Memphis residents hope that Southwest Airlines Co.’s Nov. 3 arrival will bring more frequent flight service and lower fares.

2. Airport Passes $127.3 Million 2014 Budget - Friday, May 17, 2013

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority on Thursday approved a $127.3 million budget that slightly lowers the overall amount airlines pay at Memphis International Airport even after Delta Air Lines drastically reduced the number of flights it operates.

3. Southwest to Save by Delaying Delivery of Planes - Thursday, May 16, 2013

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. is delaying delivery of new airplanes and filling the gap with used planes to reduce spending over the next five years.

4. Delta Leads for Most Airline Fees Collected - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. airlines collected more than $6 billion in baggage and reservation change fees from passengers last year – the highest amount since the fees became common five years ago.

5. Memphis Not Alone in Losing Flights - Friday, May 10, 2013

Memphis residents won’t be surprised by the findings of a new study that shows a drastic reduction in air service at small and medium-sized U.S. airports in the last six years.

But the study, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shows that Memphis is far from alone in being targeted for flight route cuts.

6. Delta Will Pay a Dividend, Buy Back Shares - Thursday, May 09, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Delta Air Lines will start paying a quarterly dividend and buy back some of its shares – investor-friendly moves that are common in other industries but rare for airlines.

7. Southwest to Cut More AirTran Flights in Atlanta - Thursday, May 09, 2013

ATLANTA (AP) – Southwest Airlines will soon cut more AirTran routes this fall as it transforms AirTran's hub into a Southwest operation.

Southwest is eliminating routes between Atlanta and Memphis, Tenn.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Buffalo, N.Y., this fall, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

8. Southwest Makes Memphis Service Official - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Southwest Airlines Co. said Tuesday, May 7, it will enter the Memphis market Nov. 3 with daily nonstop service to five cities: Houston, Baltimore, Chicago, and Tampa and Orlando, Fla.

9. Southwest Booking Memphis Flights for November - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Southwest Airlines will make the formal announcement Tuesday, May 7, but the long-sought, Dallas-based discount air carrier began booking Memphis flights online Monday evening, signaling the beginning of Southwest service at Memphis International Airport starting Nov. 3.

10. Higher Fares Help Southwest Airlines’ Profit - Saturday, April 27, 2013

Higher fares helped Southwest Airlines make more money than Wall Street expected in the first quarter, but the company said Thursday that automatic federal spending cuts could hurt revenue in April.

11. Higher Fares Help Southwest Airlines’ Profit - Friday, April 26, 2013

Higher fares helped Southwest Airlines make more money than Wall Street expected in the first quarter, but the company said Thursday automatic federal spending cuts could hurt revenue in April.

The average passenger fare on Southwest is now more than $150 one-way, 4 percent higher than a year ago.

12. Flight Delays Pile Up Monday After FAA Budget Cuts - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – It was a tough start to the week for many air travelers. Flight delays piled up all along the East Coast Monday as thousands of air traffic controllers were forced to take an unpaid day off because of federal budget cuts.

13. Sammons Determined to Bring New Service to MEM - Friday, April 19, 2013

While he’s well aware of the hurdles, Jack Sammons told the members of the Memphis World Trade Club he’s determined to “relentlessly” solicit new air service providers to fly in and out of Memphis International Airport.

14. Southwest Dropping one Jackson-to-Houston Flight - Thursday, April 18, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Southwest Airlines is dropping one of two flights between Jackson, Miss., and Houston, Texas, on June 1.

Dirk Vanderleest, chief executive officer of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, tells The Clarion-Ledger (http://on.thec-l.com/113fdPt ) that the discount airline will drop its 2:10 p.m. flight, leaving it with just two — a 6:45 a.m. flight and another at 6:20 p.m.

15. Airline Passenger Complaints Surged in 2012 - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Airline passengers are getting grumpier, and it's little wonder.

Airlines keep shrinking the size of seats to stuff more people onto planes, those empty middle seats that once provided a little more room are now occupied and more people with tickets are being turned away because flights are overbooked.

