Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM signed a deal to combine two separate joint venture agreements into one to create a trans- Atlantic powerhouse that’s expected to generate $12 billion in annual revenue, provide better travel options for customers and more closely align the carriers’ operations without a formal merger. Passengers get more nonstop fl ights between major cities in the U.S. and

Europe, while competition and the weak global economy will likely mean fares won’t be affected too much. The airlines aren’t merging, and no subsidiary will be created, but airline consultant Darryl Jenkins said the equal sharing of revenue and costs regardless of who is fl ying the plane means the carriers will essentially act as one airline on certain routes. “This is a very big deal,” Jenkins said. The latest announcement comes at a time when many people’s fi nances are shaky and demand for air travel has weakened. In Delta’s case, it said in April that it will institute a $50 fee for most passengers to check a second bag on

an international flight. The new checked bag fee is for travel beginning July 1. It also has plans to cut international capacity by 10 percent starting in September. And Delta has said it would ground 40 to 50 mainline aircraft and remove 30 regional jets from service. The joint venture will help Delta and Air France-KLM weather the current economic situation and protect their product offerings, they said.

The airline’s frequent fl yer program gets Freddie Awards for “Best Customer Service” and “Best Bonus Promotion” Kingfi sher Airlines has been awarded the “BEST REGIONAL AIRLINE OF THE YEAR - 2008” by SKYTRAX, the world’s leading, independent travel forum and air travel information organization. SKYTRAX recognizes the20best airlines globally and organizes the World Airline Awards. These awards are designed to honor

excellence amongst international carriers and are considered very prestigious. The award was presented at a glittering ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, earlier this month. Kingfi sher Airlines won two Freddie Awards for King Club, the carrier’s frequent fl yer program. King Club received an award for the Best Bonus Promotion (Japan, Pacifi c, Asia, and Australia) and another award for Best Customer Service (Japan, Pacifi c, Asia, and Australia). The Freddie Awards are widely acknowledged as the Frequent Travelers’ equivalent of the Oscar Awards. Each year, the Freddie Awards provide frequent travelers a chance to voice their opinions about their favorite frequent travel programs. The awards honor the best programs throughout the world, as decided by those who know these programs best -- the frequent traveling public. Frequent guest and frequent fl yer programs from around the world compete in nine Freddie Award categories, culminating in the highly coveted Program of the Year award.

As usual with far-reaching government mandates, one size rarely fi ts all. Cap and trade does not fi t the airline industry. Airlines do not have access to alternative fuels or new planes that burn signifi cantly less fuel. Cap and trade is an incentive to change behavior. But the only way airlines today can change behavior is to stop flying. Since that is not a viable alternative, cap and trade really just means cap and tax.