AIR FRANCE PASSENGERS IN TOULOUSE EXPERIENCE A SEAMLESS JOURNEY WITH NFC BASED SMARTPHONESDate:2 July 2014Location:Toulouse, France

Air France, Orange, SITA, Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and RESA have joined forces to provide the first seamless boarding experience in Europe with Near Field Communications (NFC) technology.Over the next six months, the Touch&Pass app will allow a panel of passengers travelling on Air France flights from Toulouse-Blagnac to Paris-Orly to use their Orange NFC-based smartphones to quickly and conveniently move through the airportfrom the airport entrance until they board their plane.

The technology will enable passengers to automatically receive their NFC boarding pass on their smartphones using their usual check-in method. By simply tapping their mobile on dedicated readers in the airport, they will then be able to quickly and easily pass through the different steps of their journey, including priority lanes for security control, lounge access and boarding.

The boarding pass will be read automatically, even if the phone is locked, or the battery is dead. By leveraging the technical specification developed by SITA, the RESA reader can retrieve the correct boarding pass, even if there are multiple boarding passes present on the phone. In addition to saving time, passengers will benefit from a comfortable, stress-free journey, with no need to search for and display a barcode or a printed document.

Jean-Christophe Gaudeau, Ground Product Innovation Manager at Air France KLM, said: "Air France is committed to constantly searching for new products, innovative solutions and services that can improve the travel experience for our customers and make their trip easier before, during and after their flight. Air France's participation in the testing of NFC technology at boarding illustrates its desire to be a pioneer in the field of innovation for the benefit of our passengers.

Jim Peters, Chief Technology Officer, SITA, said: This is a perfect example of how SITA and our strategic research arm, SITA Lab, collaborate with our partners to test a variety of new technologies and lead innovation in the air transport industry. This trial with Air France and Orange marks the first NFC boarding pass that provides a truly interoperable and scalable solution for the industry.

Thierry Millet, Vice President of Mobile Payments and Contactless Program at Orange, said, NFC technology allows Air France passengers to test this new way to embark. Its simpler and faster. The new solution relies on two industry standards: an IATA standard from the air transport industry and an NFC standard from GSMA for the mobile industry. This opens the door to a large-scale industrial roll-out.

Renaud Willard, Sales & Marketing Director, RESA, said, Making passenger facilitation its top priority, RESA has seamlessly integrated NFC technology into the daily operations of Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. NFC brings speed, easiness and a paperless experience to the airport environment. Passengers dont have to think any longer about their boarding pass, the battery life of their smartphone or the rotation of their screen. They just walk through the airport, simply tapping their phone on the RESA readers.

Air France and Orange will invite a few hundred Air France Gold and Platinum Flying Blue members to participate in the trial. Orange will provide the NFC infrastructure and SIM cards for the trial. SITA has developed the NFC specifications that enable this technology to work in an airport environment, a toolkit for mobile integration and the boarding pass delivery infrastructure between Air France and Orange. Air France will provide the Touch&Pass NFC apps for the smartphones, and RESA will provide the check-in, boarding, and fast-lane processing systems for Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, including e-Gates for security checks and self-boarding.

The trial will run until 31 Dec, 2014 on the popular flight from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport to Paris-Orly Airport.

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is the fifth-largest airport in France based on passenger traffic and a leading business airport. In 2013, the airport served more than 7.5 million passengers, up 0.1% from the year before. The airport provides services to 32 airlines with regularly scheduled flights to 16 domestic locations and 43 international connections.

POINT OF VIEWHighly-technolgize generationFor over so many years of evolution, came up with an impossible idea turned into the believable and possible one. Now digital and state of the art gadgets play vital roles on transaction, communication, and even on travel processes.The technology will enable passengers to automatically receive their NFC boarding pass on their smartphones using their usual check-in method. By simply tapping their mobile on dedicated readers in the airport, they will then be able to quickly and easily pass through the different steps of their journey, including priority lanes for security control, lounge access and boarding.It then gives ease to those who are trip lovers either for pleasure travel or business purposes. By means of smartphones, you dont have to feel the cramming lines, and evidently unpleasant feeling of filling processes during boarding times.Since Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is, the fifth-largest airport in France based on passenger traffic and a leading business airport. In 2013, the airport served more than 7.5 million passengers, up 0.1% from the year before. The airport provides services to 32 airlines with regularly scheduled flights to 16 domestic locations and 43 international connections, meaning Toulouse-Blagnac Airport tend to be one of the alleged influential and popular airports. Then probably, some airports in different part of the world will adapt their standards and practices as well.Overall, one nation must be particular on how they would cope up on the fast changing world and still put in mind the consequences of their future actions.MH370 mars otherwise improved safety performance for first half of 2014

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 casts a shadow over a set of excellent global airline safety figures for the first half of 2014, that would otherwise surpass previous records by a big margin.

