- JetBlue Reconsiders Participation in GDS[Jun. 27, 2006]
News from Travel Technology Update: JetBlue Airways is "looking seriously" at GDS participation, according to David Neeleman, chairman and chief executive officer.At the Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference, Neeleman said the airline was missing out on business by not being in corporate travel departments' booking systems.
- Boeing Accelerates Connexion Evaluation[Jun. 26, 2006]
Boeing will be taking a series of near-term actions as the company accelerates the evaluation of options for the future of its Connexion by Boeing high-speed broadband communications business.
- Business Travelers Lift VA's Performance[Jun. 26, 2006]
Virgin Atlantic has managed a pretax profit of 41.6 million pounds ($76.1 million) on record annual sales of 1.91 billion. (6/26/2006)
- Editorial: This Too Will Pass, We Believe[Jun. 26, 2006]
We are not the first to suggest that at this stage in its evolution, the commercial air transport manufacturing industry appears to have become a zero sum affair, a game of seesaw in which one side has to sink down in order for the other to rise up. Thus as Airbus confronts a wave of bad news including extensive new A380 delivery delays and potentially harmful operating restrictions when the aircraft enters service, uncertainty regarding the A350, and slack sales across its product line (see NewsBriefs, p. 9, and Farnborough Preview, p. 120), perhaps it will find comfort in the knowledge that not so long ago the other fellow was the one catching the brickbats.
- Virgin Reportedly Tipped off Authorities[Jun. 26, 2006]
Virgin Atlantic Airways reported rival British Airways to the UK Office of Fair Trading for inappropriate phone calls that a BA executive allegedly made to Virgin executives regarding fuel surcharges, a tip-off that triggered a joint UK-US probe into possible "cartel activity," British media said Friday.
- Airbus Rollout Faces Political Backlash[Jun. 26, 2006]
THE troubled Airbus A380 program was dealt a potential blow on Friday when an influential US congressman said federal funds should not be used to upgrade US airports to accommodate the world's largest passenger aircraft.
- MAXjet $396 Business Class Roundtrip[May 01, 2006]
At first I thought it was an error until I saw the fare rules-MAXjet filed a special business class fare for their Washington Dulles (IAD) to London Stansted (STN) route. Leave May 6 and return May 7, 8 or 10 and the total comes to $498.19 after all taxes and fees. Amazing! Roundtrip business class to London for under $500!!!
- Pressure on Qantas for Cost-cut Plan[Jun. 23, 2006]
QANTAS is under pressure to provide details of further cost-cutting measures after a warning that full-year profit would slump 27 per cent sent its shares tumbling on Wednesday.
- Rio Judge Gives Varig Employees[Jun. 21, 2006]
Apparently satisfied that an investor group organized by Varig employees has its financial affairs in order, a Rio de Janeiro bankruptcy court judge approved a BRL1.01 billion ($449.7 million) bid for the ailing airline late Monday.Judge Luiz Roberto Ayoub had given his conditional blessing to the proposal from NV Participacoes last week but said he needed more time to review the bid structure and financial details (ATWOnline, June 16). "The consortium has presented the explanations and the guarantees necessary and the court is satisfied," the judge told reporters. NVP has until Friday to deposit $75 million or Varig will go back onto the auction block.
- Virgin Blue Gears Up for New Engine[Jun. 20, 2006]
TDS Europe 2006 special: By EyeforTravel Correspondent