– Virgin Atlantic Airways is suspending flights to Chicago beginning next month. The moves are part of a 20 percent reduction in service, which also includes suspension of flights to Toronto, in the wake of this month’s terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The airline said it would continue current flight patterns through the month to clear backlogs of passengers stranded while flights to the U.S. were grounded in the days after the attacks.
– Ansett, Australia’s second-largest airline and a member of the Star Alliance of worldwide carriers, has been grounded after parent company Air New Zealand failed to find a buyer for the unprofitable carrier. Australia’s largest carrier, Qantas, rejected Air New Zealand’s plea for it to buy all or parts of the carrier. Air New Zealand was in danger of collapse until the New Zealand government and major shareholders, including Singapore Airlines, announced a $233 million rescue package. Singapore is also a member of the Star Alliance, led by United Airlines.