However, MH370 cannot yet be declared an "accident". The official line at present is that its loss was probably the result of deliberate action by someone on board.

MH370 disappeared on 8 March. The Boeing 777-200ER was last seen on radar over the Andaman Sea, and no trace of it or the 239 people on board has been found since.

If this event is included as an accident and the death of those on board is assumed a preliminary estimate of airline fatal accidents in the first six months of 2014 shows six, and the total number of resultant deaths is 267.

That compares with the previous global best-ever period January-June 2013 in which there were nine fatal accidents and 58 fatalities.

If MH370 is omitted, the figures for this year are five fatal accidents and 28 fatalities almost one-half the previous all-time record, and a tribute to the industry's safety endeavours.

Those figures include all fatal accidents involving all types of airline operations, incorporating pure freight and ferry flights.Apart from MH370, the largest passenger aircraft involved in a fatal accident this year so far was a 19-seater Nepal Airlines de Havilland Canada Twin Otter. The other accidents all involved non-passenger operations.These figures are an initial estimate made immediately upon completion of the period under study.

A full analysis of 2014 airline safety performance so far, the factors driving it and the changing risks of the modern airline operating environment will be published in the 29 July-4 August issue of Flight International. That will include analysis of significant non-fatal airline accidents.

POINT OF VIEWPuzzled, yet left undone and uncertain.The mysterious disappearance of MH370 has been a very big question mark on everybodys mind with more than 4 months missing and still an unresolved case of where the aircraft and the passenger went.News has never fail to forecast to the world on how and what the families of the victims feel over the missing aircraft. On the other hand, the company of the said airline should fully take over the responsibilities with regards to the missing planes case. Some says it was a manipulated scenario by which one on-board crew wants to commit suicide and that the passengers were unintentionally became victims of the dark tragedy. With this, airline industry must always check the ability and capability of every crew or pilot before any travel were to be conducted before hand. Not only physical capability, but also mental, and emotional capability should be a test to ensure and guarantee the safety of the passengers.Every aircraft should always be equipped with enough GPRS to trace the location of every plane on travel aboard. This way, the level of risk and harm on every plane and passengers is guaranteed assured and safe.United Leads U.S. Airlines Fall on World Bank, LufthansaUnited Continental Holdings (UAL) and Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) fell the most in about two months after the World Bank reduced its global growth outlook and Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) cut its earnings forecast. United fell 5.2 percent to $45.26 in New York, the biggest drop for the Chicago-based airline since April 24. Atlanta-based Delta fell 2.9 percent to $40.71, its biggest decline since April 10. A prediction by the World Bank that the global economy would grow by 2.8 percent this year, instead of a previous forecast of 3.2 percent, probably weighed on stocks, Kevin Crissey, an analyst with Skyline Research in Mahwah, New Jersey, said. Stock Indexes in the U.S. and Europe declined. Adding to the concern, investors probably were spooked by Lufthansas warning that operating profit will come to about 1 billion euros ($1.35 billion) in 2014, or as much as 500 million euros less than previously forecast, and 2 billion euros in 2015, or 650 million euros short, two analysts said. Increased competition from Middle Eastern airlines and labor trouble among its pilots also weighed on Koeln, Germany-based Lufthansa. Neither Crissey nor Bob McAdoo, an analyst at Imperial Capital in Los Angeles, sees the U.S. airline industry facing the same threats from Gulf carriers as Lufthansa and other European airlines. United doesnt fly routes from Germany or Scotland to India or the Middle East and doesnt have to worry as much about Etihad Airways PJSC or Emirates stealing customers, McAdoo said. Our revenue stream does not appear to be impaired, McAdoo said. Our own people are talking about things being just fine from a revenue point of view.

