New U.S. low cost JetAmerica to fly in June
May 28, 2009
A new low-cost airline will begin serving mid-sized U.S. cities that it thinks larger carriers have left behind. Clearwater-based JetAmerica said 34 nonstop passenger flights a week will start July 13 at Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Melbourne, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; Minneapolis and Lansing, Mich. Twenty-eight flights start or end at Newark Liberty International Airport. The carrier will add six more flights – from Toledo to Minneapolis – starting Aug. 14. The carrier is starting out with one leased Boeing 737-800, expects to add a second in the first month, and have as many as four by July of next year.
U.S. airlines see big drop in summer travel
May 19, 2009
Weak economic conditions will lead to a sharp seven percent drop in travel on U.S. airlines for the summer vacation season, an industry group said Friday. The Air Transport Association said this will translate into 14 million fewer passengers in the period from June 1 through Aug. 31, compared with last year. Some 195 million passengers are expected to fly this summer on U. S. airlines, down from 209 million during the summer of 2008. That will represent a seven percent drop in domestic travel and a six percent drop in international travel.
British Airways to start Heathrow-Las Vegas route
May 18, 2009
British Airways (London) will start nonstop service between its London-Heathrow (LHR) hub and Las Vegas on October 25. The daily flight will be operated by a 777-200ER configured with 274 seats, 24 of which will be “world traveler plus,” 36 business-class with seats that recline fully to 180 degrees and 214 economy class. British Airways will be the second UK carrier with direct, daily service to Las Vegas. Virgin Atlantic already makes the trip, but flies from the smaller Gatwick Airport in London.
Airbus cuts A380 output, airlines slow fleet growth
May 7, 2009
Airbus said Wednesday that it cut its planned production of A380 superjumbo jetliners this year to 14 planes from 18, blaming the global economic crisis and its impact on airlines. Airbus said it plans to deliver “more than 20″ A380s next year. The A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, carries a catalog price of $327 million, but early customers received significant discounts, airline officials have said.
Boeing takes 18 new orders, cancels 26 in recent week
May 7, 2009
Boeing’s commercial airplane customers in the past week placed 18 new plane orders, but canceled orders for 26 aircraft, including 25 orders for the much-delayed 787 Dreamliner. Boeing reported the transactions for the week, ended May 5, on its Web site Thursday. The company didn’t identify customers who canceled orders for the 787s as well as for a single 777 model. New orders included a deal with Turkish Airlines for five 777s, and an order for 13 737s from an unidentified customer, Boeing reported. So far in 2009, Boeing has received 58 new orders and 59 cancellations.
