American Airlines (AA)
Speculation mounts that AA’s seasonal routes from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Helsinki (HEL) and Rome (FCO) will not be brought back in 2013. This speculation began due to AirlineRoute.net reporting that the two routes had not been uploaded into AA’s Summer 2013 schedule, however, this is not proof positive that cancelation has happened.
The Allied Pilots Association (APA) rejected the tentative contract offered by AMR on Wednesday. LINK.
AA has launched a delivery service for checked baggage, allowing customers to leave the airport without having to wait for their bags to be delivered to the carousel. The cost to use this service will be $29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for two bags, and $49.95 for three to ten bags. The cost is exclusive of any standard baggage fees that would be applied. LINK.
British Airways (BA)
BA has added First class cabins from London Gatwick (LGW) to four Caribbean destinations – Barbados (BGI), Bermuda (BDA), Saint Lucia (UVF), and Port of Spain (POS). Service launched on 7/30/2012 and is operated by Boeing 772 aircraft. LINK.
It appears deliveries of BA’s first Airbus A380s maybe be pushed back until third quarter 2013. LINK.
A Sri Lankan newspaper reports that BA will be relaunching service to Colombo (CMB) in March 2013. BA has declined to comment. LINK.
Japan Airlines (JL)
Just three years after entering bankruptcy, JL’s public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is still on schedule with a re-listing date set for 9/13/2012. LINK.
Malaysia Airlines (MH)
Member-elect MH will introduce Airbus A380 service between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Melbourne, Australia (MEL) starting 3/1/2013.