16. Southwest, AirTran Network Integration Complete - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Nearly two years after Southwest Airlines Co.’s acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc., the Dallas-based airline has fully integrated the two networks for flights beginning April 14.

17. Sammons Outlines Airport Strategic Plan - Thursday, April 04, 2013

The chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board got a view of just how devastating passenger air service cuts by Delta Air Lines have been to the airport this past Easter as his Delta flight landed in Memphis.

18. Southwest, AirTran Network Integration Complete - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Nearly two years after Southwest Airlines Co.’s acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc., the Dallas-based airline has fully integrated the two networks for flights beginning April 14.

19. Sammons Seeks Final Cut Numbers From Delta - Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Jack Sammons, the new chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board, is no stranger to the flight from Memphis to Atlanta. Sammons long has been the board’s frequent flyer when it comes to business travel.

20. American, US Airways Announce $11 Billion Merger - Friday, February 15, 2013

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways CEO Doug Parker has landed the big merger he sought for years. Now the soon-to-be CEO of the new American Airlines has to make it work.

Planes need painting. Frequent flier programs have to be combined. And the new airline will still be weak in Asia and need to win back business travelers who have been drifting away to other airlines.

21. Southwest Executive Hints at Airline’s Plan for Memphis - Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Traffic Club of Memphis’ February luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 12, featured Wally Devereaux, director of sales and marketing for the Cargo Management Group of Southwest Airlines.

Devereaux’s talk focused primarily on the cargo side of Southwest’s business, but he did drop a few hints of what to expect from the passenger side as 2013 unfolds. Devereaux said he could not comment on airfare questions because he did not know.

22. Southwest Adds Memphis Flights - Monday, February 04, 2013

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, announced Monday, Feb. 4, that it is adding four new Memphis flights to three new AirTran routes. And Memphis International Airport officials said they were told by Southwest executives last week that all AirTran flights in Memphis probably will be converted to the Southwest brand by November.

23. Centennial on Tap for Traffic Club of Memphis - Monday, January 28, 2013

The Traffic Club of Memphis is kick-starting its 100-year celebration with the introduction of its 2013 officers, led for the second straight year by president Mason Wilson.

The club’s activities this year will feature a series of local events, including the Traffic Club International annual conference in September.

24. Facing Headwinds - Monday, January 28, 2013

Despite struggling through a 2012 of decreased air service and sky-high airfares, officials at Memphis International Airport continue to work hard to improve the facilities and make it a more comfortable and enjoyable place for travelers.

25. Facing Headwinds - Monday, January 28, 2013

Despite struggling through a 2012 of decreased air service and sky-high airfares, officials at Memphis International Airport continue to work hard to improve the facilities and make it a more comfortable and enjoyable place for travelers.

26. Cox Expects Strong Year for Memphis Airport - Friday, January 25, 2013

As Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority President Larry Cox heads into the final 17 months leading up to his retirement in July 2014, he is hoping to cap off more than 40 years of service at Memphis International Airport with a big year.

27. ‘Banner Year’ for Logistics Industry - Friday, December 28, 2012

Positive momentum far outweighed the negative in the local logistics and distribution industry during 2012, as city officials and business leaders continued elevating Memphis’s status as world logistics hub.

28. Perl Retires From Airport Board - Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority will begin the next year with an empty chairman’s seat as Arnold Perl retired Thursday, Dec. 20, after 31 years of service, including 16 years as the committee’s chairman.

29. Delta Buys Stake in Virgin Atlantic, Holds Investor Day - Friday, December 14, 2012

On the heels of agreeing to buy a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic from Singapore Airlines for $360 million on Tuesday, Delta Air Lines Inc. held its annual investor day conference on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Atlanta and detailed the restructuring of its fleet, which will affect flights between Memphis and Birmingham.

30. Delta Third-Quarter Profit Surges on Fuel Contract Gains - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that its third-quarter profit nearly doubled mostly due to the increasing value of its fuel contracts.

The world's second-largest airline earned $1.05 billion, or $1.23 per share, compared with $549 million, or 65 cents, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, it earned $768 million or 90 cents — just shy of Wall Street expectations of 91 cents.

