American Airlines to Demolish Old Headquarters: Airline Pulse News and Notes for May 18, 2016

by Josh Lew
Last updated: 11:15 AM ET, Wed May 18, 2016

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

American Airlines to Implode Old Headquarters
American Airlines has decided to implode its old headquarters in Fort Worth to make way for a new building. The demolition will take place on Friday. CEO Doug Parker will set off the implosion alongside several AA employees who won a contest help push the button.

No Everyone Happy with Coming Cuba Flights
U.S. Rep. John Katko, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation, has criticized the Obama administration for opening up flights to Cuba. Katko said he was worried about the security at Cuban airports and the potential for terrorists to use the new flights to get into the United States.

American Airlines Hires Workers to Assist at TSA Checkpoints
After more than 400 passengers had to spend the night at Chicago O'Hare when delays at TSA checkpoints caused them to miss their flights, American Airlines announced that it has hired workers to assist the TSA in order to speed up the process. The first group will be deployed at O'Hare's Terminal 3 this week.

AA Receives First American-Made Airbus
American Airlines has received its first Airbus A321 from the French manufacturer's new plant in Alabama. This is the second plane overall to roll off of the assembly line. The first American-made Airbus went to JetBlue last month.

JUST THE LINKS

Qatar Airways has announced that it has increased its share of IAG to 15.01 percent. The Doha-based airline said that it may increase its stake in the company, which includes British Airways and Aer Lingus, further in the future.

Alaska Airlines has promoted two executives senior leadership roles. Former Alaska COO and EVP Ben Minicucci will become the airline's president and COO, while former Horizon president and COO David Campbell has been promoted to Horizon's president and CEO.

JetBlue's latest flash sale ends at midnight tonight. Highlights include $79 fares from JFK to Bermuda, Portland to Anchorage and Detroit to Fort Lauderdale.

Hawaiian Airlines pilots have voted to allow their union to order a strike if contract negotiations do not end with a new collective bargaining agreement. 99 percent of the pilots agreed to let their representatives call a strike if negotiations do not go well.

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