| NEWS
HEADLINES |
Friday,
May 20, 2005 |
US
Airways and America West Announced Merger
US Airways Group, Inc. and America West Holding Corp. have
announced a proposed merger that will expand service and
create more choice for customers across the country, as
well as enhance opportunities for Dividend Miles members
to earn and redeem miles for travel and upgrades.
Industrial action by airport staff in Naples, Saturday
21 May
British Airways services to/from Naples are expected to
be affected.
United
Airlines, machinists at contract impasse
May 19, 2005 -- Negotiations between United Airlines and
its machinists' union remained snagged over pension issues
Thursday, just hours before a bankruptcy court trial was
to resume on the carrier's proposal to break the union's
contract. MORE
United
Airlines Eastern U.S. Memorial Day sale
United is offering flights over Memorial Day weekend between
Washington D.C. and cities in the eastern US for only $29
one way. Fares between select other east coast cities are
only $59 one way.
Purchase Requirements: Tickets must be
purchased at least seven days in advance and ticketed within
24 hours of making reservations. Sale fares apply to U.S.
point-of-sale only. Reservations and ticket purchases on
united.com must be completed simultaneously.
Travel Days/Dates: Fares are valid for
travel on 5/28/05 and 5/29/05. All travel must be completed
by 5/29/05. MORE
CEOs
for Southwest, American spar over airport limits
May 19, 2005 -- The chief executives of two major airlines
say a merger of US Airways and America West could help the
struggling industry if some of US Airways' planes are grounded,
which would reduce the supply of seats. MORE
US
Airways Memorial Day Weekend Sales from Washington, DC
Available for purchase 14 days up to 3 hours prior to departure.
United
Flight Attendants Appeal Pensions Ruling
May 18, 2005 -- The union representing flight attendants
at bankrupt United Airlines appealed a judge's decision
last week to allow the carrier to turn its underfunded pension
plans over to US pension insurers. MORE
United
Reaches Deal With Mesa Airlines to Provide United Express
Service
May 13, 2005 -- UA has reached a five-year agreement with
United Express partner Mesa Air Group to operate 30 replacement
aircraft under the United Express name, beginning in Fall
2005. MORE |
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| United
Claims Agencies Are Booking Tickets Through ITA Software
May 16, 2005 -- United Airlines said three travel management companies
in late April began accessing inventory and booking tickets through
ITA Software's new distribution platform. The airline expects volumes
to build significantly in the coming months as corporate clients
and other end-users migrate to new economic models. MORE
US
Airways Launches Nonstop Service To Barcelona
May 16, 2005 -- US Airways today begins its new daily nonstop service
between Philadelphia and Barcelona, providing customers convenient
access to the unique architecture and culture of the Catalan region
of Spain. MORE
Delta,
Continental Eye Asset Sales To Boost Cash
May 13, 2005 -- Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines may sell
stakes in their regional units to bolster cash depleted by high
fuel costs and tough competition. MORE
American
Wins Maintenance Deal With Avianca Parent
May 18, 2005 -- American Airlines said on Wednesday it had won a
contract to do heavy maintenance on 29 Fokker F100 passenger jets
for Latin American airline holding company Synergy Aerospace.
MORE
Air
Canada Parent Readies Aeroplan IPO
May 18, 2005 -- Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings could spin
off its Aeroplan rewards program into an income trust and sell a
minority stake in the initial public offering worth more than CAD$300
million (USD$237 million) as early as this week. MORE
TAP
Portugal, Varig Close To Deal
May 16, 2005 -- TAP Portugal and debt-ridden Brazilian airline Varig
have signed a memorandum of understanding to help resolve Varig's
financial problems. MORE
Year
One For Air France-KLM A 'Complete Success'
May 19, 2005 -- The Air France-KLM Group, the world's largest commercial
aviation company measured in passenger revenues, today reported
strong financial numbers for its fiscal year ended March 31. The
merged entity said net profits rose 20 percent to €351 million
(US$445 million). These results are encouraging for other companies
considering cross-border consolidation in the global airline industry.
