Airline News - North America.

For more airline news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/order_formsubs.htm Jun 5, 2006 US and Chad signed an open skies agreement yesterday that will allow air services between the two countries without restriction. Jun 1, 2006 European Court of Justice strikes down transatlantic PNR deal. The European Court of Justice yesterday ruled that the May 2004 agreement between the European Community and the US on the processing and transfer of PNR data by air carriers is illegal. May 31, 2006 Some carriers eliminate bereavement fares. Some airlines are eliminating bereavement fares as part of a strategy to lower costs. Carriers say the bereavement discounts are no longer necessary because fares have dropped so low in recent years. May 31, 2006 Travelers should expect delays, crowded aircraft. Travelers should expect delays and packed planes this summer, Federal Aviation Administration administrator Marion Blakey said. The Air Transport Association expects about 207 million people to travel on U.S. airlines this summer. ATA vice president David Castelveter noted that seats on popular flights will be limited. May 31, 2006 Bargain fares lure Hawaiian island-hoppers. A price war has broken out among Hawaii's airlines, and visitors and locals are getting a break on the cost of inter-island travel - at least for this summer. Affected flights are between Honolulu and the major tourist islands: Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. Sparking the bargain battle was the new Go! Airline, which will begin flying 50-seat jet aircraft June 9. It's booking tickets at introductory fares of $39 one way and $59 round trip. These fares were immediately matched by Aloha and Hawaiian airlines, for years the dominant carriers among the isles. Aloha even offered a $29 one-way ticket. May 30, 2006 Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines applied Friday to the US Dept. of Transportation for authority to operate Seattle-Cancun, Portland (Ore.)-Los Cabos and Portland-Puerto Vallarta flights. If approved, services will operate seasonally beginning this year from the end of October to the end of April. Seattle-Cancun and Portland-Los Cabos would be operated four-times-weekly while Portland-Puerto Vallarta service would be thrice-weekly. "This is part of our ongoing investment in our growing route system in Mexico," MD-Planning and Alliances John MacLeod said. Alaska currently operates 38 daily flights to nine Mexican destinations during the winter season. A DOT decision on the application is expected in June. May 29, 2006

American Airlines American Airlines is the surprise sponsor of what the organizers call the "World's largest air show" Farnborough International 2006, which starts Monday July 17. Under a recently agreed arrangement American will be promoting the show throughout north and south America, has opened up a hot line for would-be visitors and is offering special discounts. It will also be represented at the show. http://www.aa.com Jun 4, 2006 Comair, Delta Air Lines Comair President Fred Buttrell resigned last week and was replaced by CFO Don Bornhorst. The Delta Air Lines Regional affiliate said in a statement that Buttrell, who became Comair president in January 2005, had "weighed the needs of the company with those of his personal and family life and felt it was time to transition to new leadership." Bornhorst said his main focus is on Comair's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Prior to Bornhorst's appointment to CFO in 2005, he was Comair's senior VP-customers. He joined the carrier in 1991. He "has the background, focus and determination needed to complete the carrier's restructuring, which is a vital step for Comair to be a viable enterprise going forward,'' Delta Executive VP-Operations Joe Kolshak said. He added that Delta understands Buttrell's "desire to be closer to his family and we wish him well." May 29, 2006 Continental Airlines Continental becomes fourth-largest carrier. Continental Airlines is now the fourth-largest U.S. airline, based on the number of miles flown by paying passengers. Northwest Airlines dropped to fifth place. May 30, 2006 Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines claimed last week that it has become the world's largest airline (across the Atlantic) in terms of destinations served, seat capacity and weekly flights. One wag suggested that it certainly is the world's largest in administration. With the introduction of new and expanded services between the US and Athens, Edinburgh, Venice and Kiev last week it is a strong claim which no doubt others will challenge regarding the normally accepted RPKs' (revenue passenger kilometers). Delta Air Lines' pilots have also ratified a new labor agreement that includes $280m in annual concessions the airline says are "crucial" to its effort to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. http://news.delta.com Jun 4, 2006 Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines yesterday launched service from Atlanta to Aguadilla (four-times-weekly aboard CRJ700s operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines) and Kingston (daily aboard a 737-800). The new routes are part of a previously announced expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean this month comprising nine new routes to seven destinations. Jun 2, 2006 Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines this week launched daily Atlanta-Athens and New York JFK-Kiev flights and next week will start daily services from ATL to Edinburgh and Venice, all aboard 767-300ERs. May 31, 2006 Northwest Airlines Northwest to increase flying, expand flight schedule. Northwest Airlines plans to expand its flying and add flights to its schedule in 2006 and 2007, according to media reports. Earlier this year, the airline reduced its capacity by 10%. May 30, 2006 US Airways US Airways launched a daily Philadelphia-Portland, Ore., service yesterday aboard an America West Airlines A320 and a daily Phoenix-Kalispell, Mont., flight aboard a Mesa Airlines CRJ200. From July 1 until Aug. 19 the route will be operated by a US A319. Jun 2, 2006