POINT OF VIEWEvery business ventures really face and come up to their time of downfall. The challenge there is on how you can manage it and work on it to maintain and have everything in control.If United Continental Holdings (UAL) and Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) fell the most in about two months after the World Bank reduced its global growth outlook and Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) cut its earnings forecast then it would really greatly affect the sales of its company.Neither then, the company itself shall provide, promote, and think of an effective and efficient strategic plan in order for things to hold up together.European countries such those that were stated above face threats on their line of ventures and therefore, they must really think of fast action on the matter or else they were face the unpleasant consequence made by it.Southwest inaugurates international service

Southwest Airlines first international flights take off today, kicking off the carriers next round of expansion beyond the borders of the USA.The Dallas-based carriers first international service to Aruba from Baltimore/Washington International airport departed this morning, and will be followed by flights to Montego Bay and Nassau from the airport later today.Southwest will also operate service from Atlanta to both Aruba and Montego Bay today, as well as from Orlando to Montego Bay. On 5 July, it will commence weekly service between Orlando and Aruba.The carrier will operate twice daily to Montego Bay from Baltimore/Washington and daily on all of the other routes.The flights were previously operated by AirTran Airways, which Southwest acquired in May 2011 and is integrating into its own operations.We are expanding upon Airtran's legacy and making it Southwest, says Jack Smith, Southwest senior vice-president of operations at an event marking the flights at Baltimore/Washington airport.Southwest, when it acquired AirTran, was not able to take over the latters international flights immediately due to limits in its reservations system. Southwest subsequently chose Amadeus to supply a new reservations system to allow it to sell international flights.The carrier will continue to convert more of AirTran international flights to Southwest metal later this year. From 10 August, Southwest will take over AirTrans flights to Cancun from Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington and Milwaukee, as well as those on the Atlanta-Nassau and Orange County-Los Cabos routes.From 7 October, Southwest will transition flights from Denver to Cancun, and from Denver to Los Cabos to its own operations. This will be followed by the conversion of Chicago Midway-Cancun from 2 November.Also from 2 November, Southwest will add the final two AirTran international destinations Mexico City and Punta Cana to Southwest s network and finish the conversion of Cancun and Montego Bay.AirTran will completely integrate into Southwest by end-2014, with the final AirTran flight to operate on 28 December between Atlanta and Tampa Bay

POINT OF VIEWWe are expanding upon Airtran's legacy and making it Southwest, says Jack Smith, Southwest senior vice-president of operations at an event marking the flights at Baltimore/Washington airport.The following statements were genuine evidence of triumpathy that is evident in making such expansion projects. A good management means also a good outcome of product ability.The Dallas-based carriers first international service to Aruba from Baltimore/Washington International airport departed this morning, and will be followed by flights to Montego Bay and Nassau from the airport later today.Southwest will also operate service from Atlanta to both Aruba and Montego Bay today, as well as from Orlando to Montego Bay. On 5 July, it will commence weekly service between Orlando and Aruba.New and beginners of the ventures must always and never neglect the standardize services and appropriate conducts in order for them to stay in line of the business. A personalize service will be a better foundation on the familiarity and satisfaction of the guest or the future clients. It renders or caters not only the standardize way of service but also with personalize and professional touch.

PAL launches today new service between Manila and Tokyo-HanedaFlag carrier gains rights to fly business travelers right into the heart of the city. Philippine Airlines begins its double daily service between Manila and Tokyo-Haneda today March 30, 2014 making PAL the biggest carrier servicing direct flights between the Philippines and Japan.PAL's new route presents limitless opportunities to further develop trade and tourism between the two countries. Business travelers prefer Tokyo-Haneda airport amid its proximity to Tokyo's central business district.Haneda International Airport, which is 30 mins away from Central Tokyo, is a popular hub for business travelers and passengers who wish to take the quickest route to the city. The airport, which has one domestic and two international passenger terminals is only 14 kilometers away from Tokyo by monorail.Narita airport, on the other hand, is about 64 kilometers east of Tokyo. This access to fly travelers right into the heart of the city is seen to provide an advantage to PAL due to its strategic location and attractive arrival and departure times.The flag carrier's new service complements its thrice a day flights from Manila to Tokyo Narita Airport."With this service, and what we already have, we are providing both our Japanese and Filipino customers the benefit of choice in terms of which gateway best suits their travel itinerary. As the operator of the Philippines' flag carrier, we are deeply honored to serve as a bridge by which tourism and business between our two countries can grow," said PAL president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang. On top of these flights, PAL also has two daily flights between Cebu City and Tokyo.By far, PAL has the largest presence in Japan with a total of 11 flights daily to Manila from various points including Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya.The Philippines remains a popular holiday destination for Japanese tourists making Japan the third largest source of tourists with more than 400,000 arrivals in 2013, according to the Philippine Department of Tourism. On the other hand, more than 90,000 Filipinos visited Japan in 2012.

