Free Republic

DALLAS - The bidding war for bankrupt ATA Airlines' assets heated up on Friday when Southwest Airlines offered at least $100 million in cash and loans for gates at Chicago's Midway Airport and an alliance with ATA, its main rival there. Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said the bid represented the only way that his company could meet its top goal of expanding in Chicago. He said Southwest's proposal would let ATA Airlines Inc. still operate at Midway but with fewer gates. Southwest is seeking to upset the bid of another low-cost carrier, AirTran Airways, a unit of Orlando-based AirTran...

F-15s & Sukhois in joint exercise Statesman New Service NEW DELHI, Jan. 28. — A friendly joust between F-15 fighters of the United States and the Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30s? Such a possibility exists as the two countries are exploring the possibility of joint fighter exercises. Reacting to reports from the USA, , a senior Air Force officer confirmed such a possibility. He said the exercise was yet to be finalised but the two air forces would be talking about it. “It is under discussion. Relations between the two countries are improving. There is talk of various exercises. We are...