Airports & Aviation Newsletter for April 4, 2017

Airlines

Alaska Air fires back at Richard Branson over Virgin America brand licensing deal -- Alaska Airlines fired back at Sir Richard Branson Wednesday, suggesting it won't have to pay Virgin America licensing fees to his empire until 2040 as he claims. [Andrew McIntosh/ Puget Sound Business Journal]
Airlines make more money selling miles than seats -- Does your wallet contain an airline-branded credit card? [Justin Bachman/ Bloomberg]
Norwegian Air affiliate signs surprise deal with IAM, the biggest U.S. airline union -- In a surprising step, the International Association of Machinists agreed to represent flight attendants at a U.S. affiliate of Norwegian Air.  [Ted Reed/ The Street]
Gulf Airlines Etihad, Qatar work around U.S. cabin laptops ban -- Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are lending some passengers laptop computers and tablets to use on board following the U.S. ban on most electronics devices from being taken into the cabin on United States-bound flights. [Reuters]
The new wave of booking tech that's disrupting how airlines sell tickets -- Airlines have tended to only use IT systems that have been around for decades. [Sean O'Neill/ Skift]
United's new 777s struggle with luxury seat delays -- United Airlines faces a new setback in its bid to win back business customers as production snags hinder deliveries of Boeing Co. jetliners outfitted with new luxury seats. [Michael Sasso & Julie Johnsson/ Bloomberg]
Delta deepens relationship with Korean Air to expand its foothold in Asia -- Delta Air Lines Inc. and Korean Air Lines Co. agreed to form a joint venture to share costs and revenue on flights across the Pacific in a bid to lure customers with more options amid intense competition. [Kyunghee Park/ Bloomberg]
When you buy a plane ticket, you're agreeing to these things -- A controversy that erupted after United Airlines refused to let two teenage girls board a plane because they were wearing leggings put a spotlight on the regulations that airlines impose on employees and customers. [Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]
Delta, United, Southwest most likely airlines to bump you from your flight -- Airline passengers are considerably less likely to get bumped off an overbooked flight today than they were a few years ago. [Lauren Zumbach/ Chicago Tribune]
Rival airlines poke fun at United over leggings dispute -- United Airlines has taken a heap of criticism from celebrities and other air travelers over its decision last week to bar two teenage girls from boarding a flight from Denver because they were wearing leggings. [Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]
China's big three airlines set to report biggest combined profit since 2010 -- Morton Shen, a manager at a Shanghai-based company, no longer needs to spend more than 17 hours to fly to Madrid after a layover in Amsterdam. [Bloomberg News]
Virgin Atlantic's Richard Branson bashes Alaska Airlines at Seattle launch -- Virgin Atlantic marked its new service between London Heathrow and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday with a ceremonial flight that featured a live-streamed in-flight performance by up-and-coming UK pop-star Raye and an on-the-ground welcome of the Boeing 787-9 by Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic. [Harriet Baskas/ USA Today]
Delta and Korean Air to form joint venture to share costs, revenue -- Delta Air Lines Inc. and Korean Air Lines Co. agreed to form a joint venture to share costs and revenue on flights across the Pacific in a bid to lure customers with more options amid intense competition. [Kyunghee Park/ Bloomberg]
How two teens in leggings became a PR mess for United Airlines -- A bystander who touched off a social media furor after she saw United Airlines stop two teenage girls dressed in leggings from boarding a flight admitted on Monday that she did not fully grasp the situation when she started tweeting her indignation. [Dan Whitcomb/ Reuters]
American Airlines buys stake in China Southern Airlines -- American Airlines has agreed to pay $200 million for a stake in China Southern Airlines, the biggest of China's three major state-owned carriers, in a bid for a bigger share of the country's growing travel market. [AP]
Indigo's Frontier Airlines said to aim for second-quarter IPO -- Frontier Airlines Inc., the no-frills U.S. carrier whose aircraft feature animals on the tails, is aiming to go public as soon as the second quarter, people with knowledge of the matter said. [Alex Barinka & Mary Schlangenstein/ Bloomberg]
