Sky Talk

Southwest Airlines says pets can fly as carry-ons

Are you ready to be stuck in an airplane cabin with a lot of dogs and cats?

If you were flying Southwest Airlines, you didn't have that option. But the Dallas-based airline has decided to join other airlines in allowing small pets in cages aboard flights as carry-on luggage.

The airline does not allow pets to travel in its cargo bins so, other than service dogs, Southwest passengers with pets were out of luck until now.

The announcement was among several made by the Dallas-based airline this week.

AMR and Southwest annual meetings

Both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines' parent company, AMR, are having annual meetings on Wednesday and we want to know from you, what's on your mind. What do you think the Star-Telegram should ask executives at these two meetings?

Either post a comment in this thread or send me an e-mail at aahles@star-telegram.com

-Andrea Ahles

AA adds Boston Market sandwiches, salads, to its food-for-sale program

American Airlines is adding several $10 Boston Market sandwiches and salads its its onboard lineup on certain long-haul flights. Click on the link for the full release.

- Scott Nishimura

Arriving

From Trebor's previous post, Sky Talk readers are aware that the Star-Telegram's airlines reporter has left the newspaper for bluer skies. Well I am here to announce that I, Andrea Ahles, willl be the new airlines beat reporter starting this summer.

For a little bit of background, I have been a business reporter at the Star-Telegram since 1999 when I started off on the technology beat. (For those of you at Sabre, Travelocity, Expedia etc....Hello again!) After a five-year stint writing about Nokia, Texas Instruments and all other North Texas tech firms, I moved on to cover economic development and workplace issues. Most recently, I have spent the past four years reporting on Six Flags, the local tourism industry, Tom Hicks' sports businesses, the 2011 Super Bowl and the construction of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

It is the completion of the new stadium that is keeping me from picking up the airlines beat immediately after Trebor's departure. I will be still working on the stadium until it opens on June 6 with its George Strait concert but after that it will be all airlines, all the time. Star-Telegram editor Scott Nishimura will be keeping up with the daily goings on with the airline industry until I am ready to pick up the beat full-time.

In the meantime, you can contact me at 817-390-7631 or aahles@star-telegram.com if you have any tips for the new airline reporter.

I hope to get to know all of you soon.

-Andrea Ahles

Departing

I’ve been writing about the airline industry for the Star-Telegram since early 2002, and it’s been quite a ride. Since starting the job, some of the stories we’ve covered included:

• The battle over the Wright Amendment and the subsequent agreement between American and Southwest to phase it out.

• The 2003 concessions that saved American Airlines from bankruptcy.
• The ouster of American’s CEO, Don Carty, who left amid an employee uproar over executive bonuses and pension perks.
• The closing of Delta’s hub at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
• Major changes to Southwest’s business model, which included moves into major markets like Philadelphia, Denver and New York, and a revamp of its “cattle call” boarding system.
• The rise of Gary Kelly and Gerard Arpey as CEOs of Southwest and American, respectively.
• The annual stock bonuses at American that have come under enormous criticism from labor groups.
• The election of a new slate of officers at the Allied Pilots Association, who have taken an aggressive stance against American management (including the infamous “blood money” letter to Arpey).
• The industry’s return to profitability in 2006 and 2007, and its plunge back to losses last year.
• Jet fuel prices that played havoc with airline finances as they rose, and then caused major headaches with fuel hedges when prices sharply dropped late last year.
• The industry’s move to “unbundling” its products with a slate of fees on everything from checked bags to aisle seats.

I could go on and on. Needless to say, it’s been busy – and incredibly fun. I’ve also enjoyed blogging about the industry here at Sky Talk, which has been going strong for two years now.

But as the old proverb states, “all good things must come to an end.” Today is my last day at the Star-Telegram. But the paper will continue to aggressively cover the airline industry, so keep reading – the story is far from over. Best wishes to all.

- Trebor Banstetter

D/FW officials take Madrid

We had a chance to talk this morning with Jeff Fegan and Joe Lopano from D/FW Airport from Madrid, where they're participating in a trade mission tied to the new nonstop American Airlines route between the cities. Fegan said they attended a business summit that drew 75 Spanish business representatives, who met with the 35 North Texans on the trip.

"There are already lots of connections between the business communities in Madrid and North Texas," Fegan said. "And the new service is going to help that even more."

He said the first flight, which departed on Friday, was full, and that American is seeing heavy passenger loads already.

- Trebor Banstetter

Analyst: Continental revenue better than expected

A bit of bright news on Continental this morning from airline analyst Michael Derchin from FTN Equity:

Continental  Airlines  reported that  its  April mainline  RASM  declined 10.5-11.5% and its consolidated unit revenue decreased 12.5-13.5%. We were projecting  that  its mainline and consolidated RASM would drop  13-15%.  The  better  than  anticipated  unit  revenue  results reflected  stronger  than  projected  yields  while mainline  load  factors rose  3.5  points  roughly  in  line  with  expectations.  A  late  Easter boosted April RASM by an estimated 2-3 points. 

- Trebor Banstetter

New coffee on Southwest

Good news for caffeine-addicted travelers like myself: Southwest announced today that it's serving a new coffee onboard called "Lift." They describe it as "a rich, dark-roasted, 100-percent Arabica blend of South and Central American coffees." It will be served in new larger, eight-ounce eco-friendly paper cups instead of the old styrofoam cups. And, cream will be individual Coffee-Mates, instead of powdered cream.

The airline posted a video about the new coffee here.

- Trebor Banstetter