You can't say the airlines are the only ones getting into the add-on fee game these days. The U.S. government has entered into a partnership with the private sector to establish efforts to promote travel to the United States. How will this be funded?

Major carriers in Europe lost 20 million passengers last year due to the economic downturn gripping the continent. Where did they go? 13 million of them went to budget carriers. Were you one of them?

First class travel has always been considered a luxury. If trends continue, it may also become a rarity as more airlines slash their premium offerings due to a decline in passenger numbers.

British Airways and Iberia Airlines are closing in on a merger agreement due to be signed this quarter. The union of airlines will become even more significant now that the two airlines, plus American Airlines, Finnair, and Royal Jordanian – all members of the oneworld® alliance – have received the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to strengthen ties. According to a Virgin Atlantic Airways boss, however, it's now up to Europe to stop it.

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In the airline business, it seems that fees are all the rage. For those who despise the "nickel and dime" effects of such airline ancillary charges, "all the rage" might describe a mood more than a trend.

Recent reports indicate that high-paying premium flyers may slowly be returning to the skies. The drought, however, left many airlines looking for ways to shore up their bottom lines. Most added fees for just about every type of service, many of which affected economy, non-elite passengers more than others. Now, one airline may actually be giving economy passengers something in return for paying a little extra.

If a rising tide lifts all boats, you know what to expect when rising fuel prices hit the airline industry. Get ready to pay more for your airline tickets ... again. Fuel surcharges are increasing and long-distance travel will be the hardest hit.

You knew it would be sooner than later and even a short reprieve due to mandatory "no-carry-on" rules for flights from Canada to the U.S. couldn't keep the baggage fees from creeping back up. Delta and Continental have upped their charges for checked bags. What are the odds that others will soon follow? Get ready for the next wave.

Japan and the United States have agreed to an Open Skies agreement that will lift restrictions on routes between the two nations. Will this increase competition or will the big airline players continue to battle each other for an exclusive piece of the valuable U.S.-Asia market?

The land of the rising sun has become the land of the rising aviation interests over the last few months. As Japan Airlines (JAL) struggles to stay out of bankruptcy, it is being courted by two airline giants with opposing interests. The bidding war is heating up as Japan and the U.S. look to seal a deal on an Open Skies aviation pact that could bring more airline choices between the two nations. Who stands to benefit?