news about cheap fares and airlines from travel search engine Trabber

Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. had just completed a two-day state visit to the Philippines and was not about to subject himself to the indignity of being frisked before boarding his US plane back to his island nation.But the crew of Continental Micronesia Airlines Flight CO 892 was adamant. Their priority was security rather than courtesy, even for a head of state.

After a two-hour standoff, the plane left without Remengesau and his wife Debbie.

In a strange coincidence, the aircraft was recalled back to Manila minutes after it took off following “intelligence information” to the Manila Control Tower from the Philippine Air Force that a bomb might be on board.

source: Inquirer.net

Iberia and Meridiana have signed a code-sharing agreement for flights within Italy, enabling Iberia to offer flights to Cagliari, Catania, Olbia as well as to another eight Italian destinations. Under the new scheme, Iberia passengers can book to Cagliari and Olbia via Roma and to Catania via Bologna.

source: traveldailynews.com

David Neeleman, who as founder of JetBlue Airways helped to redefine start-up carriers in the United States by using new jets and offering above-bargain-basement service, said Thursday that he would start a domestic airline in Brazil.

He has already agreed to buy 36 Brazilian-made jets with a total list price of $1.4 billion.

Mr. Neeleman said he had raised $150 million to finance the airline and invited Brazilian consumers and travel agents to suggest a name for the carrier, promising the first person to submit the winning name free lifetime travel for two on the airline.

source: NY Times

American Airlines might begin charging $25 each way for a second checked bag as jet fuel prices remain near record highs.

American, the world’s largest airline, notified Canadian regulators that it’s considering adding the charge for passengers originating in Canada. The airline isn’t required to file a similar notice in the U.S. No decision has been made, spokesman Tim Wagner said Thursday.

source: theNewsTribune.com

The Dubai-base Emirates airline has announced a policy of allowing passengers to make cell phone calls during flight, and is reportedly the first airline in the world to do so.

The airline’s Airbus A340 has been modified to prevent calls from interfering with aviation electronics.

Calls are allowed only at cruising altitude during the day, and passengers are encouraged to use “‘silent mode'” so other passengers aren’t disturbed by ringtones.

source: ComputerWorld

The sun is not shining on Aloha Airgroup as the Hawaiian airline files for bankruptcy to stay in business. The company blames high fuel costs and a local competitor.

The Honolulu, HI-based airline and freight service filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday. Aloha presented the court with a financial plan in hopes that it can keep up normal operations and retain its 3,500 employees. The financial plan will consist of a cash collateral financing arrangement with its principle capital lender General Motors Acceptance Corporation a subsidiary of private -equity firm Cerberus Capital Management and General Motors.

source: Forbes

UAE’s premium airline, Emirates, will launch a new low-cost carrier in response to the growing number of passengers traveling to and from the UAE, according to the official news agency Wam. The decision was taken by Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.

A statement said that the new airline would price its services to passengers based on their ”’economic and living conditions to suit their incomes.”’

source: Domain-b

Air France-KLM Group, the world’s largest airline by sales, agreed to buy Alitalia SpA in a bid valued at 747 million euros ($1.2 billion) as part of the Italian government’s plan to save the unprofitable carrier from bankruptcy.

Air France-KLM will swap one of its shares for every 160 of Alitalia’s, valuing the Italian airline at 139 million euros, or 10 cents a share, Air France said. That’s 81 percent less than the closing price March 14. Air France offered 608 million euros for the carrier’s convertible bonds. Alitalia’s board accepted the bid after a 12-hour meeting yesterday in Rome.

source: Bloomberg

British Airways is looking to use European competition law and a threat to seek “‘unlimited damages’” against the UK pilots’ union in order to stop them going on strike.

An overwhelming majority of BA’s 3,200 pilots voted last month in favour of taking strike action over BA’s plans to set up OpenSkies, a new airline subsidiary, with a pilot workforce separate to its mainline operations, which fly to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Conciliation talks aimed at resolving the bitter dispute over future pilot staffing at BA subsidiary airlines in Europe collapsed on Friday.

Balpa, the pilots’ union, had planned to issue dates for its first strikes, which would ground the airline, but was forced to postpone the move when BA warned the union it had “‘a valid legal claim’” against it, if it “‘took the disproportionate step of calling a strike’”.

source: FT.com

European Union competition regulators yesterday began a fresh probe into suspected antitrust abuses in the airline sector, raiding offices of several carriers providing flights to Japan.

The Commission said there was reason to believe that airlines might have violated EU rules on restrictive business practices.

Germany’s Lufthansa quickly confirmed that it was among the companies visited, and said the Commission appeared to be looking into possible price-fixing and collusive behaviour over flights between the EU and Japan, and involving aviation companies in Europe and in Japan.

source: FT.com