| 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
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Web
Fares & Your Travel
Did You Know?
Did you know that each time you make a reservation
with Travel-On your agent is automatically checking
the internet for a lower airfare at the same time?
That’s right. Find
out more . . .
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AIR |
| 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
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
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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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