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Airlines say they’re preparing for the return of swine flu this fall but stop short of declaring they’ll bar passengers with symptoms from planes or give refunds for trips canceled because of the illness.

Rather than impose special measures to deal with the H1N1 virus, several U.S. carriers emphasize they’ll follow long-standing policies that permit them to keep an ill person from flying, whatever the sickness.

Some airlines say they’re waiting to see whether to offer refunds or waive rebooking fees for passengers who cannot fly because they are sick.

source: USA today

Southwest Airlines will temporarily halt flights on three routes early next year as it deals with a decline in air traffic and tries to bend its schedule to fit seasonal demand.

The airline will cut one flight per day on 92 routes and increase service on 42 routes, usually by one trip per day as well.

source: Associated Press

SkyEurope, a Slovakian low-cost airline, declared bankruptcy and suspended flights on Tuesday, after being unable to cope with the difficult conditions resulting from the global economic crisis.

SkyEurope began flights in 2002 with a single 30-seat Embraer jet, and quickly grew into one of the region’s larger carriers. It took advantage of the central Europe’s accession to the European Union in 2004, which spurred the low cost travel industry as millions of Poles, Slovaks and Hungarians migrated to western Europe in search of employment.

source: FT.com