Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) were down as much 1.5% in New York trading following published reports that the company grounded 46 planes Saturday due to maintenance concerns. The Dallas-based carrier saw its shares fall to as low as $8.55 just past noon after news broke that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the airline's use of unauthorized parts and repairs on its aging fleet of 737-300 and 737-500 jets, manufactured by Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).An FAA inspector working Friday at a maintenance shop used by Southwest questioned whether some hinge fittings -- used to divert hot engine exhaust from aircraft wings -- installed on the 737 jets were authorized for use. After hasty consultations with the FAA and Chicago-based Boeing, Southwest decided to ground the planes.
At some point last year did you find yourself stuck in a noisy, overcrowded airport terminal for hours on end waiting for your flight to take off? If so, you were by no means alone. According to the Transportation Department, last year was the 
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