This week Bill Moyers takes on the subject of airline executive compensation in his “Bill Moyers Journal.” The program airs tonight on your local PBS channel.

To find out air times in your area, This entry was posted in PlaneBriefs on June 8, 2007 by Holly.

We all knew this one was coming, didn’t we?

Tonight it is being reported by various news organizations that a proposal is set to be announced  Friday that will temporarily waive a requirement that U.S. passports be used for air travel to and from Canada and Mexico, provided the traveler can prove he or she has already applied for a passport.

According to the Associated Press, “The suspension in the rules is aimed at clearing a massive backlog of passport applications at the State Department that has slowed processing to a crawl, they said. Some officials said the change would last several months; others said as long as six months.”

Instead of a passport, travelers will now be able to present a State Department receipt showing their passport application is being processed, and a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license.

Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M, whose state is on the Mexican border, told the Associated Press that  she had been calling on State and Homeland Security to implement a suspension for two weeks.

“I said, ‘You need to take action. This is completely screwed up’,” she said. “To say people must have a passport to travel and not give people a passport is right up there in the stupid column.”

Amen.

No more Pussy Cat Doll promos from ABC.

Then again, the promos they are now using are pretty weird.

But they are still an improvement over those obnoxious PCD things. Give me TNT anyday.

For all you PlaneBusiness Banter subscribers out there, this week’s issue is now posted.

And if you are not a subscriber — shame on you.

You can now return to watching LeBron, Tim, Tony and, of course, Eva.

Go Cavs.

(It’s an underdog thing.)

I’ve had a couple of notes this morning and just saw another note on a list of airline geeks I hang out on — doesn’t look like it’s going to be a good day to fly. Especially out of Denver or out of Chicago.

The reason? Unusually high winds.

Denver had diversions beginning last night, and today, they are waiting for the winds to turn to a more northerly direction. Currently RW8-26 at Denver  is closed for repair, leaving only RW7-25 for arrivals (and possibly departures) according to a dispatcher we know. 

Which brings us to Chicago. One subscriber just sent me an IM, telling me his flight has been pushed back more than an hour — but the gate agent is somewhat vague on just when they are going to get out, and other flights are stacking up.

Apparently there is now a ground delay program in effect at ORD.

As all of this weather is moving west to east, expect to see ORD continue to grapple with this the rest of the day.

We’re coming up on the end of the second quarter sooner than you think — and with that in mind, a reminder. Board meetings prior to airline earnings announcements are where changes and news are made.

Or, in the case of Midwest Airlines, we have an upcoming delayed annual meeting next week that should be worthy of “Inside Edition” replays the next day.

But one airline in particular has a big piece of business sitting in the lap of its board of directors. That airline is Delta, and the decision is — who will be the airline’s new CEO.

You may have noticed that the airline announced a number of upper management shifts last Friday. Robert Cortelyou was promoted from vice president to senior vice president – Network Planning; Pam Elledge was promoted from vice president to senior vice president – Global Sales and Distribution; and Gail Grimmett was promoted from vice president to senior vice president – Revenue Management.

Meanwhile, Gerry Grinstein was also talking about riding off into retirement last week.

But we still don’t have a new CEO onboard.

According to Grinstein, “It’s a decision for the board to make.” We should have an announcement in the next 10-14 days if that is the case.

Ticker: (NYSE:DAL), (AMEX:MEH)

Okay, instead of answering emails from  you individually, I figured it was time to go public with this discussion. (You know, we all have other things we’re interested in besides airlines, right? Right. I mean even NBC anchorman Brian Williams blogs about “The Sopranos” on Slate.)

The discussion?

What’s going to happen this Sunday night on the last episode of “The Sopranos.”

Here’s my guess. Or guesses.

One, I don’t think there’s any way that David Chase is going to let Tony live. He’s set us up for taking Tony down — emphasizing his negatives all this shortened season. I think Dr. Melfi’s abrupt dismissal of Tony last week may be a look at how Chase feels about Tony Soprano the character as well. I think the Christopher murder scene supports this thinking as well.  And the look on Gandolfini’s face while he was doing it? Chilling.

Two, too many folks are now gone. There’s no way we can go to a movie or some kind of “second series.” I don’t think this is something Chase would even consider.

Three, I think the last episode will end with Carmela in the kitchen, considering her new life situation.

Four — where was Paulie this last Sunday — and was he not the one in charge of the botched take-out order on Phil? Remember that a few seasons ago the New York guys were talking to Paulie about switching sides. Is Paulie working both sides? And why, when the order was put out to take out the top three guys in the Soprano family by Phil, wasn’t Paulie mentioned?

P.S. I have to go back and actually watch the “Blue Comet” scene again from Sunday night. I couldn’t watch the whole thing. First, the suspense was excruciating. And then after the bullets started flying, I kept closing my eyes. But I saw enough. The entire scene was yet another example of superb conception and cinematography. Yet another classic from a show that has given us so many.

Finally —  there is A.J. Will A.J. be the one who shoots his father? What an interesting character he has become the last couple of weeks. 

While the wait is killing me, I’m also beginning to suffer withdrawal symptoms.

I’m not sure what I’ll do after Sunday.

<sniff>

Okay, so what do YOU think is going to happen?

Dear HOLLY HEGEMAN,

Hurricane season has already begun. Are you ready?

Nothing is more important than having a hurricane emergency plan in place to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. With that in mind, here are some basic safety procedures that can be implemented quickly and easily:

Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.

If you are not advised to evacuate, locate the safest area in your home. Usually rooms away from windows such as closets, bathrooms and interior hallways offer the best protection.

Stock non-perishable supplies and a disaster supply kit. Your kit should include at least one gallon of water daily per person for seven days, manual can opener, blankets, clothing, first aid kits, toiletries, flashlights, batteries, radios, cash (banks and ATMs may not be open), and pet care items.

Keep your vehicles filled with gas.

Determine escape routes from your home as well as places to meet.

Have an out-of-state friend or family member as a contact. This will ensure all your family members have a single point of contact.

Make plans now for your pets in case of evacuation.

Check your home’s insurance coverage — flood insurance is usually not covered by homeowner’s policies. GEICO can help you with homeowner’s, renter’s, or condo insurance. Go to geico.com for more information. To find out more about the National Flood Insurance Program call 1-800-720-1090.

For more detailed information about how to prepare for hurricane season, visit the National Hurricane Center’s website www.nhc.noaa.gov.

If you need to report a claim, contact us online or call 1-800-841-3000. GEICO’s Catastrophe Response Teams are on alert, ready to assist customers throughout the hurricane season. Need additional information? Visit our GEICO Catastrophe Team page.

Sincerely,

Tony Nicely

Chairman