Fri, Nov 4, 2005

Travel-OnLine™ --- Why does Travel-OnLine prompt me to change my password after I have just completed an online registration and chosen a password?
Changing your password is an option only. For added security, you may choose to change your initial password, restricting access to your profile data for any authorized travel coordinator accessing the Travel-OnLine system. Perhaps a travel coordinator registered you initially. While this person may be the one who will book some of your travel, you may not want him/her to have access to all of your information. Having the "change password" option solves that. If you wish to retain your original password, you may simply enter it again and continue on with completing your profile.

NEWS HEADLINES

Amex, NBTA Forecast Substantial Travel Cost Growth
Oct 31, 2005 -- Companies next year will spend more on corporate travel as rates offered by all types of suppliers—coupled with the overall number of business trips—are expected to grow both domestically and internationally, according to separate forecasts released this month by the National Business Travel Association and American Express. MORE

Too many seats hurting the airline industry?
Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly said the struggling industry’s biggest problem — even above high fuel costs — is too many seats. MORE

United, Swiss To Share Code
Nov 1, 2005 -- Swiss International Air Lines and United Airlines on Nov. 9 will begin a codeshare agreement, "expanding international destination options and mileage opportunities for customers of both carriers. The agreement represents further integration of Swiss into the Star Alliance, following its merger and subsequent consolidation efforts with Lufthansa German Airlines. MORE

 

Execs More Cognizant Of Travel Costs
Nov 3, 2005 -- Faced with rising travel expenses, chief financial officers and finance execs are growing ever more aware of travel costs and policy compliance, according to an America Express survey of financial executives at more than 250 companies, mostly in the midmarket category. MORE

US Airways Announces Reduced Fee for Confirmed Changes to Same-Day Travel
Nov 1, 2005 -- To take advantage of the Move Up program, customers simply make a request upon airport check-in for an earlier flight. Since there are no time restrictions with the Move Up program, customers can select a standby flight departing any time earlier on the same day. If space is available, a confirmed seat assignment will be provided for only $25 on domestic flights, excluding Hawaii, and $50 for international flights, excluding Europe. If space is not available, customers may still be placed on the standby list, for no fee at all. MORE

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Airline News

Chase, United Airlines Introduce New Business Card
October 28, 2005 – Chase and United Mileage Plus Business Awards Visaâ card, will enable small businesses to earn travel rewards, Mileage Plus miles and Perks Plus points, for their business purchases. Perks Plus points are redeemable for business travel on United, and for upgrades and other exclusive small business benefits. MORE

United loses $1.8 billion on special items but posts solid operating result
Nov 1, 2005 -- UAL Corp. posted a third-quarter net loss of $1.77 billion as $1.84 billion in bankruptcy-related noncash charges overwhelmed a strong performance at the operating level where the company reported a profit of $165 million, reflecting a 3.5% operating margin, compared with an operating loss of $80 million a year ago." United is a fundamentally better company today with sustainable improvements across the business and solid operational performance. MORE

American Pilots Consider New Contract Talks
Nov 1, 2005 -- Leaders of American Airlines' pilots' union are to meet on Tuesday to consider contract talks aimed at boosting productivity, but avoiding any wage or benefit cuts. MORE

US Airways Exchanges Common Stock for America West Airlines' 7.25 Percent Senior Exchangeable Notes
Oct 28, 2005 -- US Airways Group, Inc. has repurchased from noteholders approximately $250 million in principal amount at maturity of America West Airlines, Inc.'s 7.25 percent senior exchangeable notes due 2023. MORE

Delta seeks to impose new contract on pilots through bankruptcy
Nov 3, 2005 -- Delta Air Lines asked a US Bankruptcy Court to permit it to impose a new contract on its pilots that would reduce pilot pay rates by 19.5%. The carrier is imposing $605 million in pay and benefit reductions on its 44,000 other employees.MORE

Northwest, Unions In Talks On Temporary Cuts
Nov 2, 2005 -- Northwest Airlines said that if it can get temporary savings worth 60 percent of its total USD$1.4 billion labor savings goal, the airline could delay a hearing on its request to void its contracts. MORE

Mechanics strike at Northwest appears over
Nov 2, 2005 -- Defiant Northwest Airlines mechanics still picket. Their union urges them to stay strong. But airline observers and even some strikers say it's as good as over. MORE

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Air Canada reverses its fortunes, firms Boeing order
Nov 3, 2005 -- ACE Aviation Holdings, parent of Air Canada, reported third-quarter net income of C$270 million ($229.6 million) compared to an C$81 million loss in the year-ago period. MORE

