American Airlines Cutting Capacity, Eliminating Jobs
Berlusconi Promises to Rid Naples of Rubbish
Saving Money, Air Carriers Turn to Gimmicks
Dwindling Air Service Schedules Hit Small Airports Hard
Search Team Finds Naked Pilot
AMERICAN AIRLINES CUTTING CAPACITY, ELIMINATING JOBS - The Street
The world’s largest carrier announced yesterday that it will cut domestic seating by as much as 12 percent, and will eliminate thousands of jobs. “The U.S. airline industry as it is constituted today was not built for $125 or $130 oil,” CEO Gerard Arpey said following the carrier’s annual meeting. “The industry cannot continue in its current state.” American said it will reduce domestic capacity in the fourth quarter, and retire at least 75 mainline and regional aircraft. But the decision that has most travelers up in arms? Starting June 15, American will charge most passengers $15 for the first bag checked, excluding elite frequent fliers, those flying on full-fare tickets and overseas travelers.
Link: The Street
ITALIAN PREMIER PROMISES TO RID NAPLES OF RANK RUBBISH – Fox News
As the gargantuan garbage dilemma in Naples mounts, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said yesterday that he will deploy the military to safeguard trash dumps throughout Naples, and he promised to alleviate the festering stench and replenish the city’s tarnished image. “We are convinced this will bring new life to Naples. The dream would be to see Naples blossom again,” he said. The army will protect dump sites, and if anyone is found trespassing or blocking a refuse collection, the violator will be slapped with up to a year of time in jail. Berlusconi chose to keep the dumpsites private for now, in order to prevent protests.
Link: Fox News
SAVING MONEY, CARRIERS PULL GIMMICKS OUT OF GRAB BAG – ABC News
As fuel prices increase at erratic proportions, carriers are using some crafty measures to save money. As the industry is expected to suffer more loses this year, airlines are scrambling. Though many politicians are saying fuel taxes should be dropped for the summer or that depositing oil in a national reserve should be temporarily halted, one congressman said these measures would be as useful as legislatures opting to “clap our hands three times and say, ‘Down prices, down prices!’” Airlines are combating the high prices by pulling out of the grab bag an array of goodies for passengers: price hikes, fuel charges, baggage fees, and more. Some airlines now are entering into a “domestic airline anti-trust immunity,” which basically means that a pair of allied carriers can “collude on prices and flight schedules without penalty,” reports ABC News.
Link: ABC News
DWINDLING AIR SERVICE SCHEDULES HIT AIRPORTS HARD – The New York Times
City officials in Hagerstown, Maryland began compiling a case to support the building of a longer runway at their airport earlier this decade. After many years and $61.4 million, the city unveiled the new runway last November two months after it lost all scheduled air service. Local officials and even Congress pitched in to help, but the airport could not lure a new carrier to its “concrete welcome mat.” Many airports have a significant decrease in tarmac traffic, as well. Nationwide, 30 cities across have had disappearing service schedules, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And, more than 400 airports, be them located in small or large cities, have experienced flight cuts. Some lawmakers currently are pressing for more funding for the air service program, which is part of a larger funding bill for the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill currently is before the Senate, and The House passed it last fall.
Link: The New York Times
SEARCH TEAM FINDS NAKED PILOT LOST IN WOODS – The Harrisburg Patriot-News
A pilot for Pinnacle Airlines Inc., along with a flight attendant, snuck off into the woods near Angies Diner, but they should have just gone back to their motel. Pilot Jeffrey Paul Bradford was found naked and wandering in the woods, and the search party came complete with a state police helicopter and body-heat-sensing gear in order to find him. Both Bradford and Flight Attendant Adrianna Grace Connor appeared before a district judge and were released on $10,000 bail each. “They told the officer they wanted to go do it in the woods, essentially,” said Sgt. Richard Brandt. “That’s the best answer they had.”
Link: The Harrisburg Patriot-News
Want to see other recent Travel News Roundups? Click here.
Or, check out more travel news you can use in our main Travel News section.
Looking for even more in-depth news coverage of the week’s top stories? Visit our Travel News Analysis Category.
