ATA Disappointed in Failure of Speculation Bill
“We are disappointed that the House of Representatives was unable to take even this modest first step toward curbing the excessive speculation that has contributed to the massive run-up in oil prices,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May in commenting on the failure of the House of Representatives to pass HR-6604, the Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act. “Unfortunately, this signals to the speculator community that more profits can still be leveraged at the expense of the American consumer. Just today, we are seeing another example of a self-serving ‘expert prediction’ of $150 per barrel oil, followed by a substantial price spike.”

AK, Horizon Link to Korean Air
Travelers in the Pacific Northwest will have better access to Asia with the new partnership between Korean Air and Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. The carriers have entered into a code-share agreement and expanded frequent flier partnership that will allow members to earn and redeem miles in either Korean Air's SKYPASS or the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. This is the fifth partnership that Korean Air shares with U.S. carriers.
Customers can take advantage of the new partnership from Korean Air's West Coast gateways of Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with connecting flights from other points throughout the Pacific Northwest. The agreement starts August 1, and customers can begin earning and redeeming miles starting Sept. 3.
"This new codeshare agreement will significantly benefit customers traveling from the Pacific Northwest and California to Asia and other international destinations, taking advantage of Korean Air's extensive network," said Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of finance and planning and chief financial officer. "Customers will be able to purchase a single ticket, check bags only once and enjoy convenient connections to their final Korean Air destination, while also earning Mileage Plan frequent flier miles."
"Our new partnership will solidify Korean Air's leadership in the trans-Pacific market from the Pacific Northwest," said John Jackson, Korean Air's director of sales and marketing for the Americas. "This fills out our North American network and complements our partnerships with other U.S. airlines," Jackson added. "Alaska Airlines, along with its sister carrier Horizon Air, is the leader in the western United States, and we know this partnership will provide significant benefits for both airlines' passengers."

Porter Extends Quebec City-Toronto
Porter Airlines will continue flying year-round between Quebec City and Toronto City Center Airport (TCCA) after its summer schedule concludes Sept. 2. The ongoing roundtrip flights will operate every weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with daily summer service resuming next year. Special holiday schedules, including everyday flights from Dec. 17 to Jan. 7, are also part of the program. The regular fall schedule features morning and midday departures.