2005 DECEMBER
Dec. 27, 2005

Defending the Sky
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed spending up to $1 million per passenger plane to install a missile defense systems, but some believe cost of the program does not match the threat.

  

Dec. 22, 2005

Transit Workers End Strike, Agree to Negotiate
New York City's Transport Workers Union ended its three-day strike Thursday and agreed to resume contract negotiations with the city over wages, benefits and retirement issues. Two guests discuss the disagreements that caused the transit strike and assess the impact on labor relations beyond New York City.

  

Dec. 7, 2005

Miami Airport Shooting
A federal air marshal shot and killed an airline passenger in Miami Wednesday after the man claimed to have a bomb. A reporter provides an update.

  

Dec. 2, 2005

Airline Security Shift
Airport screeners will increase random searches of passengers and focus more on detecting explosives, while loosening restrictions on what passengers can carry on board airlines. The director of the Transportation Security Administration and the president of the Association of Flight Attendants discuss the new rules.

  

NOVEMBER
Nov. 23, 2005

Airline Woes
After a year of rising fuel prices, labor strikes and bankruptcies, the major airlines are struggling to make changes. But passengers will not likely see major fare hikes in the near term, analysts say.

  

Nov. 21, 2005

GM Announces Job Cuts
General Motors announced it will cut 30,000 jobs and close all or part of its 12 plants by 2008 to make the car manufacturer more competitive on the global market. After a background report, editor-in-chief in Car and Driver magazine discusses the GM's decision.

  

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 14, 2005

Delta, Northwest File for Bankruptcy Protection
Delta and Northwest filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, illustrating the problem airliners are having with soaring oil prices and competition from smaller carriers.

AUGUST
Aug. 24, 2005

New Fuel Standards for Cars
The Bush administration proposed a new set of fuel efficiency standards for sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks. Following a background report, an expert discusses the details and the response of automakers and environmentalists.

Aug. 22, 2005

Northwest Workers on Strike
Maintenance workers at Northwest Airlines remained on strike for the third day on Monday after refusing to accept paycuts and layoffs. Following a background report, two experts discuss the implications of the strike for Northwest and the entire airline industry.

  

Aug. 12, 2005

The O'Shaughnessy Dam Debate
Correspondent Spencer Michels reports on the battle over the 100-year-old O'Shaughnessy Dam in Northern California.

  

Aug. 3, 2005

Air France Crash Update
An Air France jet skidded off the runway yesterday in Toronto. It burst into flames, but all 309 people on board escaped within minutes.

  

Aug. 2, 2005

Jet Crash in Toronto
An Air France jet skidded off a runway and burst into flames Tuesday in Toronto. Most of the 200 people aboard were reportedly evacuated to safety. Brendan Connor of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has an update.

  

JULY
July 29, 2005

Rush to Recess
Congress pushes a series of legislation through, including the passage of a new energy bill and highway spending bill Friday, as it prepares for the month-long August recess.

July 7, 2005

Public Transportation on Guard
After the London train and bus attacks, the Bush administration raised the terror alert to "orange," or high risk, for all U.S. mass transit systems, which now face major tests to protect their riders. Transportation experts assess the current mass transit system situation and the problems they face to protect the public.

  

JUNE
June 9, 2005

The Department of Transportation Releases New Safety Report Criticizing FAA
The Department of Transportation released a report Wednesday saying the Federal Aviation Administration's safety inspectors are not keeping up with potential risks posed by airlines trying to save money. Following a background report, Margaret Warner speaks with Marian Blakey, head of the FAA, about the report's findings.

  

June 7, 2005

Members of Congress, Airline Industry Push for Changes in Airline Pension Plans
Two airline companies warned Congress that they could go bankrupt if they are not allowed to stretch their pension payments. Ray Suarez leads a discussion on the rising number of failing pension plan.

  

MAY
May 31, 2005

U.S., EU Clash Over Airplane Subsidies
The United States and European Union have filed complaints against each other with the World Trade Organization over subsidies to aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing.

  

May 20, 2005

US Air, America West Announce Plans to Merge
America West Holdings Corp. agreed to merge with US Airways Inc. in a deal announced Thursday to help the airlines compete with low-cost carriers.

May 12, 2005

Plane Scare in Capital Raises Security Questions
A single-engine airplane strayed into restricted airspace over Washington, D.C. Wednesday, causing evacuations at the Capitol and White House.

  

May 11, 2005

United Airlines Receives Court Approval to Terminate Workers' Pension Plans
The day after a bankruptcy judge approved United Airlines' proposal to shed its employee pension plan, the company announced on Wednesday that it lost more than $1 billion in the first three months of this year. Analysts discuss United Airlines next move and the state of the airline industry.

  

May 6, 2005

S&P Lowers Credit Rating for U.S. Automakers General Motors and Ford
Standard and Poor's downgraded debt ratings for American automakers General Motors and Ford. The lowered credit rating, now at "junk bond" status, is expected to increase borrowing expenses.

APRIL
April 21, 2005

Amtrak Asks Congress to Aid Money Woes
Amtrak, already facing steep money woes after suspending its high-speed Acela service for months due to brake problems, asked Congress Thursday for a 50 percent increase in subsidies to keep its trains running.

  

April 5, 2005

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings Convene on the Patriot Act
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller urged Congress to renew key provisions of the Patriot Act Tuesday during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the controversial anti-terrorism law.

  

MARCH
March 28, 2005

Clearing the Air
California's plan to start regulating carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles in 2009 has spurred legal challenges from automakers.

  

March 22, 2005

Record Gas Prices Could Harm Economy
As average U.S. gasoline prices reached record highs of close to $2.10 a gallon this week, energy and economic experts discuss the factors behind the rising oil prices.

  

JANUARY
Jan. 18, 2005

Giant of the Sky
Airbus on Tuesday unveiled its Airbus A380, the largest passenger plane in the world. An Independent Television News report on the new airplane is followed by a discussion on Airbus' and Boeing's fight for supremacy in the skies with an aviation reporter for the Financial Times.

  

Jan. 7, 2005

Airline Shakeout
Major airlines are restructuring fares in what looks to be industry-wide overhaul. Correspondent Jeffrey Brown talks with an aviation industry expert about the major carriers' decision to cut airline fares.