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United Airlines is shaping up as the next major U.S. battleground for Boeing and Airbus to sell narrowbody airplanes, as the world’s biggest airline mulls an order sources say could reach 200 planes.

Discussions are still at the early stages. But industry sources familiar with preliminary soundings expect United to place an order to refresh its fleet late this year or early next year.

United and Boeing have a shared history, both being founded by William Boeing. United Air Lines and Boeing Airplane Company were both subsidiaries of United Aircraft and Transport Company before it was broken up in 1934. Airbus overtook Boeing as the world’s largest jetliner-maker in 2003.

source: Reuters

Fearing an economic downturn, Germany’s flagship airline Lufthansa is cutting flights and capacity, the company announced on Thursday.

“‘We are removing part of the anticipated additional capacity out of planning, in that we are reducing frequency, cutting some connections, and using smaller airplanes,’” Chairman Carsten Spohr told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

It was crucial in these times to take make such decisions early rather than flying through the crisis with empty planes, he added.

source: The Local

Irish budget carrier Ryanair would only be interested in buying Boeing’s 737 MAX jetliner if the upgraded narrowbody jet provided “‘material'” fuel savings, Finance Director Howard Millar said.

Boeing has announced plans to upgrade its best-selling passenger jet to match a project by rival Airbus to put new engines on its competing A320.

Ryanair, Boeing’s biggest customer outside the United States, would have preferred Boeing to offer a completely new aircraft rather than an upgrade to the existing model, he said.

source: Reuters

British Airways is to launch its biggest ad campaign in 11 years with a £20m push using staff to promote the virtues of the airline – months after finally resolving an acrimonious dispute with cabin crew.

The TV element of the ad campaign, which will debut on the British Airways Facebook page on Wednesday, will be aired in the UK and US before being rolled out to other key international markets.

The supporting press and outdoor campaign will include seven different ads highlighting the experience and skill of British Airways staff.

source: guardian.co.uk

Three-quarters of luxury and “‘upper upscale'” hotel chains — segments that include brands such as Four Seasons, Hilton and Marriott — charge for in-room Internet access, according to the ‘American Hotel & Lodging Association’ 2010 Lodging Survey conducted by STR Global.

In comparison, just 2% of full-service midrange hotel chains — a segment that includes brands such as Holiday Inn — ask you to pay a fee for surfing the Web in your room, the survey found.

Hotels that impose such fees consider the demographics of their customers and feel they can ask them to pay extra, said Joe McInerney, president and CEO of the ‘American Hotel & Lodging Association’.

source: CNN

Low-cost carrier Easyjet is to offer passengers in-flight entertainment for the first time.

Personal TVs will be available on selected flights for £7.50.

The new partnership with bespoke travel services provider Mezzo starts this week, with passengers able to hire personal devices loaded with “‘a range of blockbuster movies, TV programmes, music and games’”.

source: abtn.co.uk

A corpse hotel in Japan is proving a big success as bereaved relatives flock to check in deceased loved ones during the wait for busy crematoriums.

The Lastel, in a suburb of Yokohama, offers 18 refrigerated coffins for dead guests at a daily rate of 12,000 yen (£98).

The profits being reaped at the ”half-way morgue” reflect a booming death industry in the country, where 1.2m people died in 2010 – up 55,000 on the previous year.

source: sky.com

Consumer groups have reacted angrily to moves by budget airline Ryanair to make it more difficult for passengers to avoid credit card fees when buying tickets.

It had been possible to avoid the fee by using any prepaid MasterCard, but the airline has said that from November only customers using its own prepaid MasterCard – called the ‘Ryanair Cash Passport‘ – will avoid the fee.

source: This is Money

An Alaska Airlines plane landed safely on Monday at Oakland International Airport after a bomb threat against the flight was found on a handwritten note in San Francisco, but no bomb was found, the airline said.

Officials notified the airline of a bomb threat found on a piece of paper in San Francisco International Airport specifically referencing Alaska Airlines flight 342, airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said.

The airline learned of the bomb threat while the flight, bound from Seattle to Oakland with 126 passengers and six crew on board, was in the air.

source: MSNBC

British Airways was late to the airline merger party when it finally combined with Spain’s Iberia in January to form International Airlines Group, Europe’s third-largest carrier by revenue.

First, Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline by sales, is considering selling BMI, its lossmaking UK subsidiary that has much sought after take-off and landing slots at Heathrow airport. Second, the Portuguese government is preparing to privatise TAP, or Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, the country’s flag-carrier. Third, there could be the chance to take over Aer Lingus, the Irish flag-carrier of which Mr Walsh was once chief executive.

Amid a deteriorating economic environment, the main benefit from consolidation could be to ease the pressure on airlines’ revenues. Fewer carriers means less competition, which in turn should mean different pricing tactics by the remaining airlines.

source: FT.com