POINT OF VIEWPhilippines Flag carrier gains rights on flying business travelers right into the heart of the city. Philippine Airlines begins its double daily service between Manila and Tokyo-Haneda today March 30, 2014 making PAL the biggest carrier servicing direct flights between the Philippines and Japan. With this offer, the Philippine Airline tends to attract more customer and valued guests because of their new promo and even lower rates.The use of new promos and lower rates really attract and magnet future and new customers of guests but somehow, the quality of service must not be sacrificed not withstanding that the perception of others about cheaper rates is equivalent to poor-service crews or management.Everyone shall tend to shoulder that the fact of using these marketing strategy promotion have their edges, advantage, and even disadvantages. All they have to do is to prove that satisfaction and great service will remain constant.Since Philippine Airline has been in the industry for so many years, it is undoubtly show that many people patronize the airline company.At the very end of the day, the name of the industry and its good reputation must always be taken care of.Air India may hire more cabin crew to raise standardsMUMBAI: Air India's top executives are set to renew discussions on hiring additional cabin crew as a way of "improving service standards" after the national carrier recently joined global airline group Star Alliance, a person familiar with the matter said.

The airline's customer-service division has raised the issue but no number has yet been proposed to the human resources department, this person said. The proposal would go against the grain of Air India's efforts to cut its massive wage bill. The airline hasn't made any such recruitment in the past few years, though a proposal had been made last year too to hire cabin crew.

Air India has 3,400 cabin crew of its own and another 800 on contract. Before getting into Star Alliance, the airline had an internal target to cut the number to 2,100. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulator, has stipulated a minimum number of cabin crew for each aircraft type, but airlines usually deploy more. "For instance, for a 787 Dreamliner, the minimum number is seven, which can be increased to nine. But now there may be a proposal for 11," the person said.

Air India on June 23 became the 27th member of the alliance, which includes Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Air India has in the past six months terminated 45 cabin crew on ground of absenteeism and will be serving final notices to 59 more over the next month and half. Air India once synonymous with its royal mascot, the Maharajah has in the past seven years made heavy losses after a hasty merger with erstwhile domestic carrier Indian Airlines.

The airline has been hit by high fuel costs and tough competition but is also plagued by overstaffing. Being state-run, it also has to operate on some unprofitable routes. It has been working hard to reduce costs. Last January, it implemented a 25% salary cut across employees, although it also promoted 6,000 of them. It eliminated several perks, including one that allowed employees to get cash against sick leaves that they didn't avail of.

Air India's salary bill has reduced by Rs 400 crore in two years to Rs 3,100 crore in the fiscal year ended on March 31, 2014. Its revenue per employee increased to Rs 99 lakh from Rs 59 lakh in 2011-12, while expenditure reduced to Rs 13 lakh per staff fromRs 17 lakh. Its losses last year reduced by a quarter to about Rs 4,000 crore. Air India currently has 23,034 employees, down from more than 33,000 at the time of the merger.

The carrier in January hived off its ground handing and engineering operations into two separate units. Barring employees in those, its headcount is just above 13,000, the executive said. It also employs 3,500 on contract and 2,200 casual labourers.

POINT OF VIEWThe airline's customer-service division has raised the issue but no number has yet been proposed to the human resources department, this person said. The proposal would go against the grain of Air India's efforts to cut its massive wage bill. The airline hasn't made any such recruitment in the past few years, though a proposal had been made last year too to hire cabin crew.There is always a work whenever there is tourism. And tourism transactions are only scattered everywhere if only people will be so sensible to notice it all at once. Mumbais proposal of having in need of crews and staffs are of great opportunity not only for those who are searching for work but most especially to those who take Tourism courses.Since they tend to acquire massive wage bill cut, it still has their advantages and soon will yield of criticism at the end of the day. But the bottomline of the story is the willingness and great opportunity of every individuals to hook a good job to earn a living.Air India on June 23 became the 27th member of the alliance, which includes Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Air India has in the past six months terminated 45 cabin crew on ground of absenteeism and will be serving final notices to 59 more over the next month and half. Air India once synonymous with its royal mascot, the Maharajah has in the past seven years made heavy losses after a hasty merger with erstwhile domestic carrier Indian Airlines.Every recruitment shall always be reminded of the right category in order to select the best among the sea of applicants.Air France to extend cabin upgrade to A330s and A380s

