EOS airlines, a premium NY-London carrier, declaring bankruptcy and ceasing ops Apr 27th."Another one bites the dust."Bob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VSantiago de Chile

A weakening US economy and sky-high oil prices are really going to rock the airline industry. Didn't the US airlines just get out of bankruptcy protection?I read one dystopian report a while back that said in the future most transportation will be done via electric trains because airplanes will be just way too expensive to run given fuel costs.Bring on Train-simulator :-)Bryan

Trains are already the preferred mode between most US NE corridor cities, ie-Washington,New York,Boston. It's both cheaper and in most instances faster than ailrline travel.Also, United and US Airways should announce something within the next two weeks regarding a merger since Continental opted out for a United/Continental get together. Industry analysts are suggesting, however, that COA will have to do something in order to survive..........American Continental has a nice ring to it?

>>I read one dystopian report a while back that said in the>future most transportation will be done via electric trains>because airplanes will be just way too expensive to run given>fuel costs.>Yep except that you can't take a train to England from the U.S. :)Maybe those maglev trains could go over water though? :)RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

>A weakening US economy and sky-high oil prices are really>going to rock the airline industry. Didn't the US airlines>just get out of bankruptcy protection?>>I read one dystopian report a while back that said in the>future most transportation will be done via electric trains>because airplanes will be just way too expensive to run given>fuel costs.It's already happening. The losses at Delta and Northwest were staggering last quarter--something like $10 billion. I think AMR came in at something like $328 million in the red this last quarter.With that in mind, consider that today the airlines are burning fuel bought with option contracts at year-ago prices. They're in for a real s***-storm as this year progresses. Decreasing demand from a severe recession (or worse), moonbound fuel prices, and a disgruntled employee base that takes pi**ing off paying customers to the level of an art form.Now sounds like a good time to have the Unions bring up pay raises!! :-eek Bob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VSantiago de Chile

>Now sounds like a good time to have the Unions bring up pay>raises!! :-eek I believe the best analogy for that scenario would be "a kick in the balls while you're flat on your back from the last punch". Either way, I'm finding myself wondering how good a horse I can get in on a trade with my car. ;)----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satellite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004, MIDCON P-401"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

>a disgruntled employee base that>takes pi**ing off paying customers to the level of an art>form.Well, you look at what the top managers and CEO's pay themselves (mega millions), and then you look at what they pay pilots and the other grunts in trenches (especially at the Regional level), and it's no wonder the workers are restless.But at the same time these Regional pilots for example who sign contracts to work for like $20,000 grand or thereabouts per year (do these guys all live in their parents' basements?)... well, they signed the dotted line on the employment contract. As exploitative as it ultimately is, it's had to complain when you know full well what you're getting into when you signed up.Still, I think the future is going to be very interesting for the airline industry...

>But at the same time these Regional pilots for example who>sign contracts to work for like $20,000 grand or thereabouts>per year20K would be nice at some places. Try 17K and food stamps and some pilots even have 50K-70K loans to pay off!

>>Now sounds like a good time to have the Unions bring up pay>raises!! :-eek >>Bob Scott>ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V>Santiago de Chile>>And for the CEOs to bring up their bonuses and golden parachutes.

On the other hand, a glimmering light...http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/business...ess&oref=slogin--Roger

Did I read that right, Lufthansa is flying 737's from Newark to Frankfurt? I didn't realize they were ETOPS rated!Edit: Ahh! I see it's a 737-700ER which is a light 737 giving it extra range 5000+nm.

>Did I read that right, Lufthansa is flying 737's from Newark>to Frankfurt? I didn't realize they were ETOPS rated!>>Edit: Ahh! I see it's a 737-700ER which is a light 737 giving>it extra range 5000+nm.They're actually PrivatAir aircraft.