American Airlines parent company files Chapter 11

AMR Corp., which owns American Airlines American Eagle, has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

"This was a difficult decision, but it is the necessary and right path for us to take - and take now - to become a more efficient, financially stronger, and competitive airline," Thomas W. Horton, chairman, CEO and president of AMR and American Airlines, said in a news release.

"We have met our challenges head on, taking all possible action to secure our long-term position," Horton added. "In recent years, even as the airline industry faced unprecedented challenges, American strengthened our domestic and global network; fortified our alliances with the best partners around the world; launched a transformational fleet deal that will give American the youngest and most efficient fleet in the industry; and invested in our product, service and technology to build a world class customer experience."

Both American and American Eagle continue to operate normal schedules, but Bloomberg reported that American might eventually trim some flights during a reorganization.

 "Throughout the restructuring process, as always, our customers remain our top priority and they can continue to depend on us for the safe, reliable travel and high quality service they know and expect from us," Horton said. "We intend to maintain a strong presence in domestic and international markets, including our cornerstones in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. As we and all airlines routinely do, we will continue to evaluate our operations and service, assuring that our network is as efficient and productive as possible."

Feds fine Spirit $50,000 for ads

The federal government this week fined low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines $50,000 for what it said was deceptive advertising.

"Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying when they buy an airline ticket," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release. "We expect airlines to treat their passengers fairly, and we will take enforcement action when they violate our price advertising rules."

In a release, the DOT said:

DOT rules require any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges.

(...)

For a period of time in June 2011, Spirit used billboards and hand-held posters to advertise new service from Los Angeles that contained an asterisk next to the advertised fare. On the billboards, the asterisk led to small print which stated that additional taxes, fees and conditions would apply, but did not disclose the amount of those taxes and fees. The posters did not include any information about the taxes and fees or their amounts.

In addition, Spirit sent Twitter feeds announcing $9 each-way fares. A consumer who clicked on the link that was provided was taken to a page on Spirit's website where the carrier disclosed for the first time that these fares did not include all taxes and fees, and that they were subject to a roundtrip purchase requirement. Only after clicking on a second link, which took readers to the bottom of the page, was the amount of additional taxes and fees disclosed.

Ga. authorities prepared for Thanksgiving travel

ATLANTA -- State officials are prepared for the increase in traffic this holiday.

In Georgia, the number of travelers driving this holiday is expected to increase by 3.3 percent, while air travel is expected to rise by 1.2 percent. Others means of transportation -- such as by bus or by rail -- is projected to see a 14 percent increase.

Authorities statewide are cracking down on drunken drivers and on motorists who are not wearing seat belts as part of the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign.Troopers say their patrols will include an increased focus on a new state law that mandates everyone in pick-up trucks wear seat belts.

"Reducing the number of crashes involving speed, alcohol and seat belt violations will save many lives each year in Georgia," Col. Mark McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said in a news release. "That's why we patrol – to save lives."

"Please make sure everyone is properly restrained, especially children," McDonough added. "No one knows when a traffic crash will occur but studies have repeatedly shown that being properly restrained in a motor vehicle is the best protection to avoid seriously injury or death when a crash occurs." 
The increased patrols kick off Wednesday evening and run through Sunday.

Hartsfield-Jackson: Passenger traffic up in September

ATLANTA -- The world's busiest airport keeps getting busier.

Passenger traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in September increased 3.24 percent compared to a year earlier, officials said. Nearly 7.5 million people passed through the airport during the month.

In addition, the number of international travelers increased by 7 percent in September when compared to the same month a year earlier.

“Our passenger traffic continues to grow, despite the difficult economic environment we are all experiencing,” Aviation General Manager Louis Miller said in a news release. “We anticipate continued growth during the remainder of 2011 as we approach the traditionally busy holiday season.”

Concurrently, passenger traffic year-to-date (through September) is up 3.96 percent over the first nine months of 2010. Nearly 69.7 million people have passed through the airport so far this year.

