2005 Presidential Inauguration - Washington, DC and Baltimore Metro Air Traffic Control Management Plans
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Traffic Management System has developed plans to address arrival delays during the days leading up to the Inauguration, to address parking capacities at impacted airports, and to facilitate departures on the day following the Inauguration.

Presidential Inauguration Flight Advisory -- As part of the airspace security measures associated with the 2005 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC on January 20, 2005, the FAA will modify restrictions to the Washington DC Metropolitan Area Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and Washington DC Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ). These changes are being made at the request of the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense.

Chase, United Upgrade Mileage Plus Visa Card Program Benefits -- Chase and United announced that cardmembers can earn Elite Qualifying Miles -- valid toward Mileage Plus elite status -- as well as double Redeemable Miles for every dollar spent on united.com during 2005.

United Mileage Plus® Introduces Elite Prepaid Travel Card for Frequent Flyers -- The new United Mileage Plus Elite Prepaid Travel Card is the only prepaid travel card that offers customers coveted elite status in the award-winning Mileage Plus® frequent flyer program.

See Spot Fly. Fly, Spot, Fly. Earn Miles, Spot! – in United Pet Classsm -- Now pets are eligible for top-notch travel perks, just like their owners: United Mileage Plus® members can earn miles for flying with companions who bark, meow and chirp.

US Airways Offers Systemwide Sale Fares Starting At $49* Each Way -- Under this sale, tickets must be purchased by Jan. 18, or by Feb. 7 for Latin America and select Caribbean destinations. Travel must be completed by March 17, by March 23 for Europe, or by April 28 for Latin America and select Caribbean destinations.

Hotels Resist Online Agencies -- When large hotel companies first checked into cyberspace they let others -- online travel agencies -- dictate the terms. But the hoteliers have been fighting hard to take back control, and they don't expect to relinquish it.

Swiss to cut staff by 800-1,000, restructure operations -- Owing to pressure from low-cost competitors and continuing fare erosion in Europe, Swiss International Air Lines unveiled new cost-cutting measures designed to shed Sfr300 million ($253.1 million) in annual costs.

Continental Reaches Cost-savings Deal With Airport, Cargo Employees -- Continental Airlines finalized wage and benefit reductions and work rule changes with its Field Services division, which includes domestic airport ticket, gate, ramp, operations and cargo agent employees, that will result in $99 million in annual cost savings for the carrier. The changes will go into effect Feb. 28.

Northwest Offers Online Frequent Flyer Upgrade Award Redemption And Ticket Purchases -- Northwest Airlines announced today that members of its WorldPerks frequent flyer program can now purchase a ticket and then redeem miles for first class upgrades.

AAdvantage Members Can Earn More Than 50,000 Miles on Flights From the U.S. to London -- American is offering AAdvantage® members the opportunity to earn more than 50,000 miles for each transatlantic round trip flown on eligible First Class or Business Class tickets from the U.S. to London now through April 30, 2005. The number of bonus miles that can be earned is unlimited during the promotion period.

American Announces Great Low Fares for Winter Travel to Latin America -- American has great low fares for travel in January and February from select U.S. cities to points throughout Latin America, including destinations in Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela.

Delta SkyMiles Customers Have More Online Award Travel Options -- SkyMiles program members can redeem miles online for award travel to some of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, including the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Delta Files with DOT for Daily Service to Moscow from Atlanta -- Delta is requesting permission from the DOT to serve Moscow with daily service from Atlanta using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, capable of carrying up to 204 people in a two-class configuration and featuring Delta’s award-winning BusinessElite service.

America West Airlines Announces New Service in the Sooner State -- America West will initiate new nonstop jet service between Oklahoma City and its hubs in Phoenix and Las Vegas beginning on May 6, 2005. With this new service, America West offers Oklahoma City passenger's convenient, one-stop connections to 46 destinations spanning the Western United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

US, India conclude open skies agreement -- US and India after three days of negotiations have reached an open skies agreement that allows airlines of both countries to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand. According to the US Dept. of Transportation, the deal provides "for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations and pricing, as well as opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including bilateral codesharing with domestic Indian carriers." The agreement replaces the restrictive 1956 bilateral. Prior to the new deal, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Air-India had direct flights between the countries, while American Airlines and United Airlines codeshared on some routes. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta said, "The agreement begins a new era where American and Indian consumers, airlines and economies can reap the rewards of cheaper flights, more choices and faster air service."

Australian Airlines flight attendants threaten to strike -- Australian Airlines flight attendants are threatening to take industrial action in a dispute over moves to extend the carrier's international services to longer-haul routes. The Flight Attendants Assn. of Australia's 300 members at Australian, a low-cost offshoot of Qantas, may strike as early as next week unless management meets their wage and rostering demands.

Virgin Express is latest to drop travel agent commissions -- Virgin Express announced that because of changing market conditions, it will implement a "zero commission" distribution policy from April 1. At present, it pays travel agents a 9% commission.

London Underground Terminal 4 Closed -- London Heathrow's Terminal 4 underground station will be closed from January 2005 to September 2006 .

British Airways CitiExpress Withdrew Operations -- Limited has announced the withdrawal of their Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday operations, between London Luton and Isle of Man, between 21 January and 17 March 2005 inclusive.

British Airways to suspend London Gatwick to Frankfurt services -- British Airways has announced the suspension of services between London Gatwick and Frankfurt from the beginning of the Summer 2005 schedule (27 March 2005). The last departure will be from Frankfurt on 26 March 2005.