FAA Investigating Southwest Airlines Navigation System Failure as Landed at Los Angeles International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what caused a Southwest Airlines jetliner to lose its navigation system as it landed at Los Angeles International Airport last week, officials said Wednesday.

The pilot of Southwest Flight 1445, carrying 92 passengers from San Jose to LAX, found that some of his instruments had failed while on approach to LAX around noon on Oct. 20, said Brad Hawkins, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines.

The plane’s first officer took control of the Boeing 737 as the pilot radioed for assistance to the air traffic control tower, Hawkins said.

The cause of the navigation system’s failure remained under investigation, said FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford.

Hawkins said mechanics found that a tripped circuit breaker was the cause of the problem. The plane’s instruments were operational after the breaker was restored to its position, he said.

Incoming flights were ordered to circle around as the plane was guided in with help from two veteran air traffic controllers, said Ron Geyer, head of the controller’s union that oversees Southern California’s air space.

Southwest Airlines Cheap Flight Service to Mexico Connecting With Mexican Carrier Volaris

Travelers looking for cheap trips to Mexico will be able to book their flights through Southwest Airlines beginning Nov. 12, connecting with low-cost Mexican carrier Volaris through Los Angeles, Oakland and San Jose, officials announced Thursday.

The code-share agreement will allow airline passengers in 20 cities currently served by Southwest to directly book Volaris flights to Cancun, Guadalajara, Morelia, Zacatecas and Toluca for travel beginning Dec. 1.

“The objective of this partnership is to provide a convenient and affordable itinerary for our customers, while offering a higher level of service to both sides of the border,” said Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris, which began offering flights out of Los Angeles International Airport in May 2009.

The move will create about 85 new flight itineraries for the carriers and is expected to help boost passenger traffic at LAX, one of the three California airports where travelers will catch connecting flights to Mexico.

“Volaris is one of the fastest-growing airlines at LAX, and today’s announcement of a partnership with one of our most popular carriers only means added benefits for LAX passengers,” said Michael Molina, deputy executive director of external affairs at LAX.

Southwest Airlines initially announced its intent to link up with Volaris two years ago, said Bob Jordan, the carrier’s executive vice president of strategy and planning.

Jordan said he hopes Southwest will eventually provide additional international destinations as Volaris, Mexico’s second-busiest carrier, continues to grow. The move also comes as Southwest is paying $1.41 billion to acquire Air Tran, which already offers flights to Mexico.

“We have worked diligently to create a unique product that will uphold our high levels of customer service, stimulate additional revenue for both carriers and offer great new destinations for both airlines’ customers,” Jordan said.

Cheap Flight Promotion : Airlines Match Southwest Airlines $30 fare sale

Southwest Airlines launched its latest fare sale, one better than its usual weekly discounts. Now, it appears that other airlines have matched.

The sale, good for travel on Dec. 1-15 and Jan. 4-Feb. 16, has one-way fares as cheap as $30 before fees and taxes on trips of 450 miles or less, $60 up to 1,000 miles, $90 up to 1,500 miles and $120 over 1,500 miles.

Other carriers are putting similarly priced fares out for sale.

To see if this was real, checked for Dec. 7 to New Orleans from Dallas, with a Dec. 14 return. Southwest had its $30 fare available on every flight in each direction, or $81.40 round trip with other fees and charges.

It’s interesting that in the breakdown of costs for that ticket, Southwest says it gets $55.82 and government taxes and fees take up $25.58.

Cheap Domestic Flight : Vietnam Airlines Launches Promotional Ticket 50 persen Discounted

The growth of the global aviation industry requires each airline to increase flight services and flight services that can foster affordable for consumers (cheap airline service). Various strategies adopted by airlines to compete to give the best service on every flight destination, both domestic flights or international flights.

National airline of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines recently launched cheap flights. Cheap flight program is valid for flights on domestic flights on September 6. Passengers will travel starting on September 9 to October 30, 2010 will get airlines ticket discount of 50%. For those, who are planning domestic trips in the city of Vietnam can take advantage of opportunities offered promotional fare airline by Vietnam Airlines.

This is one of the biggest promotions launched by Vietnam Airlines in 2010 to diversify airfares and boost domestic tourism.
Under the programme, tourists traveling from September 9 to October 30 will be offered a discount fare from VND 400,000 (around US$20) to VND 860,000 (around US$44) for different routes.

Routes on the promotion include Hanoi – Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City/ Phu Quoc – Can Tho/ Rach Gia, Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang/ Da Lat, Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang/ Hue/ Tam Ky, Da Nang – Da Lat, Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City/ Buon Ma Thuot/ Da Lat/ Nha Trang/ Quy Nhon/ Tuy Hoa/ Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh/ Hai Phong/ Dong Hoi.

