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Airlines, led by low-cost carrier AirTran Airways, are doing a better job of getting passengers to their destinations on time, with their bags, and with fewer complaints, private researchers who have analyzed federal data on airline performance said this week.

It was the second year in a row that AirTran topped the rankings of the nation’s 15 largest airlines included in the annual report.

Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways also repeated their performance from the previous year, ranking second and third, respectively.

source: Dailymail.co.uk

Welcome to the much improved London Southend Airport, where upgrades over just the past year have launched the quiet airfield squarely into the competitive ranks of airports serving the greater London area.

Located a less than one-hour train ride east of London, the airport has an illustrious past, having served as a military airfield in both World Wars. Until the late 1970s it was the third busiest airport in the UK, when it was overtaken by London Stansted Airport and thereafter drifted into something of an aviation afterthought. Then in 2008, multi-modal logistics juggernaut Stobart Group acquired the property and launched a $158 million upgrade program.

source: ainonline.com

Hundreds of passengers walked into the UK without having their passports checked after immigration systems failed at a major airport.

Witnesses told how police and border officials stood back and watched as up to 200 travellers – angered at being delayed for three hours – decided to walk straight through immigration control.

The delays were caused by a computer power failure which prevented all new arrivals from having their passports electronically scanned.

source: dailymail.co.uk

India’s Kingfisher airline has said it will resume paying its staff beginning this week after tax authorities unfroze its bank accounts.

Chairman and managing director Vijay Mallya said all junior staff would be paid by Wednesday and engineers and pilots would be paid early next week.

source: BBC.co.uk

Pinnacle Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection this week, as the U.S. regional airline fell victim to high fuel prices and dampened travel demand that has negatively impacted some of the major players in the industry.

In the past, upon facing financial trouble, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have taken the Chapter 11 route to cut costs and later found merger partners. AMR Corp, the parent of American Airlines, had also filed for bankruptcy late last year.

source: Reuters