Passengers Claim United Airlines Held Them “Hostage” for 33 Hours

$500,000 Prize If You Solve Airport Line Problem

Airlines May See Smaller Profits in 2008

FAA Proposes to Extend Runway Safety Requirements

Understated Casino Finds Loophole to Preserve Gaming Rights

PASSENGERS CLAIM UNITED AIRLINES HELD THEM “HOSTAGE” FOR 33 HOURS - The Consumerist
Passengers who rode a flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago claim they were “held hostage” for 33 hours while United Airlines boarded them on and off two planes—that were broken. One passenger stated, “We were sitting in the first seat, so we could hear the captain saying: ‘I’m not flying this plane. I don’t care what you guys say.’ They wanted him to fly it. He kept saying. ‘I’m not flying it.’”

Link: The Consumerist

$500,000 PRIZE IF YOU SOLVE AIRPORT LINE PROBLEM - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you think you have what it takes to make airport security lines quicker? Well, instead of complaining about them, put your good ideas to work! Clear, a firm that operates registered traveler lines, is offering $500,000 to someone who can cut the time spent in line by 15 percent or more. “Somebody in his garage can do this,” said Steven Brill, who runs Clear. “We’re sitting here waiting to get proposals and questions.”

Link: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

AIRLINES MAY SEE SMALLER PROFITS IN 2008 - Reuters
As the prices of jet fuel continue to hover near record highs, economic concerns mount. Some airline stocks are so low that they have resorted to trading at less than the per-share value of cash on their balance sheets. “These legacy carriers are ultra-sensitive to daily changes in crude oil because they’re largely unhedged,” said Brian Nelson, an airline equities analyst with Morningstar.

Link: Reuters

FAA PROPOSES TO EXTEND RUNWAY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS – Air Transport World
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday proposed extending the requirement that the United States’ 75 largest airports make enhancements to taxiway centerline markings. “Most have already completed the work,” the FAA said. More than 300 certified airports “are in some stage of voluntarily adopting the standard.”

Link: Air Transport World
UNDERSTATED CASINO FINDS LOOPHOLE TO PRESERVE ZONING RIGHTS – The New York Times
Station Casinos opened a 40-by-10-foot trailer on a vacant 26-acre plot for eight hours on Tuesday. It was in compliance with a state law that requires public gambling to occur on a property for at least one shift every two years. By doing so, the landowner can retain the valuable zoning designation needed to conduct wagering. “It just has to be open to the public,” said Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman for Station Casinos. “You don’t need to promote it. You don’t need to really have people gamble here. But you do need to have that option.”

Link: The New York Times

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