Topic: Transportation

Public or Private?

The past few weeks, Amtrak and the Public Broadcasting Service, two government-funded organizations, have had to do a bit of soul-searching. The nature of these public-private institutions is a curious one. While both Amtrak and PBS ...READ»

Mystery In The Air

Are you reading this on a plane? You may want to skip the item about how clean that airline blanket really is.READ»

When the Red-Eye Becomes the Green-Eye

Last week, UK-based low-cost airline easyJet announced it had designed an aircraft that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent. They call it the "ecoJet" and claim the design could become reality by 2015. Sounds great, ...READ»

Technology: The Ringing Could Soon Be Everywhere

I was on the subway with one of my louder friends the other day when he said something particularly embarrassing. Red-faced I shushed him vigorously and looked furtively around to see how many people were chuckling. Talk about ...READ»

And Now the Hard Part

Can JetBlue make the leap from popular (and profitable) niche airline to major player -- without losing its soul? Only if it can grow big but stay small at heart.READ»

Will the U.S. Use Japanese Bullet Trains for High Speed Rail?

Bullet train companies have probably been salivating ever since Obama allocated $8 billion for high speed rail in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Central Japan Railway Co. ...READ»

Work/Life: Fleets Are Shrinking As Planes Are Mothballed

The downturn in air traffic is leading to a major makeover in air carriers' fleets. Flight capacity demand among cargo and passenger carriers has deteriorated faster than expected, according to the IATA (International Air Transport ...READ»

Travel in the Credit Crunch

It's no surprise that Americans are traveling less during the credit crunch era. One of the pillars that had been supporting domestic carriers in the downturn, however -- international travel -- is now also showing signs of slowing. ...READ»

Technology: The Future of Air Travel

As I gaze into what the future holds for air travel, I see that it is undergoing such a vast change that everything will be different in two years and everything will be unrecognizable in five years. I predict that most network ...READ»

How L.A. Metro Is Enticing Riders With Better Design

Michael Lejeune heads a 20-person in-house design studio tasked with bringing more riders aboard L.A.'s public-transportation system. He led the campaign design for this summer's expansion of Metro Rail's Gold Line, a light-rail line that connects Pasadena with downtown and East L.A.READ»

• Walk This Way
• Get Smart About Car Use
• Create a Smooth Transition

Technology: Share the Air

I have to admit I wasn't aware the extent to which commercial air traffic shares the sky with military air traffic — and how long ago those lanes in the sky were laid out. But Scott McCartney, a pilot himself, knows all about ...READ»

Work/Life: Why Are Business Traveler-Unfriendly Rules Back in Vogue at Some Carriers?

Lower earnings among major U.S. airlines have led some carriers to resurrect revenue-generating strategies — I call them "segmentation tactics" — that essentially penalize business travelers more than other ...READ»

Technology: Transparency in Pricing Means Technology in Practice

Fliers increasingly are warming up to the concept of choice, aka à la carte, meaning paying only for those services you want in the airport or on the plane. But going à la carte comprehensively, that is, across hundreds of ...READ»

China Enters Big Airframe Business

New York — In my December, 2006 North River Advisor, Airbus, I warned that Airbus’ continued weaknesses while global demand for fuel-efficient, jumbo commercial airliners explodes would attract a powerful new ...READ»

Bogota: Home of the World's Most Advanced Bus System?

Urban planners know a secret that you probably don't: The world's most advanced bus system is in Bogota, of all places. The city' ex-mayor, who created the system, is frequently asked to explain Bogota's bus system to city ...READ»

Will the U.S. Ever Get Serious About Train Travel?

With energy costs, pollution concerns, and traffic woes mounting, you better hope so. Hence the 400 new public transit projects that have been proposed in large and small regions from Massachusetts to Hawaii.READ»

United Airlines to Offer iPod and iPhone Connectivity

With gas prices soaring, and ticket prices soaring with them, the days of the airlines' price wars have likely ended. Now the onus is on each carrier to provide tangible perks that don't require hiring more flight attendants or ...READ»

Honeywell's GPS-based Landing Tech Could Save Airlines Billions

The first salvo against interminable flight delays is Honeywell's new GPS-based landing technology. It could also save billions for the airlines.READ»

• Inside the Next-Gen GPS-based Airplane Landing System

End of the Airline Giants?

Last month, Melissa mentioned Delta and United's management woes. Just recently, Delta's pilots have offered to take a 23 percent pay cut, resolving a deadlocked talk with the management. But company leaders say the cut is not ...READ»

Double-Decker Airplane Takes Flight

After six years of development and two years of delays, debate and red tape, The Airbus A380 Superjumbo (A modern-day Spruce Goose) is ready to fly commercial. Yesterday's meeting of the European Aviation Safety Agency and the ...READ»

On the Road Again?

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, San Francisco bureau chief George Anders wrote a story assessing what life would now be like for road warriors all over the United States. Then he boarded a plan for New Jersey. Here's his account.READ»

New Rules of the Road

What's it like up there, where legroom and stale peanuts used to be our biggest concerns? How are travelers navigating the new airport restrictions? Do you really need to check in two hours early? Share your firsthand accounts of airline travel today.READ»

How to Fly Right

Continental's turnaround pilot Bonnie Reitz explains how the airline survived the worst year in recent history and emerged victorious with better customer service, a reinvigorated brand, and big plans for the future.READ»

The Future of Air Travel

Get expert insights from Robert Buckman, Director of airline distribution strategy for Amadeus, on how air travel has changed, what trends are catching on, and what changes travelers can continue expect in the next few years.READ»

Another Messed Up Industry Makes Things Worse

A few days ago, I wrote about terrestial radio's forays to generate the kind of excitement and buzz that it needs to fend off the iPod and satellite radio. Now today comes this story in the New York Times (registration required) ...READ»