Nippon Cargo Airlines cancels remaining Boeing 747 freighter orders -- Nippon Cargo Airlines Co. Ltd. of Japan has cancelled orders for two Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft after reaching an agreement with Boeing. [Andrew McIntosh/ Puget Sound Business Journal]
Air Force meeting with airlines on pilot shortage in May -- The Air Force is preparing to meet with commercial flight companies in hopes it can find a way to stop the bleeding of experienced pilots leaving the force. [Scott Maucione/ Federal News Radio]
Lufthansa warns Brexit will hurt U.K. airlines as EU gets tough -- Deutsche Lufthansa AG Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr expects France and Germany to take a hard line in Brexit negotiations concerning U.K. aviation, [Richard Weiss, Benjamin D. Katz & Birgit Jennen/ Bloomberg]
Singapore Airlines moves new Airbus A380 suites to upper deck -- As previously tipped by Australian Business Traveller, Singapore Airlines is relocating its new Airbus A380 first class suites to the superjumbo's upper deck. [David Flynn/ Australian Business Traveller]
The $65 transatlantic airfare -- With a promise to fly U.S. passengers to Europe for as little as $65, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA is poised to transform transatlantic travel. [Chris Bryant/ Bloomberg]
March route roundup: Where airlines are adding service -- Airlines constantly tweak their schedules, trying to find profitable new routes or pulling the plug on ones that have underperformed. [Ben Mutzabaugh/ USA Today]
Here's why airlines don't always reveal the full truth about flight delays -- Occasionally, a passenger will accuse an airline of not being truthful about why a flight is delayed. [Elliott Hester/ Los Angeles Times]
American Airlines seeks China Southern tie-up as traffic booms -- American Airlines is looking to become the second big carrier in the United States to buy its way into capturing more of the big and growing business of flying to China. [Neil Gough/ New York Times]
Southwest Airlines' digital transformation takes off -- Southwest Airlines' hub in Dallas exists in a world of constant hecticness. [Neal Ungerleider/ Fast Company]
United Airlines says customers are 'welcome' to wear leggings - unlike teens who used special passes -- United Airlines says regular-paying fliers are welcome to wear leggings aboard its flights, [AP]
United Airlines leggings incident shows changing nature of air travel -- The decision by United Airlines to deny entry onto a flight to two girls who were wearing leggings has highlighted the changing culture of air travel in the U.S., aviation historians say. [Daniella Silva/ NBC News]
Qantas to retire its five oldest Boeing 747 jumbo jets -- As Qantas counts down to the delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in October 2017, the clock is also ticking away on the airline's dwindling fleet of Boeing 747 jumbo jets - once the iconic mainstay of the Qantas international network. [David Flynn/ Australian Business Traveller]
Qantas makes last-minute call to abort high-profile debut of in-flight wi-fi service -- On the eve of the scheduled public debut of the service including a high-profile media launch tomorrow to show off the capabilities, [Rod Chester/ news.com.au ]
The Jordanian Airline making money off the laptop ban -- Walk into the offices of Memac Ogilvy Advize, an advertising firm on the third floor of a car rental building in a business district of West Amman, Jordan, and you'll be greeted with an immense black-and-white photo of Donald Trump's face. [Alice Su/ The Atlantic]
$149 Europe fares? British Air parent rolls out new budget airline -- A new European budget airline made waves last week when it began selling bargain-basement fares between the USA and Europe. But this new discounter isn't some fly-by-night upstart.  [Ben Mutzabaugh/ USA Today]
Hawaiian Airlines' pilots ratify new contract -- Hawaiian Airlines' pilots, ending more than two years of contentious negotiations, have ratified a new 63-month contract worth 42 percent more than the existing agreement. [Dave Segal/ Honolulu Star-Advertiser]
American Airlines offers 'dream' come true for Europe-bound Chicagoans -- Flying to Europe this summer from Chicago is going to be a real "dream" if you're flying American Airlines. [Lewis Lazare/ Chicago Business Journal]
Spirit Airlines pilot's drug use appears 'voluntary,' police say -- Investigators believe the Spirit Airlines pilot who died with his wife in Centerville last week voluntarily used the drugs he likely overdosed on, this newsroom has confirmed. [Will Garbe/ Dayton Daily News]

