Ryanair considers "fat tax"

photo by wichoEuropean budget airline Ryanair has apparently been mulling over the possibility of a "fat tax" following the results of an online poll in which the airline asked passengers to come up with a winning "cost reduction" idea. Ryanair has been known in the past to use things like this as free publicity. For those who are interested, the results are as follows:29% - Excess fees for very overweight passengers25% - €1 for toilet paper – with...

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Another way to spoil your pet: Pet Airways

Even though you'd think that now would be a lousy time to start an airline, it's no secret that pet owners are spending more and more on their pets these days. So a couple of pet-loving entrepreneurs have come up with "Pet Airways", "a pet-only airline dedicated to pet-friendly travel" where "your pet will be safe and comfortable flying in the main cabin - not in cargo!" According to their website, you drop your pet off at the airport and they board...

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American takes delivery of new 737s

photo by caribb American Airlines has taken delivery of its first new planes since 2006 - seventy-six additional Boeing 737-800s. AA plans to use them to phase out out about a quarter of their MD-80 fleet, which are older, less efficient, and more prone to maintenance issues than the 737s. The new 737s will also carry more passengers (160) than the airline's previous 737s (sometimes as low as 134); this will be accomplished...

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Continental gets approval to join Star Alliance

photo by bribriTOContinental Airlines yesterday received a tentative OK to join Star Alliance, although the US Department of Transportation will require Continental, United, Air Canada and Lufthansa to release an 'annual report' on the alliance. Star Alliance is already by far the largest airline alliance, and the addition of Continental just makes it even bigger. As such, the US government has expressed concern about the impact on competition -...

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