TSA's SPOT

Body Language.

USAToday's column on passenger behavior detection and ending up on A LIST.

Seeking Redress from Aircarriers

4 letter words and litigation.

TSA Report/Passenger Screening Behavior

Citizen.

Talks end at American, F/As prepare for strike

Arpey takes home $4 Million.

New GAO Report

GAO on TSA.

757 cockpit window fire

NTSB finds source previously identified.

Airline jobs

Outlook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Spirit Airlines to Strike

Pilots for Spirit Airlines will strike on June 12th and have turned down binding mediation.

Upgrade?

Consider the type of seat you buy.

British Airways gets injunction against strike by F/As

Strike Back On After High Court Reversal.

BA Cabin Crewmembers Appeal Injunction against STRIKE action.

Update.

Strike Dates are May 18-22nd, May 24-28th, May 30-June 3rd and June 5th-9th.

Refusing the Full Body Scan

Personal Experience.

Genital Size Revealed in Body Scan.

Complaints.

Pan Am 73 Liason Group

Old Fashioned High Jacking, opinion via Courthousenews.

No Fly List Update

Update.

Merger Fever

Compete or Obsolete.

Volcanic Ash Reimbursement EMail Scam

Stay Away.

Bureau of Transportation Stats

BTS 21-10
Monday, May 3, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568
BTS Releases 4th-Quarter 2009 Airline Financial Data;
Low-Cost and Regional Airlines Report Profits, Network Carriers Report Loss
Low-cost and regional airline groups reported operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2009 while the network airline group returned to a loss after one profitable quarter, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today in a release of preliminary data.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the airline industry collected at least $1.9 billion through ancillary fees in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 18.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008. The ancillary fees constituted 6.5 percent of the total revenue of the 32 carriers that reported receiving ancillary fees. For the year, the carriers collected $7.8 billion in ancillary fee revenue, compared to $5.5 billion in 2008.
From October to December, the airlines collected $736 million in baggage fees, $564 million from reservation change fees, and $611 million from other ancillary fees, such as pet transportation fees and frequent flyer award program mileage sales. Revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, drink, pillows, blankets, entertainment, or any other ancillary items are reported in a different category with other items.
Delta Air Lines collected $425.7 million in the fourth quarter ancillary fees, the most of any carrier, while 21.0 percent of Spirit Airlines’ operating revenue came from ancillary fees, a larger percent than any other carrier. See Table 1A of the press release for the 10 airlines that collected the most in total ancillary fees in the fourth quarter. For other carriers and additional historic data, go to Passenger Baggage, Reservation Cancellation Fees or Miscellaneous Operating Revenue at BTS Schedule P-12.
In 2009, the airlines collected $2.7 billion in baggage fees (Table 1C), $2.4 billion from reservation change fees, and $2.7 billion from other ancillary fees, such as pet transportation fees and frequent flyer award program mileage sales. Delta collected $1,647.6 million in annual ancillary fees, the most of any carrier.
See BTS Airline Financials Release for summary tables and additional data.

Head Scarf Ruling

9th Circuit Loss.

AirConsumer

Reports/Forms to complain.

Lessons from a Volcano

iamstranded.