Wi-Fi in the sky

American Airlines says passengers will be able to test in-flight Internet access on two transcon flights beginning June 26, with broader service expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.

Which will be the world’s largest airline?

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. reached agreement on a merger deal yesterday that, if approved by regulators, would create the world's largest airline. The combined airline will be headquartered in Atlanta, GA and will retain the Delta name. The merged carrier will have nearly $18 billion enterprise value, and will be run by Delta CEO Richard Anderson. Combined, the new company will serve more than 390 destinations in 67 countries, operating a fleet of nearly 800 aircraft and employ approximately 75,000 people worldwide.

According to Delta, customers will benefit from the combined carrier’s financial stability, as well as the opportunity to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.

The merger is subject to the approval of Delta and Northwest shareholders and antitrust regulatory approvals. It is expected that the regulatory review period will be completed later this year.

Emirates introduces in-flight mobile phone service

Emirates Airline has announced that it has launched in-flight mobile phone service, making it the first commercial airline to allow mobile phone usage while in flight. The service was introduced on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca in Morocco on March 20 onboard an Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

The plane is the first in the airline's fleet to be fitted with the AeroMobile system, a communications solution designed to prevent mobile phones from interfering with the aircraft’s electronics.

The service will only be activated when the aircraft is at cruising altitude and the cabin crew will be able to control the use of the system. The crew will be able to prevent voice calls at certain times, for example during night flights.

Passengers will be able to send and receive text messages and will be requested to keep the ringer on their handsets set to “silent”.

The airline said that it plans to extend the AeroMobile system to more aircraft and later this year will add BlackBerry and other data services.

Emirates is currently one of the fastest growing airlines in world, serving over 100 global destinations with a fleet of 113 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines to offer all-business class flights from US

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to offer all-business class seating on its non-stop flights to Singapore from New York and Los Angeles, starting mid-May.

Under the new configuration, the airline will replace the existing two-class, 181-seat layout on its five Airbus A340-500 planes with 100 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat will have direct access to the aisle, and will convert into a fully flat bed. The new business class seats are the same design as those fitted on the carrier’s Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane.

SIA said the decision to remove economy seats and offer only business class for the direct flights between Singapore and the two US cities is aimed at catering to strong demand from its premium travellers.

On March 20, Singapore Airlines will add a new US destination to its international route network with a four-times-weekly flight to Houston from Singapore, via Moscow.

Virgin America expands to San Diego

Virgin America commenced service to San Diego, CA from its base of San Francisco International Airport on February 12. It is the sixth destination for the low-fare carrier, which aims to serve as many as ten major U.S. cities within its first year of operation.

Virgin America will initially operate three flights a day on the San Diego route, expanding to five daily flights on March 9. Introductory fares start at $39 one way in the Main Cabin and $149 one way in First Class.

Started in August 2007, Richard Branson’s U.S. airline flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., and New York City. Virgin America said it will launch service to Seattle March 18.

AirTran adds 5 new routes from Milwaukee

AirTran Airways is to launch seasonal flights from Milwaukee to five West Coast and East Coast destinations.

AirTran’s new routes from Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport (MKE) include:
-- Los Angeles International Airport,
-- Seattle/Tacoma International Airport,
-- San Francisco International Airport,
-- San Diego's Lindbergh Field Airport and
-- Boston’s Logan International Airport.

The flights to Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco will begin May 6, while services to San Diego and Boston will commence May 21.

With the new flights, the Orlando-based airline will offer up to 20 daily departures to 13 non-stop destinations from Milwaukee.

American Airlines begins inflight Internet access installation

American Airlines has completed the first aircraft installation of the Aircell’s Internet broadband connectivity solution. AA, which will be the first U.S. airline to offer the Aircell's service, plans to install and test the technology in 2008 on all of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft that primarily fly transcontinental routes.

The unique air-to-ground broadband system will provide customers with a wireless Internet connection, VPN (virtual private network) access, and e-mail capabilities through all 802.11 Wi-Fi enabled devices. Customers will experience speeds similar to wireless services on the ground.

After testing and certification is completed, American will offer the inflight wireless service to customers in all classes on the Boeing 767-200 aircraft for a fee. Cell phone and Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol) services will not be available.

