Frontier Airlines retires last Boeing aircraft

Frontier Airlines has retired its last Boeing-made aircraft in its move to an all-Airbus fleet, it said Thursday.

The Denver-based carrier (Nasdaq: FRNT) began moving away from the Boeing 737-300 and 737-200 in 1999 when it agreed to buy 11 new Airbus aircraft, with an option to buy nine more. Since then, Frontier has expanded its order to include another 44 Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft.

Frontier estimates that using a single type of aircraft in its fleet will save the company $11 million a year in maintenance and training expenses.

Frontier is the first airline in the United States that has made the switch to an all-Airbus fleet.The airline offers four daily flights from St. Louis, including one to Cancun, Mexico and three to Denver.

Source: St. Louis Business Journal

Americans traveling the most since 1999

Travel in the United States is entering a boom period despite soaring gasoline prices, a survey indicates.

The 2005 National Leisure Travel Monitor survey shows the percentage of adult Americans who have taken at least one overnight trip of at least 75 miles from home has risen to the highest level since 1999, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday.

The national survey released in Orlando said 58 percent of adults took a trip of that length over the last year, up from 49 percent a year ago.

One-third of those who traveled took at least one trip for business and 93 percent took one primarily for pleasure. Florida was the top destination, once again.

The Travel Monitor survey did not specifically address the gas price issue, it shows how many travelers relied on their car for trips.

Seventy-seven percent said their personal auto was the primary mode of transportation for at least one major trip of 75 miles or more.

Airlines were a primary method of travel for 48 percent of the travelers and 17 percent said it was rental cars. Cruises took up 7 percent, down from 8 percent.

Source: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Americans traveling the most since 1999

Travel in the United States is entering a boom period despite soaring gasoline prices, a survey indicates.

The 2005 National Leisure Travel Monitor survey shows the percentage of adult Americans who have taken at least one overnight trip of at least 75 miles from home has risen to the highest level since 1999, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday.

The national survey released in Orlando said 58 percent of adults took a trip of that length over the last year, up from 49 percent a year ago.

One-third of those who traveled took at least one trip for business and 93 percent took one primarily for pleasure. Florida was the top destination, once again.

The Travel Monitor survey did not specifically address the gas price issue, it shows how many travelers relied on their car for trips.

Seventy-seven percent said their personal auto was the primary mode of transportation for at least one major trip of 75 miles or more.

Airlines were a primary method of travel for 48 percent of the travelers and 17 percent said it was rental cars. Cruises took up 7 percent, down from 8 percent.

Source: UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Travel industry wants a ticket to ride (The Economic Times, India)

The bus ride across the India-Pakistan border is giving ideas to those in the Chinese travel trade. Developing auto tourism between India and China is one of them. As the two nations work to settle their border dispute, next on the agenda could be the opening up of road routes for trade and tourism.

Investing in the hospitality sector, especially heritage resorts and three- and four-star hotel properties, and developing travel infrastructure specifically targeted at Chinese tourists visiting India, are among the other investment opportunities that the Chinese travel and tourism industry is looking at in India.

"China has highways and roads over 40,000 km long, and connecting major tourist destinations across the country. Auto-tourism between India and China is just waiting to happen," said Peter Wong, chairman of Hong Kong-based MK Corporation, which has interests in the hotel and travel business in China.

Opening up the road route connecting China with Bangladesh and India, and developing other transit points across the Indo-China border are high on the Chinese business agenda this summer. Many in the Chinese travel industry are optimistic that if India and Pakistan can build on diplomacy through the bus route, so can India and China.

The Chinese government is promoting auto-tourism -- a drive across major tourists destinations in the country, as roads connecting Indian and Chinese cities will give a fillip to tourist flows between the countries.

China, over the past few years, has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 100m visiting the country in '04. Around 30m Chinese travellers went out of the country last year, generating over $25bn. "Indians were the fastest growing segment among inbound tourists in '04, with an increase of 44 percent over the previous year," said Wang Ping, president of the Chamber of Tourism of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

However, the number of Indians visiting the dragon country was paltry, at around 3 lakh in '04.

Chinese travel and tourism industry executives concede they are in the process of getting familiar with tastes and likings of the Indian tourist. "We still need to develop infrastructure that will specifically support Indian tourists," says Mr Wong. No wonder Indian chefs are a sought-after commodity in the dragon country.

As for the number of Chinese tourists visiting India, it was just 21,000 in '04. Many in the Indian travel trade feel there is a need to develop affordable accommodation and support infrastructure to woo the Chinese tourists. Mr Ping's company sees a business opportunity in this.

"We would like to set up guest houses and heritage properties in India to specifically cater to Chinese tourists," said Mr Ping, who manages several hotel properties along the Silk Route.

The Chinese tourism industry offers several business opportunities for Indians, as it has already attracted around $50bn in foreign investment. "With WTTC predicting demand from travel and tourism in China growing at an annual rate of 10.4 percent over the coming decade, it is a safe place to invest," said Mr Ping.

It may still be some time before one can travel from India in a bus or car to China, but Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit may well be the beginning of the removal of roadblocks.

Source: The Economic Times, India
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

82 percent of airline seats full during March, a record for the month

The flights of big domestic airlines were fuller last month than in any March in history, and travel experts say the shoehorning of passengers is likely to continue.

"It's definitely going to be a love-thy-neighbor summer," says Terry Trippler, CEO of airline site Farefacts.com, predicting few empty seats and little space to stretch out in the months ahead.

Easter travel and spring break last month, combined with cheap fares, helped the six big traditional airlines fill 82 percent of available seats, up from 78 percent a year ago, according to data tracker Back Aviation Solutions. Available seats were up 7 percent over the period. Financially ailing big carriers have been filling greater percentages of seats as their need for cash has grown.

