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Southwest Airlines and Flight Simulator Technicians Ratify Contract Extension

DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2010 COMTEX/ —

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is pleased to announce that its Flight Simulator Technicians, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Airlines Division, voted to ratify an extension to their current agreement. The agreement is for a two-year contract extension through October 2013. The current contract would have become amendable on November 1, 2011.

“I want to congratulate both sides for ratification of a contract that delivers mutually beneficial enhancements to pay, benefits, and work rules to our dedicated Flight Simulator Technicians,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “The negotiating teams were able to balance our competitive needs with our Technicians’ requests to quickly come to an agreement as we head toward our 40th year of operation.”

After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

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    Rita Report: Long Tarmac Delays in September Down From Last Year

    Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – The
    nation’s largest airlines reported four flights in September with tarmac delays
    of more than three hours, down from six flights in September 2009, with only a
    slight increase in the rate of canceled flights, according to the Air Travel
    Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation
    (DOT).

    Data filed with
    the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showed the only tarmac delays
    longer than three hours reported in September by the 18 airlines that file
    on-time performance data with DOT involved delays caused by weather in New York
    and Philadelphia on Sept. 22. September was the fifth full month of data
    since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29. There have
    been only 12 total tarmac delays of more than three hours reported from May
    through September this year, compared to 535 during the same five-month period
    of 2009. BTS is a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology
    Administration (RITA).

    The largest
    carriers canceled 0.9 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in September,
    up from the 0.6 percent cancellation rate of September 2009. They posted
    a 1.0 percent cancellation rate in August 2010.

    The new tarmac
    delay rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting
    an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning
    passengers, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air
    traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal
    would disrupt airport operations. The Department will investigate tarmac
    delays that exceed this limit.

    The monthly
    report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights,
    flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department
    by the reporting carriers. In addition, it has information on airline
    bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers,
    and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by
    DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes
    reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed
    by U.S. carriers.

    On-Time Performance

    The reporting carriers recorded an overall on-time arrival
    rate of 85.1 percent in September, down from the 86.2 percent on-time rate of September
    2009 but up from August 2010’s 81.7 percent.

    Tarmac Delays

    In September, the carriers filing
    on-time performance data reported that .0600 percent of their scheduled flights
    had tarmac delays of two hours or more, up from .0400 percent in August.
    There were four flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours in September.

    Chronically Delayed Flights

    At the end of September, there was only one flight that was
    chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the
    time – for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed
    flights for three consecutive months or more. A list of flights that were
    chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS (www.bts.gov).

    Causes of Flight Delays

    In September, the carriers filing
    on-time performance data reported that 4.81 percent of their flights were
    delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 5.07 percent in August; 4.60
    percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 6.42 percent in August, 3.99 percent
    by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared
    to 5.16 percent in August; 0.41 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.46 percent
    in August; and 0.02 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.04 percent in August. Weather is a factor in both the
    extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays
    due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in
    consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft,
    although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.

    Data collected by BTS also show the
    percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in
    either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System
    delays. In September, 34.53 percent of late flights were delayed by weather,
    down 0.17 percent from September 2009, when 34.59 percent of late flights were
    delayed by weather, and down 1.54 percent from August when 35.07 percent of
    late flights were delayed by weather.

    Detailed information on flight
    delays and their causes is available on the BTS site on the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov.

    Mishandled Baggage

    The U.S.
    carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a
    mishandled baggage rate of 2.89 reports per 1,000 passengers in September, an
    improvement over both September 2009’s rate of 3.06 and August 2010’s 3.50 rate. For the first nine months of this year, the
    carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.59 reports per 1,000 passengers,
    down from the 4.02 rate recorded during the first nine months of 2009.

    Bumping

    The
    report also includes reports of involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, for
    the third quarter and first nine months of this year from
    U.S. carriers
    who also report flight delay information. These carriers posted a bumping
    rate of 0.87 per 10,000 passengers for the quarter, down from the 1.01 rate for
    the third quarter of 2009. For the first
    nine months of this year, the carriers had a bumping rate of 1.19 per 10,000
    passengers, down from the rate of 1.26 rate posted during the first nine months
    of 2009.

    Incidents Involving Pets

    In September, carriers reported four incidents
    involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air, equal to
    the four reports filed in September 2009, but up from the one in August 2010. September’s incidents involved the death of
    three pets and the injury of one pet.

    Complaints
    About Airline Service

    In September, the Department received 755
    complaints about airline service from consumers, up 25.2 percent from the 603
    complaints filed in September 2009 but down 37.1 percent from the 1,200 received
    in August 2010. For the first
    nine months of this year, the Department received 8,811 consumer complaints, up
    32.0 percent from the total of 6,676 filed during the first nine months of
    2009.

    Complaints About Treatment of Disabled
    Passengers

    The report also
    contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in September against airlines
    regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 41
    disability-related complaints in September, up from the total of 28 filed in September
    2009 but down from the 71 complaints received in August 2010. For the first nine months of this year, the
    Department received 440 disability-related complaints, up 13.7 percent from the
    total of 387 filed during the first nine months of 2009.

    Complaints
    About Discrimination

    In
    September, the Department received 10 complaints alleging discrimination by
    airlines due to factors other than disability – such as race, religion,
    national origin or sex – down from both the total of 11 recorded in September 2009
    and 17 recorded in August 2010. For the
    first nine months of this year, the Department received 111 complaints about
    discrimination, up 12.1 percent from the total of 99 filed during the first
    nine months of 2009.

    Consumers may
    file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection
    Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590;
    by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.

    Consumers who
    want on-time performance data for specific flights should call their airline’s reservation
    number or their travel agent. This
    information is available on the computerized reservation systems used by these
    agents. The information is also
    available on the appropriate carrier’s website.

    The Air Travel
    Consumer Report can be found on DOT’s World Wide Web site at http://airconsumer.dot.gov. It is available in “pdf” and Microsoft Word format.

    Air Travel Consumer Report September 2010
    Key On-Time Performance and Flight Cancellation Statistics

    Based on Data Filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by the 18 Reporting Carriers

    Overall

    85.1 percent on-time arrivals

    Highest On-Time Arrival Rates

    1. Hawaiian Airlines – 95.8 percent

    2. AirTran Airways – 90.7 percent

    3. Alaska Airlines – 90.5 percent

    Lowest On-Time
    Arrival Rates

    1. Comair – 78.2 percent

    2. JetBlue
    Airways – 78.8 percent

    3. Delta Air Lines – 81.5 percent

    Flights with Longest Tarmac
    Delays

    1. Southwest
    Airlines flight 337 from Philadelphia to St. Louis, 9/22/10 – delayed on
    tarmac 199 minutes

    2. US
    Airways flight 373 from New York JFK to Charlotte, 9/22/10 – delayed on
    tarmac 197 minutes

    3. Pinnacle
    Airlines flight 3968 from New York JFK to Chicago O’Hare, 9/22/10 –
    delayed on tarmac 185 minutes

    4. Delta
    Air Lines flight 2189 from Philadelphia to Detroit, 9/22/10 – delayed on
    tarmac 183 minutes

    (There were only four flights with tarmac delays of more
    than three hours in September)

    Highest Rates of
    Canceled Flights

    1. Comair – 2.0 percent

    2. Pinnacle Airlines – 2.0 percent

    3. American Eagle Airlines – 1.7 percent

    Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights

    1. Hawaiian Airlines – 0.0 percent*

    2. Frontier Airlines – 0.2 percent

    3. AirTran Airways – 0.2 percent

    *Hawaiian Airlines had two canceled flights in September.

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    Dassault’s Falcon 2000LX Receives Approval for London City Airport (LCY)

    DUBAI, UAE, December 6, 2010 / — Dassault’s Falcon 2000LX recently has been granted approval for arrivals and departures at the challenging London City Airport (LCY) in England. With this approval, European registered Falcon 2000LXs can connect London City, located in the heart of the city of London, nonstop with all of Europe including Moscow. Dassault is currently developing a program to gain FAA steep approach certification which will also allow American registered aircraft to operate at LCY.

    In order to use London City’s short runway (4,327 ft/1,319 m at landing and 3,934 ft/1,199 m at take off), an aircraft must demonstrate exacting performance. To help achieve this, Dassault developed a unique autobrake feature for the Falcon 2000EX and 2000LX that reduces landing distances by as much as 300 feet on steep approaches, which are required for London City. The steep approach procedures require a glide slope of 5.5 degrees as opposed to the standard 3.0 degrees.

