| NEWS
HEADLINES |
Friday,
May 27, 2005 |
Judge
puts off decision on United strike OK
May 26, 2005 -- There will be no ruling on whether United
Airlines' baggage carriers, customer-service agents, security
officers and others have a right to strike until the carrier
and its largest union complete contract talks.
America
West, US Airways Merger Reflects Industry Changes
May 26, 2005 -- The proposed merger of America West Airlines
and US Airways comes just four years after another immense
airline combination: American Airlines' buyout of TWA. MORE
US
Airways will drop some nonstop flights
May 26, 2005 -- US Airways said it will cut its nonstop
routes to these two cities and will seasonally cut one of
its nonstop jet flights to Tampa, Fla., as well as 12 US
Airways Express flights, on Aug. 21. MORE
Will
This Airline Marriage Work?
May 25, 2005 -- S&P says a combined America West-US
Airways may have better-than-average odds vs. other airline
mergers, but that's not saying much. MORE
America
West US Airways Merger Not Without Problems
May 23, 2005 -- It has been reported that US Airways has
invited alternative proposals to it's merger with America
West as a result of all of the negative criticism this merger
is getting.
Most of the criticism falls on America West for taking
on US Airways which is currently dealing with bankruptcy
issues. David Grossman of USA Today goes into detail about
most of the potential problems with this merger. MORE
America
West, US Airways merger goes for a tight fit
May 20, 2005 -- America West Airlines said it will acquire
US Airways, saving the beleaguered carrier from the possibility
of a bankruptcy liquidation.
Though America West would dominate the deal, the cash-poor
Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier is committing little financially.
Months-long negotiations managed to bring an array of outsiders
carrying $1.5 billion to the table — hedge funds,
credit card issuers, jet maker Airbus and Air Canada parent
ACE among them. Backers say the money would create a single,
well-capitalized airline capable of turning a profit even
with oil at $50 a barrel. MORE
Airline
industry in a nosedive
May 25, 2005 -- Amid higher oil prices and continuing industry
pricing pressures, airline equities remain a difficult place
for investors to make money, concludes Standard & Poor's
in its semi-annual survey on airlines, published last week.
Although low-cost carriers such as Southwest and JetBlue
Airlines have been able to cope much better than their higher-cost
competitors in this environment, S&P believes that 2005
could become a possible tipping point for giants such as
US Airways and Delta Airlines. These and other findings
are available in the report, the Airlines Industry Survey,
published twice yearly by Standard & Poor's, a leading
provider of independent investment research, ratings and
indices. MORE
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AIR |
| United
Announces New Ted Flights to Select Sun Destinations
May 26, 2005 – Beginning September 7, 2005, and continuing
through the fall, UA will launch new TedSM service to popular destinations
in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, comprising part of its previously
announced 20 percent fleet expansion. Additional routes to be served
by Ted's fleet expansion will be announced in the future. MORE
United
Named Best Transpacific Airline at OAG Airline of the Year Awards
May 25, 2005 -- United Airlineswas named Best Transpacific Airline
by the annual OAG Airline of the Year Awards during an awards ceremony
in London.MORE
Earn
Double Miles Toward Preferred Status: US Airways Nonstop Service
between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Cleveland,
Dallas / Ft. Worth, Detroit and Houston
Dividend Miles members will earn double miles good toward Preferred
status with the purchase of any paid fare for travel on nonstop
flights between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Atlanta,
Chicago O’Hare, Cleveland, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit and Houston
through September 30, 2005. MORE
Earn
2,500 bonus Dividend Miles with the purchase of an annual Club membership
Enroll online for membership in the US Airways Club, earn 2,500
bonus Dividend Miles and start enjoying the benefits. MORE
Check
in for your next flight by using Flight Check-In at usairways.com
and earn 1,000 miles. Plus, each time you use Flight Check-In thereafter,
you'll earn 100 bonus miles
Offer valid for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands on flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Shuttle
or the US Airways Express carriers. Not valid when traveling on
an award ticket. This offer cannot be combined with the Self Service
Check-In Kiosk bonus. MORE
Song
Pumps Up the Volume with Launch of Song Records
May 26, 2005 – Song, Delta Air Lines’ low-fare, high-style
air service, announced the launch of Song Records, an innovative
brand venture created to celebrate great music and provide a unique
platform for showcasing a diverse collection of recording artists.
