BUSINESS DIGEST || Leader of pilots union resigns

Leader of pilots union resigns

DALLAS

The president of the pilots union at American Airlines resigned Thursday after pilots rejected a concessionary contract offer that he supported.

David Bates said that the union’s board asked him to step down, and he agreed.

Bates supported ratification of a company offer to give pilots pay raises and a 13.5 percent stake in the company after it emerges from bankruptcy protection. He portrayed it as the best deal possible under difficult circumstances. But 61 percent of pilots voted to reject the offer, which contained outsourcing provisions that they opposed.

American said that a federal bankruptcy judge will rule Wednesday on the airline’s request to impose terms of an April offer that included smaller pay raises and no stock in the new company for pilots. The judge will delay a similar ruling for flight attendants, who are still voting through Aug. 19 on their offer from American.

Gas prices higher than a year ago

For the first time since late April, the average price of gasoline is higher than it was a year ago.

Drivers now are paying an average of $3.66 per gallon, a penny more than on this day last year. The last time that happened was April 23, according to auto club AAA. Gas is up 10 percent from July 1, and experts say pump prices could keep rising through Labor Day.

Some drivers, such as those in the Midwest and on the West Coast, are feeling a bigger pinch. Prices spiked about 40 cents per gallon last week in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois because of refinery and pipeline problems. This week, drivers in California, Oregon and Washington are watching pump prices jump after a partial outage at a big Chevron refinery.

Gas prices already had been steadily advancing across the country in line with an increase in oil.

Arriving on time: Your flight, suitcase

NEW YORK

U.S. airlines are more punctual and less likely to lose your bag than at any time in more than two decades.

Travelers still have to put up with packed planes, rising fees and unpredictable security lines, but they are late to fewer business meetings and are not missing as many chances to tuck their kids into bed.

Nearly 84 percent of domestic flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time in the first half of the year — the best performance since the government started keeping track in 1988.

Wendy’s changes start to pay off

NEW YORK

The Wendy’s Co.’s push to transform itself as a higher-end hamburger chain is showing early signs of taking hold.

The Dublin, Ohio-based fast-food company says a key sales figure rose 3.2 percent in the second quarter, helped by renovated restaurants, new menu items such as the Spicy Guacamole Chicken Club sandwich and a new TV ad campaign.

Associated Press