New Director Wants Tampa International Airport to Offer More International Nonstops

By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, March 6, 2011

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers handles fewer than half as many passengers as Tampa International, yet has the same number of nonstop flights to Europe.

One.

TIA's new boss, Joe Lopano, hopes to reverse his airport's long-standing failure to improve international service by taking a page from the playbook of his neighbor to the south.

As it turns out, the Fort Myers Metro area is home to more than 93,000 Germans and people of German ancestry. That's why Air Berlin, Germany's second-biggest airline, offers direct flights to its hub in Dusseldorf.

Does that explain why Lopano now wants to know how many Europeans own property in Tampa Bay?

Pilots' Union Leaders Re-elected at Continental

On Friday March 4, 2011, 6:06 pm EST

HOUSTON (AP) -- Pilots at Continental Airlines re-elected three top officials of their union, and said there would be a new election after Continental is absorbed into United Airlines.

The Air Line Pilots Association said Friday that Jay Pierce was re-elected to a 2-year term as chairman of the Continental unit, and Doug Marotta and Randy Hodge were re-elected as vice chairman and secretary-treasurer.

Parent company United Continental Holdings Inc. plans to combine the two carriers, including reaching a labor contract covering both groups of pilots and combining pilot seniority lists. After that, the union would hold new elections. The United pilots are also represented by ALPA.

US Airways Pilots Issue Statement of Support for Wisconsin Workers' Right to Union Representation

Press Release Source: US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) On Friday March 4, 2011, 5:23 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, supports the state, local and municipal employees of Wisconsin in their fight to maintain their collective bargaining rights. Below is a statement provided by Captain Mike Cleary, president of USAPA:

"The governor and legislature of Wisconsin have embarked on an extremist attack on established labor laws that have existed for more than 50 years. Middle class families are at risk as Governor Walker attempts to blame and punish public sector workers for the state's economic woes. The economic crisis we find ourselves in wasn't caused by union workers in this country; it was caused by those in corporate America and on Wall Street who engaged in irresponsible lending practices.