Interestingly, the number of landings and takeoffs decreased by almost 3.5 percent in September. So far this year, the number of landings and takeoffs are down by more than 2.8 percent, the airport said.

Atlantic Southeast, ExpressJet closer to finalizing merger

ATLANTA -- The Federal Aviation Administration last week gave Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast Airlines and its wholly owned subsidiary, ExpressJet Airlines, approval for a single operating certificate.

The airlines said this was the final regulatory hurdle before the two airlines finalize their merger.

"I am extremely proud of the talented aviation professionals across our company, who have worked so hard for the past year to combine our processes and procedures to achieve this milestone," Brad Holt, president & COO of Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet airlines said in a news release. "As we begin operating as a single carrier, we will continue focusing on delivering safe, reliable service while improving our cost competitiveness."

Atlantic Southeast is a subsidiary of St. George, Utah-based SkyWest. ExpressJet operates flights as Continental Express; Atlantic Southeast operates flights as Delta Connection and United Express.

"We are extremely thankful for the work and dedication our people have put into this process," Brad Rich, president of SkyWest, said in a news release. "Achieving this milestone allows us to continue our strategic integration and cost-reduction plans that we believe will position us to offer an exceptional product to our passengers and major partners and will create additional value for our shareholders."

The merged airline will keep the ExpressJet name when it starts combined operations on Dec. 31. With more than 400 aircraft and 2,350 daily flights, the carrier will be the world's largest regional airline, according to a news release.

SkyWest announced its intention to buy Houston-based ExpressJet in August 2010.

Time to overhaul the TSA?

ATLANTA -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), created in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, suffers from mismanagement and should be drastically overhauled.

That's the position of Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who issued a scathing report of the federal agency. The report, titled "A Decade Later: A Call for TSA Reform," contends, in part, the TSA:

• Lacks "administrative competency and is made inefficient by its massive bureaucracy"
• Fails to effectively carry out agency operations
• Falls short of developing and deploying effective technology

"Despite TSA's massive bureaucracy, reports indicate that more than 25,000 security breaches have occurred in U.S. airports since 2001," U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., said in a news release. Broun is a member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

"The agency as a whole has been a colossal disappointment; the one thing it has been successful at is violating the rights of the American people," Broun added. "Instead of worrying about 'political correctness', TSA should be putting our resources into intelligence and technologies that could be more effective when it comes to catching highly elusive and dangerous terrorists. We should know about terrorist attacks before they materialize on U.S. soil, and I have yet to see that kind of progress come out of TSA."

U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the TSA "has strayed from its security mission and mushroomed into a top-heavy bureaucracy."

"Currently, TSA has 65,000 employees. Unfortunately, over the past ten years, the agency has spent $57 billion on numerous operational and technology failures," Mica said in a news release.

"While we are safer today than we were ten years ago, this is largely thanks to the vigilance of American citizens and passengers, the actions of flight crews and armed pilots, the addition of hardened cockpit doors, and the assistance of foreign intelligence agencies," Mica added. "After ten years, we cannot continue to rely on luck. It is time for reform. TSA must become the kind of agency it was intended to be – a thinking, risk-based, flexible agency that analyzes risks, sets security standards and audits security performance."

Statue of Liberty closed for upgrades

The Statue of Liberty, an icon of liberty and freedom, celebrated its 125th anniversary last month.

"Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World," the statue's official name, was officially dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886. The original ceremony featured a ticker-tape parade and a flotilla that included almost 300 vessels that sailed to Liberty Island, formerly known as Bedloe's Island.

More than 4 million people visit the the Statue of Liberty annually. The monument, located in New Jersey, is a symbol of New York and the nation.

"The Statue has evolved in meaning since she first graced our shores 125 years ago," David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, said in a news release. "She began as a symbol of friendship between France and the United States, evolved into a symbol of our great country, and is known today as an international symbol of freedom for people everywhere. This coming Friday is an opportunity to celebrate her complete legacy."

The Statue of Liberty closed Oct. 29 to start a $27.25 million rehabilitation project that includes a number of upgrades, including safety changes.

