Business

The top airline industry trade group is criticizing the federal government’s slowness to implement part an updated air traffic control system known as NextGen.

NextGen, the FAA says, will revamp air traffic control as we know it, making   the nation's air system more efficient, improve on-time performance, and all while reducing emissions.

In a webcast Thursday, Airlines For America’s Dan Elwell said carriers have invested a lot of money to accommodate NextGen, but that the FAA is failing to deliver on needed policies, procedures and training.

In what Delta Air Lines is calling a “milestone,” the Atlanta-based carrier has announced a $5-billion plan to boost its stock value which includes returning a billion dollars to shareholders over the next three years.

Delta will pay a six-cents per share quarterly dividend. That accounts for half.

The carrier is also buying back $500-million in stock.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines for the first time is selling gift certificates on-line.

The unveiling is the latest in a long-term --and expensive-- effort to improve customer satisfaction.

Delta says the eGift certificates are part of its $140-million digital customer improvement plan.

For that price, the airline has so far updated its website, iPhone and iPad apps, and self-service airport kiosks.

When it comes to being friendly to business, the metro Atlanta area gets high marks.

The survey from Thumbtack.com in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation queried 8,000 businesses in 57 metro areas.

It asked owners to rate how they felt about everything from ease of hiring to regulation to the simplicity of starting a business.

And Atlanta did pretty well, with a grade of A-.  Last year, we earned an A.

Sander Daniels is co-founder of Thumbtack.com: