West United States

Trouble in Paradise. In Hawaii, Island Air has eliminated five of its routes, furloughed employees, and pulled two of its eight aircraft from service in a corporate “restructuring.” The company said the moves were taken “to deal with the changed marketplace in which we operate.” Details weren’t given but the carrier pointed a finger at the addition of new carrier go! into the intra-state market. Runs dropped were Honolulu to Lihu’e, Kona to Lihu’e, Kahului to Kapalua, Kapalua to Lihu’e and Kapalua to Kona. Island Air said it will continue to operate 12 routes involving Hawaii’s eight main airports with its remaining fleet of six 37-seat De Havilland Dash-8s…Starting around now and continuing through into March, JetBlue Airways will be busy pulling seats out of its A320s in order to increase pitch—and to save money. When the reconfiguration project is completed, seats in rows 1-11 will have at least a 36-inch pitch and in 12-25 at least a 34-inch pitch. The low-cost airline isn’t doing this just for your benefit, though. By removing those six seats, JetBlue will reduce the number of flight attendants aboard to three from the four required when the seat count is 156. The carrier also figures to save fuel by the reduction of weight of those pax and the seats.

Midwest United States

 

You’ve heard by now that Atlanta-based AirTran wants to take over Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines—and that the latter is having nothing of it. AirTran—aside from a decent foothold at Chicago Midway—is all but bereft of a meaningful Midwestern presence. It contends the merger would result in “a national footprint in an airline with approximately 1,036 daily departures with 173 unique markets between 74 cities.” AirTran also touts the fact that the carriers’ route structures wouldn’t overlap all that much—a key consideration when it comes to a Department of Justice signoff on the deal. Still, as of this writing, Midwest Airlines is resisting AirTran’s unbidden overtures. Milwaukee flyers are fiercely protective of their hometown airline, and are loathe to see it merge.

 

Southwest United States

 

More merger talk. As of this writing, Houston-based Continental and Chicago-based United were exploring merger possibilities. The combination would create a potentially potent combination—and almost inevitably lead to further industry consolidation…Meanwhile, Continental proceeds apace with its own plans, the latest of which is a new dedicated Web site that allows American Express Business Travel flyers employing the American Express Online corporate travel booking tool to check in, reserve, or update seat selections, and print boarding passes for their Continental flights.

 

South United States

 

As of this writing, Atlanta-based Delta continues to fiercely resist a hostile takeover bid by Phoenix-based America West. Delta is aiming to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy later this year, and contends its emergence as a stand-alone carrier offers stakeholders the best deal. US Airways begs to differ. At stake: the possible creation of the country’s largest domestic airline, and an attendant industry consolidation that seems all but assured of triggering a rash of other carrier combinations.

 

Northeast United States

 

Got to get some sleep on your next trip across The Pond? Here’s an aural aide. Eos Airlines is offering something called “Bedtime Beats™—The Secret to Sleep™” on its evening New York JFK – London Stansted flights. The classical selections are chosen on the criteria that 60 to 80 beats per minute mimic the human heart rate, and that music pegged to that rhythm is best for relaxation…Live in or near Passaic or Union City, New Jersey and booked on Aeromexico? The carrier is offering complimentary ground transport to JFK. Eastern Bus Company provides the service.

 

Worldwide

 

If you’re starting your trip on China Southern from Singapore know that the carrier just made it easier to transit its Guangzhou hub when continuing on to other Chinese cities. You can now get boarding passes for both legs of the trip at Singapore’s Changi Airport. China Southern plans to make the same service available to flyers connecting over Guangzhou from Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo…Emirates, ever on the cutting edge of premium passage, is installing new Business Class seats on six of its 777s…Speaking of seats, Cathay Pacific is rolling out new seats in all three of its cabins: First, Business and Economy. In First, the new assembly can be used as an armchair, a chaise lounge or an extra-long, extra-wide bed. Long-haul Business Class sports a seat that goes totally flat. What’s perhaps best of all—should you find yourself in the back of the bus—is Cathay’s new economy seat. It features a “fixed back” design, similar to a mini-Business Class seat. The idea is to allow you to recline without intruding on the flyer behind you. The frame has been engineered to maximize knee and shin clearance too.