31. American Airlines: Key Revenue Number Rises - Tuesday, October 09, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – American Airlines parent AMR Corp. said Monday that a key revenue measure rose 4 percent in September although traffic declined as the carrier struggled with widespread flight delays and cancellations.

32. Pilots Say American Airlines Wants to Resume Contract Talks - Wednesday, September 26, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – There could be progress in breaking the standoff between American Airlines and its pilots, which appears to have caused a spike in canceled and delayed flights.

American formally asked the pilots' union to resume negotiations on a new labor contract. A spokesman said the union board will meet Wednesday to decide on the next step.

33. 3 Airlines Add Flights to Nashville Airport - Wednesday, September 26, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Three major airlines have announced additional flights to the Nashville International Airport with new routes to Boston, Cleveland and Los Angeles.

The airport said in a news release Monday that Southwest Airlines is adding another daily nonstop flight to Boston Logan starting in February. United Airlines is adding two daily nonstop flights to Nashville from its Cleveland hub starting on Dec. 19.

34. Airport Wins $32 Million in Federal Funding - Tuesday, September 25, 2012

As Southwest Airlines executives were in the city last week to talk with local leaders, Memphis International Airport secured $31.8 million in federal grant funding for what is a constant in the life of any major airport – construction.

35. Cox: Airport Incentives Drawing Interest From Carriers - Friday, August 24, 2012

In the three months since the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority rolled out an incentives program to draw new air service, the $1 million pool of money has drawn a lot of attention and interest from air carriers.

36. Mayors Taking MEM Concerns to Nashville - Friday, August 17, 2012

When Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell are in Nashville Monday, Aug. 20, to meet with Gov. Bill Haslam one or both of them will probably also discuss possible incentives for Memphis International Airport.

37. Wharton, Luttrell Will Take Airport Concerns to Nashville - Thursday, August 16, 2012

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell are meeting Monday, Aug. 20, in Nashville with Gov. Bill Haslam about possible incentives for Memphis International Airport.

38. Transcript: Luttrell Discusses Schools, Other Issues Facing County - Monday, August 13, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell talked several weeks ago with The Memphis News editorial board about the coming merger of schools and the creation of municipal school districts.

The conversation took place a few days before voters in all six suburban towns and cities approved the creation of municipal school districts.

39. Pinterest Piques Retailer Interest - Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series. With photo-sharing tool Instagram off the market – selling to Facebook earlier this year for a billion dollars – Pinterest is now the hottest social media startup in Silicon Valley due to its rapid growth as the fastest social media platform ever to gain 10 million unique users. Today, Pinterest boasts 17 million accounts, up from 5,000 in the fall of 2010, making it the third-largest social network after Facebook and Twitter, according to Forbes.

40. Airfare Campaigns Continue Through Turbulence - Friday, August 03, 2012

More than 12,000 citizens have sent email appeals to the CEOs of numerous airlines to consider increasing air service at Memphis International Airport, according to “Come Fly Memphis,” the Facebook group that has become the daily gauge of the civic effort.

41. Airline Bid to Block Consumer Protections Rejected - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government can require airlines to show consumers a total ticket price that includes taxes and fees in print and online ads, the U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday, rejecting an industry challenge to a series of consumer protection regulations.

42. More Airfare Increases on the Way - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Get ready to spend more on travel. Airlines are raising ticket prices again after a long lull that coincided with falling fuel costs.

Over the weekend several big airlines matched United Airlines' increase in base fares of up to $10 per round trip within the U.S.

43. Consultant’s Advice For Memphis: Fly Delta - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The advice seemed to take aim at the most tender part of the raw nerve running through the recent civic discussion about Delta Air Lines Inc.’s cuts in air service at Memphis International Airport and the higher fares that have come with the cuts.

44. MEM Reports 18.1 Pct. Drop in Passengers - Friday, July 20, 2012

Memphis International Airport saw an 18.1 percent drop in passengers for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The total number of passengers for the fiscal year was 7.8 million compared to 9.6 million for the previous fiscal year.

