http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/09/06/ryana...dex.html?hpt=T2


(CNN) -- He's already suggested installing coin-operated lavatories and selling standing room on flights, so it may not be surprising that the latest idea from the colorful CEO of Ryanair is once again pushing air travelers' buttons.

It's not necessary to have two pilots on every flight, Michael O'Leary said in a recent interview.

"Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it," O'Leary told Bloomberg Businessweek, adding that a flight attendant on each flight could be trained to help land a plane if something goes wrong.

"If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in," O'Leary told the magazine. "She could take over."

O'Leary also revisited the idea of offering passengers the option of standing on flights in a cabin equipped with handrails, which would reduce fares by up to 25 percent, he said.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Boeing-using...ml?x=0&.v=2



On Thursday September 2, 2010, 5:34 pm

SEATTLE (AP) -- Boeing Co. will do some limited testing on two more 787 airliners besides the six planes in its flight test fleet.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes spokeswoman Mary Hanson says the two planes are needed to fulfill requirements to test production versions of the new jet, along with the six configured for the flight test program. One plane will be used for ground tests while the other will fly to check functions, reliability, and operations on routes far from airports.

Hanson says the testing won't affect deliveries of 787s. Chicago-based Boeing said last week that it's further postponing the initial 787 delivery to the middle of the first quarter of 2011 because of problems in getting engines. The delivery date is now more than two years behind the original schedule.

HOUSTON and CHICAGO, Aug 27, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) and Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced they have been notified by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) of the termination of its Hart-Scott-Rodino Act review and the closing of its investigation of the airlines' pending merger.


"We are pleased to have achieved this critical milestone and look forward to our respective stockholders' votes next month, following which we expect to be on track to close our merger by October 1st," said Glenn Tilton, UAL Corporation chairman, president and CEO. "The combination of United and Continental will create a world class airline, which will deliver an industry leading network for our customers and the communities we serve, career opportunities for our people, and value and return for our stockholders."

"The completion of DOJ's review is an important step on our journey of creating the world's leading airline, benefiting our customers, co-workers, communities and stockholders," said Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and CEO. "The DOJ's decision permits us to clear one of the last regulatory hurdles to closing our merger."

Continental and United also would like to acknowledge the efforts of the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration as the companies work through the merger process. In addition, Continental and United remain engaged in discussions with the state attorneys general who are reviewing the merger, and hope to conclude those discussions expeditiously with a positive outcome.

Continental and United announced an all-stock merger of equals on May 3, 2010, and currently expect the transaction to close by Oct. 1, 2010, subject to stockholder approvals and customary closing conditions. Both companies have scheduled special stockholder meetings on Sept. 17, 2010, for approval of the merger.

United and Continental received clearance from the European Commission on the airlines' proposed merger in July, which noted its investigation found the transaction would not raise competitive concerns in Europe or on trans-Atlantic routes.