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As we continue to perfect the Brief, we offer a new opener, as well as a tribute to this Day in Aviation History. Tune in.
Notes:
American Eagle’s New Service to Augusta
WestJet Launches New Frequent Flier Program
787 Begins First Flight Tests outside of Washington
United orders 25 A350XWBs
Continental Airlines calls Tarmac Delay...
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For those of you who enjoyed the first brief, here's the second one. If you want to subscribe to the brief in your podcatcher, our podcast only RSS feed is here.
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We've decided to try a little experiment here at Flight Wisdom. We're going to record our news and service roundups that you can subscribe and listen to in your favorite podcast software. The new service, which we are calling the Flight Wisdom Briefing, will, if popular, come out at least once a week, if...
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A year ago today, on Thursday, February 12, 2009, Continental Connection flight 3407 crashed into a house in Clarence Center, NY. The flight, a Q400 turboprop operated by Colgan Air, killed 45 passengers, 4 crewmembers, and 1 man on the ground. The plane was on approach into Buffalo-Niagara international Airport from Newark's Liberty Airport....
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Enjoy the latest in airline service changes.
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We haven't been writing enough lately. That does happen sometimes when real life interferes with this(which is unfortunately a hobby). Here's what we've been reading about. If Pat Kiernan of New York City based station NY1 can make a name for himself reading the newspaper and running Pat's Papers online, we can try to...
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There has always been a somewhat unrealistic concept that rail transportation, most notably Amtrak, should be self-sufficient. Airport construction projects are heavily subsidized by the federal government. Highways are subsidized. None of these are expected to be self sufficient.
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Welcome to another additional of roundup. Today we have some continuing news and route developments. Remember, for more details/information, a link appears to a press release or other story inside each notice.
This week, AirTran announced increases to its winter Florida schedule. Daily flights will be added to both Orlando and Ft. Myers,...
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So, now Continental has gotten AirTran out of Newark in exchange for slots at LaGuardia and National, where they are hardly a powerhouse. Delta is taking over US Airways extensive regional slots at LaGuardia, and US Airways is getting international route permissions and greater dominance at Washington National.
It allows Continental,...
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AirTran Airways made a deal with Continental Airlines yesterday to stop flying to and from Newark Liberty Airport in exchange for slots at Washington National and New York’s LaGuardia Airports.
AirTran will cease operations at Newark on October 25th. AirTran will give its 10 slots, its single gate, and a jetway at Newark...
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Image by Kevin Boydston via Flickr
Passengers on a Continental Express flight from Houston to Minneapolis spent the night on a regional jet parked at Rochester MN Airport. The plane was operated by Expressjet, and Chris Elliott rightly asked who was in charge. The plane is branded Continental, it was sold by Continental, yet operated...
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A Continental Airlines flight from Brazil to Texas hit turbulence early this morning, injuring at least 26 people, 4 of them seriously. Continental reports that the fasten seatbelt sign was on at the time. The aircraft, a Boeing 767, had 168 passengers and 11 crew onboard and made an emergency...
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The pilot of Continental Flight 61 has been identified at Craig Lenell by several news outlets. Lenell, age 60, lived on a farm outside Houston with his wife and more than 32 years of flying experience. A third pilot is required onboard all flights in excess of eight hours, and was certainly...
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(Updated 06/19 with corrections courtesy of Mr. Kamens)
The issue of unaccompanied minors has come into the news lately, courtesy of Jonathan Kamens. Kamens put his daughter Miriam on a flight to Cleveland out of Boston on Sunday to visit her grandparents.
He paid the unaccompanied minor fee. The fact that most...
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Continental Flight 61 was en route from Brussels, Belgium to Newark Liberty Airport landed safely at 11:49AM local time today, after the 61-year old pilot died at the controls, apparently of natural causes. The flight included a relief pilot, who, with the co-pilot, landed the plane. To avoid panic,...
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Over the years, a large number of accidents were as a result of pilot error. Pilots are fallable…indeed all humans are fallible. It is why we have created safety systems…autopilot is the best example.
The National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the Continental Connection flight that crashed outside Buffalo in February 12. The...
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Today in the Sky alerted us to the possibility that Continental would pull its service out of Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport in Ithaca, NY on June 11th. The airline offers several daily flights to its Newark Liberty hub. The most interesting part is flights after this point are still available for sale on...
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AirTran Airways announced new nonstop service from Milwaukee to Washington’s National Airport. Beginning June 11th, they will offer two daily nonstops between the two airports. This continues AirTran’s buildup in Milwaukee after their failed attempt to merge with Milwaukee carrier Midwest Airlines.
AirTran also announced service from its Atlanta hub to Atlantic City, NJ. Service...
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We held off a few days on this to see what developments came up, so we could do a proper review of the situation. We tend to agree with the Cranky Flier that there is a standard story everyone writes about this sort of issue. Like him, we have nothing of specific...
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Best Western International has partnered with Southwest Airlines as a loyalty partner. Beginning February 15th, members of their reward program will be able to earn Rapid Reward credits.
Portland-based SeaPort Airlines will serve the Oregon communities of Astoria and Newport beginning March 15th with service to Portland International Airport and...
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Ryanair has made another bid for Irish competitor, Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is preparing its defense plan and wishes to remain independent.
Continental announced it has completed installation of an Audio/Video on demand system on its fleet of 757-200s aircraft, with the last two reentering service by December 23rd. These...
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Here we are, once again discussing baggage and its associated costs. Usually, when we discuss baggage, we’re discussing weight and number of pieces. But what about size?
It was reported that on November 1st, Continental reduced the maximum size allowed for carry-ons to 45 linear inches from 51. Linear inches are defined as length plus...
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A while back, we commented on bereavement fares. Despite the popularity of this subject, as it comes upon people urgently, we haven’t revisited it since. USA Today’s Bill McGee recently did, and we decided it was good to update our rundown.
Many airlines are not forthcoming about their policies, and require a call and specifics...
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Continental Airlines will charge a $15 fee for the first checked bag. This fee applies immediately to tickets bought for destinations in the United States and to flights between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada for travel on or after October 7th.
Remember, those of you who purchased before Friday, September 5th...
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Today is the fifth anniversary of 2003 Blackout, the worst in U.S. history.
JetBlue will be adding daily nonstop service from Washington-Dulles to Tampa on December 18th and Saturday service to Cancun on December 20th.
JetBlue will be launching twice daily service using its 100-seat Embraer 190s on October 18th between Long Beach and San Francisco....
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