Transportation 2006 Archive | PBS NewsHour

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TRANSPORTATION


	2006 DECEMBER Dec. 21, 2006 Western Blizzard Causes Cancellation of Thousands of Flights The blizzard in Colorado has led to the cancellation of roughly 2,500 flights. NewsHour reports on what this will mean for travelers in the days ahead.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 22, 2006 Changing Airline Industry Faces Busiest Travel Season of the Year The Air Transport Association expects a record 25 million people will board U.S. airline flights during the holiday weekend, which comes at a time of increased security regulations. Experts discuss how the aviation industry is handling the heavy flow of traffic.

	Nov. 15, 2006 U.S. Airways Looks to Buy Delta for $8 Billion U.S. Airways proposed an $8 billion takeover of bankrupt Delta Air Lines on Wednesday, which would create one of the world's largest carriers. An expert talks about the impacts on the industry if the deal goes through.



	OCTOBER Oct. 11, 2006 Small Plane Crashes into New York High-rise A small plane registered to New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle crashed into a high-rise apartment building in Manhattan's Upper East Side in an apparent accident Wednesday.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 15, 2006 Ford Cuts 10,000 Workers, Closes Two Factories In a round of new closings and layoffs, The Ford Motor Company announced Friday the elimination of 10,000 white-collar jobs and two more plant closings, up to 16 from previous cuts. Guests discuss the drastic efforts to save the automaker, effects on its workers and the flagging U.S. auto industry.

	Sept. 14, 2006 Officials Propose New Regulations to Prevent Rollovers Federal regulators are proposing new car safety rules designed to prevent rollovers. An official at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety explains the new regulations.

	Sept. 14, 2006 Airport Officials Work to Implement New Bomb Detection Systems Last month's thwarted bomb plot on transatlantic flights by British police prompted transportation authorities to issue new security restrictions and pay greater attention to the need for better bomb detection devices.

	Sept. 8, 2006 New Method for Identifying Suspicious Persons Used at Some Airports Five years after the Sept. 11 attacks, aviation security continues to evolve. Airports are using new techniques for identifying suspicious travellers, including "behavior pattern recognition."



	AUGUST Aug. 16, 2006 Suspects Held Without Charges in UK-U.S. Airline Bomb Plot A British judge agreed to extend the warrants of the 24 people suspected in a plot to bomb transatlantic flights until next week. British law dictates a maximum of 28 days for suspects to be held without charge. A reporter speaks about the developing investigation.

	Aug. 14, 2006 Government Adjusts Airline Passenger Screening Rules The Transportation Security Administration eased restrictions on airline passengers Sunday, while the Department of Homeland Security moved the terror threat level down a notch on flights from Britain. TSA chief Kip Hawley discusses the new security measures.

	Aug. 10, 2006 Airline Industry Will Pay the Price for the Foiled Terror Plot With the tightening of airport security in order to prevent terrorist attacks, passengers are challenged with abiding by stricter rules and regulations and longer travel time. An industry expert discusses how the foiled airline terror plot will affect the airline industry and traveling.

	Aug. 10, 2006 Experts Analyze UK Airline Terror Plot and Terrorism at Large A terrorist plot to blow up airliners using liquid explosives was disrupted Thursday in London. Experts Magnus Ranstorp and Daniel Benjamin discuss the terror plot, the plotters and their choice of weapons.

	Aug. 10, 2006 Airline Terror Plot Foiled in UK Soon Before Planned Bombings British authorities announced Thursday that they disrupted a conspiracy to bomb multiple flights to the United States. The attackers planned to use liquid explosives and focus their attacks on flights to New York, Washington D.C., and California. Officials said the plot was close to being carried out when it was halted.

	Aug. 7, 2006 Focus on Fuel Standards Increases Along with Price of Gas As the price of oil balloons and trips to the gas pump cost more, U.S. fuel economy standards are coming under renewed scrutiny for their impact on global warming.

	Aug. 7, 2006 Fuel Economy Chart View fuel economy standards and actual road results for cars and light trucks since 1978.



	JULY July 12, 2006 Fatal Boston Tunnel Collapse Reignites Debate over Project Several tons of concrete from a Boston tunnel fell on a car Monday night, killing a 38-year-old woman and renewing criticism of the Big Dig -- America's most expensive highway project.

	July 7, 2006 Three Arrested in Plot to Bomb New York City Tunnels New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly discusses the arrest of three al-Qaida followers suspected of plotting to set off explosives in the Holland Tunnel and PATH railway tunnels under the Hudson River this fall.

	July 4, 2006 Space Shuttle Discovery Launches After Delays After two delays and a year of troubleshooting, NASA successfully launched the space shuttle Discovery Tuesday sending seven astronauts to the International Space Station.



	JUNE June 5, 2006 Global Warming Presents New Business Opportunities As various groups push to raise awareness of the adverse effects of global warming and energy prices continue to rise, companies are advertising greener, cleaner products that may cost a little more.



	MAY May 3, 2006 ConocoPhillips CEO Defends Oil Company Profits Oil prices have risen nearly 50 percent in the last year raising questions about oil company profits and who benefits from higher prices at the pump. ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva discusses his company's revenues and reinvesting in energy production.

	May 2, 2006 Debate Continues in Congress About Fixing Big Oil Although the nationwide average price for gas fell by a penny over the weekend, the debate returned to Capitol Hill today. Two senators discuss current and future legislation in Congress to stop rising gas prices.