​Aviation Security

How airport security may change under Trump -- It's not just the much-mocked "behavior detection" gumshoes that will go, but possibly air marshals, pilot firearms training, and other TSA programs. [Barbara Peterson/ Conde Nast Traveler]
Airline group urges U.S., Britain to drop electronics bans -- A global airline group asked governments Tuesday to urgently find other ways to ensure travel security than through the electronics bans adopted by the United States and United Kingdom. [Bart Jansen/ USA Today]
Emirates mulls loaning laptops to passengers amid US ban -- Emirates airline might offer passengers loaner laptops as the world's biggest long-haul carrier seeks to soften the blow from a US ban on electronics in airplane cabins. [Bloomberg] 
Nearly half of TSA PreCheck travelers say airport lines are still too long -- TSA PreCheck was devised by the Transportation Security Administration to speed up airport screening for travelers who submit to a government background check in advance. [Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]

Aircraft

Boeing warns of Puget Sound region layoffs in May -- After a wave of buyouts, Boeing has turned to job cuts at its Puget Sound airplane factories and corporate offices to cut expenses as the slowdown in wide-body jet sales continues. [Andrew McIntosh/ Puget Sound Business Journal]
Boeing pays federal income tax, for third year in a row -- Boeing paid $1.2 billion in federal income tax in 2016. Its pretax U.S. profit for the year was $5.2 billion, so the effective federal tax rate was 23 percent. [Dominic Gates/ Seattle Times]

