Airline News February 2005

Airguide Online, Feb 28, 2005

Feb 7, 2005

AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways intends to start serving Charlotte Airport from Atlanta and Baltimore with one-stop service to Boston starting May 4 2005. AirTran will use the Boeing 717 with 12 seats in business class and 105 in coach. It will operate daily service in the markets. Robert Fornaro, president and CEO, said Charlotte has been plagued by high fares for years, and AirTran will bring its low-fare service to these major cities.

Feb 17, 2005

AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways announced the airline has moved up its starting date for new daily nonstop service to Indianapolis International Airport and also added daily nonstop service to Tampa in order to fill the void created by other carrier's service changes in Indianapolis. Three daily flights between Indianapolis and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and one daily flight to Tampa now will begin operating on April 9, 2005. The airline also will add a daily nonstop flight between Indianapolis and Orlando International Airport beginning June 7, 2005 as previously announced. All three routes will be served by the airline's popular Boeing 717 aircraft with 12 Business Class and 105 coach seats.

Feb 1, 2005

AirTran Airways, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines

Smaller airports win travelers away from large hubs with help from discounters. Lower fares and shorter lines are helping small and medium- sized airlines win business away from larger airports. Discount airlines, including Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways, have increased service to smaller airports in recent years, bringing lower fares with them. Traffic at the Akron-Canton Airport has grown annually since AirTran launched flights in 1996.

Feb 25, 2005

Alitalia

Alitalia, struggling under extreme financial difficulties, found itself in even more trouble last week, when, on Thursday it had to cancel 141 flights, mostly international, following a four hour walk out by cabin attendants. The airline's pilots are also in a confrontational mood threatening a boycott unless they are quickly given proper resting rooms onboard long haul flights. Union leaders are planning a general strike for all Italian public sector workers on 18 March. http://www.alitalia.com

Feb 14, 2005

America West

America West has been given antitrust immunity from the DOT for its alliance with Royal Jordanian. This gives the two the ability to coordinate schedules jointly serve existing markets and discuss new markets for expansion without risk of violating antitrust laws. The two airlines can now offer joint fares and discuss pricing and to offer one program for frequent flyer miles. Royal Jordanian becomes the first non- European airline to be granted this immunity. The two currently have a code sharing relationship from New York, Chicago and Detroit to Amman, Jordan.

Feb 9, 2005

American

American has added check-in kiosks in Vancouver and Calgary airports for passengers returning to the U.S. In the next few months, it also will be adding the check-in machines in Toronto and Montreal airports. Groups of 10 or more also can check-in on a single reservation, which should reduce long lines. It now has self-service at more than 94 airports in the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Paris and London.