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News Archive
» Hurricane Dolly causing flight disruptions
Published Yesterday
Southwest Airlines and Houston-based Continental announced changes to its Wednesday flights in advance of the storm coming ashore.
Southwest said it was canceling all of its scheduled flights to and from Corpus Christi and Harlingen due to the storm. There are no plans to cancel or disrupt flights on Thursday or Friday, but the company said customers should check its Web site for updated information.
Continental said it expects air travel throughout South Texas and parts of Mexico to be difficult. The airline was already bracing for likely cancellations and flight delays through Friday.
The airline said that customers who are ticketed for travel through Friday to and from the airports that are expected to be affected by Hurricane Dolly, will be allowed a one-time date or time change to their flights without the normal penalty as long the flight is rescheduled by Aug. 1.
If a flight is canceled, Continental will refund the price of the ticket.
The carrier also said the best way to make changes and track flight changes and cancellations is to go to its Web site. Passengers may also call (800) 525-0280.
» Discover America Launches
Published 07/17/2008
Washington, DC –DiscoverAmerica.com, the United States’ first-ever official travel and tourism website, has been successfully launched with language-specific sites in the leading international travel markets, it was announced today by the Travel Industry Association.
The websites target consumers in the five countries that account for 75 percent of all inbound travel to the United States: Canada (English- and French-speaking), Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany. Interactive content for all 50 states, the five territories, dozens of cities and attractions, and official entry information from U.S. government sources is presented in the native languages of each market.
DiscoverAmerica.com is the result of a cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce to the Travel Industry Association (TIA) in January 2007. The six websites took about 16 months to research, develop and build.
“Today the United States offers travelers worldwide a one-stop shop for travel planning and an official source of information on the diversity, beauty and spirit of America,” said Roger Dow, TIA’s President and CEO. “I extend my gratitude to Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Office of Travel and Tourism Industries for their vision and leadership on this important effort. DiscoverAmerica.com is an attractive, sophisticated and much-needed product that gives a very public face to our nation.”
In addition to its wealth of destination content, the websites feature an interactive map, an activity finder that sorts by 24 popular trip activities, booking opportunities through in-market travel specialists and through Travelocity, travel deals in the USA, and a Stories section for travelers to post authentic reviews and comments. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush and Bill Clinton co-signed a welcome letter posted on the About USA section.
TIA plans to grow DiscoverAmerica.com in coming months, adding more cities and attraction information. TIA also hopes to add websites for markets such as China, France and South Korea, among others.
» An Open letter to All Airline Customers:
Published 07/11/2008
Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now.
For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers. Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.
Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.
Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.
The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem.
We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.
» Preah Vihear temple named World Heritage Site
Published 07/8/2008
The World Heritage Committee (WTC) has approved Cambodia's application to list the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.
Bangkok was opposed to Phnom Penh's proposal, instead favouring a joint nomination of the site.
Thailand had been unable to convince the WHC to postpone the issue and wait for a joint nomination, or to defer it until the next meeting.
The WHC said the Preah Vihear issue had already been postponed once, at last year's gathering in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The meeting also inscribed the cities of the Straits of Malacca: Melaka and Georgetown in Malaysia, and the Kuk Early Agricultural Site in Papua New Guinea, AFP reported.
The WHC had sent its representatives to talk with the Thai and Cambodian delegates to clarify their positions.
Pongpol Adireksan, chairman of the Thai World Heritage Committee, said the temple listing would have no effect on the demarcation of the border between the two countries. It was specifically only the temple site.
Pongpol said political problems in Thailand had affected the country's ability to lobby committee members.
"We are at a disadvantage. Cambodia regards Preah Vihear as a national issue and continued lobbying when Thailand was undergoing a coup," he said.
Last week, Cambodia deployed riot police to protect the Thai embassy for fear that a border dispute over the temple could spark violent protests.
Security forces were also mobilised to protect Thai-owned businesses in the capital Phnom Penh.
In 1962, the dispute over the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple went before the World Court, which ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia, although the main entrance lies at the foot of a mountain in Thailand.
The long-standing row appeared resolved last month, after Thailand endorsed Cambodia's plan to seek World Heritage status at a UNESCO meeting in Canada this week.
But the deal sparked a political controversy in Thailand, and last week Cambodia closed the mountaintop temple after more than 100 Thais marched to the compound to protest the deal.
