BTS News Release

BTS 53-11
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568



BTS Releases 2Q 2011 Airline Financial Data;
Airlines Collected $1.5 Billion from Fees in Second Quarter 2011

U.S. airlines collected $1.5 billion from baggage fees and reservation change fees in the second quarter of 2011, according to the airline financial data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).



The largest network, low-cost and regional airlines reported operating revenue of $38.6 billion and operating expenses of $36.6 billion. These airlines collect virtually all the fees collected by the airline industry.

The airlines received $887 million from baggage fees and $612 million from reservation change fees in the second quarter. These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can currently identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are combined in larger categories with other types of revenue.

In July, the Department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that is proposing to require airlines to report 16 additional categories of fee revenue in addition to the baggage and reservation change fees to provide additional airline pricing information to consumers and airline analysts. Public comments on this rulemaking were invited through Sept. 13 at Docket ID No. RITA-2011-0001.



The release of the second-quarter financial data was scheduled for Sept. 20 but delayed because of technical processing issues. Operating profit/loss and operating revenue can be found on these tables. Fuel cost and consumption numbers are available on these tables. See the BTS financial databases. for more detailed data.

Expanded Authority

VIPR.

Not my job, man

Loaded guns in checked bags.

Quantas not so cuddly

Lock Out grounds flights worldwide.

Older than dirt

Pilots.

Passenger Enplanements & Cargo Data All Airports

New Database.

Holiday Prep

From the NYTimes.

The Patriot Act Turns 10

Sneak & Peek.

757 horizontal stabilizer ball screw assembly

Air Worthiness Directive, via Federal Register.

Freedomoscopy

You can leave your shoes on. (ala Joe Cocker).

Composite Airplanes

GAO Study.

Barf Bag Taxes

Clever.

DOT fines Orbitz

DOT 135-11
Monday, October 17, 2011
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

DOT Fines Orbitz for Violating Price Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined the online ticket agent Orbitz $60,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel.

“Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying for air fares,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “We established airline price advertising rules to protect the consumer and will take enforcement action when these rules are violated.”

For a period of time in early 2011, Orbitz’s homepage displayed advertisements that did not provide any information on additional taxes and fees. Consumers clicking on an advertisement were not notified of the additional charges until after they arrived at the following page and scrolled down to the bottom of the page, where information in fine print about the taxes and fees could be found. Also, consumers selecting discounted fares advertised by Orbitz found that these fares were no longer available, and they were instead taken to a page where a different fare was displayed.

Ortbitz’s website violated DOT rules requiring any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges. The only exception currently allowed is government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges, which may be stated separately from the advertised fare but must be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay. Internet fare listings may disclose these separate taxes and fees through a prominent link next to the fare stating that government taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the viewer directly to information where the type and amount of taxes and fees are displayed. In addition, a reasonable number of seats must be available at the advertised fare for the period the fare is being offered. The rules apply to ticket agents as well as airlines.

Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers and ticket agents will be required, among other things, to include all government taxes and fees in every advertised fare beginning Jan. 24, 2012.

The consent order it available on the Internet at

Regulations. Use docket # DOT-OST-2011-0003.

GulfStreamVulnerability

From Passenger Cabin.

77

Lawsuit deemed frivolous.

ChatDown

ShoeBomber.

You know, it's funny how they fail to mention that Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) was held in questioning so long that he missed his flight, then had to walk around Paris in the rain, wetting his shoe laces, and wait until the next day's flight to launch his attempt. They never did Identify him, until after he tried to light up his shoes the next day. What makes them think this will work now?

Immigration

Pattern and Practice. (via CourtHouseNews)

No Impediment to Unilateral EU action over carbon

See Oct 18th post.

Update:

US Airlines Cannot Participate in Cap'n Trade.

well, they could but they won't

Bringing Down Security Costs.

4 dead in ohio

What a difference a generation makes, huh?

Occupy Wall Street, from CourtHouseNews.

Kent State.

Exception to Miranda (Public Safety)

National Security Exception to Miranda.


Article.


NPR.

Dept of Homeland Security, Ethical Standards of Conduct

From the Federal Register.

Air Worthiness Directives

Overheating fuel pump.

Airline Fuel Cost & Consumption

From BTS.

Sharing Terrorism Related Information

gobmn't report.

Air Consumer Data Report

News Release from DOT on report.

October, 2011.

United Broke My Guitar

He got a hit outta dat.

Tina the Travel Agent

via ChristianScienceMonitor.

Data Mining

GAO Report.

BTS Info

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Contact: Dave Smallen

Tel: 202-366-5568





MEDIA ADVISORY



BTS Releases August Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption Data




The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today updated its Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption web page. (with preliminary August data)


Cost per gallon for U.S. airlines’ scheduled services:



August 2010 $2.22

July 2011 $2.92

August 2011 $2.91





The page provides scheduled service cost and consumption numbers. Use the “Select a Service” dropdown to see all services or non-scheduled.



The Fuel Cost and Consumption page:

Summaries by month are also available, here.



Preliminary fuel cost and consumption numbers are industry summaries only. Airline fuel costs may be affected by hedging. The next monthly web update is scheduled for Nov. 8.



Individual airline numbers are available through March on the BTS website. Individual airline numbers for April, May and June will be available with the BTS second-quarter financial release with release date to be determined. Individual airline numbers for July and August will be available with the BTS third-quarter financial release scheduled for Dec. 12.

More Fuel Data.

Video of Arrests

Civil Liberties Issues.

Wanted, Dog that speaks English

German Sheperd.

Underwear Bomber's Trial Begins

Update:

October 12, 2011

He pleads guilty. (via CourtHouseNews)

Underwear Bomber's Trial Begins In DTW.

Acessible Lavs

ADA as it applies to airplanes.

767 cracks

NPRM.

Jet A fumes

via MSNBC.

New Data

Cargo/Passenger Data.

Pilot Retirements

Over 100 this month alone, at American.

Cell Phone Call on SWA flight

Misunderstanding. (via CourtHouseNews)

Chicago Convention Does Not Apply

European Carbon Tax On Airlines.

Opinion.


ATW coverage of opinion.

See Aviation Professor's Comments.

Cloud Computing Concerns

GAO Study.

Information Security

GAO Report.

Jobs moves on

From NPR.

Steve Jobs died yesterday. He reflected on mortality in a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford:

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked."

Homeland Security

GAO Report.

Pre-Check

Expedited Screening.

Boarding Pass Scanning System

Authentication Scanner.

Privacy Impact Statement.

There's NOT an app for that.!

Arabic Flash Cards Suit

Goes Forward, after TSA Stop at Airport Security, via CourtHouseNews.

MTD Denied.! (also via CourtHouseNews)

"any person" includes non-citizens

Electronic Privacy, from CourtHouseNews.

DL forbidden to prove ID unless. . . .

Minimum Standards.

Underwear Bomber

Jury Selection Begins.

Known Traveler

From NPR.

Gobmn't Insurance

I guess this means they can't get it in the marketplace at any price.