Air France will extend a cabin revamp to its long-haul Airbus A330s and A380s, as part of a 1 billion ($1.36 billion) investment in upgrading the carrier's product.The SkyTeam airline had earlier announced the revamp for its Boeing 777s, and is in the midst of retrofitting 44 777s in a project to be completed by mid-2016.Air France executives announced in an event in New York today that the carrier will spend 300 million to retrofit 15 A330s and 10 A380s with the refurbished cabin as well."The A330s will be completed by early 2017, and the A380s will be reconfigured starting from the second half of 2017," Bruno Matheu, the airline's chief officer of long-haul passenger activity, tells Flightglobal.Air France operated the first 777 with the refurbished cabin on its Paris-New York route on 24 June.The 300 million to be spent on the A330s and A380s is part of the 1 billion Air France-KLM is investing in improving its product on its long-haul routes. The company is spending 500 million on the 777s and 200 million to refurbish KLM's Boeing 747s and 777s.Air France's new cabin interior will offer seats in four classes: A first class product called La Premiere, business class, premium economy and economy. La Premiere will be offered only on 19 of the 44 777s undergoing refurbishment.Besides new seats, the airline is also upgrading the in-flight entertainment systems across the different classes.Air France-KLM Group Chief Executive Alexandre de Juniac says the cabin improvements come as the carrier seeks to become one of the top three international carriers in the world by 2016 in terms of product offering.The airline group will offer standardised interiors when it receives its new long-haul jets, says Matheu. Both Air France and KLM have orders for the Boeing 787-9, and Air France also holds orders for the Airbus A350.Matheu says the group expects its first 787-9 in end-2016, and the first A350 in end-2018.sThe new cabin improvements will not be extended to Air France's Airbus A340s, which the carrier plans to phase out eventually and replace with the 787s, says Matheu. Air France operates 13 A340-300s, Flightglobal's Ascend Fleets database shows.

POINT OF VIEWAir France will extend a cabin revamp to its long-haul Airbus A330s and A380s, as part of a 1 billion ($1.36 billion) investment in upgrading the carrier's product.The SkyTeam airline had earlier announced the revamp for its Boeing 777s, and is in the midst of retrofitting 44 777s in a project to be completed by mid-2016.Air France's new cabin interior will offer seats in four classes: A first class product called La Premiere, business class, premium economy and economy. La Premiere will be offered only on 19 of the 44 777s undergoing refurbishment.It is always needed for every industry especially to those which renders mechanical serces to undergone restoration or maintenance in order for them to assure the safety of every passengers who will ride on board. To lessen the accidents and any unusual and unwanted things to happen.The new and more upgraded cabin interior of Air France will surely be loved and patronize by the people mostly because of its state of the art materials and even offer seats that are of four classes.Standard economy seats for passengers are always available but the superior one is really the one fascinating and catchy for others.

FAA sets deadline for 787-9 RAT fixThe US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives Boeing until 31 December to show that a redesigned component in the ram air turbine of the 787-9 meets airworthiness guidelines, the agency says in a new filing.Boeing is redesigning the generator control unit in the ram air turbine after one device failed to produce electrical power on one recent flight test and on three subsequent tests on the ground.Although the ram air turbine was deemed non-compliant with airworthiness regulations, the FAA approved a time-limited exemption as it awarded a type certificate for the 787-9 on 13 June.Boeing must prove that the redesign meets airworthiness criteria and submit the test data to the FAA by 31 December, the agency says in an 8-page filed dated 12 June, which was posted in the Department of Transportations online docket eight days later.In the meantime, Boeing showed that the odds are extremely improbable that the current design defect in the ram air turbine will reduce the safety of the 787-9.The ram air turbine provides back-up power for the flight controls and avionics if both engines on the 787-9 shut down, but it is rarely needed. Modern aircraft engines rarely fail, and a dual engine shutdown is even more rare. The onboard battery can fully power the flight controls and avionics for 10min, allowing the flightcrew time to activate the auxiliary power unit to take over the load, the FAA filing says.The ram air turbine is only necessary if the engines cannot be started and the APU fails to activate within 10min.The odds of a dual engine failure, APU failure and a ram air turbine failure are highly remote, the FAA concludes.Boeing now six months to prove that the redesigned generator control unit will reliably produce electrical power if needed, as required by airworthiness regulations.The time-limited exemption for the existing design of the ram air turbine expires at the end of February, the FAA says.The agency also approved a similar time-limited exemption for an overly sensitive altitude select knob on the mode control panel, giving Boeing until the end of March to submit data showing the redesign functions properly.Both exemptions allow Boeing to deliver the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand at the end of June.

