Ryan Air, the low cost carrier of Ireland surprised its customers with a pleasant announcement. The no-frills Irish airline said that it intends to cut down on the fees imposed on checked-in baggage. This news has left all astonished but for a good reason this time around.

The airline is known for its strategies that do not favor the customers. However, it has moved on against all odds and established itself in the budget-carrier league. The latest announcement is looked upon as a New Year’s gift from the airline, which is desperately seeking an image makeover for its own good. In the past, it has faced criticism from passengers for its staunch policies that hardly favor their interests. Over the years, Ryan Air has come across as an airline that is solely interested in business sans the welfare and comfort of its passengers. Now, it may want to get rid of the same!

As per the shocking announcement, obviously no one expected it make one of this kinds, it has cut down the standard airport baggage fee to £30 from £60, for the ones using the bag drop desk and £50 from £60 for the ones checking in at the boarding gate. It wants to maintain its position against the rival airlines. It however, would be interesting to see as to how long it is able to sustain on its newly evolved philosophy. After all, it is a business concern and needs sufficient funds to keep operating smoothly!

The travelers to Sun Valley can now look forward to added capacity with newer aircrafts and seats. Delta Air Lines has indicated it will introduce bigger jets for providing flight services on Sun Valley-Salt Lake City route. The airline said that it add capacity on the route and also provide more amenities. According to Delta Air Lines, the flights between Salt Lake City and Sun Valley would be operated by SkyWest Airlines on its behalf.

Delta Air Lines said that the flights on Salt Lake City-Sun Valley route with added capacity will begin operations starting from January 6, 2014. The airline said that 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 jets would be deployed on the route. The new aircraft will feature nine first class seats. There will be eight Economy Comfort seats as well with more legroom. The airline was until now operating the service with the help of 50-seater aircrafts. The airline will conduct three roundtrip flights to Sun Valley four to five times every week during peak winter season until the end of March. During the summer season, the airline will operate three daily roundtrip flights. However, during the spring and fall two roundtrip flights would be conducted.

Anthony Black, a spokesman for Delta Air Lines, said that the airline decided to upgrade the service on this route after constantly monitoring the passenger demand and increased traffic to Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey. He said that considering the growing passenger demand, the airline decided to upgrade the service with added capacity and amenities. This will prove to be beneficial to those traveling in the first class on connecting flights to Salt Lake City to continue their travel in the first class itself for their entire itinerary.

The airline industry was in its elements when it recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight. The 23 minute commercial flight was conducted between St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay. This was in stark comparison to an 11 hour train ride from Tampa which the winter tourists usually took to St. Petersburg. The purpose of starting the commercial flight was also to attract more winter tourists from Tampa. The officials from St. Petersburg also helped in making the first commercial flight become successful as they subsidized the travel on St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line initially.

The first flight was interesting in itself. The first commercial flight had room for only one passenger. The day, January 1, on which the first commercial flight took place saw the mayor of St. Petersburg seated with the pilot Tony Jannus in the open cockpit. The city officials ended the subsidy three months later with the concluding of the tourism season. During this brief three months the airline had carried a total of 1,204 passengers. With this also ended the flight service as well.

Dr. Joseph Schwieterman, DePaul University transportation expert, said that the air travel was indeed quite a risky business during those times. The early flights were just like a roller-coaster ride that is taking place today, but however the risk was real and grave. During those days the train travel was popular and quite accessible. The commercial airline industry took really some time to get going.