50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

Guidance to unarmed aviation police: Run and hide

Hundreds of police officers at one of the country's busiest airports say in the case of an active shooter, they are instructed to run and hide. That's because these officers are unique among the nation's major airports: They don't carry guns. Their badges, uniforms and vehicles all say "police." And they are certified police officers in the state of Illinois. But...

Delta Is Out-Innovating All Other Airlines With Its Branded Fees

Airline marketing and ancillary revenue consultancy Ideaworks has announced its list of the top five airline marketing innovators for 2015, and listed Delta as the industry’s best at building revenue through ancillary sales, including its “branded fares” and Comfort+ product. “Delta continues to be an industry leader in product development and providing premium choices f...

Virgin America Launches Codeshare Agreement With China Southern Airlines

Virgin America and China Southern Airlines announce a codeshare agreement to offer seamless booking and travel between China, Southeast Asia and multiple Virgin America destinations across the United States. Under the new agreement, China Southern will place its two-digit airline code (CZ) and flight numbers on a range of Virgin America routes operating from Los Angeles and San Francisco &nda...

Aviation Capital Group Announces Expansion of 4-Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility

Aviation Capital Group (“ACG”) announced  that it has increased its senior unsecured revolving credit facility with DBS Bank Ltd. as administrative agent by $60 million to $220 million and extended the maturity to December 28, 2019. Together with its other senior unsecured revolving credit facility, ACG has $1.165 billion of revolving commitments from 21 banks...

Pemco Aviation Maintenance Names New Director Of Quality

In a continuing effort to strengthen its operations, PEMCO Aviation Maintenance (PEMCO) has named Douglas (Doug) Ragsdale, Director of Quality. He will be based out of the company’s corporate headquarters at Tampa International Airport and report to Ernie Kiss, PEMCO’s Vice President Quality and Engineering. Ragsdale is a proven aviation professional bringing more than 30...

Southwest Airlines and TWU 555 Reach Tentative Agreement

Southwest Airlines Co. announced a new tentative agreement with Transport Workers Union Local 555, the union that represents more than 12,000 Southwest Ground Operations, Provisioning, and Cargo Agents. The Union’s Executive Board reviewed an Agreement in Principle that negotiators reached December 23rd and decided to conduct a ratification vote that could end more than four years of negotia...

Atlanta airport celebrates 100 millionth passenger in one year

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which serves more passengers than any other airport in the world, has reached 100 million passengers since Jan. 1, marking a milestone no other airport has ever reached, officials said. When anointed passenger Larry Kendrick flew in from Gulfport, Mississippi, on Sunday - one of the busiest travel days of the year - he was greeted with sever...

United Pushes China Expansion After Hitting Roadblocks in India

The rapid expansion of seat capacity to and from India by Middle East carriers is impeding United Airlines’ plans to build market share in the country. Instead, United, which already has daily nonstop service from New York to both Delhi and Mumbai, is mainly focusing on expanding operations to China’s secondary cities. Acccording to Brian Znotins, United’s network vice president,...

SFO’s Towering Achievement

An iconic and towering structure rises along the San Francisco Bay area skyline --and it’s safe to say it’s unlike any other. The 231-foot air traffic control tower features a graceful flaring base with an offset cab of glass at the top, giving it a distinct look resembling that of a wine glass or Olympic torch. A ribbon of glass stretches up the base, reflecting the sparkling water...

United Pilots To Get 13 Percent Pay Hikes in 2016 if They Approve Contract

United Continental Holdings Inc. rose the most in two weeks after pilot leaders agreed to send a proposed contract extension to union members for approval. Ratification by rank-and-file aviators would help labor peace with a crucial work group at United Airlines. Executives are still seeking to unify employees more than five years after the carrier was created in a merger between former United...

Students climb into 727 cockpit

It’s a bit musty inside the 727 parked near a row of storage sheds at Riverside Municipal Airport. Part of the stale smell may be because the plane has been sitting dormant for more than 2½ years. Part of it may be the pigeons that have taken roost in the housings of the unused jet engines. The former Federal Express plane is the property of California Baptist University and is one...

Engine problem sends Virginia-bound plane back to New York

An engine-related problem has forced a plane bound for Virginia to return to Rochester, New York. The Federal Aviation Administration says Commutair Flight 3585 declared an emergency at around 3 p.m. Friday shortly after takeoff. The plane had been headed to Washington Dulles International Airport but returned to Rochester International Airport. It landed safely. Representatives for Commu...