45. Delta Finalizes Deal for Southwest 717s - Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Delta Air Lines will start taking delivery of Boeing 717s from AirTran Airways next year in a deal with the Southwest Airlines subsidiary designed to replace smaller 50-seat regional jets Delta had been flying.

46. Southwest Will Try Out Live TV on 5 Planes - Friday, June 29, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines plans to sell live television service on five planes and expand it to more aircraft by mid-July.

The airline said Thursday that it would offer seven sports and news channels for passengers to watch on their own devices.

47. American Offers to Drop Plans to Lay Off Pilots - Monday, June 25, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – American Airlines is offering to drop plans to furlough pilots as it seeks union approval for a long-term cost-cutting deal that would help American rebuild while under bankruptcy protection.

48. Forum Addresses Airfare Concerns - Friday, June 15, 2012

Southwest Airlines will come to Memphis International Airport at some point. But when the Dallas-based carrier does, Memphis airline passengers shouldn’t expect it will drop airfares at the airport back to pre-recessionary levels.

49. Airfare Forum Draws Southwest Predictions - Thursday, June 14, 2012

Southwest Airlines will come to Memphis International Airport at some point. But when the Dallas-based carrier does, Memphis airline passengers shouldn’t expect it will drop airfares at the airport back to pre-recessionary levels.

50. AIRfair? - Monday, June 11, 2012

Two frequent-flyer businessmen booked side-by-side seats on Delta Air Lines flights from Minneapolis to St. Louis last month, with one of them getting charged a higher price than the other each time they tried booking it.

51. AirTran Brand Remains At MEM for Now - Wednesday, June 06, 2012

The four daily AirTran flights and the AirTran operation at Memphis International Airport won’t be converted to the Southwest Airlines brand this year.

Officials of the Dallas-based airline confirmed Monday, June 4, what they have said since they began the integration with AirTran when Southwest acquired the company in April 2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary.

52. AirTran Brand Remains At MEM For Rest of Year - Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The four daily AirTran flights at Memphis International Airport and the AirTran operation at MEM won’t be converted to the Southwest Airlines brand this year.

Officials of the Dallas-based airline confirmed Monday, June 4, what they have said since they began the integration with AirTran when Southwest acquired the company in April 2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary.

53. Delta Airfare Arguments Take to Social Media - Monday, May 28, 2012

If Facebook groups are any indication, the discussion about high airfares at Memphis International Airport is intensifying.

By the start of the Memorial Day weekend, two rivals in August’s Democratic Congressional primary began debating on the Facebook group page “Delta Does Memphis,” and two new group pages were created on the social media site.

54. Cohen-Hart Debate Delta Airfares On Facebook - Friday, May 25, 2012

The growing discontent over high airfares at Memphis International Airport has become part of the August Democratic primary election contest between incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and challenger Tomeka Hart.

55. Cohen-Hart Debate Delta Airfares On Facebook - Thursday, May 24, 2012

The growing discontent over high airfares at Memphis International Airport has become part of the August Democratic primary election contest between incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and challenger Tomeka Hart.

56. MEM to Offer $1M in Airline Incentives - Friday, May 18, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority unveiled and approved an incentive plan Thursday, May 17, of up to $1 million to attract competing air service at Memphis International.

The airport’s board of commissioners passed the resolution in hopes that incentives for round-trip daily service to major domestic, regional and international markets will bring more carriers to and lower airfares at the airport, a perennial top five facility in terms of airfares for years.

57. MEM to Offer $1M in Airline Incentives - Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority unveiled and approved an incentive plan Thursday, May 17, of up to $1 million to attract competing air service at Memphis International.

The airport’s board of commissioners passed the resolution in hopes that incentives for round-trip daily service to major domestic, regional and international markets will bring more carriers to and lower airfares at the airport, a perennial top five facility in terms of airfares for years.

58. MSCAA to Hire Air Service Consultant - Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority will hear additional details at its Thursday, May 17, board of commissioners meeting about using InterVISTAS Consulting Group to develop more affordable and robust air service at Memphis International Airport.

