| Feds: Men brought guns, drugs on plane
Two airline baggage handlers used their employee uniforms and identification cards to enter restricted areas, bypass screeners and carry a duffel bag loaded with guns and drugs into a plane's passenger cabin, according to court documents released Wednesday. .
Auckland Airport reports flat half year
Auckland International Airport today reported its December half-year net profit was unchanged from a year ago at $51.1 million. Auckland Airport declared an interim dividend of 3.75 cents per share, unchanged from last year. The company reiterated its previous forecast that its full-year profit would be similar to last year's figure of $103.2m. Shares in Auckland Airport, 12.8 per cent owned by the Auckland City Council and 9.6 per cent by the Manukau City Council, closed at $2.29 yesterday down 1 per cent. They have lagged the top 50 index, rising 1.9 per cent in the first half compared with a 13.2 per cent rise in the benchmark NZSX-50 index. Total revenue for the six months increased 7 per cent to $159.7 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) increased 7.8 per cent to $126.2 million.
Time for a bill of rights for air travel?
Recent incidents where airlines kept planeloads of travelers "prisoner" up to 11 hours on planes waiting to take off have galvanized travelers into raising--again--a cry for an "Air Travelers' Bill of Rights."
Current focus seems to be centered on proposals listed by the "Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights," a blog (strandedpassengers.blogspot.com) started by a former "prisoner." Unfortunately, most of the proposals seem to be fairly tame, calling for U.S. airlines to abide by a bunch of standards--all welcome, but mostly lacking enforcement teeth.
If we're to have a bill of rights, I believe it must: Target real anti-consumer practices that market forces do not--and probably will not--resolve, rather than just occasional screw-ups. Provide enforcement teeth: standards without enforcement are worthless.
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