Battery Fires & Plane Crashes: Shocking Events Make Us Forget Routine Mass Death

On and after May 8, US Airways will be adding a 5 percent surcharge in case other costs increase.

Surcharges on everything from bag handling to peak days to changing fee fees have been added by most airlines to boost revenue in a market that is currently losing money.

Look for surcharges added also by United, Delta, and Northwest, as well as the cutting of flights which are currently unprofitable.

The end is coming for special credit financing for plane purchases for developing countries if an “Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development” agreement is ratified; the current agreement would allow Airbus and Boeing deliveries made under current conditions until 2012, affecting more than 138 planes ordered prior to May 2007. Eithad saves $20m in annual interest payments for eight newly purchase wide-body aircraft. The proposed changes would bring the interest rates closer to market rates.

Critics are competitors who do not enjoy the same financial breaks as those given to “developing” countries by export credit assistance from US Export-Import Bank. Proponents are obviously those airlines who benefit, i.e. Emirates, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Pemex (Mexico) and airlines headquartered in India.