Filed under: Airlines

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Chicago plane finds snoozing tower in D.C.

The air traffic tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington. (Karen Bleier/Getty)

Federal air-safety officials are looking into why the lone air-traffic controller on duty at Washington’s Reagan National Airport early Wednesday repeatedly failed to respond to pilots of two approaching aircraft, forcing both jetliners to land without clearance.

Pilots of an American Airlines jet on final approach tried in vain to contact the tower. A few minutes later, a United Airlines jet, en route from Chicago, experienced the same problem, according to federal air-safety officials. Get the full story »

City plans $1 billion O’Hare bond issue

Construction workers smooth off concrete mix as they work on the O'Hare expansion project in September 2010. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

After reaching a crucial compromise with United and American airlines, the city of Chicago is again planning to issue about $1 billion in debt to help fund the final phase of O’Hare International Airport’s expansion.

The city withdrew a $998.9 million bond issue in January after investors’ enthusiasm for the debt was dampened by a collapse in the municipal finance market, a credit-rating downgrade for O’Hare and a lawsuit filed by United and American aimed at blocking the project. Get the full story »

United Continental to roll out Wi-Fi in 2012

The last big U.S. airline holdout to the Wi-Fi revolution, United Continental Holdings Inc., unveiled plans to wire 200 domestic aircraft for satellite-based broadband service starting next year.

United Continental said Tuesday it had signed a letter of intent with LiveTV, a subsidiary of JetBlue Airways, to provide inflight Internet service on more than 200 Continental Boeing 737 and 757 jets already equipped for DirecTV service. Get the full story »

US Airways latest to cut flights over oil prices

A US Airways ticket counter at O'Hare, April 8, 2010. (Tim Boyle/Bloomberg)

Major U.S. airlines announced further 2011 capacity cutbacks to cope with the dramatic increase in fuel prices, with Delta Air Lines Inc. also citing the earthquake in Japan for a hit to earnings in the current quarter.

US Airways Group Inc. said it would reduce flying this year, joining United Continental Holdings and other carriers that have outlined capacity curbs. Get the full story »

Boeing shares gain after test flight of new 747

The 747-8 Intercontinental. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty)

Shares of Chicago-based Boeing Co. gained 3 percent Monday, a day after the successful first test flight of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

The flight was a milestone for the aircraft model, which is more closely associated with Boeing than any other commercial airplane. Get the full story »

United Continental shifts more flying overseas

The company that runs United and Continental airlines says it will shift more flying to international routes this year.

The combined United and Continental will cut domestic flying 2 percent to 3 percent this year. That cut is a half percentage point more than previously planned. International flying will rise 3 percent to 4 percent — also a half percentage point more than planned before. Their overall 2011 flying is expected to be about the same as last year. Get the full story »

United makes deal with Teamsters

United Continental Holdings Inc.’s United Airlines and the Teamsters Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for 5,500 U.S. aircraft technicians and related employees. Get the full story »

Airlines face ‘major slowdown’ due to Japan: IATA

The nuclear and earthquake crises in Japan will cause a “major slowdown” for airlines in Japanese markets, and a rebound is unlikely before the second half of 2011, a leading airline industry trade group said on Friday. Get the full story »

Radiation on O’Hare flights deemed no threat

Federal officials found traces of radiation on United and American airlines jets that arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from Tokyo Wednesday, but later determined that the planes’ cargo and passengers were not at risk.

As concerns mount about the radiation spewing into the atmosphere from Japan’s crippled nuclear reactors, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had begun monitoring airline and maritime traffic for radiation contamination “out of an abundance of caution.” Get the full story »

United OKs mobile check-in for international travel

United Continental has announced the expansion of mobile check-in and mobile boarding passes to United customers traveling with international itineraries. Get the full story »

Unions balk as Japan woes put flight crews on edge

Rising radiation levels and continual aftershocks rumbling through Tokyo are raising tensions between pilots and managers at U.S. carriers flying to central Japan.

Union leaders at United and Continental Airlines say flight crews are anxious about deteriorating conditions in Tokyo, where the carriers’ pilots and flight attendants recuperate from long trans-Pacific flights. Get the full story »

AA Eagle adds Chicago-Charlottesville

American Airlines’ regional affiliate, American Eagle, will start daily nonstop flights between Chicago and Charlottesville, Va., on June 9. Get the full story »

Boeing: Too soon to tell quake’s effect on 787

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Reuters/Anthony Bolante)

If Boeing Co.’s Japanese suppliers for the 787 Dreamliner are disrupted by more than several weeks, the company could face new production issues for the long-delayed aircraft, the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said Monday.

“We have a little bit of stock, but not much. I think if we go longer than several weeks, we’ll have issues,” Jim Albaugh told CNBC business television. Get the full story »

City, airlines reach deal on O’Hare runways

By Jon Hilkevitch | Mayor Richard Daley and United and American airlines have negotiated a breakthrough, $1.7 billion deal to continue runway construction at O’Hare International Airport, according to the United States Department of Transportation.

The department issued a news release this morning that said the agreement on the O’Hare Modernization Program will allow work to begin on an additional south runway at the airport in addition to other improvements that would allow O’Hare to “deal with increasing traffic.”

United, Delta, American cancel most Japan flights

The three largest U.S. carriers scrambled Friday to ensure that employees in Japan were safe as they re-routed passengers and aircraft bound for the earthquake-stricken country.

United, Delta and American airlines canceled many, but not all, flights to Japan Friday and offered to waive booking fees for those who opted to cancel or reschedule travel there as the country recovers from one of the largest earthquakes on record. Get the full story »