Possible Strike by Fuel Suppliers at London Heathrow

Aircraft refuellers working for a company called AFS at London's Heathrow Airport are threatening to strike on Friday 24 September and Saturday 25 September 2004 over a pay dispute. DETAILS

  
  American Airlines Increases Domestic U.S. Fares $5 One Way, $10 Round Trip
American Airlines today increased most domestic U.S. and U.S. to Canada fares $5 one way and $10 round trip. The increase, which is effective immediately, is necessary to help offset the continuing high cost of jet fuel.
 
     

British Airways to Axe Almost 1,000 Heathrow Flights
Sep 15 -- British Airways, Europe's second-biggest airline, plans to cancel almost 1,000 flights out of London's Heathrow airport in the next three months to ease the congestion that led to travel disruptions.
Tests Point to Bacteria in Water on Airplanes
Random tests of drinking water from 158 U.S. passenger planes found that about one in eight were contaminated with bacteria from human waste, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Monday.

Delta Air Lines to Resume Full Food and Beverage Service on Impacted Flights
Sep 22 -- Fulton County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Manis today ordered Gate Gourmet to resume catering services on Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) flights, effective immediately. Onboard service was impacted on some flights catered by Gate Gourmet yesterday afternoon and today. In the interim, Delta used other suppliers for food and beverage service on these specific flights during this time in order to minimize inconvenience to our customers.
US Airways Seeks Relief From Union Contracts
Sep 22 -- Bankrupt US Airways sought consent from its big unions on Wednesday for temporary relief from contracts and threatened to go to court to force changes if workers did not voluntarily agree.
Fliers Face Tighter Screening for Explosives
Sep 16 -- Starting Monday, the government will intensify airport screening, requiring passengers, for example, to remove coats.
TSA to Order Airlines to Provide PNR Data for Security System
Sep 22 -- The US Transportation Security Administration yesterday issued a proposed order requiring US airlines to provide the agency with one month's worth of PNR data to be used for testing its Secure Flight program, the successor to the much-maligned CAPPS II.
Best Western, Wyndham, AmeriSuites, Small Luxury Hotels and Boscolo Joined Galileo Best Available Rate Program

These hotel brands join Marriott, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Omni Hotels, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels, WestCoast and Red Lion Hotels, Minto Place Suite Hotel, Destination Hotels & Resorts

Galileo Best Available Rate (BAR) Program ensure travelers have access to the best available published, non-restricted rates through Apollo. There are no extra steps in the booking process -- any time an agent books a room at a participating hotel, they can be sure that they are getting the same low rate that they would find by going to the hotel website or calling the hotel directly.

Government Restrictions on Travel to Grand Cayman
Sep 17 -- Following the impact of Hurricane Ivan, travel into the Cayman Islands has been restricted by the Cayman Islands Government. Until 25 September 2004, only Cayman Islands passport holders or those who have Cayman Island status will be entitled to travel.

British Airways Guarantee Best Sleep to London
British Airways promise that on your next flight to London in Club World, you'll have the most ideal environment in which to sleep. British Airways have designed their business class to provide everything you need for a good night's sleep. We guarantee it.

Delta outlines Atlanta service increases
Sep 23 -- Delta unveiled a new schedule for its hub at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which will be in effect from Jan. 31. The move to "unbank" the hub is part of the airline's transformation plan aimed at achieving $5 billion in savings by 2006.
Delta and Union Resolve Potential Pilot Shortfall
Sep 22 -- Delta Air Lines reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union on a new deal that will permit the use of retired pilots in order to avoid a possible pilot shortage next month owing an unusually high number of anticipated retirements.
Delta Air Lines Files with DOT to Serve China Non-Stop from Atlanta
Sep 22 -- Customers in Atlanta and the eastern U.S. will have a non-stop air link with China beginning in 2006 if the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awards Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) permission to begin U.S.-China service.
Swiss Government Considers Swiss Air Sale
Sep 22-- The Swiss government is prepared to help put cash into ailing flag carrier Swiss International Air Lines in order to facilitate its sale to another airline, Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said.

TSA Refines Passenger-Screening Efforts Government Computer News
September 13, 2004 -- By Wilson P. Dizard III, GCN Staff

The Transportation Security Administration is forging ahead with a revamped screening program for the bulk of airline passengers and honing plans to speed vetted travelers through security checks.

For the new Secure Flight project, TSA officials will check prospective travelers against databases of known terrorism suspects. TSA officials will be able to tap more data than airline employees can using CAPPS. Having TSA officials take over the screening work from airline workers will improve security, senior Homeland Security Department officials said.

TSA has taken pains to distinguish Secure Flight from the discredited CAPPS II.

Secure Flight would reduce incidents of needlessly checking travelers and delaying flights as happens now if passengers have names similar to people on the CAPPS no-fly list. Such incidents have prompted lawsuits against TSA.

Secure Flight will handle domestic travelers only. Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, a separate agency in the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, will screen international travelers.

Quick Check

Meanwhile, TSA is continuing with tests of its Registered Traveler program to speed frequent flyers through security.

Once registered, participants use kiosks at security checkpoints to establish their identity and qualify for accelerated screening.