Delta, Northwest Pilots Reach Agreement
July 4 Travelers Undaunted by Gas Prices
Air Travel Is Bad … So Chill Out
Chinese Hope ‘Quake Lake’ Will Be Tourist Spot
George Carlin on the Airline Industry
DELTA, NORTHWEST PILOTS REACH AGREEMENT – TheStreet.com
Delta and Northwest pilots said they have made a tentative deal on a joint contract, moving the two airlines one step closer to merging. The deal covers contract terms and often cumbersome seniority integration issues. “Achieving a joint contract and combined seniority list in advance of the closing of the merger is something that has never been done in this industry and is a testament to the leadership of ALPA and a working-together culture,” said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. No one is yet signing on the dotted line, however. Pilot groups from both airlines must still approve the tentative agreement.
Link: TheStreet.com
JULY 4 TRAVELERS UNDAUNTED BY GAS PRICES – MSNBC
Despite gas prices, travelers are more ready than ever to celebrate Fourth of July holiday by hitting the road and the skies. In a recent study conducted by Rand McNally, 57 percent of travelers (especially road-trippers) simply will modify their traditional plans to make up for rising gas costs by cutting days or shortening driving distances. Only 10 percent have canceled travel plans completely because, as ATA’s David Castelveter says, “… most people have already purchased their tickets.”
Link: MSNBC
AIR TRAVEL IS BAD … SO CHILL – The New York Times
Times’ columnist Joe Sharkey says it flat out: “air travel is bad,” and it’s not getting any better. Extreme flight delays are being reported all across the nation, leaving passengers in tears, swigging vodka, and punching out flight attendants. Kevin Mitchell, spokesman for the Business Travel Coalition, said about the state of the travel industry, “We’re in a real fix.” The best advice for dealing with impending summer travel nightmares? “Grin and bear it.”
Link: The New York Times
SCIENTISTS HOPE THAT CHINESE ‘QUAKE LAKE’ WILL BE TOURIST SPOT – Newsday
Since the May 12 earthquake hit Sichuan province in China, an enormous lake has formed, and scientists believe it can be turned into a tourist destination. Tangjiashan Lake, resulting from the flank of a mountain falling and blocking a river, sits upstream from Beichuan County. Because Beichuan has bamboo forests, intriguing combinations of cultures, and panda reserves, officials believe it would not be difficult to transform the new body of water into a destination. Tangjishan is the largest of 34 “quake lakes,” and one of 27 that the Sichuan provincial Department of Water Resources has deemed no longer prone to overflowing.
Link: Newsday
GEORGE CARLIN HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE AIR INDUSTRY – Newsweek
George Carlin’s death on June 22 has inspired some to unearth his comedic diatribe about absurd air industry occurrences, including the infamous flight safety announcements prior to takeoff. Beware this video is fraught with curse words, dirty phrases and is generally Not Suitable for Work, thus all the more hilarious.
Link: Newsweek
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