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May 24, 2000 |
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United Airlines announces its intention to acquire the nation’s sixth largest carrier, U. S. Airways. As of June, 2001, the proposed $4.3 billion acquisition still awaits approval from U.S. antitrust authorities. |
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July 25, 2000 |
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An Air France Concorde crashes shortly after takeoff from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport killing all 109 aboard. Investigators believe the crash may have been caused by a thin metal strip on the runway. The metal debris is suspected of blowing one of the Concorde’s tires, which in turn ruptured the supersonic jet’s fuel tanks upon takeoff. |
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December 17, 2000 |
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Airbus officially begins production of its double-decker commercial jet, the A380. Formerly known as the A3XX, the A380 will be able to accommodate as many as 840 passengers and is expected to begin commercial airline service in five years. |
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January 10, 2001 |
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American Airlines announces its plans to acquire the financially troubled TWA. TWA, the nation’s eighth largest U. S. carrier, had been losing money for 12 straight years. The merger would be approved April 9th of that same year. |
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January 31, 2001 |
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Delta Air Lines begins possible merger discussions with Northwest Airlines and Continental. The move is seen as Delta’s attempt to remain competitive in the rapidly consolidating airline industry. |
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February 7, 2001 |
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Aviation pioneer Anne Morrow Lindbergh dies at age 94. Anne helped popularize the notion of flying through headline-making expeditions with her husband, Charles Lindbergh. Serving as co-pilot and navigator on those journeys, Anne seemed to bring the possibility of aviation home to all Americans. |
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May 10, 2001 |
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After 85 years in the Seattle area, Boeing announces it will move its corporate headquarters to downtown Chicago. Boeing’s immediate plans are to keep its aircraft factories based in the Seattle area. |
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July 27, 2001 |
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United Airlines and U. S. Airways agree to terminate their proposed merger. For calling off the merger, United agrees to pay U.S. Air $50 million as agreed to in their original merger agreement. |
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September 11, 2001 |
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Terrorists seize control of four commercial airliners and carry out an unprecedented attack on America. The nation’s entire fleet of commercial aircraft is grounded for two days. In the months that follow, passenger travel decreases sharply and is not expected to rebound to pre-September 11th levels until 2003. The airline industry - already expected to suffer steep losses from the recession - is estimated to lose $7 billion in 2001. |
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September 21, 2001 |
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In the aftermath of September 11th, President George W. Bush and Congress pass $15 billion in emergency assistance to help the aviation industry. The Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act provides airlines with $10 billion in federal loan guarantees and credits, plus an additional $5 billion in reimbursements for direct losses. |
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October 7, 2001 |
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To ease public concerns over airline safety, the major airlines begin reinforcing the cockpit doors on all 4,000 of their aircraft. The work is finished in only 32 days, almost two months in advance of their scheduled completion. |
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November 12, 2001 |
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Three minutes after departing from JFK Airport, American Airlines Flight 587, en route to the Dominican Republic, crashes over Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York. All 255 aboard the Airbus A300 and 5 more on the ground are killed. The nation and the ailing aviation industry is relieved to learn that terrorist activity is ruled out. Wake turbulence and equipment trouble are considered the leading factors in the accident. |
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November 19, 2001 |
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President George W. Bush signs into law the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. The legislation imposes a $2.50 fee per passenger to help pay for additional aviation security measures. The law requires tougher screening procedures of all bags, including an aggressive requirement that all bags must be specially screened for explosives by the end of 2002. |
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June 11, 2002 |
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As part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft introduces the Flight Training Candidate Checks Program which conducts background checks on all non-U.S. citizens seeking flight training of large aircraft. |
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November
25, 2002 |
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President
George W. Bush signs the Homeland
Security Act of 2002. The legislation authorizes the creation
of the Federal
Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, enabling pilots to carry handguns
in the cockpit. The FFDO program enters a two-year test period once
250 pilots have been deputized to carry firearms. Upon conclusion
of the test period, the Transportation Security Administration will
issue a report recommending whether to continue the program. On April
19, 2003, forty-four airline pilots became the first group to complete
FFDO training. |
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October,
2003 |
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British
Airways retires its fleet of Concordes,
ending three decades of supersonic trans-Atlantic travel. Air France
withdrew their Concordes from commercial service on May 31, 2003.
While major technical improvements were made to the Concorde after
the July 25, 2000 crash, passenger levels never rebounded and the
planes remained unprofitable. |
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