A Thai court then forced the government to suspend its endorsement of the plan.
» Atlantis Rises in Dubai
Published 07/4/2008
The $1.5 billion Atlantis - The Palm, located at the head of The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, is on schedule to open on September 24.
Jim Boocher, president of development at Kerzner International, managers of Atlantis, said the difference between Atlantis and other hotels was that it was a "destination hotel", not simply a holiday hotel.
Atlantis has 1,539 rooms spread between the East and West towers. There are a total of 150 suites, including two presidential suites and 35 regal suites.
Average prices start at around $454 per night. A connecting bridge between the two towers is the 924-sqm Bridge Suite, which costs $25,000 a night.
Sol Kerzner, chairman and chief executive of Kerzner International, said Atlantis was "all about the ocean".
A 17-hectare Aquaventure waterpark will feature the tallest freefall slide in the Middle East.
Within the development Dolphin Bay will be home to 28 dolphins brought to Dubai from the Solomon Islands.
» Hotel Carbon Emission Benchmark Launched
Published 06/18/2008
The lodging sector is destined to mirror the measurement process currently provided by the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for airlines and ground transport providers.
A new sector benchmark for hotels and venues, Carepar™, will respond to the needs of travel managers who are under pressure to measure the impact their business travellers are having on the environment.
Launched by The Hotel Carbon Index Company, Carepar™ (Carbon Emission Per Room Available) is on target to become the industry standard classification across the lodging and event sector. It is said to allow business and leisure travellers to understand the emissions involved in their hotel usage, whether for accommodation, conference or event.
Overseen by figureheads from Europe’s lodging sector, the introduction of industry standard Carepar™ will:
• Enabler creators of travel policies to understand the impact their accommodation needs have on the environment
• Help hoteliers and venues to ensure they better their individual ratings - in the long term demonstrating that they are reducing their emissions
Acting as the central conduit of information, The Hotel Carbon Index Company will be supplied information by hoteliers and venues (including room sizes, fuel bills, recycling initiatives). The information is then downloaded onto a central database, managed and overseen by The Carbon Consultancy, to enable the Carepar™ to be produced.
Peter Ducker, Founder of The Hotel Carbon Index Company, said: “This is a first for the lodging sector and one that has been embraced wholeheartedly, from hoteliers and buyers of accommodation to travellers alike. The ability to measure carbon emissions in hotels means that procurement departments and guests can make this a criterion of choice.” He continued “Hoteliers and venues can also actively seek to improve their Carepar™ on an ongoing basis. Demand is high from the UK’s business travel buyers including lead association, The Hotel Booking Agents Association, who are helping drive awareness of the standard measure throughout their members, partners and corporate users”.
www.carepar.com
» United Airlines Announces Charges For First Checked Bag
Published 06/12/2008
If you purchase a United Economy® ticket on or after June 13, 2008 for travel on or after August 18, 2008, a $15 service fee will apply, each way, to check your first piece of baggage. This fee applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
As previously announced, a $25 fee will apply to check a second bag when flying on a ticket purchased on or after February 4, 2008. Please refer to the chart below to see which checked baggage fees may apply to you.
Additional baggage fees apply to check more than two bags, or if any bags are oversized, overweight and/or considered special items. These fees are also changing and the revised fees will apply to tickets purchased on or after June 13, 2008 for travel on or after August 18, 2008. Please visit the Oversized, overweight and excess baggage and Special items sections on united.com for details on these fees.
You will be exempt from the first and second checked bag service fees if you are:
- traveling in United First® or United Business®
- traveling on the same reservation as a Global ServicesSM, Mileage Plus® 1K®, Premier Executive®, Premier® or Premier Associate® member or Star Alliance® Gold or Silver member
- military personnel traveling on orders
For details on our baggage policies and frequently asked questions, visit united.com/baggage.
» SilverJet Rises From The Ashes
Published 06/11/2008
Silverjet is set to fly again after a company managed by a Swiss trust agreed an undisclosed price for the failed business-class carrier.
The deal, which it is hoped will be completed by June 13, will see all staff kept on by purchaser Irish-based Kingplace and Silverjet tickets still valid.
Director of Kingplace Ian Ilsley said: "Kingplace can confirm that it has agreed terms with administrators Begbies Traynor to acquire Silverjet. If these negotiations are successful, we expect to take on all of the existing staff, to honour Silverjet’s existing customers’ tickets and see Silverjet return to the skies in a matter of weeks.”
