In a Department of Transportation filing, Continental said delays from John F. Kennedy International Airport’s runway closure and construction impact all major airports in New York City.

Due to New York’s complex and interconnected airspace, Continental said “delays and delay mitigation strategies at one New York area airport adversely affect and inconvenience air carriers and passengers at another New York area airport.” Bad weather and conflicting runway approaches could cause “exponential increases” in the number of delays occurring at the other New York airports, said Continental.

Earlier last week, JFK’s top two carriers, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, asked for a temporary exemption from the new tarmac rule due to the “sizable effect on traffic flow” the construction and closure of JFK’s main runway has on operations at the airport.

Continental at Newark Liberty International Airport

Continental says that if exemptions are given to Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, Continental’s request should be granted too – “Fundamental fairness dictates” that airlines serving Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports should receive the same relief.

According to the Associated Press, the Federal Aviation Administration expects delays at JFK will average about 50 minutes during peak times and 29 minutes at other times during runway construction. The construction is expected to end June 30.

Effective April 29, airlines could face fines up to $27,500 per passenger for flights kept on the tarmac greater than three hours. Last week, Continental Airlines chief executive Jeffrey Smisek said the airline plans to cancel flights rather than risk fines under the new regulations. Other carriers are expected to act similarly to dodge hefty fines – about $4 million for an average full Boeing 737 kept on the tarmac for 3+ hours.

American Airlines recently joined the list of carriers asking for an exemption, and filed with the DOT on Monday. American, who has a hub at JFK, said they support JetBlue and Delta in their requests, but only if exemptions apply to all carriers at JFK. “Any scenario under when which some but not all carriers at JFK would be subject to the tarmac delay rule would be unworkable, unfair and confusing to consumers,” said American in its DOT filing.

If carriers at New York airports do not receive exemptions from the tarmac rule, especially JFK based carriers, flight cancellations will rise. The more flight cancellations, the fewer re-bookings available for future flights. If and when a storm covers the New York area, flight cancellations could easily strand passengers at airports under the new rule.

It will be interesting to watch and see who the DOT hands out exemptions to (if any).

Share your thoughts. Should New York carriers be exempt from the new rule? Why or why not?

The airline said complimentary food will still be offered to passengers on economy fares on all intercontinental trips, some international routes, and domestic flights longer than six hours. Continental is still developing pricing and menu options.

Continental used to serve free meals on flights longer than three hours, but the new move to cut free meals on most flights ends an era for U.S. airlines.

Do you remember what it was like?

From the forties to the late seventies, flying had its glamour, and passengers ate like kings and queens on economy fares. Prior to airline deregulation in 1978, airline competition was based solely on the flying experience; food, beverages, interiors, etc. The average economy class ticket in 1970 costed $300 round-trip, about $1,650 adjust for inflation.

Post deregulation, airlines had to compete for passengers using price. Heavy competition from new and existing airlines forced airlines into cost cutting mode, and carriers spent less per passenger on food. Following 9/11, just about every U.S. carrier cut free economy cabin meals to help save money.

While passengers continue to purchase food on-board, focus is now on airports to provide a variety of food options.

In addition to Youtube, Aviation News Today is also available as a FREE Video Podcast on iTunes. Subscribing is easy and you’ll get each episode automatically delivered to you every week! Just click on the button below to automatically take you to their iTunes page!

Airline fees is an increasingly hot topic when it comes to traveling, and some travelers refuse to fly carriers that charge more for baggage fees. TripAdvisor found that 25 percent of respondents consider airline fees to be their biggest complaint about air travel. More than half of the respondents said it was the most annoying airline fee. Although airlines are slowly recovering from weak passenger demand, there is no end is sight for baggage fees, and 56 percent of respondents to TripAdvisor’s survey expect the overall cost of airline fees to rise in 2010.

Yet flying one carrier over another may not be the most cost efficient method of dodging fees. TripAdvisor found that 58 percent of respondents always or often carry-on their bag to avoid fees. The rise in fees has crammed overhead bins to the max, and some passengers are forced to gate-check their bags, whether they like it or not.

Aside from implementing fees, airlines are adding Wi-Fi – and it will cost you. Sixty-one percent of respondents said they would not be willing to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi access, but 27 percent said they would pay $5 or less. Wi-Fi usually attracts business travelers, who are able to check e-mail and work online while in the air.

Passenger size is another hot button in the airline industry. Passengers who are deemed unable to fit the seat, which the armrests lowered, are usually forced to buy a second ticket – this is in line with FAA regulations. In mid-February this year, Hollywood director Kevin Smith was forced off of a Southwest Airlines flight for being “too fat” for one seat. The issue attracted immediate media attention.  What do respondents say on the issue? Seventy-four percent think passengers of size should be required to purchase two seats on flights, and 21 percent said they think airlines will add passenger of size fees in 2010.

Last Friday, The Department of Homeland Security named the first 11 airports to receive full-body scanners, and most of them are going to California and the Midwest. TripAdvisor’s survey found that 79 percent of travelers are comfortable with U.S. airports using full body scanners that are able to see through clothes.

You can read the full press release and find out more about respondent’s preference’s through their news release.

Share your thoughts – do you agree with these results? Why or why not?

The move is meant to enhance competition on routes from London to New York, Boston, Dallas and Miami. American has hubs in New York, Dallas, and Miami. The carrier operates a focus city in Boston.

The European Commission said it is seeking comments from interested parties until April 10. The U.S. Department of Transportation granted the three carriers preliminary approval last month, pending that British Airways and American AIrlines give up four pairs of slots at Heathrow – the European Commission wants them to give up six.

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Airways’s president, called the proposals “woefully inadequate.” Virgin says British Airways and American AIrlines would continue to control 100 percent of the international routes to and from Dallas, TX, 80 percent to and from Boston, 70 percent of those in Miami, and 68 percent of routes in / out of Chicago.

This British Airways’s and American’s third attempt to work closer. In 1997 and 2002, the two carriers were told they would have to give up 16 takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow.

Rival alliances, such as the Star Alliance and SkyTeam are still being investigated by the European Commission.