Sky Talk

GM of American's Kansas City base leaving

Ed Chevrestt, general manager of American Airlines maintenance base in Kansas City, told his fellow employees in a letter Wednesday that he's stepping down to take a job with another company. He spent the last three of his 20-year career at American at the Kansas City facility.

Chevrestt departs Kansas City as workers there brace for what could be a heavy round of job cuts. Officials expect to learn soon how many jobs will be eliminated there as well as at American's other maintenance bases as the carrier downsizes.

- Trebor Banstetter

More D/FW-Heathrow service if AA/BA deal approved?

We mentioned yesterday that American and British Airways dominate the D/FW-to-Heathrow route, a fact that the airlines noted in their latest filing with the Department of Transportation.

Don Casey, who heads international planning at American had this to add about the route from North Texas to London:

"This is a relatively small market with only 2000 passengers per week but over 5000 seats per week. That is, the market is well served because it is a hub to hub market for AA/BA. This is the kind of market that should end up with more service if this agreement is approved. The DFW airport recognizes the consumer benefits from the AA/BA proposal and have issued a press release supporting the deal."

More service to London would certainly be a good thing for D/FW and local business travelers who regularly fly between the two cities.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA blasts Virgin on anti-trust plan

American Airlines responded today to Virgin Atlantic's criticism of its proposed anti-trust alliance with British Airways and Iberia in a filing with the Department of Transportation. Virgin has charged that the hookup will create a monopoly on flights to Heathrow Airport in London.

American officials said they "strongly object to Virgin Atlantic's erroneous and unsupported allegations about the lack of competitiveness" on overlapping routes. The airline points out that, combined with British Airways, it has less than 50 percent of the market on routes between the United States and Heathrow.

The filing does note one route where American and British Airways dominate - D/FW Airport to London, where four out of five passenger fly either carrier.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA sends layoff notices to 469 airport workers

We've posted a story at Star-Telegram.com about the latest wave of layoff notices from American Airlines. These have been sent to airport services workers, primarily in Chicago. There is some additional info on the cuts in a letter AA sent to the Transport Workers Union, which can be read here.

- Trebor Banstetter

'Things With Wings'

This morning we chatted with Benét Wilson of Aviation Daily for her "Things With Wings" airline industry podcast, discussing issues ranging from labor relations to the tricky issue of in-flight porn. You can download the podcast here.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA plane down safely

That American Airlines jet that was circling LAX just touched down safely. The Boeing 737 blew a tire on takeoff, and dumped its fuel before attempting the emergency landing.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA wants to delay Chicago-Beijing service

American Airlines has asked the DOT if it can delay its launch of nonstop Chicago-Beijing service until April 2010, a full year after the planned launch.

The airline cited "the extraordinary adverse market and operating conditions affecting the entire airline industry," and said fuel and "general economic conditions" warranted the deferral.Several other carriers have also deferred new routes to China, according to American.

Was it just last year that the airlines were fighting tooth-and-nail to win new routes to China?

- Trebor Banstetter

AA, attendants union discussing in-flight porn issue

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants addressed the question of whether in-flight Internet access could mean more headaches for attendants due to passengers offending other travelers by viewing pornographic sites.

Here's what the union said in a message to members today:

American has introduced inflight wireless Internet service on certain transcon flights flown on 767-200 aircraft.  Press articles have made much of the potential for passengers to access cyber-content that other passengers and crew would possibly consider inappropriate.  Your APFA leadership is in contact with American management to discuss the ramifications of American’s decision to restrict a passenger’s ability to place Internet phone calls while affirming no intent to filter what might be obscene content.  We will keep you advised of the outcome of our discussions.

- Trebor Banstetter

American announces Gustav flight-change policy

American Airlines is giving passengers some options for changing flights to get out of the way of Gustav.

"Customers who will be travelling to and from airports that are expected to be affected by Tropical Storm Gustav will have the option to make a change to their flights without fees," American said Friday.

Customers can make changes at the airport ticket counter, or at a 800-433-7300.

• Fee-free changes for these airports: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica. For tickets issued by Aug. 24, on travel through Sept. 4. One change allowed free of charge.
• Fee-free changes for these airports: Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, La., and Gullport, Miss. For tickets issued by Aug. 28, on travel through Sept. 4. One change allowed free of charge.

-- Scott Nishimura

Online porn at 30,000 feet?

Religious group Focus On The Family is urging people to complain to American Airlines about its plan to offer unfiltered wireless Internet access on flights. The group is apparently worried that some passengers might view online porn sites at 30,000 feet.

Daniel Weiss, the group's senior analyst for media and sexuality, said that "because this nation has not been serious about vigorously attacking pornography, some believe it is appropriate to view in public. Not only will the flight attendants be placed in a situation that could be considered sexual harassment, passengers who openly view porn where children can see it may be violating federal harmful-to-minor laws."

The group is urging members to email American and demand that in-flight Internet be filtered to block potentially offensive sites.

Airline officials have told us that they considered filtering software, but found that too often it prevents access to legitimate Internet sites. Flight attendants will handle problems on a case-by-case basis, and are already trained to deal with passengers who bring offensive material on board.

- Trebor Banstetter