CONSUMER NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS  


Complain about a product or service

Small Claims Guide | Class Actions | Lemon Law | FAQ | Resources | Newsletters | Spanish
Automotive    Education    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Shopping    Travel   
NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

United Prepares for Life After Independence





November 11, 2005

United Airlines

Itinerary changes
Lost luggage
Group sales
Unaccompanied minors
Ineffective bumbling
---
News
United To Reduce its Fleet By 4 Percent
United Charges for Second Bag
United Pilots Contradict Carrier on Cancellations
Computer Glitch Hits United Airlines
Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc with United Flights
United Gets New Daily U.S.-China Flight
Airline Pensions Under Government Review
United Cleared to Taxi Out of Bankruptcy
United Poised To Emerge From Bankruptcy
United Prepares for Life After Independence
United Wins New Labor Pact
United Plans To End Employee Pensions
United Reaches Agreement With Flight Attendents
United's Union Deals Unraveling

With its upstart rival Independence Air in shambles, United Airlines is moving quickly to beef up its operations at Washington Dulles International Airport. The Washington Post reports the carrier is preparing to hire 2,000 flight attendants, with about 700 of them to be based at Dulles.

Independence, which operated as a United regional carrier before challenging its former parent, was United's biggest competitor at Dulles before folding its wings and filing for bankruptcy last week. It is expected to be liquidated by early next year.

United and US Airways matched Independence Air's low fares on East Coast routes and are expected to benefit, at least temporarily, by the upstart carrier's demise.

Unable to join the party is bankrupt Delta Airlines, which reported it suffered a staggering $1 billion loss in the July through September period. The struggling carrier blames a more than 50 percent increase in its fuel bills for the red ink.

United has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy itself for nearly three years but plans to emerge in February. As part of its revised business plan it is adding numerous international flights from Dulles, its primary international hub.

US Air emerged recently from bankruptcy when it merged with America West. Though still not profitable, the merged carrier is, like United, reporting high passenger volume.

What It Means

What all this means for consumers is that prices will be going up and planes will be more crowded.

Independence Air forced the major carriers to lower their prices and add flights on routes that were only marginally profitable. With Independence out of the way, the majors can raise prices and trim their schedules, at least for awhile.

Of course, nothing stands still in the airline business. If a stronger low-cost carrier, like JetBlue, decides to beef up its presence at Dulles, the whole cycle could start over again. JetBlue has done just that in the New York market, adding flights at Newark and LaGuardia, in addition to those at its John F. Kennedy hub.



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.


Consumer News

July 9 2008

Recent Recalls & Safety Alerts

Print, mail, etc.




FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!


Knowledge is free.
Knowledge is power.



Back to the top |

Advertisement


Home | Rogues Gallery | Good Guys | Complaint Form | News | Recalls | Search | Video | FAQ |
Consumer Resources | Small Claims Guide | Lemon Law | Newsletter | Contact Us
Advertise With Us | Testimonials | Newsroom | RSS Feeds | Radio | Job Postings




Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2008 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.