    “Flying into London City is not only a challenge for aircraft performance, aircraft are also required to be good neighbors and must abide by strict noise procedures,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “Meeting these requirements is not an easy task but the convenience of flying into the heart of downtown London is highly valuable for business jet operators.” The Falcon 2000LX noise level was measured in the same category as smaller turboprop.

    The Falcon 2000LX received EASA and FAA certification in April 2009. The 4,000 nm range 2000LX offers the same spacious, quiet interior as the 2000EX EASy but also the capability to serve a more extensive city pairs. It offers a 10 to 15% better climb speed improvement in comparison to the Falcon 2000EX and allows the aircraft to reach 41,000 ft in just 18 minutes. The Falcon 2000LX comes standard with the award-winning EASy flight deck which has won high marks and praise for its integrated features and intuitive displays.
    In 2009, the Falcon 7X was approved to operate at London City Airport for both EASA and FAA registered aircraft. The Falcon 7X offers the longest range of any business jet qualified for London City with nonstop capability to New York. Additionally, the Falcon 900DX/EX, Falcon 50 and Falcon 10 all have London City approval.

    About Dassault Falcon
    Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across five continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, 2,000 Falcon jets have been delivered to 67 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets-the Falcon 900DX, 900LX, and the 7X-as well as the twin-engine 2000LX.

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    Southwest Airlines Pressurization issue over Baltimore

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Baltimore,MD to Newark,NJ
    Where: Baltimore
    When: Jan 21st 2012
    Why: At 10,000 feet, the flight developed pressurization problems.

    Pilots returned to Baltimore over ATC’s suggestion that they continue. They made a safe landing.

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    FAA Proposes Safety Systems for Certificated Airports

    The FAA has proposed requiring airports certificated under Part 139 to put in place safety management systems (SMS) for all airfield and ramp areas.

    There are currently 553 airports in the U.S. that hold Part 139 certificates. These certificate holders serve scheduled and unscheduled air carrier aircraft with more than 30 seats. These certificate holders also may serve scheduled air carrier operations with air carrier aircraft with more than nine but less than 31 seats.

    SMS is a formal approach to managing an organization’s safety through four key components — safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion.

    This proposal will help airports enhance safety by developing an organization-wide safety policy; implementing methods to mitigate airport hazards; and analyzing and mitigating risks before they change airport procedures or infrastructure. The proposed rule requires that SMS be used for airport movement and non-movement areas which includes runways, taxiways, ramps, aircraft parking aprons, and fuel farms. The FAA believes that SMS will provide an additional layer of safety at airports and help reduce airport incidents and accidents. Airports will have the flexibility to implement a SMS plan that considers their unique operating environment.
    While the proposed SMS requirement will not take the place of regular FAA Part 139 inspections, this proactive emphasis on hazard identification and mitigation will provide airports with robust tools to improve safety.
    Airports are identified by four classes, depending on the type of air carrier service at the airport. The proposal states that Class I airports would be required to develop a SMS implementation plan within six months and implement within 18 months after the final rule is published. The remaining Class II, III, and IV airports would be required to develop a SMS implementation plan within nine months and implement within 24 months after the final rule is published. The FAA will review and approve the SMS implementation plans.

    The NPRM is published in today’s Federal Register and open for a 90-day public comment period that ends on January 5, 2011. To view the NPRM, Economic Evaluation, and make comments go towww.regulations.gov using docket # FAA-2010-0997.

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    American Airlines Assists Customers Affected by Weather in Midwest

    FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Due to the anticipated weather impact on the Midwestern United States, American Airlines offers customers the convenience to change their plans. Customers ticketed to travel on American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection flights to, from or through the airports listed below may change flights as shown without penalty.

    If you are traveling to/from/through those cities on Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and your ticket was issued no later than Jan. 30, you may begin travel as late as Feb. 6.

