{"id":1426,"date":"2009-09-10T09:07:48","date_gmt":"2009-09-10T14:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1426"},"modified":"2016-12-17T01:45:36","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T07:45:36","slug":"on-the-road-republic-buys-frontier-global-entry-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/on-the-road-republic-buys-frontier-global-entry-expands\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Road: Republic buys Frontier, Global Entry expands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"flights\"By Joe Brancatelli<\/em><\/p>\n

BUYER’S MARKET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Republic Beats Southwest to Buy Frontier Airlines<\/strong>: Bankrupt Frontier Airlines was sold at auction in mid-August to Republic Airways, a holding company that owns a group of commuter carriers and recently purchased Midwest Airlines.<\/p>\n

The surprise loser: Southwest Airlines. Southwest was a late entrant into the Frontier bidding, but had made a conditional offer of $170 million, topping Republic’s bid of $108.75 million. However, Southwest’s interest was contingent on its pilots union coming to an agreement in advance with Frontier’s pilots union, and the two labor groups couldn’t come to a deal after several intense negotiating sessions. Republic also upped its offer by waiving any payout on an existing $150 million unsecured claim against Frontier’s estate.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Republic says that it will continue to operate both Denver-based Frontier and Milwaukee-based Midwest as separate airlines. But savvy travelers should expect the two airlines to link their frequent flier programs and share codes<\/strong> on each others’ flights<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

SECURITY WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n

Global Entry Expands to 20 International U.S. Airports<\/strong>: The domestic “registered traveler” program crashed and burned this spring, but the low-key program to speed up customs and immigration clearance for U.S. citizens returning from international destinations is expanding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Global Entry<\/a><\/strong>, which allows travelers to bypass regular passport control and use special biometric kiosks, has now reached 20 major airports. New Global Entry airports are Boston\/Logan; Dallas\/Fort Worth; Detroit\/Metro; Fort Lauderdale; Honolulu; Las Vegas; Newark; Orlando (both International and Sanford); Philadelphia; San Francisco; San Juan; and Seattle<\/strong>. Global Entry kiosks are already available in New York\/Kennedy; Houston\/Intercontinental; Washington\/Dulles; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Chicago\/O’Hare; and Miami.<\/p>\n

Global Entry costs $100 for five years and it is also valid for entry into Amsterdam, and thus the entire European Community, through the Flux Alliance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AIRPORT REPORT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stimulus Dollars May Be Wasted at Airports<\/strong>: The Inspector General of the Department of Transportation (DOT) says he isn’t thrilled with how stimulus money was allocated at the nation’s airports. Calvin Scovel said at least 50 funded projects didn’t meet the DOT’s grant criteria, and the Obama Administration approved projects at four more airports with a history of mismanaging federal funds.<\/p>\n

One of the notable bad ideas: $14 million to replace the airfield in Akiachak, Alaska. The village has about 600 residents and one seaplane and it is just 14 nautical miles from Bethel, which has seven commercial carriers. And four airports received stim funds even though they don’t have commercial service. The grants to airports with a dodgy history with federal funds? They are located in Guam; Owensboro, Kentucky; Pitkin County, Colorado; and Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n