Air France-KLM enters 2009 in prime position to clinch a fierce battle for a stake in Alitalia as the Italian carrier crawls toward its planned rebirth as a smaller, private airline in just a couple of days.

Copa Airlines and The Boeing Company today announced Copa’s firm order for four Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation aircraft for delivery within the next three years.

Gary Kelly has a standing offer: a steak dinner to anyone who can prove that Southwest Airlines (LUV) does not carry more domestic business travelers than any U.S. carrier. It’s a sucker’s bet, of course.

Northwest Airlines has told the U.S. Department of Transportation that it wants to delay its planned service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Beijing, China, from March 2009 to March 2010. Northwest is seeking approval to delay the route’s startup date without losing its rights to the route.

Air Jamaica’s New Year’s Sale features one-way sale fares from the U.S. to select Caribbean gateways. George deMercado, Air Jamaica’s senior director of sales, said, “We want to offer our customers our quality service and great fares at a time when they are seeking deals which offer better value for money.”

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air’s operations in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington are returning to normal after four days of flight cancellations and delays due to severe winter weather.