Aviation News Update: Mice on United Flight & New Fare Increases

Filed in archive Aviation Travel on January 9, 2008

Here's the best of the aviation news I missed.

Eight mice found - dead and alive - on United Airlines flight

In a reversal of roles, the United States nearly imported its own tainted goods to China on a United Airlines flight recently. While en route to China, United employees discovered a total of eight mice - some dead, some alive - hidden in pillows throughout the cabin. On arrival, Chinese officials greeted the plane with rat poison and mouse traps. The story was printed in newspapers yesterday, along with lists of viruses mice can carry. The articles also probably incited panic when they wrote of the potentially fatal damage mice could do by chewing through wires on aircraft.

Passenger Jet Hit by Bullet

A stray bullet struck a passenger jet while it was landing in Montenegro, slightly damaging the aircraft, the state airline said Wednesday. No one was hurt as the bullet, apparently fired into the air during a traditional Orthodox Christmas Eve celebration, hit the tail stabilizer on the Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100, company spokesman Nenad Markovic said. Police were investigating who fired the shot.

Airlines Kick off 2008 with New Fare Increases

As if on cue, airlines are responding to oil's latest surge by pushing ticket prices even higher. Round-trip domestic fares began rising $10 to $20 late Thursday, as crude futures crossed the once-unthinkable $100-a-barrel mark. Several major carriers increased prices, with each citing higher fuel costs as the reason. The widespread increases follow nearly two dozen attempted systemwide fare hikes in 2007, or about double the number during the previous year, according to data compiled by FareCompare.com, which tracks airfare changes.