predicting will be the largest storm to ever make landfall in the United States.

Flooding is expected, along with hurricane force winds. In some areas further north snow will also be a factor. In New York City flights were cancelled according to the timing imposed by the city’s shutting down of mass transportation at 7pm on Sunday. By 9pm all flights in and out of NY were cancelled. Fees for changing travel plans due to the cancellations were waived by the airlines.

U.S. Airways says it will be forced to cancel at least 2,000 flights, from Sunday at 7pm until sometime on Tuesday. The spokesman added that delays could be extended depending on the duration and strength of the storm and the damage it might cause. Planes on the ground will be repositioned away from the Hurricane’s path to avoid damage to them, which will cause additional delays.

George Hamlin, transportation consultant predicted that Sandy will cost the airline industry hundreds of millions of dollars. Not only will the airlines lose flight revenue, but they will probably have to pay their crews extra if they are stranded away from their home bases.