Final, largest Dreamliner is launched by Boeing

At the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, as expected, Boeing launched the final and largest member of its Dreamliner jet family, the 787-10.

In a briefing ahead of the launch, a top executive said Boeing hasn’t decided where the jet will be built.

“When we’re ready to announce it, we’ll announce it,” said Scott Fancher, Boeing vice president of airplane development.

Officials in Washington state are concerned that logistical issues of transporting the bigger plane sections to Everett, Wash., and fitting the completed planes nose-to-tail on an assembly line could rule out the 787-10 for Everett. In that case, this largest Dreamliner would be assembled exclusively in South Carolina.

 

Amtrak says subsidy cuts would jeopardize service

Amtrak’s president says long-distance trains and some short-haul routes would be jeopardized and service in the busy Northeast corridor might have to be slowed if federal subsidy cuts proposed by a House subcommittee are realized.

Iowa Republican Rep. Tom Latham is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s transportation subcommittee. He proposed a fiscal 2014 transportation budget Tuesday that includes $950 million in operating and capital subsidies for Amtrak, nearly a third less than the railroad received last year.

Amtrak’s Joseph Boardman says the House has decided the nation should be connected by train service but doesn’t want to pay for the money-losing routes needed to achieve that.

He says Amtrak lost $558 million on long-distance service last year but profited from its high-speed Acela service in the Northeast.

 

Starbucks to post calories in drinks on menu boards

Starbucks has a new way to wake up its customers: showing the calories in its drinks.

The Seattle-based coffee chain says it will start posting calorie counts on menu boards nationwide next week, ahead of a federal regulation that would require it to do so.

Calorie counts on menus are already required in some parts of the country, including New York City.

But starting June 25, Starbucks Corp. says customers at its more than 11,000 U.S. locations will be able to see that there are 300 calories in a small caramel Frappuccino and 230 calories in a small Iced Caffe Mocha.

 

United Airlines toughens rules for frequent fliers

United Airlines is making it a little harder to get a higher frequent-flier status. That status used to require flying 25,000 miles per year. Now, United is adding a requirement for at least $2,500 in spending, too, to qualify for status in its MileagePlus program.

Most frequent fliers would spend that much anyway if they are earning 25,000 miles. But those who buy discounted tickets might be affected.

 

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