Iceland Express Plan More Cheap Flights to USA from 2010

Good news for anyone planning USA holidays in 2010 and 2011 thanks to cheap fares airline Iceland Express. From October onwards, the carrier will be launching three new US routes, with cheap flights to Orlando, Chicago and Boston.

The Orlando route runs from 2-24 October only as Iceland Express tests customer response, and will see flights leaving London Gatwick Airport every Saturday and return flights from the Florida city on Sundays.

From 10 June next year, the airline will begin offering weekly cheap flights to Chicago from Gatwick, leaving on Fridays. Three days later the cheap flights to Boston will begin operating four times a week on Mondays through Thursdays.

Iceland Express chief executive Matthias Imsland commented: “Orlando has always been a very popular destination for Icelanders as well as travellers from across Europe. Boston and Chicago are also great destinations for these markets as they are quick to get to and we are able to offer very competitive rates, allowing our customers to see a lot more of America for a fraction of the cost.”

In the same month, Mr Imsland’s airline will increase the frequency of its existing cheap flights to New York to seven times a week. All USA flights will involve a stopover at Reykjavik Airport, giving travellers the chance to enjoy a city break in the fascinating Icelandic capital.

Iceland Express also announced this week that it will be reinstating its cheap flights to Canada from London Gatwick on 12 June next year. The London-Winnipeg route was trialled this June and proved successful enough to return next summer.

American Airlines has Discount Airline Tickets for Short Flight

Now you have the opportunity of short flights discount airline tickets if you travel with American Airlines.

Promo airline tickets given to AAdvantage members accepted during the month of August. For more information you can visit the site of American Airlines. If you book tickets for short flights (less than 700 kilometers) you get a discount of about 30%. Promo is valid for the purposes of the United States and Canada flights

Travel Dates Included
August to December 15, 2010.

Book by Date – When the Promo Expires
Book reward travel by August 31, 2010 to take aadvantage of this deal.

Applicable Routes
Flight routes up to 700 miles for travel in the United States and Canada. Flights must be on nonstop flights with American Airlines, American Eagle or American Connection.

What are Some Destinations That Are Less than 700 Miles?
American Airlines provided a good starting list of examples of flights that are 700 miles or less including:

- Dallas/Forth Worth – Denver, Memphis, or Santa Fe, NM
- Chicago, O’Hare – Atlanta, Nashville, or Toronto
- New York – Boston, or Montreal
- Miami – Atlanta, Charleston, SC, or New Orleans
- Los Angeles – Reno, or San Francisco

Cheap Flights News : Iceland Express Offers New York Flights

Icelandic low-cost airline Iceland Express has announced the opening of a sale on flights to New York.

The cheap transatlantic return fares – which involve connecting flights from the carrier’s Keflavík International Airport hub – are available from as little as £279, which includes taxes and surcharges as well as the September 11th security fee, if applicable.

From the UK, Icelandic Express has New York flights from London Gatwick and Stansted Airport. Services from Aalborg, Berlin, Billund, Copenhagen, Krakow, Gothenburg, Luxembourg, Oslo and Warsaw are also offered at comparable rates

The travel period valid for the offer is between 19 August and 30 September 2010. Fares at these promotional rates are of limited availability and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

To read full terms and conditions and book flights, find more information at : Icelandic Express New York Flights.

Source : cheapflights.co.uk

South African Airways Achieves Best Flight Time Record

South African Airways achieved its best on-time record in a decade last month, the firm has announced.

According to head of Australasia for the airline Thevan Krishna, last month saw the airline get 87.27 per cent of all domestic and international flights away on time. This is the best result for the carrier since 1999, when 88 per cent of flights left on time in one month.

“It proves that with a concerted effort and all our operational functions working closely together, we can continue to achieve outstanding outcomes like this, a great sign for the future,” they said.

The news could be of interest to those looking at cheap flights to South Africa this year.
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European Airlines That Offer Cheap Airfare Alternatives

You’ve booked your trip to Europe; what happens next? Well, you can travel the continent by train, but if you’re keen on flying, the national carriers aren’t often the best bet. Here are five of our favorite budget airlines to keep costs down.

Easyjet: Based in London – mainly Luton and Stansted airports outside the city, EasyJet’s one of the budget airlines big boys, flying just about all over Europe, plus down to the Canary Islands, Morocco, Egypt and even Tel Aviv in Israel. Prices are decent if you book ahead – think £30 (one way, plus tax) for London to Italy or Istanbul up to $140 each way to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt – and they regularly discount tickets. (more…)

European Airline to Offer Cheap Standing Vertical Seat

Looking for a cheap fare on a flight? One European airline may have the newest solution.

Irish budget airline RyanAir will offer discounted tickets for passengers willing to stand during flights, the UK’s Daily Telegraph reports.

The proposed “vertical seats” would be offered in special standing-room only sections in the rear of commuter flights that are an hour or possibly more.

Tickets would cost $7 to $14 per passenger said Mike O’Leary, the Irish airline’s chief executive.
(more…)

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