Airline Industry News – Week Ending 01.20.07

American Airlines has relocated to Narita International Airport’s Terminal 2 and will begin operations on Jan. 17. The airline plans on the move improving convenience for travelers by housing American Airlines and four of its partner airlines in the same facility. A new Admirals Club will open in terminal 2 as well. Customers connecting between American and partner airlines will have minimum connection times of approximately 70 minutes, rather than the current 110 minutes.

Continental Airlines has announced it will launch daily nonstop flights between New York/Newark and Athens effective June 7,
2007, subject to government approval. Woo Hoo! I LOVE Greece!

Copa Airlines, has reported a cumulative on-time performance of 90.26% for 2006. Copa operates throughout Latin America, with flights to North, Central and South America.

Frontier Airlines will launch daily non-stop service between Denver International Airport (DEN) hub and Louisville International Airport (SDF) beginning April 1, 2007.

Northwest Airlines has been forced to apologize and offer “limited” financial compensation to a group of American Muslim pilgrims who were denied entry to a Michigan bound flight from Germany. The 40 pilgrims were returning from Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Northwest claimed the travelers arrived too late to make the connecting flight. The denied passengers disagree and maintain they arrived at the gate with time to spare and that they were mistreated by airline representatives. What assholes.

SkyValue has announced it is increasing nonstop flights from Gary Chicago International Airport to Mesa Williams Gateway Airport in Phoenix to three times a week, with an addition of Wednesday flights beginning January 24, 2007.

Thrifty Car Rental is offering 1,000 bonus miles to US Airways Dividend Miles, Northwest Airlines WorldPerks, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and American Airlines AAdvantage members. Their partner, Dollar, made the same announcement last week.

United Airlines is adding new service from Denver across the US with new nonstop flights between Denver and Dayton, Ohio, beginning April 24; and between Denver and Kalispell, Montana, beginning June 7. United is also resuming service between Denver and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, beginning April 24.

Virgin America, the new airline, is offering a sneak peek at the elements of its airline product, including the interior and details of the onboard products.