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The parent company of American Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, seeking relief from crushing debt caused by high fuel prices and expensive labor contracts that its competitors shed years ago.

American’s parent company, AMR, has incurred $12 billion in losses since 2001, and analysts say it is on track to lose $1.1 billion more this year.

With industry profits of less than 1 percent forecast for 2012, American had little hope of a significant rebound in the coming months.

source: Washington Post

A Jumbo jet flew for five days before ground crews noticed that 30 screws were missing from one of its wings.

The Air France Airbus A340 plane had had routine maintenance in China, before flying to Paris and then on to Boston in the US before the blunder was spotted.

The plane, which can carry up to 440 passengers, was grounded for several days in Boston while a “‘large protective panel’” was screwed back into place.

Air France has blamed aircraft mechanics in Xiamen, where its jets are often serviced due to lower costs.

source: Mirror.co.uk

Deutsche Lufthansa has decided to freeze all non-essential investment for the next six months due to the weak global economic environment.

Lufthansa currently has 202 aircraft worth 19 billion euros ($25.37 billion) at list prices on order for delivery through 2018. Like peers, it is banking on newer, more fuel-efficient planes to help it keep costs under control.

Soaring fuel costs and the euro zone debt crisis have taken a toll on European airlines this year, with Lufthansa cutting its 2011 outlook two months ago and industry body IATA forecasting a weak end to the year for the sector.

source: Reuters.com

US Airways has revealed plans to offer in-flight Wi-Fi across its entire domestic fleet “‘within the next couple of years'”, and said it is likely to announce its choice of provider – either Gogo or Row 44 – before the end of 2011.

For about a year-and-a-half the carrier has offered Gogo’s domestic air-to-ground (ATG)-supported connectivity service on its 51-strong Airbus A321 fleet. It recently confirmed its intent to fit new-delivery Airbus narrowbodies with Gogo.

source: flightglobal.com

Flight-information provider Travelport says a federal judge tossed out most of American Airlines‘ antitrust lawsuit against the company and online travel agent Orbitz.

Travelport Ltd. said that the judge dismissed American’s claims that Travelport monopolizes distribution of airline fare and flight information to travel agents.

American Airlines officials did not immediately comment.

source: businessweek.com

Four airlines from the UK and Irish Republic are calling for the UK government to scrap ‘Air Passenger Duty (APD)’.

The tax, which is applied to almost every ticket on a flight originating in the UK, has risen sharply since it was introduced in 1994.

When APD was introduced, passengers whose journey originated in the UK paid between £5 and £40 per ticket. They now have to pay from £24 to £170.

It is opposed by Easyjet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

The airlines say it penalises British holidaymakers and makes the UK a less attractive destination.

source: BBC.co.uk

Dutch airline KLM will start the installation of full flat beds in its Business Class long-haul fleets in May 2013.

The airline’s Boeing 747 fleet will be the first planes to be retrofitted with full flat beds, to be followed by B777s and Airbuses. Each full flat bed will be equipped with inflight entertainment (IFE) screens in portable tablets.

The new flat beds will allow passengers to fully recline their seats horizontally, mirroring the comfort of a real bed.

fuente: flightcentric.com

German airline Lufthansa plans to boost passenger services to and from Berlin when the city’s new international airport opens next year.

The plans include expanding its fleet and passenger facilities, flying new routes and knocking down ticket prices amid fierce competition from no-frills airlines. The new airport, Berlin Brandenburg International, will be Germany’s third-largest once it opens its doors next year.

The move is likely to increase pressure on Lufthansa’s budget rivals. In addition to domestic player Air Berlin, the German capital is serviced by a number of no-frills carriers including Easyjet, Norwegian and Ryanair.

source: dw-world.de

French cabin crews have no right to tell Muslim women to remove their burqa aboard Air France flights – despite a nationwide ban on full face veils, the airline has ruled.

Islamic passengers can be ordered to remove the garment while waiting in French airports to board the plane at the gate. But once on board, they are free to put their burqa back on, according to an internal memo to staff from Air France’s legal department.

France’s controversial burqa ban which came into force in April makes it a criminal offence for for anyone to hide their face in public.

source: dailymail.co.uk

BA will fly the Olympic Torch to the UK in May next year as a supporting partner of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece before travelling to the UK on 18 May.

Its 70-day journey around the UK starts on 19 May in Land’s End, Cornwall. From there it will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the country.

The Torch Relay is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. BA is a tier one sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

source: marketingmagazine.co.uk