Mesaba Airlines -- the large regional carrier that feeds business to Northwest Airlines -- declared bankruptcy yesterday. Company officials said they had "no other viable alternative" but to seek court protection after Northwest filed Chapter 11 several weeks ago. Northwest missed $30 million in payments to Mesaba recently. The airline will continue flying its regular schedule until further notice, but you can expect changes soon as Northwest (which controls Mesaba's airplanes) begins removing aircraft from service. Remind your clients on Mesaba to use their credit cards and buy travel insurance.

Federal aviation officials extended their temporary cap on flights into the Chicago/O'Hare airport through April 1 to continue reducing delays at the busy airport. So far, the cap has worked -- 77 percent of O'Hare flights have arrived on time this year, compared to 70 percent in 2004.

Delta Air Lines will begin offering on a seasonal basis (starting Dec. 18) the only nonstop flights between Atlanta and Antigua (through April 26, 2006).

LAN Airlines introduced a new airpass that gives travelers the chance to choose numerous flights within and between many nations in South America (including Easter Island routes). The pass is priced at $85 plus tax for each of three one-way sectors (valid for travel through Dec. 31, 2006; maximum stay of six months; each sector can be flown only once in the same direction.) You can only buy these passes outside South America.

Qantas will add a fifth non-stop flight (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through Sundays) between Los Angeles and Brisbane, Australia, starting Jan. 28, 2006. On March 29,2006, Qantas will introduce new nonstop flights between San Francisco and Sydney, making a total of 42 weekly flights between the two countries.

Ryanair -- a low-cost airline in England -- allegedly ordered nine blind and partially sighted passengers off a plane this week just before takeoff. The nine passengers were already seated aboard the plane leaving London for Italy when the pilot told them that the flight had a quota of four disabled passengers. The passengers returned to the airport terminal -- and several slept on the floor until the next Ryanair flight to Italy left the next day. Ryanair refused to provide lodging or food for the travelers. Ryanair has a history of being fined for violating service standards for disabled passengers.