There were a good amount of stories related to airlines, airports, and aircraft manufacturing this week. However, I will limit this post to the top 5. I am heading home to Philadelphia today, but will be back in Florida with regular posts on Monday. Enjoy your weekend!
- Japan Airlines (JAL) announced they will stick with American Airlines and the Oneworld alliance. The decision comes a few weeks following JAL’s entrance into bankruptcy, which brought in a new team of management with hopes of restoring JAL back to profitability. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s Aubrey Cohen has all the details.
- Boeing’s new version of the 747, the 747-8 freighter, took to the sky this past Monday. The airplane flies beautifully! It offers 10 extra tonnage of space for cargo, compared with the 747-400. Check out pictures here / video here on Aviation Buzz.
- American Airlines announced they will begin charging those coach passengers that wish to have a pillow / blanket. Find out details, and be sure to read comments from flight attendants and the general public at my JetCheck blog for the P-I.
- The Department of Transportation is allowing Delta Air Lines and US Airways to exchange slots at Boston-Logan and Washington D.C.-Reagan, but… there’s a catch that might keep the two carriers from going forward with the transaction. FlightGlobal “best blog of 2009″ winner Dan Webb (congrats Dan!) at Things in the Sky has all the details.
- While Boeing and Northrop continue their duel over the U.S. Air Force tanker contract, a co-Boeing/Northrop/Lockheed innovation — the plane that shoots down missiles with a laser — proved to be successful. You can find out more at the P-I.
