british airways

Just over a year after the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused an expensive and chaotic shutdown of air travel across much of Europe, an different volcano in Iceland, Grimsvoetn, is erupting.

Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler says when airlines last raised fares in 2008, most travelers kept on flying. But as Mideast upheavals send oil prices skyward and airlines hike fares again, the impact on the bottom line could be quite different.

The European Commission has accused some 13 airlines of collaborating to set cargo and security surcharges -- and to avoid paying commission on these surcharges to clients -- to reduce competition. Eleven of the airlines face a total of $1.1 billion in fines.

British Airways (BAIRY) posted its first quarterly profit in two years thanks to higher ticket prices. The company reported earnings of 229 million pounds ($365 million) for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a loss of 111 million pounds a year earlier, according to Bloomberg News. Sales...

With dislike of airlines climbing to an all-time high, an upstart carrier is offering 100% money back guarantee on your ticket if you're not completely satisfied. Of course, there are caveats to Open Skies' "Love Everything, or Pay Nothing," promotion.

British Airways (BAIRY) will begin a joint venture next month on flights across the Atlantic with American Airlines (AMR), after nearly 13 years of planning. The carriers will align their frequent-flier programs, allowing travelers to earn and use miles on the two airlines, Bloomberg News said....

British Airways crews will likely go on strike Monday after a court order lifted a ban prohibiting airline employees from walking off the job.

With air travel restrictions still crippling most of Europe, national governments and businesses are starting to bridle under the unprecedented shut-downs. Losses are now reaching more than $200 million a day. A U.K. pilots group says: "A number of airlines are now staring bankruptcy in the face."

More consolidation in the struggling airline industry: As word spreads of similar talks between United Airlines and US Airways, the money-losing British and Spanish carriers have agreed to combine under a holding company named International Consolidated Airlines Group. A major goal will be cutting costs.

British Airways' cabin crews began a three-day strike this weekend that caused the UK carrier to cancel over 1,000 flights over the weekend. The the airline said it would try to accommodate 49,000 passengers, is redirecting many more to other airlines.