Travel-On Travel Industry News
This newsletter is published weekly. Please click to subscribe to this newsletter.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Events We're Watching

American Airlines Cancels Flights
American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines have canceled more than 300 flights since Sept. 16 - apparently due an ongoing labor dispute with pilots. Pilots have increasingly called in sick, leaving the carrier short-staffed, and been filing a higher-than-normal number of maintenance requests, which has taken aircraft out of service and contributed to flight delays. More flight disruptions will occur over the coming weeks if the airline carries out a plan to reduce its overall flight load by 1-2 percent through October in response to the current situation. Predicting when and where these cancellations may occur is impossible in advance, although many flights to and from the carrier's main hubs, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, have already been affected. Disruptions have occurred on both domestic and international routes. "

Philippines - Tropical Depression Expected to Form in Philippine Sea
An area of strong low pressure (Invest 92W) is forecast to develop into a significant tropical cyclone in the Philippine Sea by Sept. 21. The storm will be named Jelawat (Philippine name: Lawin) if it strengthens into a tropical storm. A monsoon trough has been producing heavy rainfall throughout much of the country in recent days. Additional precipitation from the storm system will likely cause flooding and landslides, although it is too early to determine exactly what provinces may be most affected. Enhanced rainfall is likely throughout much of the Philippines regardless of whether the system makes landfall in the archipelago.

Thailand - Flooding Continues
The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast very heavy rainfall throughout much of Central Thailand, eastern provinces, and the upper south region through Sept. 21, potentially exacerbating existing flooding problems. Days of heavy downpours have taxed flood-drainage mechanisms in Bangkok, and flooding has occurred in a number of low-lying areas. The situation is not comparable to the flood crisis of 2011, but road closures have caused significant traffic problems in some parts of the capital.
Q and A

What is a "drop charge"?

A drop charge is a fee imposed by a car rental vendor on one-way rentals and is meant to cover the cost of returning the vehicle to the original location. Charges vary considerably between vendors, as well as by location and even time of year. Some vendors do not impose a fee if the vehicle is returned to another airport in the same metro area, such as Dulles and Reagan.

Submit a question

  • Shopping is the most popular travel activity, included in more than 30% of all trips
  • Have time to kill in Minneapolis? The Mall of America is 2 miles or 11 minutes via a light-rail shuttle from the Minneapolis Airport
  • The Grand Bazaar in Instanbul, Turkey, is a covered shopping mall nearly 550 years old
  • The West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Canada, is the largest shopping mall in North America with more than 800 stores and 110 eateries
  • When it comes to shopping malls Asia has a corner on the market with Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Dubai, and Thailand all having malls larger than any found on other continents
  • The largest mall in Europe is located in Istanbul, Turkey, and contains less than 350 stores

Inaugural Travel

The Presidential Inaugural will be held on Monday, January 21st. Hotels in D.C., suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia are expecting higher than normal occupancy rates during the period of January 18-23. If you anticipate needing hotel rooms for business travel within the region between these dates, it is recommended that you block space now. Talk to your Travel-On account manager now to discuss your needs.

Fast Park

The Fast Park family of off-site airport parking companies, with 16 facilities in 12 markets, launches its 4th annual Canned Food Drive from September 5th through the 29th in support of National Hunger Action Month. Market specific collections will benefit local food bank members of Feeding America, the largest food bank network in the country. In addition to collecting food, Fast Park will donate one dollar for every pound of non-perishable food donated by customers. See Fast Park participating locations