59. Seeking Friendlier Skies - Monday, April 30, 2012

Local business travelers are looking everywhere for relief from sky-high airfares.

Many are hopeful that once Southwest Airlines establishes a presence at Memphis International Airport beyond a few Memphis-Atlanta flights, increased competition will result in lower fares and more options for local travelers.

60. American Airlines' Parent Lost $1.7 Billion in Q1 - Friday, April 20, 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – The parent company of American Airlines says it lost $1.66 billion in the first quarter, mostly on costs related to its bankruptcy restructuring.

AMR Corp. said Thursday that excluding bankruptcy costs and other special items, it would have lost $248 million, compared to a loss of $405 million a year ago.

61. Southwest Posts Q1 Profit on Special Items - Friday, April 20, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. earned $98 million in the first quarter, helped by deals designed to blunt the pain of higher jet fuel prices.

62. Cox Calls Southwest Arrival ‘Game-Changer’ - Thursday, April 19, 2012

Larry Cox did his best in the fight to keep Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s headquarters near Memphis International Airport and avoid it moving to Downtown’s One Commerce Square.

63. Airport Concerns - Friday, March 16, 2012

When U.S. Airways opens its three daily nonstop flights to Reagan National Airport in Washington out of Memphis in about a week, Memphis International Airport officials will celebrate.

And they will emphasize to passengers that the service along with Delta Air Lines Inc.’s existing Washington service now means someone from Memphis traveling to the nation’s capital can have a full day scheduled there and still be able to make it back to Memphis by the end of the day.

64. Southwest Says It Won't Make a Profit in 1st Qtr. - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines doesn't expect to earn a profit in the first quarter because of higher fuel costs.

Chief Financial Officer Laura Wright said Tuesday that jet fuel prices have been higher than the airline expected – about $3.50 per gallon instead of the $3.35 it had been forecasting.

65. Latest Attempt to Raise Airfares Stalls - Tuesday, February 28, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Airlines have already imposed two broad fare increases in 2012, but the latest effort to raise prices is stalling.

Low-fare airlines are hesitating to match last week's increase of up to $10 per round trip, led by United and Continental.

66. 2008 Model Predicts Effects of Airline Mergers - Friday, February 03, 2012

Two years ago, a trio of economics professors at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, checked in on a model they built in 2008 to measure and predict the long-term effects of U.S. airline mergers on specific markets, including Memphis.

67. Delta, Southwest News Could Bring Change to MEM - Friday, January 27, 2012

Once again, there was a message about Memphis International Airport’s importance to Delta Air Lines in comments Delta’s leaders made this week when the company released year-end and fourth-quarter 2011 earnings figures for its global system.

68. Southwest Confirms Memphis Plans - Monday, January 23, 2012

Southwest Airlines is coming to Memphis International Airport.

The Dallas-based airline confirmed Friday, Jan. 20, that it intends to convert AirTran Airways operations in Memphis to Southwest operations “over time.”

69. Southwest Confirms Memphis Plans - Friday, January 20, 2012

Southwest Airlines is coming to Memphis International Airport.

The Dallas-based airline confirmed Friday, Jan. 20, that it intends to convert AirTran Airways operations in Memphis to Southwest operations “over time.”

70. Fewer Layoffs, Lower Inflation Give Economy a Lift - Friday, January 20, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The economy is off to a fast start in 2012.

The outlook for hiring is improving now that unemployment benefit applications are near a four-year low. Inflation is tame, business travel is rising and the depressed housing market is showing signs of improvement after three dismal years.

71. New Airfare Rules Remove Some of the Fine Print - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – It comes as no surprise for experienced travelers, but novices are sometimes shocked to find that the final cost of airline trip can be much higher than the price touted on the airline's website or advertising.

72. 'In the Middle' - Friday, December 30, 2011

Memphis executives and business owners moving their goods around the world this year kept a close eye on international developments like the Arab spring and the Greek government’s fiscal crisis.