"Two years ago, when we reopened Lady Liberty's crown to visitors for the first time since the September 11 attacks, I promised that we would continue to upgrade the interior to make it safer and more accessible for all," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in an August news release. "With (the upgrades), we are taking a major step in bringing a 19th Century icon into the 21st Century."

New Jersey waterfall the newest national park

A massive waterfall in Paterson, N.J., that helped to develop the city into an industrial powerhouse in the 19th century, is set to become the nation's newest national park.

Paterson Great Falls, a National Natural Landmark since 1967, is one of the largest waterfalls in the country. Alexander Hamilton, who visited the 77-foot-tall falls in 1778, selected the site of the nation's first planned industrial city.

The falls helped power a number of industries, including the Colt revolver and Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works, which built The General, the famed locomotive used in Georgia during the Civil War's Andrews Raid. To harness the power of the falls, industries used a system of water raceways.

"Paterson Great Falls is a place rich with stories, from the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution to the generations of immigrants who came here to make a better life for themselves and a stronger nation for their children,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “The National Park Service looks forward to telling those stories."

Paterson Great Falls is the nation’s 397th national park

"Just as our Founding Father Alexander Hamilton envisioned using the power of our magnificent Great Falls to help create a self-sufficient new nation, I am envisioning the many possibilities that will present themselves for our city and our citizens,” said Paterson Mayor Jeffery Jones.

“Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park not only heralds our strong past, but more importantly offers Paterson the potential to take a step back in time with our feet firmly planted in the now,” Jones added. “Utilizing the examples of the historic use of the waterfall, and the surrounding areas, we can clearly visualize embracing alternative energy sources in the form of hydroelectric power, wind power and solar power to re-emerge as a leader in the American renewable energy revolution.”

AirTran cutting operations at five airports

ATLANTA -- AirTran Airways said it is cutting its operations at five airports nationwide, saying it can no longer afford to support serving the destinations.

Affected airports are:

• Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
• Miami International (MIA)
• Central Illinois Regional Airport/Bloomington/Normal, Ill. (BMI)
• Charleston's Yeager Airport in West Virginia (CRW)
• Dulles International (IAD)

In a statement, AirTran said "it can no longer support service to these particular markets in light of the realities of the challenging economic environment and sustained high fuel prices. The airline has a keen focus on aligning its service with Customer demand and making capacity available for future opportunities without growing the current fleet."

In September 2010, Southwest Airlines announced it was buying AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion. At the time, Dallas-based Southwest served more than 70 cities, all in the United States, while AirTran, based in Orlando, Fla., served more than 65 cities in the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Feds fine American Eagle $900,000 for delays

The U. S. Department of Transportation fined American Eagle Airlines $900,000 for lengthy tarmac delays.

The fines stem from delays at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on May 29, according to the feds. They mark the first fine for a violation federal rules that took effect in April 2010 and also represent the largest penalty against an airline in a consumer protection case that doesn't involve civil rights violations, according to the Department of Transportation.

"We put the tarmac rule in place to protect passengers, and we take any violation very seriously," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release.  "We will work to ensure that airlines and airports coordinate their resources and plans to avoid keeping passengers delayed on the tarmac."

Under DOT rules, U.S. airlines operating aircraft with at least 30 passenger seats can not keep a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours at large-, medium-, small- and non-hub U.S. airports without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. There are exceptions allowed for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons, according to the rules.

The rules require carriers to include the three-hour provision in their tarmac delay contingency plan commitments to passengers, according to the DOT.

Happy Veterans Day

Dunwoody votes against parks measure

DUNWOODY – Dunwoody residents on Tuesday overwhelmingly shot down a city proposal to buy and improve parks in the city.

Residents were asked to decide two measures – whether the city should issue $33 million in bonds to buy land for city parks and whether the city should issue $33 million in bonds to develop parks.

Residents decidedly shot down both measures. Only 33.3 percent of voters said the city should issue the bonds to buy land, while roughly 40.2 percent voted in favor of the improvement proposal.