Airports

Southwest Airlines to fly to Sacramento from Long Beach -- Southwest Airlines plans to begin regular flights from Long Beach to Sacramento in August, [Andrew Edwards/ Long Beach Press-Telegram]
[Harry Saltzgaver/ Long Beach Gazette]
[Bill Weekender/ Southwest Air Community]
How Ontario touts the year's accomplishments is different, here's why -- The city of Ontario operates like a business, Councilwoman Debra Dorst-Porada says, so it was fitting the annual state-of-the-city address seemed more like a business pep rally. [Neil Nisperos/ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]
A resurgent Ontario airport could be big win for Palm Springs fliers too -- The improvements at the Inland Empire's sprawling airport now reach from small victories like new food and beverage offerings on the non-secure side of the terminals to the sort of expanded routes and services officials hope will revive this struggling transportation hub. [Skip Descant/ The Desert Sun]
John Wayne Airport contractor sues Orange County alleging supervisors rigged bidding process -- The world's largest operator of private-plane airport bases has sued Orange County alleging that it lost its lucrative, long-held John Wayne Airport lease to an unqualified applicant as part of a rigged bidding process. [Jordan Graham/ Orange County Register]
Louis Tomlinson must wait to hear if he face charges over airport incident -- One Direction star Louis Tomlinson must wait to learn if he faces prosecution over an alleged clash with a photographer at an airport. [Belfast Telegraph]
At small Bay Area airports, appetite for travel boosts growth -- The Bay Area's large commercial airports aren't the only ones thriving during economic resurgence of recent years. [Annie Sciacca/ San Jose Mercury News]
JetBlue launching flights to Atlanta -- JetBlue launches service at Hartsfield-Jackson International on Thursday, initially with only a single route but with hopes to add more. [Kelly Yamanouchi/ Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Crowds down a bit at Atlanta airport job fair -- At the world's busiest airport, there's always a need for more workers. [Kelly Yamanouchi/ Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
City ponders future after fuel supplier announces exit from Santa Monica Airport -- City officials are deciding how to supply the type of fuel used by two-thirds of aircraft at Santa Monica Airport following the decision by American Flyers to shut down on April 15. [Niki Cervantes/ Santa Monica Lookout]
Ontario International Airport posts February 2017 statistics -- Airline passenger traffic at Ontario International Airport increased 5.6 percent in February 2017 compared with the same month in 2016. [OIAA Press Release]
Coachella Valley tourism mostly flat in February despite high Modernism Week turnout -- Despite the record crowds who came out for Modernism Week last month, both hotel occupancy and passenger activity at Palm Springs International Airport were down slightly, compared to tourism statistics from February last year. The decline was due to several factors, say tourism watchers. [Skip Descant/ The Desert Sun]
Santa Barbara Airport adding seats on flights to San Francisco, Denver, Dallas -- At the annual State of the City event Tuesday morning, Mayor Helene Schneider vowed to continue advocating for more nonstop service from Santa Barbara Airport to destinations around the country. [Alicia Briggs/ Santa Barbara Independent]
Flying high: Bay Area airports all launching new flights -- The Bay Area economy is doing so well that even smaller airports are adding fights. [Trisha Thadani/ SF Gate]
Airport name bill advances after Clinton provision stricken -- The Arkansas Senate has approved legislation preventing municipal airports from being named after living politicians after a provision was removed that would have stricken Bill and Hillary Clinton's name from the state's largest airport. [AP]
The $3 billion finance plan for a LAX people mover cuts airport's risk -- The next step for improving Los Angeles International Airport is an automated people mover to connect the sprawling airport's nine terminals, parking lots, rental car facility and public transportation access points. [Ted Reed/ The Street]
Los Angeles International Airport now has zero-emissions utility shuttle (ZEUS) buses from WallyPark lots -- When I notice a large city vehicle that is fully electric or a utility truck that is electric or even a hybrid, I breathe a sigh of relief. [Cynthia Shahan/ Clean Technica]
JWA passengers down in February -- John Wayne Airport's passenger count fell 7.5% in February, year-over-year, in the first monthly decline in two and a half years. [Paul Hughes/ Orange County Business Journal]
Riverside firefighters simulate airplane crash response -- About a year ago, firefighters at the Riverside Fire Department made plans to simulate an airport runway crash to prepare firefighters for a rare but dangerous incident. [Anne Millerbernd/ Riverside Press-Enterprise]
Kimberly Becker to succeed Thella Bowens in the hot seat at San Diego International Airport -- Kimberly Becker is to succeed Thella Bowens as president and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. [Airport World]
Hey, companies looking for space - struggling U.S. airports have lots of it -- Infrastructure in America is full of contradictions: [Brian Sumers/ Skift]
Fraport Greece gets 1 bln euro loan for airports deal -- Fraport Greece, a joint venture between German airport operator Fraport and Greece's Copelouzos Group, has secured a loan of about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to help fund a deal to operate 14 airports, it said on Monday. [Reuters]
Lambert director has mixed feelings on privatization, pushes Congress on higher fees -- The director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport said Thursday she's keeping an open mind about a proposal to privatize its management. [Adam Aton/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
There is a renewed push to remove the McCarran name in Nevada -- Decades before Harry Reid was at his peak, it was hard to argue that Patrick McCarran wasn't the most powerful Nevada politician to emerge from the state. [David Montero/ Los Angeles Times]
LAX trains workers to provide 'gold standard' service for fliers -- Los Angeles International Airport was recently ranked one of the 10 most improved airports in the world. [Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]
Harrison Ford says he was concerned about turbulence from a nearby airliner when he landed on airport taxiway -- Actor Harrison Ford was concerned about turbulence from a nearby airliner when he narrowly missed a passenger jet preparing for takeoff and landed on a taxiway last month at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, [Dan Weikel/ Los Angeles Times]