A Marine Corps F-35B made its first flight Tuesday since being turned over to the Marines and the pilot training program at Eglin Air force Base in Florida. A dozen F-35s, A and B models, have been delivered to Eglin for use in training but the actual beginning of flight training is on hold while the training squadron instructors fulfill Pentagon imposed flight time requirements and other steps deemed necessary to assure the safety of pilot training. Until Tuesday, only F-35A models had been flown in the preparations leading to pilot training. The F-35B flight was in conventional takeoff and landing mode, preparing for eventual training in the aircraft's short-takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. The aircraft now stationed at Eglin are being used for training ... Continue reading →

The Transport Workers Union Local 556 announced this week that Southwest Airlines flight attendants have voted down a tentative agreement that would allow the carrier to fly over water and to international destinations. The union said that 39 percent of its members voted in favor of the agreement while 61 percent voted against. Of the 10,047 eligible voters, only 3,934 flight attendants cast ballots in the election. Southwest currently does not fly to destinations like Hawaii or near international, such as Mexico, although its subsidiary AirTran Airways does have flights to Mexico. With its new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Southwest has said it hopes to eventually add destinations like Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico to its network. -Andrea Ahles Continue reading →

Southwest Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will lease all 88 of its Boeing 717 airplanes to Delta Air Lines. The Dallas-based carrier received the Boeing 717 planes as part of its acquisition of AirTran Airways and has been looking at alternatives for the aircraft type. The agreement would transition the 717s over three years starting in the second half of 2013 and ending in 2015, Southwest said. Boeing Capital Corp. is also part of the agreement. "This is a very complex transaction that requires time and close coordination with multiple parties," said Southwest chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven. "While we do have a tentative agreement with Delta, final details must be completed with all parties before a binding agreement between Delta and ... Continue reading →

In a letter sent to employees last week, American Eagle announced it will cut management positions by 10 percent over the next several months. American Eagle chief executive Dan Garton said the cuts include a 15 percent reduction among officer positions at the regional carrier, owned by AMR Corp. "These changes will increase efficiency and accountability throughout our management team and position us to more successfully manage our business as we emerge from the restructuring process in the months to come," Garton said in the letter. Keep reading for the full letter from Garton. -Andrea Ahles May 18, 2012 Dear American Eagle and Executive Airlines Colleagues: Today, Eagle has begun implementing a management restructuring, which will reduce management headcount by 10 percent over the next ... Continue reading →

Bloomberg: AMR debtholders trying to determine if US Airways merger offers better return A Bloomberg News article posted this afternoon says that AMR debtholders are meeting outside of its unsecured creditors committee to evaluate a potential merger with US Airways. "Two bondholder groups hired financial and legal advisers, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The first goal is to assess AMR’s plan for a stand-alone American Airlines, possibly by month’s end, then meet with US Airways on its takeover bid, the people said. "Forming ad hoc groups gives more leverage to investors who aren’t on the creditors panel set up by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Those blocs would be able to deliver support to either US Airways ... Continue reading →

American Airlines and its flight attendants' union will be meet in mediated sessions later this morning. In its hotline message to members on Monday, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said the sessions, requested by the bankruptcy judge, will begin on May 29 in New York. "At the request of Judge Sean Lane, APFA's negotiating team will be participating in mediated sessions with American Airlines and Judge James Peck, who is also a bankruptcy judge of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York," the message said. The judge had already requested American meet with its pilots union, the Allied Pilots Association, with mediator Peck, during the week of June 4. Also in its hotline message, APFA vice president Marcus Gluth gave ... Continue reading →

-Travelers are packing lighter if the drop in bag fees in 2011 is any indication, according to this Associated Press story. Last week, the Transportation Department reported that the 17 largest airlines made $3.36 billion in bag fees in 2011, down from $3.4 billion in 2010. -And be prepared to pay more for summer airfares as Delta Air Lines and US Airways are some of the airlines raising fares. According to Bloomberg News, tickets for use in June through August rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier, while prices are up 3.1 percent. -Pilots at the merged United Airlines/Continental Airlines may call for a strike vote if federal mediators release the unions from negotiations with airlines. The Chicago Tribune said, "the action is a preliminary, ... Continue reading →

Court OKs AMR payments for new aircraft Bloomberg News reports that American Airlines received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court last week to make "progress payments" for new planes it has on order from Boeing Co. and Airbus. According to Bloomberg, AMR hadn’t made any payments to the plane makers since filing for bankruptcy on Nov. 29. Last week's approval will allow AMR to make up the $162 million in progress payments plus more as they are required. Last July, AMR placed the biggest plane order in history, announcing it would buy 460 planes over the next decade from the two manufacturers to replace its aging fleet of MD80s and B757s. -- Steve Kaskovich May 21, 2012 10:23:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | ... Continue reading →

Are happy employees a luxury that some companies simply cannot afford? Or are they the most important asset, the difference between success and failure? Two hometown favorites, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, couldn't offer a starker contrast in both approach and outcomes. Dallas-based Southwest has put employees first for 40 years, refusing to impose layoffs, pay cuts or furloughs, even during the darkest times. Labor costs have risen to become the industry's highest, and the company is pushing for more productivity, not concessions. Southwest remains profitable, but margins have narrowed so much that it's slowing growth plans by delaying the delivery of new planes. At Fort Worth-based American, management and labor have been clashing for decades in good times and bad. Now in bankruptcy court, ... Continue reading →