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French prosecutors appeal Concorde crash ruling

A French prosecutor’s office said Tuesday it is appealing the court ruling that blamed Continental Airlines for the deadly crash of a supersonic Concorde jet outside Paris a decade ago.

Prosecutors at the court in Pontoise, outside Paris, had argued that the former head of the Concorde program at planemaker Aerospatiale should share some legal responsibility with Continental for the crash. Get the full story »

United calls ‘LineBuster’ to get fliers out of line

Few holiday rituals cause more angst than air travel, where frazzled crowds and bad weather can transform even the simplest trip into a teeth-gnashing, garment-rending affair.

Adoption of technology such as text-message alerts and smart phone applications has smoothed some travel wrinkles, notifying travelers of rescheduled flight times or helping them navigate an unfamiliar airport. Airlines also have automated much of the process by installing self-service kiosks where passengers can check in for flights, look up their itinerary or request an upgrade. Get the full story »

Continental appeals ruling in Concorde crash

AFP | Continental Airlines on Monday lodged an appeal against a conviction by a French court, which found it criminally responsible for the 2000 Concorde air disaster in which 113 people were killed.

Olivier Metzner, lawyer for the U.S. airline, said he had lodged the papers with the appellate court in Versailles, west of Paris. Get the full story »

American opens cyber lounge for troops at O’Hare

American Airlines and USO of Illinois today opened a cyber canteen for active military service members who are traveling through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The new facility, located off the L concourse at the far eastern end of American’s Terminal 3, can seat about 120 people and is available for military personnel and their families.

Open daily from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., the lounge features free Wi-Fi Internet access, food and drink and a lounge area where traveling troops can recharge. Get the full story »

United Continental November traffic up 4.8%

United Continental Holdings Inc. said the combined traffic of both United and Continental airlines rose 4.8 percent in November.

The airlines, which are still operating as separate companies, said late Tuesday they flew paying passengers 16.15 billion miles last month, compared with 15.4 billion miles a year earlier. Get the full story »

Government: No 3-hour tarmac delays in October

The government says October was the first month when no airplanes were stuck on the ground for more than three hours.

It’s the first month without tarmac delays since the government started collected data in 2008. Get the full story »

Continental Airlines in deal with Teamsters

Continental Airlines said Monday that it reached a labor contract with negotiators for about 7,000 union employees.

The fleet-service employees, represented by the Teamsters union, will hold a ratification vote in the coming weeks.

Terms were not disclosed. Get the full story »

TSA app gives airport do’s and don’ts

It won’t save you from “enhanced patdowns,” but an iPhone app from the TSA tries to ease the pain of air travel by offering guidance on prohibited items, security wait times and packing tips. Get the full story »

White House: Body scan concerns to be considered

An airline passenger under goes a full body scan at O'Hare Wednesday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


With the first U.S. holiday travel rush welling up, the White House said Monday the government will take into account the American public’s concerns and complaints as it evaluates rigid new airline boarding security checks.

President Barack Obama’s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said the government is “desperately” trying to balance procedures that maximize security and minimize invasiveness. He says the Transportation Security Administration procedures will continue to evolve. Get the full story »

Pat down of shirtless boy fans TSA ire

From The Washington Post | A cell phone video of four TSA agents patting down a shirtless boy at Salt Lake City’s airport is perpetuating criticism on tighter government screening of passengers.

Utah Valley University student Luke Tait shot the video Friday while waiting in a security line. Tait said the boy appeared so shy he couldn’t keep his arms raised for a pat-down, and the father removed his son’s shirt out of frustration to speed up the search. Get the full story>>

Feds holding firm on intrusive airport security

Despite a deluge of complaints over intrusive pat-downs and revealing airport scans, the government is betting Americans would rather fly safe than untouched. “I’m not going to change those policies,” the nation’s transportation security chief declared Wednesday. Get the full story »

American Airlines to offer happy hour on flights

American Airlines will be hosting happy hour on certain flights during the month of December.

The company said Wednesday it will be selling cocktails, beer and wine for $5 on domestic, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico flights scheduled to depart between 5 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. The $5 price represents a discount of $1 on beer and $2 on liquor and wine. Passengers on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights can take advantage of the promotion, which lasts the duration of the flight.

There was no mention of peanuts. Get the full story »

FAA to pop for second O’Hare control tower

Crain’s Chicago Business | The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it will pay for a second control tower at O’Hare International Airport as part of the second phase of updates there. The agency also paid for a tower in Phase I.

Continental moving to United’s O’Hare terminal next week

Just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel season, Continental Airlines is moving its ticketing and check-in counters to the neighboring terminal operated by corporate sibling United Airlines at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Effective Tuesday, Nov. 16, Continental passengers will check in at Continental-branded counters in O’Hare’s Terminal 1, rather than Terminal 2, where the Houston-based carrier had been located.

The move is one of the first changes visible to travelers as the two carriers begin to combine operations following the Oct. 1 close of their merger, which created the world’s largest airline. Both carriers are wholly owned subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings Inc., their Chicago-based corporate parent. Get the full story »

Stepped-up airport patdowns drawing howls

Stepped-up security screening at U.S. airports in the wake of foiled terrorism plots has provoked an outcry from airline pilots and travelers, including parents of children who say they are too intrusive.

With the busiest holiday travel season nearing, fliers face long security lines and new rigorous patdown checks begun in recent weeks aimed at discovering hidden explosives. So some travelers are questioning whether to fly at all. Get the full story »