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Ford to Upgrade Chicago Plant for SUV’s, Add 450 Workers

DETROIT (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co said on Monday it would invest $50 million upgrading a Chicago facility to partially assemble hybrid electric SUVs and vehicles for police use, creating 450 jobs.

The plant currently modifies vehicles for police use. That work will be transferred to a nearby facility.

After retooling, the new production line will later this year start partially assembling hybrid versions of the Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle and the luxury Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring SUV.

It will also partially assemble the Police Interceptor SUV.

On Friday, Ford said it would lay off about 200 workers in September at a Canadian manufacturing plant in Oakville, Ontario, with more layoffs possible in January, because of slowing sales of the sedans that the plant manufactures.

Overall, U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to fall this year, although pickup trucks and SUVs remain more popular than traditional passenger cars.

Last week, Ford also kicked off talks on a new four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union, with job security, healthcare costs and the use of temporary workers expected to be major sticking points.

(Reporting by Nick Carey; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Delta Rolls Out Latest Cabins to Europe and South America

By Aimee Greaves

  • Upgraded Boeing 767-400s will have new Delta One business class seat.
  • Delta Premium Select also expands to more markets.

Delta Air Lines will offer improved cabin experiences for customers starting this fall through the launch of its new business class seat offering more comfort and privacy, plus the expansion of its international premium economy cabin, Delta Premium Select to new markets in Europe and South America.

The new cabins will be fitted on the 767-400 fleet and bring all four branded seat products – Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin – to this aircraft for the first time. The aircraft have initially been scheduled on select flights between Atlanta and London Heathrow starting November 12, 2019, followed by a number of additional European and South American markets. Select flights to London, Zurich and Brussels on this aircraft will be available for purchase starting this weekend with additional markets for sale in the coming weeks.

Here is a full overview of the markets the new 767-400 aircraft will fly:

Route (airport code)Effective Dates
Atlanta (ATL) – London Heathrow (LHR)Nov. 12
New York-JFK (JFK) – London Heathrow (LHR)Nov. 16
Boston (BOS) – London Heathrow (LHR)Nov. 20
New York-JFK (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH)Dec. 8
New York-JFK (JFK) – Brussels (BRU)Jan. 30
Atlanta (ATL) – Brussels (BRU)Feb. 22
New York-JFK (JFK) – São Paulo (GRU)2Q 2020
Detroit (DTW) – London Heathrow (LHR)2Q 2020
Minneapolis (MSP) – London Heathrow (LHR)2Q 2020
Portland (PDX) – London Heathrow (LHR)2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Munich (MUC)2Q 2020
New York-JFK (JFK) – Nice2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Zurich (ZRH)2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Buenos Aires (EZE)2Q 2020

​”Our investments in our Boeing 767-400 fleet reflect our continuous effort to elevate each aspect of the international customer experience,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s President — International and E.V.P. — Global Sales. “We understand that our customers want to curate their own travel experience and offering four cabins allows for more choice while continuing to align our products across the Delta fleet.”

Delta is investing millions of dollars in its widebody long-haul fleet to give customers greater choice when they travel. The 767-400 refit follows the introduction of the Delta One suite and Delta Premium Select on its Airbus A330-900neo, Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

Here are some more details on Delta’s new cabins:

Delta One

  • The cabin will feature a new seat customized for this aircraft, which offers extra privacy through high sides and a divider between the two middle seats in the 1-2-1 configuration. There will be 34 seats in total.
  • The memory foam-cushion seats will also feature personal stowage areas, customizable ambient lighting and 18″ wide, high-resolution in-flight entertainment screens.
  • New self-service area for customers to enjoy snacks and beverages at their leisure throughout the flight.

Delta Premium Select

  • Delta’s premium economy cabin, Delta Premium Select, will have 20 seats in a 2x2x2 configuration.
  • It is a separate cabin between Delta One and Main Cabin, offering customers dedicated service, plated meals on Alessi serviceware, TUMI branded amenity kits, and LSTN noise-canceling headsets.
  • Seats, with memory foam cushions, will be 19″ wide with up to 38″ pitch and 7″ recline. The seats will also feature an adjustable leg rest and footrest, along with a larger IFE 13.3″ screen than found in Comfort+ and Main Cabin.

​Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin

  • New, wider seats with memory foam cushions and adjustable headrests for improved comfort on long-haul flights.
  • 10.1” seatback screens to enjoy the 1,000+ hours of entertainment available on-demand via Delta Studio.

Furthermore, the aircraft will also be fitted with Delta’s own in-flight entertainment system created by Delta Flight Products. The first-of-its-kind system combines wireless technology with state-of-the-art tablet displays mounted into the back of the seat. The system debuted on Delta’s A220 fleet and is also rolling out on the new A330-900neo fleet before coming to the 767-400 aircraft as part of the interior refit.

