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Reversing a decision made three weeks ago, American Airlines said Friday it would resume selling international and domestic first- and business-class tickets on Expedia.com.

The companies announced the decision in a news release but gave no explanation for the about-face.

American, the nation’s biggest airline, said Jan. 12 that it was halting the sale of the high-end seats on Expedia, although it continued to sell domestic coach tickets through the website. The companies sparred over which side had pulled out of the arrangement first.

source: USA Today

Spirit Airlines will penalize travelers checking a second suitcase by charging a $10 fee for the second bag.Once known for its liberal baggage policies, the second-largest carrier at Detroit Metro Airport will now have the strictest among U.S. airlines.

Spirit Airlines will penalize travelers checking a second suitcase by charging a $10 fee for the second bag.

Once known for its liberal baggage policies, the second-largest carrier at Detroit Metro Airport will now have the strictest among U.S. airlines.

source: freep.com

The cost of flying from UK airports increased today after the UK government imposed hikes in air passenger duty.

Under measures announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown in his pre-Budget report in the autumn, short-haul passengers in the lowest class of travel will pay 10 stg in duty from Feb 1, up from 5 stg, and in other classes they will pay 20 stg, up from 10 stg.

source: ABC Money

The United States continues to negotiate with the European Union over how long and in what ways Washington can use the lists of passengers aboard international flights.

A May 2006 agreement between the two parties was struck down by the European Court of Justice citing the extensive privacy laws afforded to EU citizens.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was in talks last week with German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to iron out the details, which include access to things like addresses, telephone numbers and credit card details.

source: All Headline News

US Airways Group Inc.’s decision Wednesday to drop its hostile bid for Delta Air Lines Inc. has damped speculation that a wave of consolidation is about to sweep the industry.

Airline deals may still be in the offing this year, analysts said. But the failure of US Airway’s high-profile effort sends a strong signal that the number of big domestic carriers is unlikely to shrink in the near future.

“‘I would say it’s now much less likely that we’ll see significant consolidation in 2007,'” said Jim Corridore, airline analyst for Standard & Poor’s in New York. “‘I had thought it was imminent. Now, I think it’s still possible but not really in the cards.'”

source: Los Angeles Times

When the inaugural Sky Express flight took off from Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport for Sochi last Monday afternoon, the low-cost airline phenomenon familiar in Europe and the United States finally came to Russia.

The brainchild of Boris Abramovich, general director of the country’s third-largest carrier, KrasAir, Sky Express is the first budget airline to start operating in the country. With a handful of competitors expected to follow, the airline looks set to change the face of domestic air travel by offering tickets for as little as 500 rubles ($19).

source: St Petersbourg Times

For the second consecutive year, SkyTeam was named the 2006 Best Airline Alliance by ‘Global Traveler Magazine’. Selected by the magazine’s readers in an annual reader’s survey, ‘Global Traveler’ cited the addition of Aeroflot and pending addition of China Southern Airlines to the alliance as key factors for receiving this recognition. SkyTeam was recognized at a luncheon in New York on Tuesday. Accepting the award on behalf of the alliance was Nathaniel Pieper, SkyTeam Steering Committee vice chairman and vice president-alliances, Northwest Airlines.

There have been few reports of stranded travelers following implementation of a new rule requiring U.S. airline passengers to show a passport upon their return from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean.

Most travelers who forgot about the new requirement were allowed to enter after receiving a warning and a passport application. But their names were entered into the agency’s computer system, and they will be scrutinized if it happens again.

“‘Nobody’s being turned away,'” said Roxanne Hercules, an agency spokesman in Northern California. “‘These are mostly U.S. citizens coming home from traveling. We just are trying to inform them of the new rules.'”

source: phillyBurbs.com

Data released by the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington revealed airline delays hit record highs in 2006 due to weather concerns.

U.S. flights were delayed by 22.1 million minutes last year, exceeding the high totals for 1999 and 2000, when thunderstorm-related delays prompted threats against airlines from irate passengers and Congress, USA Today reported Friday.

The high number of 2006 delays meant 22 percent of flights on major airlines from the start of the year until November were delayed for at least 15 minutes. The majority of late flights were at New York’s three airports, the FAA records show.

A hijacker seized a Sudanese passenger plane carrying 103 people on Wednesday and forced the pilot at gunpoint to fly to the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, where he surrendered, officials said.

Saif Omer, Air West airline’s managing director, said the man walked out of the Boeing 737 after it landed in Chad and said he wanted asylum in Britain. No one was injured, Omer said.

source: kotv.com