73. Touch and Go - Monday, December 19, 2011

In the aviation industry, Memphis International Airport is considered a fortress hub, an airport where a single airline – in Memphis’ case, Delta Air Lines Inc. – handles 70 percent or more of the passenger flights.

74. Unfriendly Skies Looming at MEM - Monday, December 19, 2011

For all the improvements at Memphis International Airport – most notably the air-traffic control tower that just opened and the ground transportation center under construction – the picture inside MEM isn’t as uplifting.

75. Perl Addresses Local Airfare Concerns - Friday, December 16, 2011

Memphis has more passenger air service per capita than its population, said Arnold Perl, the chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board.

And most of the passengers going through Memphis International Airport – 70 percent – are not coming to or leaving Memphis as a destination. They are making connections to go somewhere else.

76. Airlines Attempt to Raise US Prices Again - Monday, December 05, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Major U.S. airlines are again trying to raise prices on many domestic flights.

Delta Air Lines Inc. confirmed Friday that it had raised fares to Florida, Phoenix and Las Vegas by up to $10 per round trip.

77. US Airways, Delta Hike Fares by Up to $10 Per Round Trip - Friday, November 04, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways and Delta Air Lines Inc. are raising fares on many U.S. flights by up to $10 per round trip, and other airlines are tinkering with prices too.

78. Airlines Hike Fares for 1st Time Since Summer - Thursday, October 20, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Holiday travelers may want to lock in airfares now, because they're going up.

Major airlines are joining in the first widespread airfare increase since early August. The hike was initiated by Delta Air Lines Inc. late Tuesday when it raised fares by $4 to $10 on roundtrip flights across most of its U.S. routes, according to Rick Seaney of Farecompare.com. Soon after, United Continental Holdings Inc. matched the increases.

79. Inspire Loyalty in Customers, Protect Brand - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

No marketing strategy can save a brand that fails to deliver on its brand promises. Absent customer service fundamentals, even the best-laid marketing plan will simply drive in one-time customers who wind up feeling duped in the end, likely sharing their unfortunate experiences. In the age of social media, it certainly doesn’t take much time to share those experiences with thousands of people – mere seconds in fact.

80. US Airlines Curbed Delays at Peak of Summer - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. airlines curbed long delays in July and improved their overall on-time rates compared with both a month and year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Monday, Sept. 12.

81. Southwest Hikes Prices on Business Travelers - Monday, September 12, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. said Friday it matched other airlines in raising prices on tickets favored by business travelers.

82. Summit Touts Return of Demand - Friday, August 26, 2011

“Demand is back” was the theme at the ninth annual Southern Lodging Summit held Downtown this week at The Peabody hotel and the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

Hoteliers and industry execs gathered for the 2011 Summit, which was organized by the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association and hotel consulting firm Pinkowski & Co.

83. Dust Settles, Airlines Finish Fare Roll-Backs - Wednesday, August 10, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – After more jockeying, all major U.S. airlines rolled back fares to about the same prices they were charging before federal ticket taxes expired two weeks ago.

US Airways said it reduced fares late Monday, joining Southwest, AirTran, Delta, American, JetBlue, United, Continental and Frontier.

84. Southwest Posts Q2 Profit of $161 Million - Friday, August 05, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. set records for full planes, and higher fares boosted revenue as the summer vacation season kicked into high gear.

85. More Airlines Raise Fares to Grab Tax Savings - Tuesday, July 26, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – The great tax holiday of 2011 for air travelers is just about over.

By Monday, most U.S. airlines had raised fares to reap the benefit of lower federal taxes on airline tickets. A few airlines that were passing the savings on to consumers changed their minds.

86. Some Airline Passenger-Protection Rules Delayed - Friday, July 22, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – The government will delay some airline consumer-protection rules for several months after airline groups said they needed more time to prepare for the changes.

The delayed rules include disclosing the full cost of travel in advertisements, requiring baggage fees be listed in electronic-ticket confirmations, and giving travelers 24 hours to cancel tickets without penalty.

87. Southwest, AirTran Put Fall Travel on Sale - Wednesday, July 20, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. and its AirTran subsidiary launched new sales on Tuesday for travel during late summer and the typically slower fall season.