	APRIL April 27, 2006 Lawmakers Struggle to Respond to Rising Gas Prices As oil companies report huge profits for the first quarter of 2006, lawmakers have responded to rising gas prices with varying proposals including rebates and increased fuel efficiency standards. Two experts discuss the connection between oil, gas prices and profits.

	April 25, 2006 President Bush Outlines Plan to Lower Rising Gas Prices President Bush set forth plans to temporarily halt deposits into the nation's emergency reserve of oil, ease environmental standards and investigate price gouging in an attempt to lower gas prices.

	April 20, 2006 Wagoner Attempts to Pave Road Ahead for GM In response to continued profit losses, General Motor's CEO Rich Wagoner plans a restructuring of the company to cut operating costs and compete in global markets. Paul Solman discusses the plans with Wagoner.

	April 13, 2006 Rising Gas Costs Increase Appeal of Biofuels Rising gas prices have increased the interest in alternative fuel sources such as biodiesel made from old cooking oil and ethanol made from corn. Paul Solman reports.

	April 12, 2006 Gas Prices Continue to Soar The U.S. Energy Department forecast Tuesday that gasoline will average two dollars and sixty two cents a gallon this summer. An expert explains what's behind the higher prices.

	April 4, 2006 America's Infrastructure Needs Crucial Repairs Ray Suarez discusses infrastructure problems and a new proposal that calls for significant investment and less politicization with Felix Rohatyn, a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.



	MARCH March 30, 2006 UAE and the United States Work to Mend Fences after the Failed Ports Deal A Senate committee began drafting legislation to change how business deals involving America's so-called "national security assets" are reviewed, in an effort to heal bruised relations between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. A report on the broader campaign to mend fences.

	March 23, 2006 General Motors Announces Sale of Mortgage Division General Motors, the world's largest automaker, announced that it will sell a majority interest in its commercial mortgage division after it offered to buyout more than 115,000 hourly workers on Wednesday. Two guests discuss what this means for the future of General Motors and other auto companies.

	March 9, 2006 Dubai Ports Pledges to Transfer Ports to U.S. Entity Under intense political pressure, Dubai Ports World announced Thursday it would transfer the operations of its U.S. ports to an American firm. Two experts assess the political and business forces shaping Thursday's announcement and what may be next in the ongoing fight over the control of American ports.

	March 8, 2006 Port Deal Roils Republican Ranks House Republicans have drafted legislation that would block a Dubai company from managing several U.S. ports, despite President Bush's promise to veto any such measures. Republican Reps. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Darrell Issa of California discuss the developing chasm.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 28, 2006 Senate Holds Hearings on Dubai Port Deal Bush administration officials were questioned closely at two Senate hearings Tuesday about a seaport deal that would allow a Dubai company to take over shipping operations at six major U.S. ports. Kwame Holman reports on port politics at the capital.

	Feb. 27, 2006 Debate Highlights Spotty Nature of U.S. Port Security The debate over allowing a company from the United Arab Emirates to run six U.S. seaports has raised questions about overall security inspections at America's major seaports. Two guests discuss current safety precautions.

	Feb. 24, 2006 Arab Company Agrees to Delay Port Takeover A United Arab Emirates company has agreed to delay its takeover of operations at six major U.S. seaports, giving the Bush administration time to convince skeptical lawmakers the handover would not threaten port security.

	Feb. 23, 2006 Experts Debate the Security of Foreign-Run Ports After a background report, experts debate a controversial deal to transfer management of terminals at six U.S. ports to a state-owned company in the United Arab Emirates.

	Feb. 22, 2006 Political Pressure Grows to Stop Dubai Ports Deal Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers called on President Bush to stop a contract that would put a state owned company in the United Arab Emirates in charge of America's largest seaports.

	Feb. 21, 2006 Officials Debate Impact of Dubai Port Deal President Bush defended a deal to allow a state-run business in the United Arab Emirates to run six U.S. ports despite opposition from Congress over domestic security concerns. Following a background report, two guests give their opposing views on the controversy.

	Feb. 10, 2006 President Declares America 'Addicted' to Oil In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush called for an end to the U.S. 'addiction' to foreign oil. Energy analysts assess his proposals and their chances for success in a highly politicized climate.

	Feb. 3, 2006 Ferry Sinks Off Coast of Egypt A ferry traveling from Saudi Arabia to Egypt across the Red Sea sank Friday with more than 1,400 people on board. Most of the passengers were feared lost.



	JANUARY Jan. 26, 2006 Auto Parts Supplier Experiences Cutbacks General Motors announced Thursday that it lost $8.6 billion last year -- the most since 1992. A report from Flint, Mich. examines the struggles of the union at Delphi, a parts supplier formerly owned by GM where workers are preparing for the worst.

	Jan. 23, 2006 Ford to Cut Up to 30,000 Jobs The Ford Motor Co. announced restructuring plans that will cut 25,000 to 30,000 jobs and idle 14 plants by 2012. Two guests discuss the potential impact of the layoffs as well as Ford's new business plan.

	Jan. 12, 2006 General Motors Faces Financial Hurdles Pensions, health care benefits and a costly jobs bank create steep cost disadvantages for General Motors compared to foreign car manufacturers. Paul Solman of WGBH-Boston provides a report.

	Jan. 5, 2006 Rise and Fall of Independence Air The low-cost airline Independence Air made its last flight on Thursday. A report looks at the rise and fall of the airline and what its closure means for the industry.