NWA drops aisle seat fees for frequent fliers
Apr 17, 2006 - Northwest Airlines Corp. has dropped a $15 aisle-seat upgrade fee for frequent fliers.

BA increases fuel surcharge
Apr 21,2006 - With effect from today, British Airways is to increase the fuel surcharge on
its longhaul flights as a result of further rises in the price of fuel.

This latest fuel surcharge rise is very regrettable but we have little choice to pass some of our extra costs on to our customers.

Please note, the additional fuel surcharge only applies to tickets issued from Friday April 21, 2006. It does not apply to tickets already paid for and issued.

Keep the cameras off the Delta employees
Apr 21, 2006 - As SS+K prepares to replace Ogilvy & Mather as Delta Air Lines’ creative agency, the agency should maybe think twice about continuing to feature Delta employees in the advertising.

Delta pilots group picks Stinson as national counsel
Apr 20, 2006 -The Committee of Retired Pilots of Delta Airlines has chosen Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP as its national counsel in the airline's Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

Delta cutbacks hurt TIA
Apr 20, 2006 - Passenger counts ticked downward slightly in March at Tampa International Airport.

Continental Unveils Airport Pet Kennel
Apr 21, 2006 - Continental Airlines is going to the dogs, as well as cats and other types of pets.

Continental: operating profit, small net loss
Apr 21, 2006 - With fuel prices mounting but other costs under control, Continental Airlines posted a net loss for its first quarter but ran a first quarter operating profit for the first time since 2001.

American Airlines gives free tickets to Mavericks crowd
Apr 20, 2006 - Taking a page out of Oprah Winfrey's playbook, American Airlines gave vouchers for free flights to everyone at the Dallas Mavericks' final game of the regular season.

NWA Pilots union weighs recall
Apr 21, 2006 - The top two officers of the pilots union at Northwest Airlines may be subject to a recall vote just as the pilots are deciding whether to accept a lower-paying contract from the bankrupt carrier.

American Airlines plans $25M in improvements at Logan
Apr 20, 2006 - American Airlines and American Eagle airlines announced Thursday a $25 million plan to improve their facilities at Boston's Logan International Airport.

US Airways CEO blasts JetBlue
Apr 18, 2006 - US Airways is responding to JetBlue's move into the Charlotte market -- so far -- with a feisty letter from the chief executive rather than fare cuts.

EC Air Flights to Link San Juan to St. Thomas and Tortola
Apr 21, 2006 - Eastern Caribbean Airlines (EC Air), having recently received its final certification from the FAA, announced the initial markets it will serve. Flight operations by EC Air, a subsidiary of Viva International, Inc. (OTC BB: VIVI), are planned to debut on May 1, 2006 or soon thereafter.

Columbia’s only airline ordered to keep flying
Apr 21, 2006 - A federal agency has ordered Columbia’s only airline to continue providing service beyond its planned pullout date next month while officials sort through proposals and subsidy requests from other carriers.

Pa. earmarks $9.5 million for airport repairs
Apr 19, 2006 - The airports will use the money to replace runway lighting, acquire land for future airport development, rehabilitate runways, buy snow removal equipment and install navigational aids, among other upgrades.

Group helps with pitch to Denver airline
Apr 21, 2006 - A Sioux Falls community development group is chipping in some money to help the city land another low-cost air carrier.

Southwest orders 79 737s as it reports 3.4% profit increase
Apr 21, 2006 - Southwest Airlines managed to stave off rising unit costs and a 79.6% jump in fuel expenses to record a first-quarter profit of $61 million, up 3.4% over the $59 million earned in the three months ended March 31, 2005.

Southwest working on selling international flights
Apr 21, 2006 - Southwest Airlines has started making upgrades to its reservations system that will allow it to begin offering international flights on code-share partner ATA Airlines.

Southwest adds nonstsop service to Philadelphia
Apr 17, 2006 - Starting July 2, Southwest Airlines Co. will begin nonstop daily flights between Columbus and the City of Brotherly Love.

Spirit ups prices
Apr 20, 2006 - Citing the rising cost of fuel, Spirit Airlines said it has increased most fares throughout its system.

Rail / Hotel / Car / Cruise News

Travel industry trots out driver incentives
Apr 20, 2006 - With gas prices soaring almost as quickly as spring pollen counts, nervous travel companies and drive-to destinations are offering earlier-than-normal incentives to hit the road, from $20 ethanol vouchers in South Dakota to discounts of $10 per car-engine cylinder at bed-and-breakfast inns in Maine.

Decline in smoking rooms a challenge.
Apr 21, 2006 - The number of hotel rooms reserved for smokers is on the decline according to research,(*) and with the profitability of remaining smoking rooms in question, it's no surprise that major national hotel chains are beginning to decrease their total number of smoking rooms or become non-smoking facilities altogether.

Online buyers aren't created equal.
Apr 18, 2006 - Though supplier Web site usage in the U.S. has gained momentum, more online travelers* still use online travel agencies than buy direct, according to the latest consumer survey results from PhoCusWright Inc. But channel usage varies depending on the type of traveler, the destination, and the products being purchased.

Repo cruises offer great deals, unique destinations
Apr 20, 2006 - Ever wonder how a cruise ship gets from its winter Caribbean home to its summer one in Alaska or Europe? OK, well of course it sails there. But did you know that you can too?

Repo cruises: More for less
When cruise lines need to move ships to other ports, you get a great deal!

A different kind of cruise
The sails flap weakly as they climb the four huge masts. "Ride of the Valkyrie" blares from the speakers as a cannon booms, then fires again.

Hilton prints airline boarding passes.
Apr 17, 2006 - Further enhancing the travel experience for its guests; from travel planning and check-in, to check-out and beyond, Hilton Hotels has announced that the brand now enables guests to print boarding passes for most major airlines at check-in/check-out kiosks within the lobbies of 37 participating Hilton hotels.

Other Industry Related News

Airport Group Asks For Aviation Trust Fund Money
Apr 21, 2006 - A group representing Minnesota airports is asking the Legislature to return money it took from an aviation trust fund to pay down part of the 2003 budget deficit.

Airports await guidelines for traveler registry
Apr 19, 2006 - Proponents of an idea to speed trusted travelers through security are pushing to sign up airports and overcome skepticism of some airport officials who fear the program won't shorten lines.

It's official: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
Apr 20, 2006 - The Manchester, N.H., airport is changing its name to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Airports anticipate longer security lines
Apr 18, 2006 - A change in hiring at the Transportation Security Administration is leaving some of the nation's biggest airports short-staffed and raising fears that long lines will return to security checkpoints this summer.

Adopting a pilot gives class wings
Apr 20, 2006 - Students in teacher Stace Foster’s classroom may not be leaving on a jet plane, but they have learned a lot about how planes work.

Styling at 40,000 feet
Apr 20, 2006 - Heading to Europe? These days, it's easier than ever to get a good deal in business class.

TSA: Computer glitch led to Atlanta airport scare
Apr 20, 2006 - A bomb scare that led authorities to evacuate security checkpoints at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Wednesday was the result of a "software malfunction," Transportation Security Administration Director Kip Hawley said.