Prior to the election, city officials already announced plans to close on a $19 million planned purchase of a 42-acre site on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, pending approval Tuesday. Officials wanted to raze a 785-unit apartment complex on the site and redevelop the land as a sports complex.

In addition to the parks proposal, residents approved Sunday package sales in the city, with 79.5 percent of voters casting ballots in favor of the measure.

Take a ride back in time at Duluth museum

Photo by Todd DeFeo

DULUTH, Ga. – For more than four decades, the Southeastern Railway Museum has been dedicated to the preservation of Georgia Railroad’s History.

“Georgia’s Official Transportation History Museum” first opened on a 12-acre site in Duluth donated by Southern Railway. The museum remained at that location until 1997, it moved just down the … tracks – literally.

That year, the museum accepted a donation of roughly 30 acres from Frank M. Ewing of Chevy Chase, Md. The site, previously used by J. J. Finnigan Railcar Co. for metal fabrication and repairs, was about one mile from the museum’s then current home.

Over the years, the museum has been the beneficiary of dozens of pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. When open, the museum offers trips around its grounds and information for self-guided tours of its buildings.

Georgia Railroad 1026, an EMD GP7, is one of the locomotives that pulls trains around the museum. The museum’s railroad exhibits include a number of passenger cars, maintenance-of-way equipment, cabooses and freight cars. In addition to the railroad exhibits, a number of historic buses also reside at the museum.

The former Duluth railroad depot was relocated to the museum in August 2008.

For more information, visit http://www.srmduluth.org/.

Model trains on display during Piedmont Pilgrimage

KENNESAW – The local chapter of the National Model Railroad Association is celebrating National Model Railroad Month by sponsoring a tour of more than 80 layouts throughout Metro Atlanta.
 
The layouts – ranging from N scale to G scale and located in cities throughout Metro Atlanta – are featured as part of the "9th Annual Tour of Atlanta's Great Model Railroads" – also known as the Piedmont Pilgrimage. The layouts are open to the public free of charge during scheduled times through Nov. 26.
 
For those looking for larger trains, the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth will be hosting the tour this Saturday and Sunday. The 34-acre Southeastern Railway Museum features more than 90 pieces of rolling stock and an operating layout.
 
For a complete schedule of the tour, details about the model railroads that will be featured on the tour and photos of the layouts, visit www.piedmont-div.org/pilgrimage. Books with information about the tour are available free of charge at many local hobby shops.

Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal in Atlanta moves forward

ATLANTA -- State and city officials this week announced a $12.2 million public-private partnership to move forward with a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) in downtown Atlanta.

"The Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal will help transform how we move around our city and region," Mayor Kasim Reed said in a news release. "The MMPT will serve as the focal point for many existing and future transit networks. It is an important part of the overall effort to improve and expand public transportation in metropolitan Atlanta, and it will help our region maintain its competitive edge."

The MMPT -- which would potentially feature connections to Amtrak, MARTA, bus service and future high-speed rail lines -- would be located in the so-called "Gulch" area near Philips Arena and CNN Center. The area was near the site of the former Terminal Station, which opened in 1905 and was razed in the 1970s; the Richard B. Russell building today stands on the former station's site.

"It is a great day for Atlanta and the whole region," U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said in a news release. "We have reached an important milestone in this development, and I look forward to returning in a few years for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the MMPT."

Meanwhile, Amtrak, which serves Atlanta with a daily train, is likely looking for a new station. Its current station in Atlanta, located on Peachtree Street near Interstate 85 at the Buckhead-Midtown line, is hindering the railroad's ability to improve the performance of the one passenger train that serves the city, the railroad said in a September report.

The station is "woefully inadequate to meet the needs of Amtrak's passengers and operations in our nation's ninth largest metropolitan area," the report noted. More than 112,000 passengers passed through the station during fiscal year 2010, an average of more than 305 per day.

In addition, the railroad is considering running shorter versions of the Crescent passenger train between Atlanta and New Orleans to save money because of lower ridership numbers, according to a recent report from the passenger railroad.