POINT OF VIEWThe US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives Boeing until 31 December to show that a redesigned component in the ram air turbine of the 787-9 meets airworthiness guidelines, the agency says in a new filing.Boeing is redesigning the generator control unit in the ram air turbine after one device failed to produce electrical power on one recent flight test and on three subsequent tests on the ground.Ram air turbine is commonly known by the acronymRAT is a smallturbinethat is connected to a hydraulic pump, orelectrical generator, installed in anaircraftand used as a power source. The RAT generates power from the airstream byram pressuredue to the speed of the aircraft.With the exception of modern aircraft only use RATs in an emergency in case of the loss of both primary and auxiliary power sources the RAT will power vital systems (flight controls, linked hydraulics and also flight-critical instrumentation). Some RATs produce only hydraulic power, which is in turn used to power electrical generators. In some early aircraft (including airships), small RATs were permanently mounted and operated a small electrical generator orfuel pump.Modern aircraft generate power in the main engines or an additional fuel-burning turbine enginecalled anauxiliary power unit, which is often mounted in the rear of the fulsageor in the main-wheel well. The RAT generates power from the airstream due to the speed of the aircraft. If aircraft speeds are low, the RAT will produce less power. In normal conditions the RAT is retracted into the fuselage (or wing), and is deployed manually or automatically following complete loss of power. In the time between power loss and RAT deployment, batteries are used.Then therefore it is very essential in flying a plane so they must always need to ensure that it works in good condition and of good and proper maintenance.Why Alaska Air Group Stands Out in the Airline IndustryByJonathan Maltsman|More ArticlesJuly 2, 2014|Comments (0)In an industry notorious for poor customer service and inefficient management,Alaska Air Group(NYSE:ALK) flips both scripts, and its outstanding performance continues to reward shareholders. Alaska Air Group is a holding company for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Its stock has appreciated 87% in the past year, largely attributed to the rise of the entire airline industry. However, Alaska still stands out from the crowd for many reasons. The company's efficient management, which is dedicated to rewarding both customers and shareholders, has done a great deal to optimize its operations. Alaska Airlines' attractive valuation, top-ranked customer service, and excellent management make the stock very attractive.Alaska Airlines' heap of coveted awards provides ample evidence for the great service it provides its customers. These include a first place ranking atopTheWall StreetJournal's "Best (and Worst) Airlines" list, which ranks nine carriers based on factors such as on-time arrivals, cancellations, and passenger complaints, and, for the seventh year in a row, an award from J.D. Power for the highest customer satisfaction among North American airline carriers. Alaska's reputation for great customer serviceshowcases its operational efficiency and likely will continue to attract customers, scoring profits for years to come.Looking at the company's balance sheet, the airline's industry-leading profit margins and lack of debt provide additional evidence for its exceptional management. The company is extremely capable of managing costs and debt, and growing revenue. Alaska Air Group achieved a pre-tax margin of 12.4% in 2013, the third highest in its industry, as well as a return on invested capital of 13.6%, which ranked second. Additionally, it achieved an astounding 30% return to equity. Alaska Air Group has surprisingly little debt for an airline company. It has slashed its debt from $1.8 billion in 2009 to less than $900 million in 2013. Its debt to equityratio is 0.4 and its current ratio is 1.1, providing security for when something unexpected occurs, as well as extra cash to reinvest in the company or return to shareholders. In comparison, competitorsJet BlueandDelta Air Lineshave debt to equity ratios of 123 and 94, respectively. Alaska's efficient management has ensured fluid revenue and earnings growth. Despite turbulence in the airline industry, the company has been profitable for the past 10 years. Alaska Air Group's revenue stands at $5 billion, with net income of $508 million.

