Southwest Air to Charge $10 to Board Early
from Reuters
The early bird gets the overhead baggage space -- at least on Southwest Airlines Co. Dallas-based Southwest said it started charging passengers $10 each way to board flights before general check-in starts, but after premium passengers, including those flying Business Select. More

International Air Passenger Traffic Dips in the First Half
from Business World
The number of passengers on international flights who passed through the country's airports dipped just slightly in the first half from the same period last year, despite the feared double impact of the global economic slump and the pandemic scare, the Civil Aeronautics Board said. More

LAX Freight Reaches 2009 High
from The Journal of Commerce
Los Angeles International Airport saw its strongest sign yet that the decline in trans-Pacific shipping has bottomed out as the airport reported its slimmest drop in air freight tonnage in a year for July. Freight was off 9.9 percent compared to July 2008, which was the last time the key gateway for Asia-Pacific air cargo saw air freight decline at less than a double-digit rate. More

Air China Aims to Launch Cathay Air Cargo JV this Year
from The Wall Street Journal
Air China said it aims to launch a long-planned air cargo joint venture with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. later this year, after the Chinese flag carrier completes a deal to boost its stake in the Hong Kong airline to nearly 30 percent. The Beijing-based carrier said talks with Cathay on the formation of the Shanghai-based cargo carrier are basically completed, but discussions are continuing over the long-term development of the tie-up. More

Amerijet Strike Goes Into Sixth Day
from Aviation Week
Things are getting ugly at Fort Lauderdale-based cargo carrier Amerijet International, where pilots and flight engineers walked off the job, and the company has turned to Mexican and Canadian cargo carriers for temporary replacements. According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents the 62 Amerijet employees, after attempting to negotiate its first contract for five years, management walked out of National Mediation Board-sponsored talks. More

Hollywood Jets Launches Private Jet Charter & Consulting Services Firm
from Private Jet Daily
International Marketing Associates, Inc. announced the launch of their aviation firm Hollywood Jets. The company will offer exclusive private jet membership for aircraft and helicopter charter, aircraft management, sales and consulting services. In an effort to assist those interested in business or personal travel, Hollywood Jets is offering free basic membership that includes consulting services to assist new members with learning about the benefits of private aircraft travel. More

Bizav Fractionals Facing a Matured Industry
from Aviation International News
The fractional jet industry is undergoing a "major transformation," according to business aviation consultants Brian Foley Associates. "Regrettably there'll be more turmoil in the charter, air taxi and fractional arenas before year-end," said company president Brian Foley. More

FAA Gives Southwest Airlines More Time for Repairs
from The Washington Post
The Federal Aviation Administration gave Southwest Airlines the green light to continue flying about 50 commercial jets, or 10 percent of its fleet, allowing the carrier more time to remove unauthorized parts from its planes. The brackets in question support exhaust gates on older Boeing 737s. They are designed to divert engine exhaust away from the wings when a jet's flaps are extended. More

West Star Aviation in Growth Mode
from AIN Online
A pair of significant milestones underscores West Star Aviation's continued growth in a depressed economy. The company is in the final stage of a planned service capabilities expansion and facilities consolidation at its Dallas Love Field location. In addition, the company's East Alton, Ill. facility has been named a Piaggio Aero authorized service center. More