The Flying Critic News

EU OKs Delta Airlines' Acquisition Of Northwest Airlines.

Link: Local News | Row of seats on United Airlines flight comes loose forcing emergency landing at Sea-Tac | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Seats Break Loose On United Airlines Flight To SFO.

Qantas CEO says airline must restore reputation

The BBC reports that British Airways is closing in on American Airlines alliance.

Save Dividend Miles!

US Airways to cut flight movies.

Go! adds $25 charge for 2nd checked bag

American expects to cut management jobs 8%.

Cuts dent AA's hubs, expected to cost 'thousands' of jobs:

The Star-Telegram says AA's "nationwide downsizing, which will eliminate up to 12% of American’s capacity, is expected to cost thousands of jobs. Airline officials said they were still studying the impact on the work force and said voluntary buyouts will be offered before any layoffs."

Southwest opens Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years schedule

United Airlines to pull out of FLL, PBI

United Airlines said it will halt operations at Palm Beach International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and cut 66 jobs, airline spokesman Jeff Kovick said.

American Airlines And American Eagle Announce Additional Details Of Fourth Quarter Capacity Cuts.

American is reducing flights at most of its principal operations. This announcement, combined with the previously announced round of schedule reductions, means American will close its operations entirely at three of its airports, while Eagle will close five of its airports, out of a combined total of 250 airports for both.

The airports/cities being closed are:

American – Oakland, Calif. (previously announced); London Stansted (previously announced); and Barranquilla , Colombia

American Eagle – Albany, N.Y.; Providence, R.I.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Samana, Dominican Republic (previously announced); and San Luis Obispo, Calif. American Eagle will also close its maintenance base in San Luis Obispo.

Midwest sharply cuts fleet:

Milwaukee air travelers will see fewer nonstop flights, and Midwest Airlines Inc. employees will see more pink slips, as Midwest parks its large — and gas-hogging — MD-80 jets.

USA Today reports that Delta, Northwest pilots agree on terms of joint contract:

Delta and Northwest pilot negotiators say they have a tentative agreement with Delta management on a joint contract to cover both pilot groups when the companies combine later this year.

Continental Airlines announced today that they plan to join the Star Alliance and partner with United

CHICAGO, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) today announced a framework agreement to cooperate extensively, linking their networks and services worldwide to the benefit of customers, and creating revenue opportunities and cost savings and other efficiencies. In addition, Continental plans to join United in the Star Alliance, the most comprehensive airline alliance in the world.

Continental Airlines announces public offering of 11 million shares of Class B Common Stock at $14.80 per shares.

For U.S. airlines, 'à la carte pricing' is a $400 million idea

Airline passengers file suit to stop Northwest-Delta merger

TheStreet.com reports that Airlines are Slow to Get on Board With Bag Fees

Delta Air Lines to cut U.S. flying by 13 percent for rest of 2008:

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Wednesday it plans to reduce its domestic capacity 13 percent during the second half of 2008, a bigger cut that it had previously revealed.

PlaneBuzz Reports That Federal Express Absolutely Positively Scares the Market.

AirAsia CEO says: We can make money with oil at $200

Tire catches fire on Southwest flight landing at Sky Harbor.

First Qantas A380 flight Melbourne to Los Angeles October 20, 2008 and the rest of Qantas' A380 Implementation Schedule.

Pressurization Issue Forces United Airlines Plane Back To Denver

US Airways to Charge $2 for Water, Soda, Coffee, and Juice

US Airways to Charge for FIRST Checked Bag

Continental Airlines will stop serving the following cities:

Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia Oakland, Calif. Cali, Colombia Palm Springs, Calif. Chattanooga, Tenn. Reno, Nev. Cologne, Germany Santiago, Dominican Republic Green Bay, Wis. Sarasota, Fla. Guayaquil, Ecuador Tallahassee, Fla. Monclova, Mexico Toledo, Ohio Montgomery, Ala.

United to Charge $15 for FIRST Checked Bag

United's Ted to fly no more

Sudan Airways passenger plane crashes in flames in Sudan:

At least 100 people were killed, according to Sudanese television, out of the 203 on board.

EgyptAir to Join the Star Alliance on July 11, 2008

2 Northwest planes clip wings in Minneapolis.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air to charge $25 for 2nd checked bag starting July 1

Air New Zealand raises fares and plans some service cuts:

Air New Zealand will fly one less service to Tokyo from September to November, and is withdrawing a twice-weekly service to Hong Kong in December and January, it said.

Flights to Sydney from Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton will be reduced from August.

Reuters reports that United Airlines offers "early out deal" to some flight attendants.

CNN reports that small airports struggle with dwindling air service.

Continental Airlines to cut flights, 3,000 jobs

United to ground 737s, 747s to save fuel