> US Airways to Begin San Jose, Costa Rica Service > > US Airways will begin new nonstop service between San Jose, Costa Rica and its Charlotte and > Philadelphia hubs on November 8, 2003. > > Subject to Costa Rican government approval, the San Jose service will > operate on Saturdays using Airbus A319 aircraft. Flights will depart > Philadelphia at 8:05 a.m., and will arrive in San Jose at 12:26 p.m. Return > flights will depart San Jose at 2:50 p.m., and will arrive in Philadelphia at > 8:35 p.m. Flights will depart Charlotte at 10:25 a.m., and will arrive in San > Jose at 1:48 p.m. Return flights will depart San Jose at 1:30 p.m., and will > arrive in Charlotte at 6:30 p.m. > > "Our customers traveling to San Jose will find the city rich in flavor, > with an array of natural attractions and sites of interest. Our well-timed > flights not only will provide convenient nonstop and connecting service from the U.S., but will > expand opportunities for travel from San Jose to more than 75 cities in the U.S. and Canada," > said Douglas D. Leo, US Airways vice president of international. > > San Jose will be US Airways' second destination served in Central America as part of the > airline's expansion to tropical destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America. US Airways > began service to Belize in November 2002, which operates daily from Charlotte. Additionally, US > Airways will begin Charlotte- Mexico City service in October 2003. > > > > US Airways, Lufthansa Announce Cooperation Plans > > > US Airways today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa > Airlines, covering the establishment of a long-term strategic alliance. > > US Airways President and CEO David Siegel said, "This new alliance with > Lufthansa comes at a very exciting time for US Airways, as we begin > implementing the business goals we set forth during our restructuring. We are the biggest > carrier on the East Coast, and bring to Lufthansa our base of four million active frequent > flyers and feed traffic. Our customers will see new destinations and additional customer service > benefits -- enhancements we plan to multiply as we move towards membership in the Star > Alliance." > > "We are looking forward to working with US Airways to improve the travel > options of our customers by enhancing access to both parties' extensive > networks, code-sharing, joint promotions, and customer services such as > through-check-in, lounge access and mileage accrual," said Juergen Weber, Chairman and CEO of > Lufthansa German Airlines, adding "US Airways has indicated its interest in also joining the > Star Alliance and we strongly support their participation in Star as well. This is a newly > invigorated company, one with a clear focus on providing world-class service to its customers in > a way that ensures the success of the business -- priorities which we share." > > > > Naples airport loses last commercial airline service > > > The last commercial airline carrier servicing Naples Municipal Airport has announced plans to > cease offering flights into and out of the facility. > > US Airways Express, which has six flights _ three inbound, three outbound _ between Tampa and > Naples each day, will stop offering them June 14, the company announced Wednesday. "It's a money > loser,'' said US Airways spokesman David Castelveter. > > Last month, Cape Air announced that it was ending service out of Naples but would continue to > offer it at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. > > Naples airport authority members said they were disappointed by US Airways' decision. > > ``It is a sign of very tough economic times for the airline industry and it doesn't particularly > surprise me they have pulled out,'' said authority member Richard Cobb, who acknowledged that > the growth and popularity of Southwest Florida International Airport is hurting the ability of > Naples to land commercial carriers. > > Airport officials may now seek to attract "charter operations that offer exclusive first-class > service'' to major destinations like Chicago, Detroit, New York and Boston, Cobb said. He also > questioned Castelveter's claim that the Naples-Tampa route for US Airways was financially > imprudent. > > "We understand that it is probably a high-up corporate decision,'' Cobb said. ``It doesn't > necessarily reflect that this particular market is not profitable.'' > > > > Airport officials weigh future with or without biggest carrier > > > Pittsburgh International Airport continues to prepare for the worst, yet officials there insist > the airport is in a good position to offer stability in the turbulent airline industry. > > US Airways, the dominant carrier at the airport, has threatened to close its hub because of the > cost of boarding passengers at the relatively new facility. > > Airport officials said boarding costs, which were $7.26 last year and will be an estimated $7.59 > this year for larger airlines, will remain steady for the foreseeable future as opposed to other > airports likely to incur increasing capital costs with age. > > "Our costs are what they are and in this industry, with fuel and labor costs all over the board, > stability is an asset," said airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny. > > In better times for the airline industry, airport officials touted the uncontested airspace that > cut down on delays along with easy access to the eastern seaboard and major destinations to the > west. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? 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