Virgin America One Step Closer Virgin America is moving one step closer to starting operations. With management staff being hired and the first group of pilots being interviewed, the airline has also filed with the DOT its desired service area. Named in the start up airlines report to the DOT were 40 U.S. markets the carrier would potentially be interested in serving. Chief markets planned include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. The airline listed Raleigh-Durham and Austin, TX as two of the several smaller markets of interest to the company. Virgin America is still in the vetting process with the FAA and DOT. Opposition has come from competing airlines who question whether the airlines U.S. owners wouldnt be unduly influenced by British investor Richard Branson who has helped start several other Virgin label airlines over the years. Hooters Air Behind On Fuel Payments Hooters Air may be a favorite airline to passengers because of its Hooters Girls helpers, but the airline is not a favorite with airline officials at one Pennsylvania airport. The Lehigh Valley International Airport is claiming that Hooters Air is behind on fuel payment charges to the tune of $1 million. This is the second time that the airport has had an outstanding fuel charge with a discount carrier in the past year. Southeast Airlines was the other carrier and it went out of business leaving the airport unable to collect what was owed to it. Hooters Corporation is headquartered in Atlanta and owns Pace Airlines which operates Hooters Air flights. Hooters is a privately held organization operating 400 restaurants nationwide, a new casino in Las Vegas, and a new publication, Hooters Magazine. China To Produce Commercial Aircraft China is entering the commercial aircraft industry with the production of a 70-90 pax seat regional jet according to a report appearing in the Shanghai Daily. The ARJ21 jet will be built by the China Aviation Industry Corporation, currently a producer of the countrys military jets. The jet will be tested in 2008 and is likely to go to its first customer, Shandong Airlines in 2009. |