MORE
Delta
Expands Service at Richmond, Va., by 25 Percent, with New Flights
to Florida
May 20, 2005 – Delta Air Lines’ customers
planning business trips between Richmond, Va., and Florida soon
will find it easy to jet straight to the Sunshine state. MORE
Delta
Expands Service at Norfolk, Va., by 20 Percent with New Non-stop
Flights to Boston, Orlando
May 20, 2005 – Delta Air Lines’ customers in the Norfolk/Hampton
Roads region of Virginia soon will be able to enjoy the only non-stop
service to Boston -- with twice-daily flights -- as well as new
non-stop service to Orlando and an additional non-stop flight to
Atlanta. MORE |
Northwest
Recognized By Top Frequent Flyer Organization
May 24, 2005– Northwest's WorldPerks Elite program received
the prestigious Freddie Award, the industry’s leading consumer-generated
awards, for best elite-level frequent flyer program in the Asia/Pacific
region and was also given honorable mentions in the categories of
best member communications and best Web site for the same region.
MORE
With
new service into Bob Hope Airport, JetBlue becomes the first Airline
to fly Nonstop from Burbank to New York City
May 24, 2005 -- JetBlue Airways launched its first nonstop flight
to New York’s JFK International Airport from Bob Hope Airport
in Burbank, CA, offering the first and only nonstop coast-to-coast
service from the Southern California airport. MORE
Star
Alliance Member Carriers Open Joint Ticketing Facility at Mexico
City’s International Airport
19 May 2005 – The Star Alliance member carriers serving Mexico
City – Air Canada, Lufthansa, United, US Airways and VARIG
– now offer customers one joint ticket office at Mexico City’s
International Airport. Together the five carriers operate more than
100 flights in and out of the airport per week, offering more than
20,000 seats to eight destinations: Charlotte, Chicago, Frankfurt,
Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC.
MORE
Earn
Triple Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credits at Econo Lodge,
Rodeway Inn Brand Hotels This Summer
May 17, 2005 - Beginning June1, guests at Econo Lodge and Rodeway
Inn brand hotels in the U.S. will be eligible to receive triple
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® credits for stays through
August 31. MORE
Malév
takes first step to joining oneworld alliance
May 24, 2005 -- oneworldTM has signed a memorandum of understanding
with Malév as the first step towards the Hungarian carrier
joining the world's leading quality global airline alliance. MORE
AirTran
Airways Announces Ratification of Contract Agreement with The Association
of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., announced
the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement reached
on April 29, 2005, with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA,
AFL-CIO (AFA). MORE
Independence
Air Fare Sale Rewards Customers For Getting A Jump Start On Summer
Travel
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. MORE
American
Airlines And Omni Hotels Summer Travel Trends Survey: Travelers
Prefer Beaches, But Not With Bosses Or In-Laws
May 24, 2005 -- Findings from a recent American Airlines and Omni
Hotels Summer Travel Trends Survey reveal that more than half --
54 percent -- of respondents prefer a beach destination over the
mountains (28 percent) or the wine country (19 percent). But apparently
the company one keeps or chooses not to keep on vacation is just
as important as selecting a destination. MORE
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CAR/RAIL |
HOTELS |
| Amtrak
Capitol Corridor Passengers Can Take the Train to the New Oakland
Coliseum Rail Platform
Beginning June 6, 2005, Amtrak Capitol Corridor passengers will
be able to take the train to the new Oakland Coliseum rail platform
to see football, baseball, basketball and other sporting and entertainment
events, announced Amtrak. MORE
Amtrak
Group Savings Continue with Expanded Share Fares(SM) Program
Share Fares(SM) is available on Regional and other services to Boston,
New York, Washington and several other destinations in the Northeast.
Since its debut in February, more than 10,000 customers have taken
advantage of the tremendous savings Share Fares(SM) offers. MORE
Avis
Offers Customers the Highly Anticipated New Vehicle
Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. announced that the highly anticipated
Hummer H3 will be added to its car rental fleet just in time for
the busy summer travel season. It will be available at select Avis
airport locations in the following cities: Dallas, Denver, Phoenix,
Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle. MORE
Avis
Offers One Way Rates As Low As $14.95
Avisannounced special one-way rates for Florida and Arizona customers
traveling to selected destinations in the United States. The offer,
valid at participating locations through June 30, 2005,
features a minivan rental from Florida for as little as $14.95 per
day. Pickup locations in Florida include: Daytona Beach Airport,
Fort Lauderdale Airport, Jacksonville Airport, Melbourne Airport,
Miami International Airport, Orlando Airport, Pensacola Airport,
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport, Sarasota Airport, Tampa Airport,
West Palm Beach Airport, Tallahassee Airport and Southwest Regional
Airport. MORE
Budget
Offers Bargain One-Way Rates from Florida and Arizona
Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. announced special one-way rates from
Florida to select locations in the continental United States. Now
through June 30, 2005, customers traveling one-way
can rent a minivan for only $14.95 per day, a mid-size vehicle for
just $19.95 per day or a full-size vehicle for $21.95 per day. MORE |
Largest
hotel loyalty program introduces an easy way to earn points when
shopping online
May 4, 2005 - InterContinental Hotels Group and Priority Club Rewards,
announced the launch of Priority Club Shopping, an online mall that
offers members reward points for online purchases made at more than
150 national retailers in multiple categories. MORE
InterContinental
Hotels Group Adds Mexicana Airlines to Priority Club Rewards’
Growing Portfolio of Partners
May 24, 2005– InterContinental Hotels Group announced the
addition of Mexicana Airlines to its portfolio of partners within
the company’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.