In addition to the expected customer experience and cost benefits, wireless IFE also helps reduce the airline’s environmental impact. The wireless streaming technology enables the reduction of about one pound of wiring per seat when installed on an aircraft. This means Delta’s modified 767-400 fleet will save about 1,330 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

Visit the Delta link below for a video presentation of the new cabin layouts!

https://news.delta.com/delta-rolls-out-latest-cabins-europe-and-south-america

GM to Boost Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck Production

FLINT, Mich. (Reuters) – General Motors Co president Mark Reuss said on Wednesday that the automaker is investing about $150 million at its Flint Assembly plant in Michigan, to boost production of heavy duty trucks by another 40,000 vehicles a year.

Reuss announced the investment at the Flint truck assembly plant wearing a United Auto Workers pin.

The Detroit automaker announced in February it was adding 1,000 jobs in Flint to build a new generation of heavy-duty pickup trucks.

GM did not say that the latest investment would add more jobs at the plant, but Reuss said there could be opportunities to add workers as the launch of the automaker’s new trucks progresses.

FILE PHOTO: A Chevrolet 2020 heavy-duty pickup truck is seen at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant in Flint

GM has been under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and lawmakers of both parties to add jobs in the United States after it said last November it would idle a small car assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, and had no new products for three other U.S. manufacturing plants.

The Flint investment will include upgrades to the plant’s conveyors and other new tooling, and will be completed in the first half of 2020. GM has invested more than $1.6 billion in the plant since 2013.

Last month, GM said it would invest $24 million to increase truck production at its assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which makes Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models.

FILE PHOTO: The frames of Chevrolet 2019 heavy-duty pickup trucks sit on the assembly line in the paint department at General Motors Flint Assembly Plant

Sales of heavy-duty pickups in the United States have grown to more than 600,000 vehicles a year, up more than 20 percent since 2013, according to industry data. Prices for luxury models can easily top $70,000.

GM’s Chevrolet and GMC brands have long trailed Ford Motor Co’s F-series heavy duty trucks in the lucrative segment. The new Chevrolet and GMC heavy duty trucks have been re-engineered to tow heavier trailers, and keep pace in what has become an arms race among the Detroit Three automakers to claim superior torque and towing capability.

(Reporting by Joe White in Detroit and Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Nick Zieminski)

FILE PHOTO: A General Motors Co. assembly worker does quality control checks on the paint of Chevrolet 2019 heavy-duty pickup trucks in Flint

Delta & Aeromexico Celebrate Second Year of Key Partnership

Story by Sarah Lora

The two airlines have jointly transported more than 14.4 million passengers since the Joint Cooperation Agreement launched.

  • Highlights include introducing eight new routes and two new joint destinations in Mexico, strengthening the network’s power in the transborder market.
  • Airlines have eliminated 80% percent of the differences in service and standardized processes to create a seamless travel experience.

Since Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico departed together on a journey to pioneer the first transborder airline alliance between the U.S. and Mexico, more than 14.4 million passengers have benefitted from the carriers’ integration during the last two years.

Today, Delta and Aeromexico jointly offer more than 1,100 weekly flights on 64 routes between 11 cities in Mexico and 33 in the U.S. The Joint Cooperation Agreement has launched eight new routes and two new joint destinations in Mexico, and allowed terminal co-location in 12 airports in the U.S., 10 of which are Delta hubs, and three Aeromexico hubs in Mexico.

As seamless as checking in at a Delta terminal and boarding an Aeromexico plane, “our goal is creating a familiar travel experience with standards that are common across Delta and Aeromexico. This partnership and the integration of both airlines allow us to offer a more powerful network, more benefits and standard policies, which result in a seamless service,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s Vice President— Latin America and Alliances Americas.

True to its word, the JCA has so far eliminated 80% of the differences in services and has standardized many processes, such as purchasing tickets online or benefitting from loyalty programs. On board, customers will find uniformity on Delta and Aeromexico cabins, seat selection and checked and carry-on baggage policies; parallel access to Gogo’s WiFi portal and free text messaging; as well as having Spanish-speaking crew members on all transborder flights.

“Although the integration of commercial processes, products, airports and sales teams has been a great challenge, communicating with a cohesive voice has facilitated that assimilation. While Delta and Aeromexico have distinct and unique looks, we respect each other and share the same vision: to provide the best of each to our customers,” said Paul Verhagen, Aeromexico’s Senior Vice President – International Sales.

Providing the best isn’t limited to the airport experience. From sponsoring the Mexican National Soccer Team to the Latin GRAMMY Acoustic Sessions in Miami, L.A. and Mexico City, Delta and Aeromexico are committed to supporting the communities they serve. The airlines aim to foster unity, diversity and to uphold corporate values through their sponsorships of a variety of sporting and cultural events in both Mexico and the United States.

“Such a historic alliance between two iconic airlines is about making travel between the two carriers easier for customers. By working together, we have shared and applied best practices and business solutions, bringing our individual strengths into the partnership,” added Ferri.

Delta and Aeromexico sales professionals have formed a fully integrated sales team dedicated to promoting both operators in the U.S. and Mexican markets. Routes have been increasingly added throughout the two years under the JCA, strengthening the power of the network in the transborder market.

