The stumbling search for a TSA Chief
Time magazine
More than a year into President Obama's Administration — and three months after the Nigerian underwear bomber failed in his attempt to blow a U.S. airliner out of the sky over Detroit — the nation still doesn't have a top cop at the Transportation Security Administration. Why is the Administration having such a tough time filling this vital slot?More

Would fees end 'out of control' carry-ons?
CNN
If George Clooney's character in "Up in the Air" had to fly Spirit Airlines, you have to wonder how the carry-on master would feel about having to pay a fee to bring his perfectly packed bag on board. Like many air travelers, he clings to his luggage protectively and avoids handing it over at the ticket counter at all costs.More

Airlines seek allies to tap into global recovery
Mena FN
With recovery in global air traffic underway, the big U.S. airlines are reaching out to low-cost carriers and partners overseas to stitch together alliances and routes covering a wider range of destinations at lesser cost. Delta Air Lines Inc. said it would seek a code-sharing agreement with Brazilian low-cost carrier Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes to increase the number of destinations served in the world's ninth-largest economy while boosting its own Latin American traffic figures.More

Three issues that will shape the future of air travel
USA Today
Capacity, debt and fuel prices are the three biggest issues facing airlines, according to world-renowned aviation analyst and consultant Darryl Jenkins. How airlines manage these challenges will shape the future of air travel and impact how we fly over the next five to 10 years. The issues are likely to impact airfares, schedules, bankruptcies, consolidation, fleet composition, airports, hubs and much more.More

Allegiant says air traffic jumped 16.4 percent
The Associated Press via Businessweek
Allegiant Air, which is expanding its schedule of flights from secondary airports to vacation destinations, said that traffic soared 16.4 percent in March. The airline said paying passengers flew 545.6 million miles last month, up from 468.6 million miles in March 2009.More

Sun Country to emerge from bankruptcy?
Minneapolis Airline /Airport Examiner
Sun Country Airlines has filed its proposed reorganization plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection. The court documents, which were filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, indicate that the airline's financial situation has improved markedly and that despite being unable to find a buyer for the carrier, it is prepared to move forward on its own.More

Midwest Airlines no more: Republic will combine brand with Frontier
The Airline Industry Examiner
Dual announcements were made in Milwaukee, a Midwest Airline base, and in Denver, to cheering Frontier employees. The announcement ends speculation over the future of the two brands belonging to airlines that were acquired by Republic during 2009. The company indicates operational necessities such as a common reservations system and frequent flier programs and will be merged by November, with full brand integration complete by October 2011.More

Airlines did a better job for passengers in 2009
The Associated Press via Google News
Fewer passengers boarded planes last year, but those who did were generally treated better than in the past. Planes were more likely to land on time and bags less likely to get lost in 2009, according to an annual analysis of airline quality by private researchers. As a result, passengers reported fewer complaints even while cash-strapped airlines reduced flight schedules and charged for everything from bags and pillows to prime spots in boarding lines.More

That corporate jet sometimes makes sense
The New York Times
After a 15-month battle, the Federal Aviation Administration released to ProPublica a list of about 1,100 private aircraft whose flights have been blocked from public view. The flights are hidden even though basic information on every passenger flight — including aircraft number, departure and destination — is routinely published in real time by the F.A.A. and available on flight-tracking sites.More