MORE
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Independence
Air Fare Sale Rewards Customers For Getting A Jump Start On Summer
Travel
May 16, 2005 -- Non-Stop Fares To/From Washington As Low As $29,
$39, $44 and $49 One-Way Connecting Fares Start at $74 On The East
Coast, $84 and $94 Across The Country
Air
China, Cathay Pacific To Code-Share
May 19, 2005 -- Air China has signed a code-sharing agreement with
Cathay Pacific Airways on flights between Hong Kong and Beijing.
MORE
Aer
Lingus To Be Part-Privatized
May 18, 2005 -- The Irish government on Wednesday decided in principle
to sell a majority shareholding in state airline Aer Lingus.
MORE
Turkey
Allows Airlines To Pick Up Stranded Tourists
May 13, 2005 -- Ankara has lifted a ban on extra German planes coming
to Turkey to pick up passengers stranded there after Turkish budget
airline Onur Air was barred from landing in Germany. MORE
JAL
Did Unauthorized Aircraft Maintenance
May 18, 2005 -- Japan Airlines has conducted unauthorized aircraft
maintenance since 2001 and could be penalized, the Japanese government
said on Wednesday. MORE
Singapore
Air In China Cargo Venture
May 18, 2005 -- Singapore Airlines Cargo, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Singapore Airlines, is signing an agreement to form a joint venture
cargo airline with China Great Wall Industry Corporation and Dahlia
Investments. MORE
India's
SpiceJet Takes Off Monday
May 17, 2005 -- Low-cost Indian airline SpiceJet said it would launch
cut-rate domestic flights this month to lure travelers from popular
train services and expected to post a profit within six months.
MORE
Regional
Air- Franchise Agreement Terminated
British Airways has terminated its franchise agreement with Air
Kenya Aviation Ltd, trading as Regional Air. The decision follows
the Kenyan based airline’s decision last week to temporarily
suspend its operation. MORE
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CAR/RAIL |
HOTELS |
| Better
mileage estimates sought
May 17, 2005 -- The Senate may vote to force the Environmental Protection
Agency to find a better way of measuring automobile fuel economy,
according to the New York Times. MORE
Cracks
on Acela trains go back years
May 12, 2005 -- Cracks on the brake disc rotors of Amtrak's Acela
Express trains were detected as long as three years ago but the
railroad was never notified. MORE
Re-thinking
urban car journeys
Traffic congestion in big cities, as well as the high cost of car
rental, could one day be a thing of the past, if the technological
solution employed by one American company in Boston catches on.
MORE
Roadtrip
-- Things you should carry in your car
When you stop and think about the times your vehicle has left you
stranded, you’ll find that most roadside breakdowns are caused
by a relatively minor problem such as being out of fuel, a leaking
radiator hose, flat tire, dead battery or blown fuse. Why sit on
the side of the highway waiting for an expensive tow when you could
spend a few minutes and fix the problem well enough to drive to
the garage? MORE
Rental
car fleets go exotic, sexy and fun
Car rental agencies are starting to stock more luxury or specialized
vehicles - from Hummers to Volvos - aimed at those who seek the
unique. MORE
Amtrak
Group Savings Continue with Expanded Share Fares(SM) Program
May 13, 2005 -- Amtrak's Share FaresSM program is being extended
through the summer travel season and beyond. This means small groups
traveling in the Northeast have another great reason to experience
Amtrak: huge savings.
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Hotel
Performance Indicates Rising Demand
May 19, 2005 -- Demand from business travelers this month is driving
the lodging industry recovery and shows no sign of letting up through
August, when buyers compile 2006 bids and hotels begin to firm up
pricing strategy for that year. According to data released yesterday
by Smith Travel Research, revenue per available room for U.S. hotels
grew 6.8 percent and 6.4 percent in the first two weeks of May,
respectively, compared to the same weeks in 2004. Average daily
rate in the week ending May 14 rose 7.3 percent, year over year.
