Airline Biz
Dallas Morning News Business writers blog about items of interest to travelers and the aviation community

• Plano-based aviation supplier calls its role in Boeing Dreamliner a success
  

  It took a week, but officials from Plano-based Advanced Integration Technology Inc. issued a statement Friday saying the company had "successfully completed its work on the project, contrary to recent media reports."

  AIT was responding to this story that ran in the Chicago Tribune Dec. 8.

  The story reported that hiccups by smaller suppliers were to blame for the delays on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and used AIT as an example of how things went wrong.

  AIT, provides factory automation systems to Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries, which makes the aft fuselage sections of the Dreamliner, declined to comment in the story, but has since issued its own statement on the issue.

  AIT says it delivered – on time – all of the units necessary for Vought to build its portion of the airplanes, and that the equipment is fully operational.

  “We’ve had a number of telephone calls from people who read various news stories and were concerned about us,” says Ed Chalupa, President of AIT. “We want everyone to know that our work on the Dreamliner is a success. We’re very proud to be playing a role in building this next-generation aircraft.”

  Officials for the company said some of the recent allegations in the media are attributed to an unidentified foreman at a machine shop in Puget Sound, Wash., and that AIT terminated the machine shop’s contract due to poor performance before distributing the Dreamliner work to other facilities without affecting Vought’s production requirements.

• Southwest's Kelleher to be in Aviation Hall of Fame
  

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  Southwest Airlines Co.'s Herb Kelleher will be part of the National Aviation Hall of Fame's Class of 2008, the organization was scheduled announce during its celebration of the 104th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight

  Mr. Kelleher and other members of the class were selected by the NAHF's 130 member nominating board. The incoming class of inductees includes a WWII triple ace, a naval aviation pioneer and an aerobatic champion.

  The big to do will take place this summer in Dayton, Ohio, where the NAHF is based and operates a learning center.

  Mr. Kelleher was lauded for his role as a founder of Southwest and leadership in building it into the dominant industry force it is today.

  Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said Mr. Kelleher was unavailable for comment, but that the announcement was "a fitting honor for a man whose vision and dogged determination revolutionized air travel, much as the Wright brothers did more than a century ago."

  
  Other inductees include:

  -- Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, USAF (Ret.), veteran WWII triple ace and experimental test pilot

  -- The late William A. Moffett, architect of naval military aviation

  --Sean D. Tucker, champion aerobatic air show performer and instructor.

  
  

• American's Stache promoted to oversee sales
  AMERICAN AIRLINES American Airlines has tapped Kurt Stache as its Vice President and General Sales Manager.

  He'll be responsible for all of American’s sales activities worldwide with sales organizations throughout American’s network reporting to him. C. David Cush, who had been American's senior vice president of global sales, was named chief executive of Virgin America last month.

  Mr. Stache, who joined American in 1995, had been President – AAdvantage Marketing Programs, since 2004. Before that, he oversaw pricing and yield management and has worked in the airline's sales and finance groups.

  In case you need some translating done, AA let us know that Mr. Stache speaks three languages, including German and Spanish. He lived and worked in Central America and Europe prior to joining American. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Santa Clara University in California and holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

• Flying to the Northeast? Get ready for bad weather
  

  Some airlines have already issued winter storm warnings for flights into the Northeast.

  I just got one from Delta, which allows customers booked on flights to, from or through Northeastern states expected to be impacted by winter weather through Sunday to make adjustments to their travel schedule without penalty or fees.

  States affected include:
  * Connecticut
  * Maine
  * Massachusetts
  * New Hampshire
  * New Jersey
  * New York
  * Pennsylvania
  * Rhode Island

  Delta says customers can make the change as late as Dec. 16, but have to fly by Dec. 19. Check with whatever airline you're flying for more specifics on your travel plans.

  With any hope, this latest winter headache will pass quickly--- the holiday rush is expected to get pretty hairy starting late next week.
  

• Why no free Internet access at D/FW Airport
  

  Jeremy, San Diego traveler, emails us this question:

  I travel frequently for business and pleasure, and over the past few months have had several connecting flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. After much searching throughout the terminal, I was dismayed to learn that DFW does not offer free wireless internet access to it's travelers. How is it possible that an immense airport like DFW does not provide such a basic, common amenity?

  This issue is further aggravated by the fact that such small airports like those in Des Moines, IA and Fort Smith, AR both provide free internet access.

  I think it's time for DFW to become a part of the "new millennium", of which they're almost a decade behind.

  I can answer this question for Jeremy. It costs money to use Wi-Fi at D/FW Airport because T-Mobile USA pays the airport for the concession. D/FW Airport is happy. T-Mobile is happy. People who already have T-Mobile accounts are not unhappy. Everyone else is unhappy.

  We may also hypothesize that if D/FW Airport did not get the money from T-Mobile, it would charge for something else or raise rates for something.

  Unless airports adopt the philosophy that Internet access is akin to a water fountain or rest room, a basic amenity that should be provided to everyone, we will be paying for Wi-Fi service at D/FW Airport and elsewhere.
  

• More thoughts on American Eagle's empty jets at Love Field
  

  We've had other readers who have written in to express opinions on why American Eagle is flying airplanes that average only about one-third full out of Dallas Love Field.

  Marilyn White of Plano writes:

  Terry, I enjoyed reading your article on American Eagle flying from Love Field. Twice in the last 6 weeks I flew to Austin and back on American Eagle and every flight was late! I decided not to fly AA again and return to Southwest. It was not worth the delays to get a few frequent flyer miles!

  This could be good, but it is not at this time.

  Comment from Terry Maxon: Viewing American Eagle's schedule, it looks like the same airplane just goes back and forth. If one flight is late, all the flights after that will be late until the carrier can catch up, and it's hard to catch up. Sometimes you'll see an airline cancel a flight just to jump ahead on the schedule to get it back on time.

  Michael Lawrence of Dallas faults American Eagle's schedule for its lack of passengers:

  Your article provided an accurate description of the current state of the Love Field battle, but it failed to address why American is having so many problems. I am a faithful AAdvantage member and one trip away from Platinum status (30 round trips in one year). I would have achieved that status already but chose to take Southwest flights due to American’s terrible schedule or exorbitant prices for last minute reservations.

  Have you looked at American’s flight schedule out of Love Field? For an early morning meeting in Austin, one has two choices: arrive at 6:40 am or 8:55 am. That’s not very realistic for a business traveler. To make a 9 am meeting, one must wake up at 4 am, arrive at Love Field by 5 am, trek what seems like a mile to American’s gate, and depart (hopefully on time) at 5:45 am to arrive at 6:40 am. The other ai