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FedEx (FDX)

Former senator Trent Lott, R-Miss., was among the lobbyists working in FedEx Corp.'s (NYSE:FDX) behalf in the fourth quarter of last year, focusing on Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act provisions of interest to the Memphis-based logistics giant, according to Memphis based The Commercial Appeal. Lott and Democrat John Breaux, a former Louisiana senator, formed a lobbying firm after they left the Senate. It made $90,000 in the last three months of 2009 from FedEx, disclosure statements filed with the U.S. House of Representatives said.
Of Memphis companies, FedEx spent by far the most on lobbying: $4.65 million in the fourth quarter last year, up from $2.09 million for the fourth quarter in 2008, records show. This indicates that Democrats and Republicans can, indeed, work together if they so choose.

Feb 23 · 9:56:00 AM · Source: The Commercial Appeal
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by Steve Wieczorek

Continental Airlines (CAL)

Continental Airlines Inc (NYSE:CAL) is cutting 600 reservation agent jobs, effective April 11, as customers increasingly book flights online, according to Reuters. Continental, which has 2,600 reservation agents, told its employees about the furloughs on Monday. The airline, also, will not renew a third-party contract for handling calls. The airline said it saw a 15 percent drop per year in call volume as customers book tickets on the Internet.
Houston-based Continental said it will offer an 'early-out' program to reservation employees who have worked at the carrier for 10 years. It will offer severance and outplacement services for employees affected by the cuts. Continental is just one of many airlines that are seeing increased internet sales. The trend in online booking is reducing the amount of time that a flyer needs in booking a reservation versus human communication. Analysis indicates that like bank ATMs, on line booking can be very profitable for the airlines in a time of charging for various amenities.

Feb 23 · 9:44:00 AM · Source: Reuters
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by Steve Wieczorek

Republic Airways (RJET)

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NSADAQ: RJET) announced it will transition the regional service operated by its Lynx Aviation subsidiaries Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft to Embraer jet service operated by Republic Airlines. Operations at Lynx is expected to be phased out by mid-September 2010. Service will continue to all current Lynx destinations with the exception of Fargo, N.D. and Tulsa, Okla., where the Company will cease operations on April 5. The transition to jet service will improve the Republic’s ability to operate in highly contested markets in which the Q400 operates at a competitive disadvantage to jet service offered by competitors.
Republic Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller. “Unfortunately, after extensive analysis and months of efforts to grow the business, we concluded we could not efficiently operate a fleet of 11 Q400 aircraft. Jet service allows us to better utilize our existing aircraft resources and lower our cost of operating and maintaining multiple fleet types.”

Feb 22 · 9:59:00 AM
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by Steve Wieczorek

Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY)

Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) a low-fares, scheduled passenger airline serving short-haul, point-to-point routes in Europe and Morocco, announced the construction of a second heavy maintenance facility at Prestwick Airport, Scotland, according to Business.Scotsman.com. The company will invest £8 million (approximately $12,390,000) building the new hangar to service the airline's fleet of more than 200 aircraft.
The 6,600 sq metre (71,041 sq. ft) three-bay hangar, which will support 200 jobs, is due to open in September 2010.

Feb 22 · 9:13:00 AM · Source: Business.Scotsman.com
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by Steve Wieczorek

JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU)

JetBlue Airways Looses Appeal Over Age Gender Retaliation Claim. On Friday the U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit ruled in favor of Diane Gorzynski, a former customer service supervisor with JetBlue who accused the airline of age and gender bias, creating a hostile work environment, and firing her in retaliation for complaining back in 2002, according to AvStop.com.
The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit stated that Gorzynski had produced ample evidence of mistreatment based on claims that she suffered a hostile work environment, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaints of race and age discrimination.

Feb 22 · 8:44:00 AM · Source: AvStop.com
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by Steve Wieczorek

China Eastern Airlines (CEA)

China Eastern Airlines, (NYSE:CEA) and its joint venture partner, Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company,today opened an advanced, environmentally friendly CFM56® engine overhaul facility in the Qingpu district of Shanghai. The Shanghai Engine Center has capacity to overhaul up to 300 engines annually. Within approximately three years, the center will service CFM56-3, 5B and 7 engines and employ 800 people. The building was designed and built to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum standards.
At least three percent of the Shanghai Engine Center’s energy will be produced from on-site renewable sources including solar thermal, solar electric and wind power. Many energy-saving features and high performance features are included in the LEED design to provide even greater energy efficiency.

Feb 17 · 3:10:00 PM
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by Steve Wieczorek

Continental Airlines (CAL)

Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Continental Micronesia today submitted a joint application to the Department of Transportation to provide nonstop service from the carriers' hubs in New York/Newark and Guam to Tokyo's Haneda airport.
Continental and Continental Micronesia seek the route awards as part of a historic open skies agreement between the U.S. and Japan, which is anticipated to come into force later this year. The open skies agreement would provide the U.S. airline industry access to Haneda, with its close proximity to Tokyo's central business district, for the first time in over 30 years. Both the New York and Guam hubs, two major gateways for passenger traffic to Tokyo, also provide convenient connecting opportunities for travel between Tokyo Haneda and numerous additional points. Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline.

Feb 17 · 2:52:00 PM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Steve Wieczorek

AMR (AMR)

American Airlines Applies to Fly From New York and Los Angeles to Tokyo (Haneda), the Busiest Airport in Asia. American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to acquire two daily slot pairs to operate year-round scheduled service to Tokyo International Airport at Haneda (HND), starting Oct. 1, 2010. American proposes to fly to Haneda from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the two largest markets between the U.S. mainland and Tokyo.
"We have long wanted to fly from New York and Los Angeles to Haneda, the closest airport to downtown Tokyo," said Will Ris, American's Senior Vice President – Government Affairs. "New York and Tokyo are two of the world's principal financial centers, and Los Angeles, the nation's second largest city, has substantial ties to Japan. The new service will strengthen our relationship with our oneworld partner, Japan Airlines (JAL), which has extensive operations at Haneda. "American applauds DOT and the U.S. Department of State for successfully negotiating an Open Skies accord with Japan last December that clears the way for U.S. airlines to serve Haneda once the new agreement is signed," said Ris. "There has been no scheduled service between the U.S. and Haneda since Narita opened in 1978.

Feb 17 · 2:45:00 PM
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by Steve Wieczorek

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