POINT OF VIEWIf Alaska Air's market capitalization does not justify its true value. The company is very stable, as evidenced by its high margins and lack of debt, and has a track record of revenue and profit growth. In addition, management juices returns by growing the dividend and buying back stock. Despite the factors I outlined in this article, Alaska stock trades at a low price to earnings ratio of 12.87, far less than the P/E of theS&P 500, which stands at 17, as well as theS&P Transportation ETF's multiple of 16. Valuing the company based on its growth, Alaska Air has a price to earnings growth ratio (PEG Ratio) of 0.88. Any valuation under one is considered undervalued. With EPS forecasted to grow 14% over the next five years, Alaska stock can appreciate both through earnings growth and multiple expansion.To summarize, Alaska Air Group stands out in both the airline industry and the market as a whole due to its outstanding customer service, excellent management and ability to reward shareholders. These factors clearly invalidate the stock's modest valuation. In a market like this, finding a high quality business like Alaska Air Group at such a low price is extremely rare. Whenassessingan investment, I look for three characteristics: disruption of an industry or sector, highly efficient management and undervaluation. Alaska Air fits into all three groups, making both the company and its stock very attractive.Travel expert says airlines are tightening carry-on rulesTravel pro George Hobica experienced something last month at New York LaGuardia Airport that had never happened to him before the airline rejected his carry-on bag.Told by an American Airlines Inc. representative that his 15-inch-wide bag exceeded the airlines 14-inch width limit for carry-ons, Hobica was sent trudging from the security checkpoint back to the ticket counter to check his bag.He made his flight, but he came away from the experience convinced that something has changed at the airlines if not the rules, then the enforcement of those rules.Theyre being persnickety, Hobica, Airfarewatchdog.com president, suggested Thursday.Hobica didnt know if his was an isolated incident. But after he recounted his experience in an article in early June, he heard from many other travelers saying they too had been caught in a carry-on crackdown, not just on American but other big carriers.A lot of people said, I had the same problem. Same thing happened to me. Same thing happened to me, but different airline, Hobica said.The sizes have been more or less the same, but the policies as far as enforcement have definitely changed, Hobica said.American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said Thursday that his carriers policies for the size of carry-ons have been the same since 2008, although it recently made merger partner US Airways policies consistent with Americans.American and US Airways, as well as Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Inc., have the same size limits: The length of a carry-on bag can be no more than 22 inches, the width can be no more than 14 inches and the depth can be no more than 9 inches.The size restrictions have not changed. In 2008, we introduced the 22-by-14-by-9 bag sizers. In 2010, we standardized measurements by putting signage out that says that all bags must fit in the sizers and not exceed those dimensions, Miller said.Some other U.S. carriers have higher limits. Southwest Airlines Co., Frontier Airlines Inc., Virgin America Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp. all set the limits at 24 by 16 by 10 inches. (Frontier began charging travelers a minimum of $25 for a carry-on bag this spring.)In June, American and US Airways added some flexibility to allow some odd-shaped items like poster tubes that exceed the 22-inch length limit but whose length, width and depth total no more than 45 inches. In addition, theyll allow soft-sided garment bags if the three dimensions dont exceed 51 inches.Miller said the carry-on rules are designed to help the carriers get their flights out on time. In addition, its important for American and US Airways to align their policies as they prepare to eventually put their operations together, he said.Hobica said United in March changed its rules to make its carry-on limits more restrictive. Before, its contract of carriage said that no side of the bag could be more than 22 inches and the total of the three dimensions could not exceed 45 inches. Now, the rules spell out the maximums of 22, 14 and 9 inches, he said.United recently began requiring online ticket purchasers to click a box showing that they have read and understand the carriers carry-on policy and limits, Hobica said.On the other hand, Uniteds bag sizers the boxes at the airport that travelers can put their bags in to see if they are within limits allow lengths of 23 inches and widths of 15 inches, Hobica said.

POINT OF VIEWA lot of people said, I had the same problem. Same thing happened to me. Same thing happened to me, but different airline,It is a very sad scenario and reason that whatever you do to the clients or guest, they will still always find their way to do comparison in between your airline company to the competitors company. The good thing is that, it will serve as your motivator to keep striving and keep on upgrading not only your amenities but also your service in order to stay longer in the business industry.The key to any good negotiation and transaction is a good camaraderie and developing being humane to others.That way, you can always gain the trust of your clients and passengers to keep on patronizing your company and your good service as well.