Air Pacific Media Monitoring: May 5th to May 9th

Lawmakers bristle as airline industry blames safety rule for pilot shortage

April 30th, 2014

Buffalonews.com

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/washington-politics/lawmakers-bristle-as-airline-industry-blames-safety-rule-for-pilot-shortage-20140430

• Summary: After a group of families from the Claremont Center plane crash banded together, there were able to push a law through that requires pilots to have 1,500 hours before being hired. This has been a huge detriment to regional airline services as they are beginning to experience a pilot shortage, as well as it requires them to hire pilots that aren't the best, but fill the hours requirement. 
• Relevance: With this new law in place, Air Pacific should keep this in mind when hiring new pilots. 

Southwest Airlines chief promises that on-time performance will improve
April 30th, 2014
Dallas News
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20140430-southwest-airlines-chief-promises-that-on-time-performance-will-improve.ece

• Summary: Southwest Airlines has ranked close to the bottom on on time arrivals. The airlines believes their plans for summer will combat that and improve on on time arrival. However last year, they predicted they would improve by now, but they are still 12th  out of 16 airlines for on time arrivals. 
• Relevance: If Air Pacific promises or predicts that they will be on time, follow through with those. Customers will find the airline more credible. 

Airline profits soar to $12.7 billion
May 5th, 2014
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-airline-profits-skyrocket-20140505-story.html

• Summary: The airlines industry is bouncing back nicely from the recession and 9/11 attacks when reports came out that net profits were up from 98 million in 2012 to 12.7 billion in 2013. The nation's top 26 airlines operating revenues were 199.7 billion compared to 156 billion in 2012. These profits are great, but the industry is still in debt-- facing a debt of tens of billions of dollars. 
• Relevance: Many airlines achieved profits because of fuel efficient planes, filling more capacity of flights, and adding extra rows. Ideas that Air Pacific should look into for profitable travel.

Frontier Airlines is about to to get a lot more cranky flyers
April 29th, 2014
Time Magazine
http://time.com/81417/frontier-airlines-is-about-to-get-a-lot-more-cranky-flyers/

• Summary: Frontier announced that they will lower their fares for economy classes, but it will now charge to bring bags on the plane. Spirit Airlines also does this and happens to be the most profitable airline in the industry. 
• Relevance: Frontier is considered to be a large competitor to Air Pacific. We should see how this goes with Frontier's customers, and look into charging the  same fees. 

Its not an airline seat, it's The Residence by Ethiad
May 4th, 2014
ETurbo, Global Travel Industry News
http://www.eturbonews.com/45359/its-not-airline-seat-its-residence-etihad

• Summary: Ethiad Airlines recently introduced the Residence, an apartment on their double decker A-380. The apartment includes double and single residence with showers and full lay out bed with living rooms. 
• Relevance: If Air Pacific offers international flights, amenities like these might be important.