In-flight phone calls to become standard, say expertsNews from CNN:

Making mobile calls on a plane will no longer be a privilege reserved for political leaders, say aviation experts.

Virgin Atlantic has introduced in-flight calls on transatlantic flights
New systems allow for mobile phones to be used on planes without affecting equipment
In-flight calling is still banned in the US, but some are tipping this to be overturned
Call charges are similar to international roaming rates

(CNN) — Switching off your cellphone during a flight will soon be a thing of the past, according to aviation experts, who are [...] Continue Reading…

WestJet launches service to WhitehorseNews from Sacramento Bee:
CALGARY, May 17, 2012 — Airline makes first flights to and from the home of the midnight sun
CALGARY, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced the launch of new, non-stop seasonal service between Vancouver and Whitehorse. The airline’s inaugural flight from Vancouver departs at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The inaugural flight from Whitehorse will depart on Friday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m. PDT.
“We are pleased to expand our domestic network as part of this year’s summer schedule,” said John MacLeod, WestJet Vice-President, Network Management and Alliances. “This [...] Continue Reading…

5 tips for speedy summer air travelNews from WFMZ Allentown:

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Summer means vacation time, and that vacation necessitates travel. Traveling a few hundred miles or more used to come with a couple options — the big two are driving or air travel. But with sticker shock at the gas pump, fewer of us may be hitting the open road, instead opting to take to the friendly skies.
Air travel has become more difficult with flight delays and more intrusive security screening. And while these hassles can take some of the luster off of [...] Continue Reading…

Allegiant offers low-fare Bellingham-Hawaii flights, but extra fees will cost youNews from The Seattle Times:
Allegiant Air will begin flying this fall from Bellingham to Honolulu and Maui, putting the low-cost carrier in competition with Alaska Airlines which already flies from Bellingham to Honolulu. Nonstop flights from Bellingham to Maui’s Kahului airport begin Nov 14 on Allegiant; nonstop flights to Honolulu International Airport begin Nov. 15. There will be two round trips a week to each Hawaiian island. (Alaska Airlines began daily round trips to Honolulu last year.)
Allegiant’s introductory fares to Maui begin at $ [...] Continue Reading…

Travel Tips for Summer FlightsNews from KARK:With the school year drawing to a close and summer fast approaching, Arkansans are making vacation plans that may include air travel.Flying can be a convenient and quick mode of transportation for a summer trip, a family reunion or even a business meeting. Air travel can be a hassle, too. Flight cancellations and security requirements require travelers to be somewhat flexible with their travel schedule. Add-on fees from airlines mean more money from consumer pocketbooks. To make flying as hassle-free as possible, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today issued this Consumer [...] Continue Reading…

Indian air travel thrown into chaos over pilots’ strikeNews from Radio Australia:
Flights into New Delhi from France, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Japan were among those cancelled.
Indian aviation authorities have sacked 70 pilots so far while the Delhi High Court declared the strike illegal.
Air India has also been struggling with debts amounting to over $ 8 billion.
Tom Ballantyne, chief correspondent for Orient Aviation magazine, has been following the strike.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Tom Ballantyne, chief correspondent for Orient Aviation magazine
BALLANTYNE: Well, this is all to do with the merger of the old Indian Airlines and [...] Continue Reading…

Eugene to Honolulu direct? Aloha, AllegiantNews from The Register-Guard:
Allegiant Air will begin offering Eugene’s first-ever direct flights to Hawaii starting on Nov. 17.
There will initially be one nonstop flight to Honolulu per week, on Saturdays, but the airline may increase service if the demand is there, said Andrew Levy, president of Allegiant Travel Co., the airline’s parent. The airline will start taking reservations for the Hawaii flights today, he said.
“It’s great news for the airport,” Eugene Airport Director Tim Doll said. “When we can get new service, it benefits everyone at the airport, and [...] Continue Reading…

Indian air travel crippled by Air India pilots’ strikeNews from Radio Australia:
Flights into New Delhi from France, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Japan were among those cancelled.
Indian aviation authorities have sacked 70 pilots so far, while the Delhi High Court declared the strike illegal.
Air India has also been struggling with debts amounting to over eight-billion dollars.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Tom Ballantyne, chief correspondent, Orient Aviation magazine
BALLANTYNE: Well, this is all to do with the merger of the old Indian Airlines and Air India, which merged a couple of years back, to become one single Air India. [...] Continue Reading…

United misses on-time mark in industry’s strongest Q1News from Chicago Tribune:

United cites a computer switchover for its 80.9 percent on-time rating in the first quarter, when the industry averaged 84 percent. (Handout / May 14, 2012)

By Gregory Karp Tribune reporter
11:41 a.m. CDT, May 14, 2012

The nation’s largest airlines posted their best on-time arrival rate for the first quarter of any year since the federal government began collecting flight-delay data in 1995. However, Chicago’s largest carrier, United Airlines was worst among major airlines in that period, according to the
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Allegiant will offer Hawaii flights from LovelandNews from Denver Post:

Beginning in late June, a Northern Colorado traveler can board a commercial airliner in Loveland and fly with one stop to Honolulu and, with another stop, back home — all on the same airline.
And, theoretically, the round-trip cost would be about half that from Denver International Airport to Hawaii.
Allegiant Air, the low-cost air carrier that offers the only scheduled commercial flights in and out of Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, on June 29 launches its long-awaited Hawaii service from Las Vegas, the prime destination for local [...] Continue Reading…