Top 10 air passenger trends and issues for 2008

Airline mergers and more low-fare regional jets, predicts the Air Travelers Association in its assessment of the top ten airline passenger trends and issues for the new year. Here’s the list:

1. The battle with the government over delayed flights versus high fares will continue.

2. The airline system will continue to operate at or near capacity.

3. The start of the next generation air traffic control system (NextGen) will continue to be delayed.

4. There will be more reports of near collisions in the air and on the ground.

5. The battle over the “Passengers’ bill of rights” versus passengers’ rights to get to their destination will continue.

6. Watch for domestic airlines to merge or accept foreign carrier investments.

7. Expect more low fare regional jets in the near future.

8. There will be continued service problems with airlines with labor disputes.

9. The competition between the super-jumbo Airbus A380 versus super-nonstop Boeing 787 will begin in 2009.

10. The battle between residents on the ground over noise and airline passengers in the air will continue.

The Air Travelers Association, founded in 1997, advocates for airline passengers on airline safety, security, savings, and service.

SIA to fly from Houston to Moscow, Singapore

Singapore Airlines announced the launch of nonstop flights from Houston to Moscow, with continuing service to Singapore, beginning March 20. The four-weekly flights will provide the first direct air link between the Russian capital and the US state of Texas. The new Singapore Airlines service will provide new travel options for both corporate and leisure travelers to Russia, as well as a convenient link to the carrier’s extensive network throughout Asia. The airline will operate its newest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the route in a three-class configuration: 8 First Class, 42 Business Class and 228 Economy Class seats.

Houston will become SIA’s fifth US gateway, beside Newark, New York-JFK, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Skybus to begin service from new base at Piedmont Triad

Skybus will launch its newly-announced base at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) in January and February with nonstop flights to seven new destinations and additional service to Columbus. The ultra low-cost airline will connect the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point area in North Carolina with Florida, Gulf Coast, East Coast and West Coast markets. PTI will become Skybus’ second hub after its headquarters city – Columbus, Ohio.

Currently, the low-fare carrier provides service to 12 destinations throughout the United States with five full-size Airbus A319 jets. Prices start at $10 one way on every flight, excluding taxes and fees.

American Airlines to start Chicago-Moscow flights

American Airlines is to launch non-stop scheduled service between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Moscow Domodedovo (DME) airports next summer. Beginning June 2, the new flights will be served six times a week with Boeing 767-300 aircraft, seating 225 passengers in two classes. The business class configuration will feature 30 next-generation lie-flat seats with audio and video on demand system.

AA officials said the new service is aimed to provide convenient links for business, tourism and Russian immigrants living in the United States.

Singapore Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A380

This morning, Singapore Airlines took delivery of the world’s first A380 at a special ceremony at Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse, France. The 'super-jumbo' aircraft will make its debut on October 25 with an inaugural flight between Singapore and Sydney, with the majority of seats sold for charity on eBay. Then, on October 28, the A380 will commence scheduled service on the Singapore-Sydney route on one of the three daily flights in each direction.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines has confirmed that it will operate an A380 aircraft on one of its daily flights between Singapore and London’s Heathrow Airport from the first quarter of 2008.

Frontier Airlines began service to Sioux City

Frontier Airlines launched non-stop service between its main hub at Denver International Airport and Sioux City, Iowa on Friday. The twice daily flights will initially be served by a 76-seat Embraer E-170 which will ultimately be replaced by a 74-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

The morning flight from Denver will depart at 10:35 am and arrive at Sioux Gateway Airport at 1:07 pm. The second flight will leave at 8:30 pm and arrive at its destination at 11:02 pm. The first return flight from Sioux City will leave at 6:55 am and arrive in Denver at 7:33 am, and the second will depart at 1:37 pm and arrive at Denver International at 2.15 pm. All times given are in local time.

Delta Air Lines expands international services from New York-JFK

Delta announced plans to offer increased choice on 14 new international routes from JFK, including nine transatlantic destinations not served by any other U.S. major airline — Edinburgh, Malaga, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Amman, Lagos, Dakar, Cape Town and Nairobi, the last two via Dakar. In addition, the Atlanta-based airline is introducing an improved schedule for summer 2008 that aims to meet the growing customer demand at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport while taking steps to reduce airport congestion and delays during peak hours.