    • Bloomington/Normal, Ill. (BMI)
    • Cape Girardeau, Mo. (CGI)
    • Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CID)
    • Champaign, Ill. (CMI)
    • Chicago (ORD)
    • Des Moines, Iowa (DSM)
    • Detroit (DTW)
    • Dubuque, Iowa (DBQ)
    • Evansville, Ind. (EVV)
    • Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (TBN)
    • Fort Wayne, Ind. (FWA)
    • Grand Rapids, Mich. (GRR)
    • Joplin, Mo. (JLN)
    • Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Mich. (AZO)
    • Kansas City, Mo. (MCI)
    • Kirksville, Mo. (IRK)
    • Manhattan, Kan. (MHK)
    • Marion, Ill. (MWA)
    • Milwaukee (MKE)
    • Moline/Quad Cities, Ill. (MLI)
    • Northwest Arkansas, Ark. (XNA)
    • Oklahoma City, Okla. (OKC)
    • Peoria, Ill. (PIA)
    • Quincy, Ill. (UIN)
    • St. Louis (STL)
    • Springfield, Ill. (SPI)
    • Springfield, Mo. (SGF)
    • Traverse City, Mich. (TVC)
    • Tulsa (TUL)
    • Wichita, Kan. (ICT)
    About American Airlines

    American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American’s award-winning AA.com® website provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve approximately 750 destinations in nearly 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.

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    Raw video

    When you see this amateur video of the Asiana Airlines crash, you really wonder how there were any survivors at all. Of the 307 people—291 passengers and 16 crew—aboard Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER Flight 214, two passengers were killed and 181 injured.
    Click to open video page

    Asiana Press Releases for Incident Involving Asiana Flight

    OZ 214 – July 7, 2013 06:30 (Kor. Time) 2013-07-07 10:02
    The following information has been confirmed.

    Asiana Airlines flight OZ214 (Aircraft Registration HL7742) departed Incheon International Airport on July 6, 2013 at 16:35 (Korea time) bound for San Francisco. Only July 7, 2013 at 11:28 (Local time) an accident occurred as OZ214 was making a landing on San Francisco International Airport’s runway 28.

    There were a total of 291 passengers (19 business class, 272 travel class) and 16 cabin crew aboard. The majority of the passengers were comprised of 77 Korean citizens, 141 Chinese citizens, 61 US citizens, 1 Japanese citizen, etc. for a total of 291 people.

    Asiana Airlines is currently investigating the specific cause of the incident as well as any injuries that may have been sustained to passengers as a result. Asiana Airlines will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation of all associated government agencies and to facilitate this cooperation has established an emergency response center at its headquarters.

    At this point no additional information has been confirmed. New developments will be announced as more information becomes available.

    #2
    Official Asiana Statement from OZ214 Incident Press Conference 2013-07-07 16:31
    We at Asiana Airlines would like express our utmost sympathy and regret for the distress experienced by the passengers of OZ flight 214 and their families as a result of this accident. We apologize most deeply.

    Asiana Airlines flight OZ214 departed Incheon International Airport on July 6, 2013 at 16:35 (Korea time) bound for San Francisco. On July 6, 2013 at 11:27 (Local time) an accident occurred as OZ214 landed on San Francisco International Airport’s runway 28.

    A total of 291 passengers were aboard the aircraft. (77 Koreans, 141 Chinese, 64 Americans, 3 Indians, 3 Canadians, 1 French, 1 Japanese and 1 Vietnamese)

    Asiana Airlines has established emergency response centers to ascertain the cause of this crash and to look after injured passengers and contact their families. Asiana continues to actively cooperate with all Korean and US governmental institutions in the ongoing investigation.

    # 3
    Statement from July 8th Press Conference on OZ214 Incident 2013-07-08 15:42
    Asiana would like to provide a brief update regarding the status of OZ214.

    The special charter flight dispatched by Asiana Airlines yesterday at 13:33 (Korea Time) carrying twelve support staff, eight government inspectors and members of the Korean media has arrived on location in San Francisco. Its passengers have begun supporting the victims and their familes and assisting in the investigation.

    Asiana Airlines is providing airfare and lodging for families of the passengers. In the event that the number of family members seeking support increases, Asiana is also preparing to operate additional charter flights.

    Two Korean family members departed for the United States yesterday. Another four are expected to depart today followed by an additional four on Wednesday. Asiana Airlines is also supporting twelve Chinese family members and six Chinese government officials, who will depart from Shanghai for the United States (via Incheon) today.

    48 injured persons are being treated at local hospitals in the San Francisco area. Each hospital is staffed with dedicated personnel and transportation to provide the utmost support for the victims and their families.

    Asiana Airlines deeply regrets this accident and is dedicating great efforts to support and ensure a swift and thorough investigation.

    * A cautionary note: The official investigation of the cause of the crash will take a year or more. No matter what news releases or speculations come about before the official investigation is just speculation. We do not know, for example, if some part or software in the plane malfunctioned, leading the pilots to respond as they did.

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