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In a trip that was years in the making, United Airlines passengers Sunday got their first chance to experience the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which made its inaugural voyage for the airline on a scheduled flight from Houston to Chicago.

The twin-aisle plane, which made its debut three years late because of production problems at Boeing, is said to be far more fuel-efficient and less costly to maintain for airlines, while offering a new level of in-cabin comfort for passengers. Instead of being made mostly of metal, half of the plane, including the fuselage and wings, is made of strong, light composite materials.

U.S. airlines lost their fight last week to stay out of the European Union’s carbon trading market at the E.U.’s highest court.

The Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg ruled in a lawsuit brought by the ‘Air Transport Association of America’, American Airlines and United Continental that aviation can be included in the E.U.’s emissions trading system (ETS). The decision cannot be appealed.

“‘The directive including aviation activities in the E.U.’s emissions trading scheme is valid,” ‘the court said in a statement.’ “Application of the emissions trading scheme to aviation infringes neither the principles of customary international law at issue nor the open-skies agreement.'”

source: eenews.net

Pilots at United Airlines lost on Thursday in their bid to postpone the integration of flight operations with Continental Airlines, an essential step to completing the 2010 merger of the two carriers.

The pilots’ argument that the training shortfall would endanger the public was “‘too speculative'” to justify pushing back the deadline, the U.S. District Judge said in an eight-page ruling.

United bought Continental last year in a $3.17 billion all-stock deal to form United Continental Holdings Inc, the world’s largest airline company. The two airlines continue to operate separately while they integrate operations.

source: Reuters

United Airlines is shaping up as the next major U.S. battleground for Boeing and Airbus to sell narrowbody airplanes, as the world’s biggest airline mulls an order sources say could reach 200 planes.

Discussions are still at the early stages. But industry sources familiar with preliminary soundings expect United to place an order to refresh its fleet late this year or early next year.

United and Boeing have a shared history, both being founded by William Boeing. United Air Lines and Boeing Airplane Company were both subsidiaries of United Aircraft and Transport Company before it was broken up in 1934. Airbus overtook Boeing as the world’s largest jetliner-maker in 2003.

source: Reuters

US Airways, United, Continental and Delta confirmed that they raised prices.

Jamie Baker, an analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase, said the increases of $6 to $10 were applied to last-minute tickets favored by corporate travelers. He said the move, led by US Airways, appeared to back up the company’s comments that demand for business travel has held up.

Baker said the airlines did not increase prices on tickets requiring an advance purchase. Those are usually bought by leisure travelers.

source: msnbc.com

A US businessman has been told he will never again have to queue at an airport he racked up 10m air miles over nearly 20 years of business travel.

Thomas Stuker, a sales consultant, is also to have a plane named after him and will always be upgraded as a reward for his loyalty to United Airlines.

The frequent flyer has taken off with the airline 5,962 times and flown the equivalent of 400 trips around the globe.

But he reached the sacred 10m mark yesterday, after flying from Los Angeles to his native Chicago.

source: Telegraph.co.uk

The FAA proposes a fine of $584,375 against United after the airline allegedly transferred 13 employees to safety-sensitive positions before receiving the results of their drug and alcohol tests.

Federal air safety regulators have proposed fining United Airlines $584,375 for allegedly failing to properly perform drug tests on workers in safety-sensitive areas.

The Federal Aviation Administration accused the airline of transferring 13 employees to safety-sensitive positions before it received the results of their drug and alcohol tests.

source: Los Angeles Times

United Airlines temporarily revived the flight numbers of two hijacked planes used in the September 11 attacks but said on Wednesday the move was inadvertent and they would not be used.

“‘We are taking immediate steps to remove them and apologize for the error,'” a United spokesman said.

Call numbers 93 and 175 were mistakenly assigned to two flights by Continental Airlines, which has merged with United.

United declined to explain how the numbers found their way back onto flights. Unionized flight attendants urged the company to permanently retire them, while pilots said the move was insensitive.

source: Reuters

United Airlines and Continental Airlines will merge in an all-stock deal worth over $3 billion that will create the world’s largest carrier with annual revenues of nearly $29 billion.

The two American carriers have entered into a definitive merger agreement, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. The merged entity will be known under the brand name of United Airlines and will be based in Chicago, the headquarters of United.

Continental is based in Boston, which will cease to exist post-merger. “‘The all-stock merger brings together two of the world’s premier airlines, creating a combined company well positioned to succeed in an increasingly competitive global and domestic aviation industry,'” both companies said in a statement.

source: Rediff business

Continental Airlines Inc. would make the best merger partner for United Airlines, creating the world’s largest carrier, an analyst said Friday.

Together, Houston-based Continental and UAL Corp.’s United would surpass Delta Air Lines Inc. for the top spot in global passenger traffic.

source: thenewstribune.com