The International Air Transport Association (IATA) downgraded its central forecast for airline profits from $4.9 billion to $3.5 billion for a net margin of 0.6 percent for 2012 in a revision to its industry outlook. For 2011, profitability remains weak but unchanged at $6.9 billion for a net margin of 1.2 percent, IATA said.   [...]

  A newly painted United Airlines plane, with Continental’s blue and gold colors and globe logo on the tail, bottom, leaves from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Friday, Oct. 1, 2010.   United and Continental today received a single operating certificate from Federal Aviation Administration, a key merger milestone that allows the airlines to operate [...]

American Airlines and its parent company AMR Corp filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday after failing to win a labor deal with pilots and suffering from mounting fuel costs.   AMR had been the only major U.S. carrier to avoid bankruptcy in the past decade. Its rivals used bankruptcy to restructure their labor agreements and cut [...]

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports a 3.6 percent increase in passenger traffic in October, but a drop in cargo demand to 4.7 percent below the same month in 2010. In stark contrast to the decline in air freight, the trend for air travel remains upwards, but with very strong regional differences, IATA said. [...]

  This Oct. 28, 2011 photo shows the new first class interior section of a United Airlines … This Oct. 28, 2011photo shows the controls for first class seat and a remote for … In this Oct. 28, 2011 photo, a United Airlines aircraft mechanic at work This Oct. 28, 2011 photo shows the new first [...]

  A United Airlines Boeing 767 aircraft taxis to a gate shortly after landing at Washington Dulles International Airport on June 6, 2011.   The first Continental Airlines aircraft with United’s signature “Economy Plus” seating is scheduled to enter service tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 19).   United’s Economy Plus seating is a premium coach section where [...]

Major news from Hawaiian Airlines this morning: Hawaii’s flag carrier will be launching daily nonstop service between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Honolulu starting June 4, 2012, and is promoting the new service with introductory fares.   Starting June 5, 2012, Hawaiian Flight 51 will depart JFK daily at 10:00 a.m. [...]

  A Spirit Airlines aircraft parks at a gate at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.   Spirit Airlines, already well-known for its long list of fees, is upping the fee it charges for booking tickets online.   How much does it now cost to buy a ticket via Spirit’s website?   That’s now $16.99 each [...]

  A computer-generated image of what Virgin Atlantic’s new aircraft design will look like.   Virgin Atlantic will add nonstop servicebetween London Heathrow and Vancouver, which will become the carrier’s only Canadian destination.   The service – currently scheduled as seasonal – will begin May 24 and will operate four times a week on 240-seat [...]

  US Airways’ Arizona-themed jet as seen at Baltimore/Washington International Airport on the morning of July 30, 2010.   US Airways announced plansto begin two new cross-country routes, saying it will add Charlotte-Salt Lake City and New York LaGuardia-Phoenix routes this spring.   The Charlotte-Salt Lake City route will begin March 4, with US Airways [...]