88. Gov't Wants to Know All the Fees Airlines Charging - Monday, July 18, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Five dollars for a pillow, $10 to jump ahead in the boarding line – all those annoying airline fees can add up.

Now the Department of Transportation is proposing that airlines tell it – and the public – exactly how much they're making on those fees. And, rule proposed Friday by the department would require airlines to break down those fees by the type of item or service purchased, from pillows and blankets to entertainment and snacks.

89. Govt to Test Risk-Based Airport Screening - Friday, July 15, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday it will test a program to pre-screen a small group of select air travelers who volunteer more personal information about themselves so they can be vetted to get faster screening at airport checkpoints.

90. New Air Traffic Control System at Crossroads - Wednesday, July 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration is creating a new air traffic system that officials say will be as revolutionary for civil aviation as was the advent of radar six decades ago. But the program is at a crossroads.

91. Airlines Collected $3.4B in Bag Fees in 2010 - Tuesday, June 14, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. airlines collected $3.4 billion in bag fees last year. The 24 percent increase from 2009 shows how the airlines are increasingly reliant on charging for once-free services to make money.

92. Proposed Federal Aid Cuts Threaten Rural Airports - Thursday, May 12, 2011

IRONWOOD, Mich. (AP) – A couple of times a month, Dr. Walter Beusse drives from his suburban Chicago home to Milwaukee, where he catches a flight north to Ironwood in Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula to work in a hospital emergency room.

93. Southwest Closes $1B Purchase of AirTran - Tuesday, May 03, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. has closed its purchase of AirTran.

For travelers, nothing much changes right away. Travelers will continue to deal with whichever airline sold them their ticket. And policies such as checked bag fees will stay the same for now. AirTran charges for checked baggage, while Southwest allows two bags for free.

94. Delta Exec: Parking Jets Takes Time - Friday, April 29, 2011

Delta Air Lines Inc. executives seemed set on post-Labor Day as the time when the Atlanta-based airline will cut its capacity at its Memphis International Airport hub as well as overseas.

95. Perl: Collaboration is Key for Memphis to Remain Competitive - Thursday, April 28, 2011

The realities of business are undoubtedly changing.

John Kasarda, the University of North Carolina professor who coined the term “aerotropolis,” recently said that individual companies no longer compete – supply chains do. He also said the three rules of real estate have changed from location, location, location to accessibility, accessibility, accessibility. And there’s a new metric, he said. It’s no longer space, it’s time and cost.

96. Spike in Fuel Prices Erasing Airline Profits - Friday, April 22, 2011

Soaring jet fuel prices are wiping out profits at the nation's biggest airlines.

The world's biggest airline company, United Continental Holdings Inc., said Thursday that it lost $213 million in the first three months of the year after it paid nearly $600 million more for fuel than in the year-ago quarter.

97. AirTran is No. 1 in Airline Quality Study - Tuesday, April 05, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Low-cost carrier AirTran had the best overall performance of the 16 largest U.S. carriers last year in an annual study of airline quality released Monday, knocking the previous leader – Hawaiian Airlines – into second place.

98. Latest Airfare Increase Fails Over Weekend - Tuesday, March 29, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – The airlines' latest effort to broadly raise U.S. fares by $10 per round trip has crumbled as discount carriers like Southwest decided not to raise their prices.

After several successful price increases from December through February, two efforts to raise fares this month have died, raising questions about how much consumers are willing to pay for travel.

99. Cloudy Skies - Friday, March 25, 2011

Despite this week’s bad news, the fortunes of Memphis International Airport as a Delta Air Lines hub remain closely linked with Delta’s flagship hub at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

100. Trenarys Buy Goodwyn Condo - Thursday, March 24, 2011

Phil Trenary – who resigns Thursday as president and CEO of Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. – and his wife, Bridget, have bought a condominium in Goodwyn Condominiums at 127 Madison Ave. The purchase price was $457,500, and the sellers were Michael O. Arndt and Elizabeth F. Arndt.