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Airline brand identities: The grown-up, the hipster and the meanie
TransportQuirky, even wacky identities are the hallmark of several carriers that pay good money for this branding. Let’s look at three airline images then answer this question: When it comes to choosing whom to fly with, do passengers really give a [rabid badger, per Virgin America] about image? You have to wonder whether JetBlue’s catchphrase, [...]
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Surge pricing is coming to airline baggage fees
TransportSpirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie remarked that the airline business has done a good job at managing ticket price revenue with respect to charging the appropriate fare based on desired travel date or other customer desires. But carriers generally don’t apply the same reasoning to managing ancillary revenue streams. He cites the example of charging [...]
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Spirit Airlines’ profit falls on Superstorm Sandy impact
TransportSpirit Airlines saw its net income dive 18.4% to $19.5 million as Superstorm Sandy took a $25 million bite out of revenue, the airline reported. The bottom line was also impacted by fuel-cost and capacity increases. Operating revenue for the quarter increased 19.8% to $328.3 million. CEO Ben Baldanza said Spirit remains committed to its [...]
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Spirit Airlines ex-employee files suit on falsified maintenance records
TransportA former senior aircraft mechanic for Atlantic City International Airport’s only carrier, Spirit Airlines, claims the airline regularly falsified inspection records and performed subpar maintenance on its aircraft, according to a lawsuit filed last month in state Superior Court. Richard Torrecq, of the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, and eight other mechanics sent a letter [...]
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It’s only a matter of time before all flyers pay for carry-on bags, predicts aviation expert
TransportDomestic airfares have been climbing steadily since 2009, and there was no letup last year. But the uptick in ticket prices was not as steep as in the last few years. Domestic airfares increased 4.2 percent in 2012 compared with the previous year to an average of $427 per ticket, according to Airlines Reporting Corp., [...]
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Spirit Airlines figures out a way to get the Manti T’eo lie into an ad campaign
TransportSpirit Airlines is seeking to capitalize on Internet buzz surrounding reports that the deceased girlfriend of University of Notre Dame college football player Manti T’eo did not really exist. … In its latest attempt to draw attention from viral Internet topics, Spirit said of its fares Thursday “No hoax here…we are catfish approved” in an [...]
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Spirit flight attendants files suit against airline for healthcare benefits discrimination
TransportA new battle is brewing between Miramar-based Spirit Airlines and its unionized flight attendants. Last month, the flight attendants filed a lawsuit against the low-cost carrier, which alleges it is denying equal health-care benefits to their legally recognized domestic partners, the group’s union Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in a statement Friday. The health-care discrimination [...]
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A.C. airport unveils $25M expansion for international arrivals despite domestic-only clients
TransportA $25 million expansion project expected to pave the way for international flights at Atlantic City’s airport was unveiled on Monday. The 75,000-square-foot expansion adds three new gates at the airport for a total of 10 and expands the baggage-claim area among other upgrades. A Federal Inspection Station will allow the airport to process international [...]
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Spirit Airlines gets carried away with $100 carry-on fee
TransportMore than a year ago, Spirit Airlines began charging $30 for the right to place one’s bag in the overhead compartment. Starting next month, that fee will climb to $35 for travelers who pay it before check-in. Here’s the kicker: For those who wait until boarding time to pay up, the fee will be a [...]
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Spirit airlines keeps its fee-charging spirit: $100 fee for carry-on at gate
TransportSpirit really really likes you…to pay tons of fees. Now here’s a new one: Passengers who don’t pay the advance carry-on bag fee (starting at $20) will now have to pay $100 at the gate. That and tons of other fee increases, starting Nov 6. Its rationale for the $100 fee: “Unfortunately, some customers are still waiting [...]
