Arts Publications

Low Cost Airline News - North America

Airguide Online, April 7, 2008

Apr 7, 2008

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines on Apr. 3 promised to rebook or refund its passengers who were scheduled to travel on ATA Airlines, which stopped flying after filing for bankruptcy Wednesday. Southwest has had a code-sharing agreement with ATA since February 2005. Its offer does not apply to passengers with ATA tickets only. Southwest said its immediate focus is customers who are scheduled to travel within the next 14 days; passengers with bookings further out will be contacted later. The code-sharing agreement enabled the carriers to exchange passengers and baggage at Chicago Midway, Las Vegas McCarran International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International and Oakland International airports. The airline said it is contacting all affected passengers. Southwest customers with questions about ATA service can call 1-800-308-5037. Apr 3, 2008

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines strongly maintains that safety was not compromised: We contacted The Boeing Company for its expert opinion, as well as former NTSB Investigator-in-Charge, Gregory A. Feith,[sup.1] continued Southwest in its testimony. Both confirmed, based on their expert knowledge of the 737 and our comprehensive maintenance program, that [sup.3]safety was not compromised," and "there was no risk to the flying public in March 2007.[sup.2][sup.1] It also says it has decided not to outsource maintenance work in El Salvador, as it had planned to from June, on the basis that given the intense scrutiny being given to our entire maintenance operation, top to bottom, now was not the time to add complexity with significant changes to our maintenance operations.[sup.1] It was not because of any lack of confidence in the company it had intended to use, it stressed. Southwest had a month to respond to the FAA following receipt of its letter regarding the intended fine. Apr 3, 2008

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines will provide details regarding a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety oversight to the US House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Apr. 3. Apr 3, 2008

Southwest Airlines

Southwest said it would rebook bankrupt ATA Airlines travelers on new itineraries or offer refunds for any unused portions of their tickets. Northwest Airlines, US Airways and Delta Air Lines all offered to assist ATA passengers. Indianapolis-based ATA and its rivals have recently been hamstrung by big increases in jet fuel prices. ATA is the second airline to file in the past few weeks. Apr 3, 2008

WestJet Airlines

WestJet Airlines is scaling back its relationship with Air Miles, saying yesterday it plans to start its own loyalty program in 2009 but consumers will still be able to redeem Air Miles points for WestJet flights. WestJet signed up as a rewards supplier with Air Miles in 2000 and began awarding points in 2003. WestJet's agreement with Air Miles was due to expire in April, 2009, but the redemption side has been renewed in a "multiyear" pact, said Richard Bartrem, WestJet's vice-president of culture and communications. Mr. Bartrem said WestJet is examining its options for an in-house program to award points directly to passengers. WJA (TSX) fell 24 cents to $17.98. Apr 3, 2008

Editorial eMail: edit@AirGuideOnline.com

For Air Transport & Travel Business Experts contact our Director of Content Aram Gesar eMail: bizintel@AirGuideOnline.com

To Advertise: advert@AirGuideOnline.com