Customers from Atlanta can enjoy nonstop access to nine cities in Mexico including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. The JCA also operates direct flights from New York, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Los Angeles to multiple business and leisure points in Mexico.

Connectivity is crucial to driving business and boosting the economy of both countries, while offering customers the possibility of discovering new experiences through Delta and Aeromexico’s distinctive service in the coming years.​

Spirit Airlines Starts Serving the Research Triangle

MIRAMAR, Fla., May 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The savings and signature service has arrived in the Research Triangle!  Today Spirit Airlines officially began service to and from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The airline’s signature yellow Airbus jets will now connect RDU to Baltimore/Washington, DC, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Chicago, and Orlando with nonstop flights. The new routes also create dozens of connections to other Spirit destinations in the United States, as well as the Caribbean and Latin America. Raleigh-Durham is Spirit’s third destination in the Tar Heel State, joining the Piedmont Triad and Asheville and will soon be joined by Charlotte on June 20.

“The time has finally arrived for us to begin serving the Research Triangle, and we are ready to do just that,” said Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines’ president and CEO. “With eight daily flights to some of our biggest destinations, and connections to many more, we believe our service and value will resonate in the Raleigh-Durham region. In less than a year, Spirit has gone from no footprint in the state to serving four destinations by June 20, and I want to thank North Carolinians for embracing us.”

“We are happy to welcome Spirit Airlines as the newest carrier connecting the Research Triangle community to the world,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “Spirit’s low fares and suite of nonstop destinations will add to the world-class airport experience business and leisure travelers expect from RDU.”

Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)Starts:Frequency:
Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC (BWI)May 2, 20192x daily, year-round
Boston, MA (BOS)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round
Detroit, MI (DTW)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round
Orlando, FL (MCO)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round
New Orleans, LA (MSY)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round
Chicago, IL (ORD)May 2, 2019Daily, year-round

Beyond next month’s launch in Charlotte, the airline will also be expanding on the West Coast, adding Burbank and Sacramento to its network.  All three new cities will launch on June 20. Spirit’s growing route network comes with ongoing investments into its guest experience. The airline continues to rank among the top in on-time arrivals, baggage handling, and is in the process of installing high-speed Wi-Fi to its entire fleet.

About Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky while providing an extraordinary Guest experience. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare.  This allows every Guest to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments – something we call À La Smarte. We make it possible for our Guests to venture farther, travel more often, and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet™ is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S.  We operate more than 600 daily flights to 75 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and are dedicated to giving back and improving the communities we serve. Come save with us at spirit.com. At Spirit Airlines, we go. We go for you.

Contact:
Derek Dombrowski
(305) 916-6065
derek.dombrowski@spirit.com
Spirit.png

Source: Spirit Airlines, Inc.

Gordie Howe, hockey’s ironman, passes away at age 88

Gordie Howe, hockey’s ironman, passes away at age 88. Howe, known as Mr. Hockey, was the greatest goal scorer in hockey history until Wayne Gretzky eventually passed his record. Gordie Howe played in his first NHL game on October 16, 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings. The right winger would score a goal in that first game at the age of 18. Wearing the number 17 during his rookie season, he would switch to number 9 the following year, and wear that number for the rest of his career. He would go on to lead the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships during the 1950’s.

During those dominating years, Gordie was part of one of the greatest lines in NHL history. The Production Line teamed Howe with “Terrible” Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel. He would go on to lead the league in scoring six times. He also won the Hart Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the league six times as well. He would appear in his 23rd NHL All-Star Game at Joe Louis Arena less than two months before his 52nd birthday in 1980. Gordie actually still holds several of the Detroit Red Wings franchise records with 786 goals, 1,809 points, and 1,687 games played.

After retiring from Detroit in 1971, he took a job with the Red Wings front office. However, in 1973 he came out of retirement to join the newly formed World Hockey Association. The Houston Aeros of the WHA had signed Gordie’s sons mark and Marty. The Howe’s would go on to led the Aeros to back to back championships. With Houston folding prior to the start of the WHA’s last season, the Howe trio were traded to the New England Whalers. The newly named Hartford Whalers would be one of four teams to join the NHL following the WHA’s final season in 1979. Gordie would play for the Hartford Whalers for their first NHL season before retiring again in 1980.

Gordie Howe suffers stroke

Gordie Howe had a stroke two years ago. He had been suffering from symptoms of dementia for the two years prior to the stroke. Due to this declining health, Howe had been spending his time living alternately with his four children. He was staying with his daughter Cathy in Lubbock, Texas when he suffered his stroke in 2014. Mr. Howe went to Mexico to undergo stem cell treatment, one of two he would receive. Despite these therapies, Gordie’s health would continue to decline. He passed away just outside of Toledo in the town of Sylvania, Ohio, on June 10, 2016 at 88 years of age.

A Gordie Howe tribute video can be viewed at this link: Mr. Hockey

Gordie Howe

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