News - Results from #20

Spirit plans to auction off more airplanes

Spirit Airlines, attempting to stay in business as it works its way through Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring, plans to auction off 20 aircraft.

The airline plans to sell 13 Airbus A320s planes and seven A321s. The move, which requires the permission of the bankruptcy court, would leave the discount airline with a fleet of 94 Airbus planes.
The proposed auction represents a ramp-up in Spirits downsizing plans, according to Deutsche Bank investment analyst Michael Linenberg. In previous filings, Spirit had stated plans to reduce its fleet to 114 planes, down from the 214 it had before it entered bankruptcy in August.
The airline has asked the court to approve an auction date of April 20. Ahead of an auction, Spirit has reached an agreement with Arizona-based CSDS Asset Management for a minimum sales price of $533.5 million for the 20 aircraft. Any winner bidder would have to offer more.

My La Compagnie experience

Those of us who fly to Europe frequently have probably flown on just about every transatlantic carrier at one time or another. Unless youre firmly wedded to a particular airline -- status being one obvious factor -- there are all sorts of considerations at play when choosing an airline: price, of course; airport preference; and even lounge access.

For me, these issues pale in comparison to whether I can fly direct, nonstop to my destination. In short, Ill do back flips to avoid a connecting flight.
Its with that in mind that I recently traveled on a La Compagnie flight from Newark to Milan. Although probably best known for its service to Paris Orly, the all-business-class carrier also offers regularly scheduled transatlantic service to Milan Malpensa Airport as well as seasonal service to Nice Cote dAzur.
Currently, La Compagnie operates two Airbus A321neo aircraft, with plans to add a third plane in late 2026 and a fourth in 2028.

Amtrak to debut NextGen Acela trains

Amtrak on Aug. 28 will debut its NextGen Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston, the rail operator announced Thursday.

The new trains include 27% more seats per departure and expanded weekday and weekend schedules. The trains also will have free high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi, individual power outlets and reading lights.
Amtrak said it would release additional information about locating and selecting the NextGen Acela train options as the launch date approaches. The company also plans to operate the new trains and current Acela trains "in the coming months" as new trains transition into the fleet.
Five of the NextGen Acela trains will enter into service to start, with 23 more to be added through 2027, according to Amtrak.

U.S. Travel Association: Government shutdown has cost the travel sector $1 billion

The U.S. government shutdown has cost the travel economy more than $1 billion so far, according to the U.S. Travel Association, with CEO Geoff Freeman saying the shutdown is "doing real, irreversible damage."

"Travelers are facing longer TSA lines and flight delays," Freeman said. "Airports are reducing flights and weve seen entire control towers go dark. The longer this drags on, the worse the cascade of damage will be -- for local communities, for small businesses and for the country. Congress needs to act now and reopen the government."
U.S. Travel is tracking the shutdowns economic fallout through a real-time cost ticker on its website, which crossed the $1 billion mark on Oct. 8. The number is based on the impact of previous shutdowns and the combined effect of closed attractions, such as national parks and museums; declines in government-related travel; and decreased air and rail passenger activity.
"Travel keeps America moving," Freeman said. "When travel is delayed and services are disrupted, the ripple effects reach every corner of our country."