United registers 2Q profit – first time since 2000

© United Airlines

It has been a very, very long dry spell. For the first time since 2000, UAL Corp., the parent company of United Airlines, has recorded a second-quarter profit. That net profit of $119 million compares with a $1.43 billion loss one year ago. At that time, United was struggling to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

United managed the feat despite record fuel prices. Fuel costs during the second quarter of 2006 were almost a third higher than they were for the comparable period a year ago.

What’s behind United’s showing? Cost controls, higher fares, and reduced capacity (fewer flights). United received a real boost earlier this year when Independence Air folded. The discount airline operated out of Washington Dulles (IAD), which is also United’s main East Coast hub. Independence’s demise meant less low-fare competition out of Dulles for United.

Marriott goes smokeless

A lot of people are going to love this move. Some are going to hate it. Marriott is making all its hotels 100 percent smoke-free. Right now, the hospitality industry is - quite literally - holding its breath, waiting to see if other major chains follow the hotelier’s lead.

The new policy comes into effect on October 15.

Marriott says that more than 90 percent of its rooms are non-smoking currently, and that smoking is prohibited in many public places because of local laws.

Southwest celebrates Boeing milestone

© Southwest Airlines

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has accepted delivery of the 2000th Next-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.

The milestone was marked by Southwest with special livery: a red "2000" badge on the nose of the aircraft below the cockpit window.

The Dallas-based discount airline favors Boeing 737s and the airplane marks the 522nd 737, including retired vessels, to be added to the Southwest fleet.

United boosts Pacific service

Flights from the United States to the Asia Pacific region will grow by 40 departures per week over the next nine months as United Airlines adds to its westward schedule.

The airline will initiate service between its hub at Washington Dulles and Tokyo Narita, which will replace its soon-to-be-defunct Tokyo to New York (John F. Kennedy International) flights.

Flights on the route will leave Washington at 12.20pm, arriving at 4.25pm the following day. Return flights will depart Tokyo at 4.55pm, landing at Dulles at 3.25pm, the same day. The route will be launched on October 28.

Biman suspends U.S. flights

Asia-based national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has scrapped flights to New York as it tries to cut its losses on the route.

The last of the cash-strapped carrier's flights from Dhaka to New York-JFK (via Dubai and Brussels) left Dhaka at 10.26am on Saturday (July 29) with 268 passengers on board.

Although the United States has a sizeable market of Bangladeshi expats, the airline was reportedly losing up to $150,000 per flight due to "ageing aircraft and [the] soaring cost of aviation fuel", a spokesperson told the Gulf Times.

Miramar proposal receives official backing

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (SDRCC) has lent its support to the plan to use the Miramar Air Station as a commercial hub in southern California.

A vote was passed by a narrow margin last week to lend weight to the idea of using the Marine Corps air installation to take the pressure off the increasingly congested Lindbergh Field near downtown.

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority's proposal was originally passed last November, but the closeness of the Chamber of Commerce's vote (19-18) suggests that the proposal has a long way to go before it wins over doubters.

Manchester-Boston requests bus service

Kevin Dillon, the director of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, has requested the ratification of a six-month pilot program for busing passengers to the airport from surrounding areas, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

Dillon has petitioned local government officials to allow the airfield to provide a shuttle service operating at least every two hours from Woburn and Boston, which would increase accessibility and passenger traffic.

The shuttle service would be free to holders of airline tickets from Manchester-Boston and estimates suggest that it would cost local government around $500,000 to set up and operate for the trial period.

Free wi-fi lands at Tampa

Add Tampa International (TPA) to the list of enlightened airports offering its customers free wireless high-speed Internet. While some choose to charge for the critical connectivity, TPA - which has racked up an enviable history of customer service - does not.

Here’s how to get connected:

Turn your laptop or PDA on, and set your Wi-Fi card to its basic default setting

Make sure that the data encryption setting is disabled

Ensure that your network authentication is set to open

Verify that your laptop computer is configured to automatically get an IP address, and DNS. You can check this via your TPA/IP settings

Latest Spirit sale – hop to it!

Discount airline Spirit is calling its 11th named sale of the season Keyshawn the Kangaroo, and you’ve got to hop to it to land some sensational deals. You have until 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on Monday, July 31, to book and buy.

Here’s a sampling of some of the savings. All these fares are quoted each way, but are pegged to a round-trip purchase:

- Atlanta (ATL) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) sells for $69. You can travel on August 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16

- Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta is also $69. Plan your trip for August 5, 9, 12, 14, 15, or 16

- Atlantic City (AIY) to Orlando (MCO) goes for $89, and covers travel on August 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16

Don’t wait – Tuesday’s too late for Southwest savings

Punch in www.southwest.com right now for some of the best savings of the summer. The window of opportunity to book some very attractive airfare deals for as low as $44 on discount airline Southwest slams shut at midnight (Central Time) on Monday, July 31.

These quotes are one-way, and are not predicated on round-trip purchase. A seven-day advance purchase is required. Some routes may be flown by Southwest’s code-share partner, discount airline ATA Airlines. You’ll be able to fly on these fares August 4 through August 31. Taxes and fees aren’t included. Now that all that’s out of the way, behold this sampling of decidedly decent discount airfares:

- Albany (ALB) - Baltimore/Washington (BWI) $44
- Albuquerque (ABQ) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL) $89
- Amarillo – Dallas Love Field (DAL) $44
- Austin (AUS) – Chicago Midway (MDW) $99
- Austin – New Orleans (MSY) $99