Washington – Airline passengers can expect more delays as airplanes crowd the skies, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.
The agency expects an average of 1.4 million more takeoffs and landings – the equivalent of traffic at two Dallas-Fort Worth International Airports – every year until 2020. In 2006, air-traffic controllers handled 61.1 million takeoffs and landings.
“Delays are mounting due to congested airspace and congested airports,” FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said. “The congestion is really becoming a chronic thing.” She said 2006 was the worst year for delays, and 2007 isn’t looking any better. Last year, more than 490,000 flights departed or arrived late, she said.
The agency predicts airline traffic will grow faster at hub airports than at smaller ones. Washington’s Dulles International Airport is expected to grow the most – 68 percent by 2020. Air traffic at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will grow by 59 percent, followed by Los Angeles International Airport at 54 percent and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 38 percent, the FAA forecast.
More business briefs
DENVER
Convention bureau globalizing website
IAL Services announced Thursday it has been hired by the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau to globalize its website, as the city prepares for an influx of international attention from upcoming events such as the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Denver-based IAL Services will translate the convention bureau’s website, Denver.org, into Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian and German over the next few months.
DENVER
2 brokerages merge real-estate talents
David/Hicks Brokerage Inc. and Lampert Properties Inc. announced Thursday that they are joining forces to create one of Colorado’s largest retail real-estate brokerage firms.
The combined company, David/Hicks & Lampert Retail Brokerage LLC, will be based in Denver and will continue to serve developers, landlords and tenants in the retail real-estate business.
DENVER
Linhart PR chosen by U.S. skiing group
Linhart Public Relations announced Thursday it has been selected by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association as its communications planning partner.
The USSA, based in Park City, Utah, is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding.
SAN FRANCISCO
Cisco extends focus in communications
Cisco Systems has agreed to acquire the online-meeting company WebEx Communications for about $3.2 billion in cash, a takeover that extends Cisco’s push beyond its core market for networking gear and into the lucrative arena of business communications.
Cisco Systems Inc., the leading maker of routers and switches that direct data over computer networks, said Thursday it will pay $57 per share of WebEx Inc.
DULLES, Va.
GeoEye acquiring Kansas imagery firm
Commercial satellite-imagery operator GeoEye, which bought Thornton-based Space Imaging last year, announced Thursday it is acquiring M.J. Harden Associates Inc.
M.J. Harden, located in Mission, Kan., provides digital aerial imagery and geospatial information solutions. The purchase price was not disclosed.
NEW ORLEANS
Trump wins zoning for posh high-rise
Donald Trump moved a step closer Thursday to building a high-end residential high-rise in downtown New Orleans, the same day the City Council heard from angry renters and activists demanding more affordable housing.
The council approved a zoning proposal for Trump International Hotel & Tower, which planners say would become the tallest building in the city at 842 feet and include hundreds of posh hotel rooms and condos.
DETROIT
GM to seek relief from health costs
General Motors will seek relief from its whopping $68 billion post-retirement employee health-care obligation in contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, according to an annual report filed with federal regulators.
In the filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, General Motors Corp. said health care is its largest competitive disadvantage, and the burden could grow on a global basis.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Caremark to vote on takeover offers
After months of arguments from rival bidders, Caremark shareholders will decide today whether to accept the CVS offer favored by managers or hold out for the chance to be taken over by Express Scripts.
As expected, CVS Corp. shareholders on Thursday approved a stock-and-cash buyout valued at $26.5 billion. Analysts think CVS may have the edge over Express Scripts Inc., whose bid is slightly higher at $27.2 billion but hasn’t yet passed antitrust scrutiny.
CHICAGO
Newsprint ads drop, but gains seen online
Advertising dollars spent on U.S. newspapers and their websites declined 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $14 billion, reflecting ongoing weakness in print ad trends, the Newspaper Association of America said Thursday.
Print ad spending fell 3.7 percent, to $13.2 billion, to close out 2006. Ad expenditures at online newspapers climbed 35 percent to $745.5 million.
MILWAUKEE
SABMiller taps new Miller Lite ads
SABMiller PLC, the world’s sixth-largest brewer, will run new advertisements for its Miller Lite beer after commercials spoofing “man laws” failed to spur U.S. sales.
The new ads compare Miller Lite directly with rival brands including Anheuser-Busch Cos.’ Bud Light. The 15-second spots began airing Thursday during the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament.
NEW YORK
Ex-Rep. Oxley joins Nasdaq hierarchy
Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. named former U.S. Rep. Mi chael Oxley, co-author of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as its non- executive vice chairman to represent the company’s views on public-policy issues.