The relaunch, however, is subject to CAA approval and it is thought Kingplace will have to inject between £20m and £30m to make the relaunch viable.
Chief executive Lawrence Hunt, who will stay at the company, said: ““I am personally delighted that we now have the necessary backing from a long term investor to relaunch Silverjet. We have received fantastic support from our staff, customers and partners in helping us put this deal together. We will be working around the clock to launch our New York and Dubai services as quickly as possible and we will make an announcement about the date for re-launching our services in due course.”
Silverjet grounded its fleet 11 days ago.
» US Online Travel Registration Coming Soon
Published 06/3/2008
The United States said Tuesday that visitors from closely allied countries like Britain and Japan will soon have to register personal details online at least three days before arrival.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who announced the changes Tuesday, said they will help the United States boost security of its visa-free travel program by allowing the government to screen visitors before they travel. Currently, visitors fill out paper forms on route and are screened by U.S. customs agents upon entry.
The United States will begin implementing the changes in August, Chertoff said. Online registration will be mandatory for all visa-free travel by Jan. 12.
There are currently 27 countries whose citizens are not required to obtain visas for U.S. entry, including those in most of western Europe as well as Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Eight other countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea among them — are expected to be admitted to the visa waiver program.
When the Homeland Security Department began discussing the online registration rule last year, European businesses worried that business travel could be impeded.
But Chertoff argued the system will simplify visa-free travel, because visitors will only be required to register online once every two years instead of filling out forms each time they travel.
The United Kingdom, whose citizens have long enjoyed visa-free travel to the United States, indicated it would accept the changes.
"Obviously we understand the need to improve travel security, and we welcome this additional information from the U.S. on when and where they are going to implement (the new measures)," a British Home Office spokeswoman said on the government's customary condition of anonymity.
The Confederation of British Industry, a business coalition, said it was reassured that the measure contained provisions for last-minute travel by business travelers.
Ahead of the announcement, European Union officials said they have been discussing the changes with Chertoff. Earlier this year, the EU unveiled plans for a similar travel authorization system for citizens from countries that have a visa-free regime with the EU, but details have yet to be worked out.
"We have a clear visa reciprocity dialogue. This is something that needs to be kept in mind when this (U.S.) measure will be introduced," said Michele Cercone, a spokesman for EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot.
The visa waiver program has been under fire by some U.S. lawmakers who are concerned that terrorists can too easily obtain entry.
Chertoff said the new system will allow the United States to determine ahead of time if travelers pose a security risk. He called the system a "21st Century model for facilitating travel to the United States."
"It's very important to us to remain a welcoming country," he said. But he added: "As we know, potential terrorists do not come easily labeled or identified."
» SilverJet Flights Suspended
Published 05/30/2008
Silverjet has been forced to suspend operations after failing to attract new investment.
The Luton-based all-business class carrier's last flight was from Dubai to the UK this morning.
The announcement that the carrier had ceased operations came after the failure to attract $5 million in new capital.
Almost 10,000 passengers have been affected (see separate story).
A statement said: "Silverjet continues to be in discussions with investors interested in supporting the business however it has yet to conclude such discussions to its satisfaction.
"It is with deep regret that the board of Silverjet has therefore decided that it must suspend operations with immediate effect."
The airline, established by chief executive Lawrence Hunt, drew plaudits for its ground-breaking in-flight service on flights to New York and the UAE.
But a combination of soaring fuel prices and a weakening economy has hit the business airline sector particularly hard with US rivals MAXjet and Eos going out of business in less than six months.
Hunt said in a note to travellers on the Silverjet website: "We extend our sincere apologies to those of you who have travel plans with Silverjet in the future and at present.
"You are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements with other carriers and contact your credit card company or travel agenct directly for information on obtaining refunds."
He added: "We are working actively with new investors and are prepared to inject new funds so we can recommence operations.
"If we are able to achieve this, we will make an announcement as soon as possible."
Silverjet has hoped to obtain fresh funding from Dubai-based Viceroy Holdings but the cash never materialised. The airline previously admitted that its cash reserves were limited and that advances under the proposed loan facility were required "as a matter of urgency".
A spokeswoman was unable to elaborate on the chances of the airline being successful in obtaining new funding to re-start operations and could not comment on the impact on staff, other than to say: "Flights are terminated".
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