Airline briefs include lastest TSA scandal
Cost of merger
What’s it worth to help put together the world’s largest airline? About $13.4 million, or triple what Jeffrey Smisek was paid before he helped engineer the merger of United and Continental Airlines.
More than half the compensation for the airline’s CEO came from stock awards, including incentives for the merger that created United Continental Holdings Inc.
TSA does it again
In the TSA’s latest scandal, two current and two former TSA employees allowed large shipments of narcotics to pass through security at Los Angeles International Airport in exchange for cash, said federal authorities.
According to a 22-count jury indictment, the TSA employees took payments of as mush as $2400 to allow suitcases filled with cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to pass through X-ray machines at LAX, said AP.
The TSA employees allegedly conspired with other drug couriers or an undercover operative working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to smuggle narcotics through checkpoints.
If convicted, each of the current and former TSA officials could be sentenced to life in prison.
And more food for thought from the airlines
HMSHost unveiled a smartphone application at Sacramento International Airport that lets travelers order from dozens of restaurants and have the food delivered at their departure gate.
The Bethesda, Md.-based company behind the move launched an identical app a year ago at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The application is free and called B4 YOU BOARD. It is available for Apple and Android operating systems.
"B4 YOU BOARD is a great way to take some of the stress out of flying," said G. hardy Acree, director of airports, in a statement.
The app was named by USA Today as one of the five apps every traveler should have.
By David Wilkening
David
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