Retailers’ January beats predictions

The nation’s retailers reported better-than-expected sales in January, as shoppers armed with holiday gift cards and lured by mild weather returned to stores and malls in search of clearance and spring merchandise. The shopping surge wasn’t expected to last, however, as consumers face higher interest rates, a cooling housing market and high energy costs in the months ahead.

As merchants reported their results Thursday, winners cut across all categories, including discounters like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp., wholesale club operators such as Costco Wholesale Corp., teen retailers including Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and mid-price and upscale department stores such as Nordstrom Inc. and J.C. Penney Co. Inc.

Hayden, Idaho

Empire Airlines plans expansion

Empire Airlines hopes to expand its aircraft maintenance business at the Kootenai County Airport, following certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The certification allows Empire to perform more types of maintenance on more types of aircraft, said John Kozma, sales and marketing manager.

About 15 full-time aircraft mechanics and additional contract workers already keep Empire’s fleet of 50 planes running. With the new certification, Empire can do contract maintenance for other airlines, Kozma said.

Empire moved its heavy maintenance operations to a new hangar at the Kootenai County Airport in 2004. The move from Spokane was designed to give the company the space to pursue additional contract maintenance business, Kozma said.

Miami

Judge approves ExxonMobil deal

A federal judge tentatively approved a $1.075 billion agreement between ExxonMobil Corp. and thousands of service station dealers that sued the company, settling a 14-year fight that also went to the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Gold on Wednesday gave preliminary approval of the settlement, in which Exxon also agreed to end opposition to the dealers’ claims.

The two sides reached the agreement in December, and Gold is scheduled to issue a final ruling April 5.

Seattle

Boeing jetliner wins certification

U.S. and European authorities have certified The Boeing Co.’s longest-range jetliner to begin flying airline passengers worldwide, the company said Thursday.

The announcement came after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency formally recognized that the 777-200LR successfully completed testing and safety requirements during its six-month flight-test program.

The Worldliner, as Boeing calls its latest 777, broke the world record last November for the longest nonstop flight by a commercial jet. It flew 13,422 miles from Hong Kong to London, a flight that took 22 hours and 43 minutes.