July 27, 2010
Corporate Travel and Supplier News
Travel News
1. Experts Say Tarmac Delays Rule a Mistake, but DOT Disagrees
2. Sick Traveler Cases Highlight the Importance of Vaccinations
3. Airlines Continue to Keep Capacity Down
Domestic Travel
4. Self-boarding Comes to the United States
5. US Airways – Board Early and sit Towards the Front
International Travel
6. British Airways Club World Business Class on Sale
7. Travel Warnings
Travel News
1. Experts Say Tarmac Delays Rule a Mistake, but DOT Disagrees
The Transportation Department’s new rule banning lengthy airport tarmac delays is a mistake, a study from two aviation consultants reveals. The rule and enforcement strategy have create significant public harm says the 113-page study. Forcing flights with lengthy delays to return, to a passenger terminal, taxes already congested gate resources and results in additional flight cancellations. The rule will cause at least 5,200 flight cancellations involving 406,000 passengers a year, a greater impact than the estimated benefits, the study says. The Transportation Department has estimated that the rule will prevent 113,441 passengers from spending an average of 3.65 hours on the tarmac waiting to take off each year.
2. Sick Traveler Cases Highlight the Importance of Vaccinations
More than 3,000 cases of travelers with potentially infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, measles, typhoid fever and whooping cough, were reported to federal health officials in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. The cases represent a fraction of the actual number of travelers with an illness, highlighting the importance of vaccinations, said Nina Marano, head of the CDC’s quarantine branch. Marano also said obtaining medical advice before a vacation abroad is important.
3. Airlines Continue to Keep Capacity Down
Airlines enjoyed a strong second quarter financially and are expected to continue to see positive results during the rest if the year. But airline executives said they remain concerned about the fragile economic recovery and will continue to limit capacity. “Maintaining capacity restraint in the face of a recovering economy is at the core of improving our financial results,” Delta President Edward Bastian said.
Domestic Travel
4. Self-boarding Comes to the United States
Continental Airlines is experimenting with the first self-boarding procedure in the U.S, at its Houston Intercontinental hub. Passengers swipe a key card at a gate kiosk that allows them to enter the jet-bridge without the assistance of an agent, the practice has been used at overseas airports for years.
5. US Airways – Board Early and sit Towards the Front
Now you can book your Choice Seats on US Airways.com any time after you book your airline ticket. Choice Seats are mostly window and aisle seats towards the front of coach. They have the same leg room as other seats, but are closer to the front of the plane, you’ll be among the first to board (with Zone 2) and among the first to leave upon landing. Choice Seats cost as little as $5 per flight (per person) and are available on all US Airways and US Airways Express flights (except on US Airways Shuttle). To book Choice Seats, just go to US Airways.com and select the manage reservations tab. US Airways is also working on making Choice Seats available through GDS and other indirect channel technology providers.
International Travel
6. British Airways Club World Business Class on Sale
For a limited time British Airways is offering great deals in Club World (business class) for summer travel to London, Europe and across their network. These special fares are only available for sale until July 31, 2010 for travel August 5 through September 5, 2010. Please contact your World Travel reservationist for pricing information and additional details.
7. Travel Warnings
- The State Department is advising Americans to defer any unnecessary travel to several states in Mexico, including Tamaulipas, Michoacan and parts of Chihuahua and Durango. The warning does not include Sonora, although it references the city of Nogales as the site of frequent shootouts.
- The State Department is warning U.S. citizens about traveling in Kenya, while the U.S. Embassy there urged Americans to avoid public demonstrations and be cautious in public areas. “Since the July 11 bombings in Uganda there have been increased threats against public areas across East Africa.
Please Note: Articles in the content of this Corporate Travel and Supplier news release may not apply to your company’s travel policies. This publication is general information intended for all World Travel clientele.