Alaska Airlines to offer in-flight wireless internet

Alaska Airlines plans to launch in-flight wireless internet service next year. The airline announced at a conference in Toronto that it will test a Row 44’s broadband service on a Boeing 737 in the spring, and if it goes well, it will be installed on its entire fleet. The Row 44’s technology is designed to work over water and across international borders. That would allow the Seattle-based airline to offer the service throughout its entire network, which includes Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Passengers with wireless-enabled devices such as laptop computers and smart-phones will connect to the system through Wi-Fi hot spots in the aircraft cabin.

JetBlue to launch Charlotte-Ft Lauderdale flights

JetBlue Airways announced starting of seasonal nonstop flights between Charlotte Douglas International and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The once-a-day return service will begin January 10 and end April 30, 2008. Raleigh and Richmond, VA, also will get seasonal nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale. The low-cost airline will offer promotional rates starting at $69 one way, for tickets purchased by the end of August.

New York-based JetBlue Airways currently operates more than 700 daily services, including mainly internal low cost flights in the United States, as well as flights to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Mexico.

AirTran to start flights from Orlando to Raleigh/Durham

AirTran Airways is starting daily, non-stop service between Orlando International Airport and Raleigh/Durham, NC, from February 14. The new flight from Orlando will depart at 8:45 am and arrive in Raleigh/Durham at 10:20 am. The return flight from Raleigh/Durham will leave at 9:45 am and arrive in Orlando at 11:25 am. The low-fare carrier will also offer seasonal non-stop flights between Orlando and Minneapolis/St. Paul, as well as to Rochester, NY.

AirTran Airways operates over 750 daily flights throughout the eastern USA and the Midwest. The airline’s principal hub is at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and maintains a secondary hub at Orlando International Airport.

New low-cost terminal approved at Austin Airport

City of Austin, Texas has approved the construction of a low-cost terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The new terminal will serve no-frills carriers including a new Mexican airline Viva Aerobus, which has announced to fly between Austin and five Mexican destinations. Flights will be operated by Boeing 737-300 aircraft with fares starting as low as $5 one-way. The airline, which is part-owned by Ryanair, is aiming to begin operations from Austin by Thanksgiving.

Paper airline tickets going away!

As of June 2008, all airlines members of IATA will no longer issue paper tickets. The International Air Transport Association has placed its final order for paper tickets before the industry reverts completely to e-ticketing on June 1, 2008. The organization represents more than 240 airlines worldwide, which is 94 per cent of the scheduled air traffic. Currently, about 84 per cent of all tickets issued through IATA’s settlement system are electronic, following the association's three-year drive to eliminate paper tickets.

According to experts, the changeover will save the equivalent of 50,000 mature trees each year and will add up to $3 billion in annual savings for the industry. Besides, the advantages of the electronic ticket are obvious – it is up to nine dollars cheaper, there are no shipping fees and the confirmation is received directly via email or fax. No worries about loosing the ticket or having it destroyed. And in just 278 more days the paper ticket will only become a collector's item!

Virgin America reinvents US air travel

After federal regulators approved the company's revised plan to operate US-based commercial flights, finally Virgin America started operations on August 8. Richard Branson's new airline took to the skies for the first time with inaugural flights from New York's John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles International Airport to its US main base in San Francisco.

Virgin, which has a long reputation for reinventing stagnant market niches, is looking to do the same for its new domestic service in the US. Where others see disaster, Richard Branson sees opportunity. The founder of Virgin Group says their “secret” is quite simple: they look at an industry that is doing everything the same way, identify the weak points for customers, and focus their business on doing those services differently. For Virgin America, this means: brand new airplanes, TV screens in each seat, mood lighting in the cabin, online ordering system, built-in ”seat to seat" chat system, power plugs for laptops, iPhone and iPods, chargers for MP3 players, and many other unique conveniences unknown for a commercial plane.

But most importantly, Virgin America offers really low fares! Flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles start at $44 (coach) and $149 (first class). Airline tickets from New York to LA would cost $129 (coach) and $389 (first class). Operations between New York and Los Angeles will start on August 29, followed by Las Vegas, San Diego and Washington DC.

So, see you soon onboard Virgin America flights! And don't forget to take all your gadgets with you!