Airline Industry News – Week Ending 11.18.06

Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United will all begin offering iPod integration by mid 2007. Passengers will be able to listen to music, view video and charge iPods with built in technology.

Airtran and Frontier Airlines are forming an alliance to offer greater destination variety and and more diverse awards to passengers.

American Airlines Allied Pilots Association has authorized an immediate start to American’s proposed DFW/Beijing route pending the outcome of the Airline Ultimate Fighting Championship. AAdvantage members are being offered two airline companion certificates and 2,500 miles for joining the new TrAAvel Perks program for $134. American opened a new parking garage at JFK on November 15. They are offering HUGE rewards for travel to and from Chicago O’Hare from now until January 31, 2007. 5,000 bonus miles for one trip, 10,000 for two and 25,000 miles for 3 trips.

British Airways in following Singapore air in upgrading business class seats with lie-flat beds.

Comair flights out of Kennedy International are the most consistently delayed flight in the country.

Delta has expanded its service, despite its bankruptcy status. New flights from JFK to London Gatwick and JFK to Phoenix are available.

Northwest Airlines is offering 5,000 bonus miles to members who use their WorldPerks Visa to purchase $250 or more on the online mall between now and January 15. Pre-registration is required. That means you can get all your Christmas gifts at Overstock at 2 miles per dollar, no tax and free shipping. You can’t beat it.

Spirit Airlines is busy this week. They have announced new service from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands beginning December 8, 2006; Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach beginning February 15, 2007; and Los Angeles beginning March 15, 2007.

United Airlines is increasing seat capacity by 658 a week on its Chicago/Shanghai flights. On April 24, 2006, they will begin an additional San Francisco-Frankfurt route.

US Airways has, of-course, put in a bid to buy Delta. That’s been the biggest news in the industry in months. The for and against camps both make their arguments heard regularly and loudly. Just do a Google search and you’ll have reading material for days.