United Enhances Its International Service for a More Relaxed and Enjoyable Flight
July 20 -- More Legroom, New Amenity Kits, Enhanced Menu and Appointment of Wine Consultant, Doug Frost

United Announces Significant Service Expansion from Chicago O?are and Washington Dulles
July 20 -- Beginning this fall and winter, United and United Express will introduce daily nonstop service in several markets from its Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles hub airports.

United Airlines Announces Start Date for New U.S.-Vietnam Service via Hong Kong
July 22 -- United to Provide First Scheduled U.S. Air Carrier Service to Vietnam in Nearly Three Decades, Beginning Dec. 9, 2004

United To Offer Nonstop Denver-Pittsburgh Service
July 21 -- United Airlines will offer two new daily nonstop roundtrip flights between Denver (DEN) and Pittsburgh (PIT), beginning Oct. 4, 2004. Flights open for sale on Thursday, July 22, 2004.

Tips for Traveling to and from Boston during the Democratic National Convention
July 22 -- With the U.S. Democratic National Convention heading to Boston next week, official carrier United Airlines is reminding its customers of some helpful travel tips to ease their travel experience to and from Massachusetts.

US Airways Adds New GoFares, More Flights in Philadelphia
July 21 -- US Airways today continues its campaign to bring low fares and convenient air service to Philadelphia, with the introduction of new GoFares® to both Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla., as well as 18 new flights to popular destinations.

New Business Class Seat Top Priority For American
July 22-- American Airlines is moving "full speed ahead" on development of a new business class seat for its international fleet of widebody aircraft.

United Airlines Announces Preferred Hotels?& Resorts Worldwide Joins Ameniti
July 13 - Ameniti, a new, exclusive luxury travel club whose partners include United, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Cunard Line, Condé Nast Traveler and IMG, today announced that Preferred Hotels® & Resorts Worldwide has joined the Ameniti club.

United Supplements Its Focus on Travel Agencies with Discover the World Marketing
July 14 - United has engaged Discover the World Marketing to help supplement its sales efforts to travel agencies in the United States. Discover the World Marketing, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., will help strengthen United's commitment to, and ongoing focus on, the travel agency community.

United Airlines Launches Full-Service Cruise Website
July 15 - United launched its new cruise website, united.com/cruises, where visitors can purchase cruise packages from more than 20 different cruise operators, and earn and redeem United Mileage Plus miles for cruises. United is the only major airline to offer its frequent fliers the opportunity to both earn and redeem miles for cruises.

US Airways Added 4 More Washington GoFare Cities
July 14 -- US Airways added four new GoFares® markets for Washington, D.C.-area customers, offering simplified fares as low as $89* each way, available immediately, to and from Albany, Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y., and Charleston, S.C.

Continental Offers Free Wireless Internet Access in All Presidents Clubs in the U.S.
July 12 -- Continental Airlines is offering free wireless Internet access in all of its Presidents Clubs in the United States, except at Chicago where it shares a club with Northwest Airlines. The company expects to expand the service to its international clubs by the end of 2004.

Delta Launches Sale Fares between Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and Select U.S. Cities
July 21 -- Customers can experience the capital of New Brunswick, Canada, this summer and fall at great low fares. Delta Connection carrier, Comair, is now offering fares as low as $61 each way between Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, and many popular U.S. cities.

Delta Offers New Flight Between Atlanta and Reno; Second Daily Flight and Low Sale Fare Between Atlanta and Honolulu
July 19 -- Delta begins new service between Atlanta and Reno, Nevada, and a second daily flight between Atlanta and Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 1, 2004.

Northwest Announces Major Expansion From Indianapolis
July 20 -- Northwest Airlines today announced a major expansion of its Indianapolis schedule that will more than double the number of departures it offers by adding new nonstop service to Boston, Ft. Myers, Fla.; Hartford, Conn.; Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, N.C. and Washington. All 19 of the new flights begin October 31, 2004.

Business Travel Coalition Mileage Reimbursement Survey
A Business Travel Coalition member company requested that BTC conduct a survey of corporations, universities, government entities and other large organizations. The purpose of the survey was to determine current practices with respect reimbursing employees for use of vehicles in the conduct of official business. In part, the survey request was based upon the impact of recently persistent high gasoline prices.