MORE
Hotel
Negotiating Tougher: Buyers Revising Strategies For 2006
May 16, 2005 -- Travel buyers this month told Business Travel News
that tougher hotel rate negotiations for 2005 have made them rethink
their approach to negotiations this fall for 2006 rates. Strategies
run the gamut from seeking chainwide deals to providing negotiated
rates in more markets to better ensuring the equitable application
of last room availability provisions. MORE
Choice
Hotels Partners With Bank of America to Reward Travelers -- Free
Nights at Midscale Brand Hotels This Summer
May 17, 2005 -- May 17, 2005) - Beginning June 1, travelers who
apply for the no annual fee Choice Privileges® Visa Platinum
credit card by August 31, and make their first purchase by November
1, will receive 16,000 Choice Privileges reward points. That's two
free nights* at the majority of the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites,
Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion and MainStay Suites brand hotels in
the U.S. The card is issued by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) in conjunction
with Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH). MORE
Blackstone
Makes Another Extended Stay Buy
May 12, 2005 -- The Blackstone Group is on its way to becoming an
even bigger player in the booming extended stay market. The New
York private equity firm today acquired 16 extended stay hotels
from Wichita, Kan.-based Sierra Suites. MORE
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OTHER INDUSTRY RELATED NEWS & ARTICLES |
| Homeland
Security is late with plan to check fliers before take off
May 19, 2005 -- The government is three months late in coming up
with a plan ordered by Congress to avoid diverting international
flights because of concerns about their passengers. MORE
Iris
Scanning To Begin At Orlando International Airport
May 12, 2005 -- Florida's busiest airport will begin using high-tech
iris-scanning technology to filter out possible terrorists and add
an additional layer of security. MORE
Low-cost
airlines seen taking 50 pct of US market over next decade - S&P
May 12, 2005 -- According to a AFX News Limited report, which quotes
an analysis by Standard and Poor's, discount airlines will control
50% of the domestic U.S. market in ten years, although a number
of weaker discounters will not survive. MORE
Democrat
Wants Congress To Block Pension Defaults
May 13, 2005 -- Congress should impose a six month moratorium keeping
bankrupt companies such as United Airlines from dumping their workers'
pension plans onto a federal agency. MORE
US
FDA Warns Airline Food Supplier
May 17, 2005 -- An airline catering company must take major steps
to clean its Honolulu location or risk the unit's closure after
US health inspectors found live cockroaches, dirty utensils and
an oozing, pink slime earlier this year. MORE
ACTE
Spotlights RFID Passport Privacy Risks
MAY 16, 2005 -- Proposed radio frequency identification technology
for passports will not be rolled out until privacy and security
issues are addressed and identity theft vulnerabilities are overcome,
U.S. State Department deputy assistant secretary for passport services
Frank Moss asserted to attendees of the Association of Corporate
Travel Executives conference here this month. MORE
U.S.
removes ban on unfilled lighters
May 17, 2005 -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration
has changed a rule banning unfilled lighters in checked luggage
on U.S. airliners, according to new regulations posted on its Web
site. MORE |
Baltimore
Joins High-Tech Baggage Bandwagon
Baltimore Sun reports that BWI will launch one of the most sophisticated
baggage systems in the country next week, that will include the
latest in sophisticated screening technology. MORE
IACA
Against Airline Ticket Tax
May 18, 2005 -- The International Air Carrier Association, which
groups 35 airlines, called on European Union finance ministers on
Wednesday to abort the idea of a tax on airline tickets to raise
money for poorest nations. MORE
EU
Says Window Still Open For Aircraft Deal With US
May 18, 2005 -- There is still a chance for the EU and the US to
resolve a dispute over subsidies enjoyed by aircraft makers Airbus
and Boeing without a showdown at the WTO, Europe's trade chief said
on Wednesday. MORE
Tempting
Travelers With Security-Friendly Clothing
May 6, 2005 -- Lately, it's less about flying and more about shoe
checks, coat checks and random frisking, all part of a stress-inducing
airport obstacle course as you engage in your own "Amazing
Race" to the boarding gate. MORE
Gotterspammerung:
E-Mail Awash With German spam
If you're wondering about the flood of German-language spam that
started circulating again over the weekend, it's the result of a
computer worm that first surfaced in 2003. Experts predict this
latest outbreak will take a few weeks to run its course. MORE
New
air cargo rules proposed
May 17, 2005 -- With hope of closing a loophole in airline security
nearly four years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, lawmakers
Tuesday introduced two amendments to the 2006 Department of Homeland
Security authorization bill. MORE
Holiday
travelers to shrug off gas pains
May 18, 2005 -- Americans are expected to travel in record numbers
this Memorial Day holiday despite sky-high gasoline prices, according
to a AAA travel survey released Wednesday. |
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