Venezuela’s government has lifted its threat to cancel all flights to the US from US-based airlines as it enters into talks with FAA officials.  Relations between the two countries are strained, and this spat was made worse because the US has restricted Venezuelan airlines’ service to the US over safety concerns.  It looks like this [...]

Delta Air Lines announced that with the addition of Wilmington, Delaware, to its route network it will be the only carrier to serve all 50 states since United did it in the mid-1980s.  Of course, Delta is losing money at a rapid clip, so hell, you can set up an airline and have it lose [...]

Mesa Airlines’ new intra-Hawaii airline announced its name (go!) and fares ($39 each way) for flights beginning June 9th.  (Every airline name sounds stupid when they announce it.  You’ll get used it.  It’s no better or worse than any other name).  The carrier will serve Honolulu, Lihue, Kahalui, Kona and Hilo (ie, Oahu, Kauai, Maui [...]

The European Union banned 92 airlines (at least 89-to-92 of which you’ve never heard of) from flying to its member countries.  The list (seen in full here) is heavy on African airlines, including a whopping 50 based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the epicenter of the questionnable airline universe, apparently).  Of the 92, you [...]

The NY Times has a good column about the status of the Wright Amendment, which prohibits airlines from flying from Dallas Love Airport to beyond one of 5 nearby states.  It’s looking like this ridiculous piece of legislation may finally see its end this year.  Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who should be ashamed of [...]

8 ex-employees of Southwest Airlines were charged with attempting a pretty impressive ticket scam that would have net them about a million dollars.  Basically, the employees took used tickets and re-sold them to passengers who were paying cash for tickets.  The workers would then just pocket the cash.  Not too shabby.  But still shabby enough [...]

I know you’ve been sitting there wondering if there’s been any update on whether passengers will be able to use cellphones while planes are in the air.  Wonder no longer.  USA Today has published a nice little roundup of what airlines say their policies will be once the FAA permits cellphones on board.  The good [...]

An airline technology company (SITA) published a study yesterday which noted that worldwide airlines will lose about 30 million checked bags in 2006.  Before you freak out, that only represents about 1% of the total bags carried by airlines.  Plus, most bags are returned within 31 hours of being reported lost.  For an unfortunate 204,000 [...]

Longtime readers know that I try not to bore you with details of my own travel life.  I’m aware that you probably don’t care.  But I’ll share a little story because I think it makes a larger point:
I booked a ticket with Continental earlier this week, and immediately after I purchased it online, I realized [...]

I’m certain you’ve just been dying for a Virgin America update.  I’ve got one (you can read this long but informative article if you’d like).  In short, they’re having some issues actually getting approval from the Department of Transportation, but they’re not sure what the problem is.  Oh, and their first routes will probably be [...]