Airline Control Goes Digital to Save Fuel

Under pressure to cut carbon emissions and beef up fuel economy, the FAA and airline industry are examining a number of interesting proposals geared at making the industry more eco-friendly. While airline transportation currently accounts for only 2% of worldwide carbon emissions, “we are a very visible 2%,” Paul Steele, director of environmental initiatives for [...]

Have FAA Policies Encouraged Outsourcing?

Airlines are outsourcing major aircraft repairs to foreign countries in ever-increasing numbers. National Public Radio reported this week that in 2007 U.S. air carriers sent 71% of “heavy airframe maintenance” to private facilities in cheap foreign labor markets (see our Oct. 19, 2009 post). Airlines cite a recession-driven need to lower maintenance costs as the [...]

More Airlines Outsourcing Repairs Overseas

The airwaves have been blistering the morning with news about U.S. airlines outsourcing maintenance to cheap foreign labor markets. Kicking off a two-part series this morning, NPR (National Public Radio) reported that U.S. air carriers sent 71% of “heavy airframe maintenance” to private maintenance facilities in 2007. As NPR pointed out, that’s a considerable increase [...]

Saving Money Without Alienating Customers

In our last post we talked about some of the new fees airlines are charging to stopgap losses. While we understand that imposing fees for extra or unusual services can be a good way to recoup losses without raising ticket prices, we wonder if a consumer backlash isn’t developing that will hurt the airline industry. Perhaps instead of “nickel [...]

Are Airlines Alienating Their Customers?

Airlines are hurting. With Americans pinching their pennies, airline travel has taken a nose dive and lackluster third quarter reports mean the tough times will continue for awhile. To the disgruntlement of passengers, airlines seem to be trying to recoup their losses by tacking on more fees instead of raising ticket prices.

With few exceptions, airlines [...]

Aircraft Mechanics Strike ‘Gold’ in Alaska

The Taliban are rampaging. We lost the Olympics to Rio. Time for some good news. We couldn’t pass up this great story about two down on their luck aircraft mechanics who found their pot of “gold” in Alaska. Reported by Elizabeth Bluemink in the Anchorage Daily News, the tale starts with two good ole Memphis [...]