ATA To Suspend Some Services
Nov 1, 2005 -- ATA Airlines would suspend service to and from Denver, Indianapolis and San Juan, Puerto Rico, to combat high fuel costs and excess capacity. MORE

Virgin Atlantic buys flu treatment
Nov 3, 2005 -- Virgin Atlantic Airways has ordered a stockpile of the antiviral drug Tamiflu "as a purely precautionary measure" in the event of a human outbreak of bird flu. MORE

AirTran leaves Worldspan, inks deal with Galileo
NoV 1, 2005 -- AirTran reached an agreement with Cendant Travel Distribution Services to distribute its fares, schedules and inventory through Cendant's Galileo/Apollo systems. It reached an agreement to distribute through Sabre and Travelocity last month. MORE

Gambling May Replace Air Fares At Ryanair
Nov 2, 2005 -- Ryanair believes revenue from inflight gaming and gambling could eventually replace the need to charge air fares. MORE

BAA To Cut 700 Jobs As Growth Slows
Nov 1, 2005 -- Airport operator BAA planned to cut 700 jobs under a cost-saving program and posted higher first-half earnings despite rising utility bills and slowing passenger growth. MORE

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Rail / Hotel / Car / Cruise News

Amtrak - Hurricane Wilma - Florida Service Restoration Update
Nov 2, 2005 -- The daily Auto Train has resumed its service in both directions from Lorton, Va., (south of Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Fla. (north of Orlando). The Silver Service trains are operating only between New York City and Orlando. MORE

Hotels Run the Gamete
Nov 3, 2005 -- Three Starwood properties in the Caribbean and Bahamas have given birth to the concept, a three-night getaway that includes romantic dinners, spa treatments and island potions said to increase chances of a pregnancy. MORE

Aspen hotel's $1 million package includes ski passes and car
Nov 2, 2005 -- The four-star Hotel Jerome in Aspen began offering a 10-night holiday vacation package that includes unlimited ski passes and private lessons, an on-call masseuses, a chauffeur and a Maybach car that sells for no less than $375,000 that guest gets to keep. The price tag: a mere $1 million. MORE

Marriott International Declares Cash Dividend
Nov 3, 2005 -- Marriott International, Inc. board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of ten and one half cents per share of common stock. The dividend is payable Jan. 10, 2006 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15, 2005. MORE

 

All of Marriott’s 187 hotels and resorts in Florida are open and operating following Hurricane Wilma.
Nov 1, 2005 -- A few hotels in the area continue to experience power outages and may be temporarily closed. These hotels will be open once utilities have been restored. MORE

Major cruise lines make storm-related itinerary changes:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Royal Caribbean
Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Norwegian Cruise Lines' Newest US Flagged Vessel
November 2, 2005 – NCL America will welcome the new Pride of Hawai`i to its U.S. Flagged fleet in April 2006. She will be the largest US flagged passenger ship ever built, and will join Pride of Aloha and Pride of America offering seven-day, inter-island cruises visiting the beautiful 50th state’s four main islands. MORE

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Other Industry Related News

Concern about a bird flu pandemic has airlines recalling SARS epidemic of 2002-03
Airlines and the trade associations representing them are taking steps these days to prevent the avian bird flu from becoming the next SARS panic, which wreaked havoc on the commercial aviation industry three years ago. MORE

Airports to Get New System To Avoid Runway Collisions
The Federal Aviation Administration announced plans to install a new system that the agency says will reduce the chances of aircraft collisions on the nation's runways and taxiways. MORE

Some Fliers Can Skip Long Security Lines Starting in June
Nove 4, 2005 -- A program that speeds pre-screened travelers through security will begin June 20, launching what airports hope will be a new era of checkpoint screening. MORE

New runway safety system to be installed at 15 airports
Nov 3, 2005 -- A new radar system designed to keep airplanes from colliding on the ground will be installed at 15 airports, starting in January in Seattle, the Federal Aviation Administration said. MORE

 

US Considers Lifting Airline Ownership Limits
Nov 2, 2005 -- The Bush administration wants to ease restrictions on overseas investment in US airlines, a move that could give struggling carriers a route for fresh capital and break the logjam in transatlantic aviation talks, industry sources. MORE

DOT foreign investment proposal blasted on both sides of pond
November 4, 2005 -- US Dept. of Transportation's surprise proposal to ease its interpretation of foreign ownership restrictions in order to encourage more investment in the US airline industry has drawn negative comments on both sides of the Atlantic. MORE

Suspect travelers to be screened for infectious diseases
Nov 3, 2005 -- The federal government will install a new quarantine station at Boston's Logan International Airport to evaluate travelers who may pose a health threat to the region, officials said. MORE

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