Southwest Asserts Hegemony: Low-Fare Carriers Lead, Majors Match Systemwide Fare Sales
July 19 -- Southwest Airlines this month began a systemwide fare sale, reinforcing its position as the industry's pricing leader and prompting financially troubled competitors to reduce already depressed airfares. Other low-fare carriers, including AirTran, ATA, Frontier and JetBlue, also launched widespread fare sales for post-Labor Day travel, which analysts said are aimed at filling excess capacity but do not differ much from previous years.

TSA Announces "Registered Traveler" Program Pilot
Rear Admiral David M. Stone, USN (Ret.), Acting Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), today announced that TSA has reached agreements with its partners for the Registered Traveler program. TSA will be launching the experiment in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with Northwest Airlines later this month. Checkpoint operations are scheduled to begin in early July.

Cos. Find Hotels Increasingly Taxing
July 19 -- Nightly hotel taxes in the United States last year generally increased by less than three percentage points, though the number of cities where the total tax approached 15 percent to 17 percent reached a new high. According to one taxation expert, this is the tipping point at which the hospitality industry, as well as business travelers and the companies picking up their tabs, start to object to the heavy tax bite.

San Diego International Airport Is TSA Test Bed For Explosives Trace Detection Portals
July 14 -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced it will begin an operational test and evaluation of an explosives trace detection portal at a passenger security checkpoint at San Diego International Airport, Lindbergh Field.

Possible New Tax on New York City Airport Car Rentals
A New York State Assembly bill that proposes a five percent tax on airport car rentals in New York City to help finance expansion of the Javits Convention Center has the backing of Governor George Pataki. The proposed $1.4 billion Javits Convention Center renovation is part of a larger redevelopment plan for the West Side of Manhattan.

Statue of Liberty to reopen Aug. 3
The Statue of Liberty, including the observation deck, will reopen to visitors Aug. 3.

BA could see more strikes as contract talks break down
July 19 -- British Airways could face a repeat of last summer's strike action by its ground staff after pay talks between management and baggage handlers and check-in staff broke down Friday.

American to furlough 123 more pilots; tests inflight cellphone
July 19 -- American Airlines will furlough 123 more pilots Oct. 1 in a final round of cutbacks related to the restructuring agreement reached in April 2003.

LCCs capturing significant US business travel share (Source ATW)
July 15 -- A survey of business travelers at US-based companies reveals that 23% of respondents use primarily low-cost carriers for business travel while 46% place quality of customer service above loyalty programs in terms of influencing their purchase decision, a percentage seemingly at odds with continuing service reductions by US legacy airlines.

Furthermore, 71% said their use of LCCs for business travel will remain the same or increase over the next six months. The survey of 429 travelers, conducted by Accenture, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed said they had taken at least six flights in the past six months and 34% had taken 3-5 flights.
Also, 41% of travelers experienced at least one maintenance-related delay or cancellation within the past six months while 5% experienced 3-5 such incidents. The survey also confirmed widespread use of the Internet for travel arrangements, with 75% purchasing tickets online and 48% using Internet check-in.--PF

Boeing to offer enhancements for 777-300ER in 2005 (sources ATW)
Boeing will begin offering range and payload enhancements for 777-300ERs in the 2005 fourth quarter. The enhancements will be offered on new aircraft and for retrofit. With the improvements, maximum range will increase by 175 nm to 7,880 nm. Center-of-gravity limits also will rise, "providing greater cargo loading capability when the aircraft operates at its highest gross weight." Specifically, the enhancements include improved fuel efficiency from the GE90-115B engines powering the aircraft, drag-reducing aerodynamic improvements such as wing vortex generator changes and ram air system modifications, and interior changes that reduce weight. Additionally, as part of the package airlines can choose an "innovative option that stores food and beverage carts directly above the passenger cabin rather than on the main deck," providing more main-deck space for revenue-generating seats. Boeing said it is applying several of the enhancements to the 777-200LR currently under development as well. The first 777-200LR will be delivered during the 2006 first quarter.