June 2006
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began operating new flight paths
that could reduce the overall number of delayed and cancelled flights in the
United States. The paths are the result of new technology that allows planes to
take off and land in bad weather. The system is expected to help improve traffic
flow, especially during spring and summer months when thunderstorms strike. It
is being introduced in the northeastern U.S. this month and will gradually be
expanded nationally next year.
American Airlines began accepting credit and debit cards as payment for in-flight purchases in May and plans to offer this payment option on all of its 2,200 daily domestic and international flights by the middle of this month.
Flight attendants will use wireless, handheld devices
to make the transactions. This expanded payment option was tested in 2005 and
proved to be very popular with travelers, who often don’t carry cash or don’t
have the exact change encouraged by the airlines.