MORE
Rock-A-Bye
Business Traveler
May 16, 2005– More than 7 million guests have experienced
the industry-leading Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Sleep Advantage
program in the year since it launched. MORE
InterContinental
Hotels Group Offers Elite Members of Priority Club Rewards the Chance
to go to Vertigo with U2
May 18, 2005– InterContinental® Hotels Group is offering
Elite members of its guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards,
the opportunity to redeem points for tickets to the U2 Vertigo Tour
2005. MORE
Choice
Hotels Partners With Bank of America to Reward Travelers: Free Nights
at Midscale Brand Hotels This Summer
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. MORE
Hilton,
Doubletree, And Embassy Suites Hotels To Offer Delicious, Nutritionally
Balanced Meal Options
May 24, 2005 - The Hilton Eat Right, Doubletree Eat Right, and Embassy
Suites Hotels Eat Right menu programs offer meal choices that are
rich in nutrition, and designed with such health-conscious attributes
as increased protein and reduced saturated fats, cholesterol, carbohydrates
and calories. The new menu programs are available during breakfast,
lunch and dinner at participating hotels' through restaurants and
room service. MORE
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OTHER INDUSTRY RELATED NEWS & ARTICLES |
| International
Inflight Connectivity Soaring
May 24, 2005 -- Several international carriers recently introduced
or expanded inflight Internet access, including Scandinavian Airlines
System, which had become the first to offer wireless high-speed
connections on all long-haul flights. Others to launch or announce
similar services this month included All Nippon Airways, El Al and
Japan Airlines, adding to a growing list of carriers responding
to customer demand for inflight connectivity. MORE
200
Million Americans To Fly This Summer
May 25, 2005 -- US airlines expect to carry an estimated 200 million
passengers this summer, a 4 percent increase over last year, industry
trade group ATA said. The summer travel season begins this weekend,
the three day Memorial Day holiday, and runs to Labor Day, the first
weekend in September. MORE
IATA
Seeks Industry Deregulation
May 26, 2005 -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA)
plans to push next week for aggressive industry deregulation since
governments and airports have not done enough to improve efficiency.
MORE
DHS
Implements Stringent Security Plan for Opening Washington Reagan
Airport to General Aviation
May 25, 2005 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced
a series of new security measures that the TSA will implement to
reopen Washington Reagan Airport (DCA) for certain pre-cleared general
aviation (GA) operations, including corporate aircraft, charter
flights, and on-demand operations. Congress had required DHS to
develop a security plan to permit general aviation aircraft to operate
into and out of DCA, in the 2003 Vision 100-Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act. MORE
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US
Seeks Additional Information Deal With EU
May 23, 2005 -- US Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff said
on Monday he hoped to work out an accord with the EU Commission
to release more information on travelers before planes take off
rather than while they are in the air. MORE
TSA
Purchases 32 L-3 EDS Machines for In-line Checked Baggage Screening
Systems
May 20, 2005 -- TSA has ordered 32 new eXaminer 6000 Explosives
Detection System (EDS) machines from L-3 Communications of Woburn,
Mass. The new delivery order is valued at $28.1 million. The machines
will be delivered by spring of 2006 to support in-line explosives
detection systems currently under construction at a number of airports.
MORE
43
EDS Machines from GE Will Support In-line Checked Baggage Screening
Systems
May 19, 2005 -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
today announced it has ordered 43 CTX 9000DSi Explosives Detection
System (EDS) machines from General Electric (GE) InVision Inc. of
Newark, Calif. Under the new delivery order, the 43 EDS machines,
valued at $51.6 million, will be delivered by the end of the year.
MORE
Travel
Tips For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Traveling Abroad
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C.
Bonner launched a traveler awareness campaign to kick-off the summer
travel season. He was joined by Charles Gargano, Chairman of the
Empire State Economic Development Corporation Chairman and Vice-Chairman
of the Port Authority of NY & NJ; Mark Brown, Executive Vice
President of the American Automobile Association (AAA); and, William
Maloney, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). The campaign is designed
to facilitate travel abroad this summer by U.S. residents. MORE |
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