Rock-bottom fares and a growing demand for air travel have allowed them to fill more of their seats. High fuel prices have added to airlines' incentives to fly their planes fuller. The March record trails June and July of last year. No. 7 US Airways, struggling to exit its second bankruptcy in two years, had three consecutive days with planes 90 percent full.

Discount giant Southwest, which has been consistently profitable, filled a smaller percentage of seats in March than any of the big carriers: 74 percent, the same as March 2004. The high passenger volumes would be encouraging for the major carriers - if they were selling seats at profitable levels.

For the traveler, packed planes are "going to make travel even less pleasant," says consultant John Weber of Back Aviation Solutions.

Passengers are unlikely to see big increases in overbooking, because airlines have gotten better at predicting who will fly and who will reschedule, Weber says.

Among the implications:

- Earlier booking required: Plan ahead to get the most convenient itinerary, Weber says.

- Packed airports, full seats. Arrive early, because the security process may take longer than it did when fewer people - and more experienced fliers - were flying. Once seated, don't expect to stash a sweater or briefcase on the neighboring seat. "There's going to be people all around you," he says.

- Shorter tempers. Andrew Thomas, a University of Akron professor who wrote a book about air rage, expects hostility to rise as passenger levels rise. People are "more stressed out," he says.

Source: The Associated Press

Keeping everyone happy key to vacations

Next week, my husband and I are flying off to spend four glorious days alone. In other words, no kids.

Now, there are some of you who might raise an eyebrow at parents who travel without their children. I understand that, but believe me, I am the one feeling sorry for you. Let me tell you why it's so great without the kiddos.

While it may be tough to leave them behind, vacationing without children is actually good for the entire family. It gives everyone a break. It gives us time to relax and enjoy each other's company without the usual daily interruptions such as bathroom breaks, piles of laundry and the constant sibling bickering. (It also gives the kids a break from normal responsibilities, i.e., nagging.) Getting away from all responsibilities is absolutely great for the soul. After all, in just a few short years it will just be Tom and me most of the time, so we had better make sure we still have fun together.

Additionally, it also allows the children time to establish a bond with other caregivers, be they family or friends. I think this is a very important point. I want my children to learn to trust other people to be there for them when they are in need. Also, I want them to learn to lean on each other more. If the kids are staying at the same place, it can make their bond stronger as well.

But preparation is the key to everyone having a safe and happy time while they are apart. I literally start planning such adventures as much as six months in advance. The first and most important thing to arrange is child care. If I am not comfortable with where my kids are staying, I absolutely cannot enjoy myself. After all, I am still their mother.

I am blessed to have a bevy of friends who willingly take my kids if I am going to be out of town. In return, I take their kids when they are going to be gone. From my side, I actually enjoy having their children when they are gone because slipping in a few extra kids is no big deal. And having the kids' friends here keeps them occupied as well. It really is a win-win situation.

After the kids are situated, it's time to pick the getaway location. The only thing we really want from our destination is that it be very adult. We don't want to go anywhere that will have a bevy of children. And if anything screams "adults only," it's Las Vegas. It is truly a place we can go and do whatever we want until it's time to come home. It's all up to us. Last time we were there, I looked at him at about 4:30 a.m. and asked, "You want some lunch?" We cracked up because sleep patterns definitely get messed up while you're there.

But before we jump on that plane, there is a lot more preparation that needs to be done. First, I make sure that everyone who could possibly need to know knows where we are going and how to get in touch with us. And even though we want to get away, both Tom and I carry our cell phones so the kids can reach us at any time. Just because we are gone doesn't mean we don't want to hear how their days went.

Additionally, I spend some time preparing things for the caregiver. It might include a schedule of events each child is involved in. I always send notes to their school and teachers so they know who to contact in case of a problem while we are away. I also include a permission form for the caregiver that allows them to seek medical treatment if any emergency situation arises. On that form I include all kinds of medical information about each child, including allergies, medicines they regularly take, and information about their physician and insurance company.

I know, I know, most of it is completely unnecessary. But I have to tell you, I sleep better while I'm away knowing that it's all done.

Then, all that's left to do is pack the bags, kiss the cherubs on the forehead and head for the airport. Viva Las Vegas, baby!

Oh yeah, there is one final thing you need to do to make your time away successful: Always come home with presents for both kiddos and caregivers alike. Nothing brings families back together like unwrapping presents.

Source: http://www.joplinglobe.com/

Surprise in Australia over Japanese travel warning

The premier of the Australian state of Queensland and tourism leaders have expressed surprise at an official Japanese advisory.

The advisory warns Japanese visitors to be wary of crime on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Japan's Foreign Ministry website has listed a series of recent assaults and robberies on Japanese tourists at the resort centre of Surfers Paradise.

The warning advises tourists not to leave valuables in locked rooms or open a wallet in front of people, and to keep a tight grip on hand and shoulder bags.

A spokesman from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Daniel Gschwind, says it is a damaging message.

"Clearly it's not helpful if a destination like the Gold Coast is singled out for that kind of attention," Mr Gschwind said.

Queensland's Premier, Peter Beattie, who is in Japan promoting Queensland tourism, says he is shocked by the advisory.

"I think there's been a mistake made but we will try and clarify it, we will need to protect the Gold Coast's position and we will do that as quickly as we possibly can."

The Queensland government says crime has fallen in Surfers Paradise since the introduction of a 3am nightclub "lockdown" last year.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/ra/

Lighters to be banned on jets

Rule to take effect Thursday

Post file / Jerry Cleveland A ramp worker pushes a passenger jet back from a jetway for departure at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport in this 2004 photo.

Washington - Starting Thursday, there is one more thing that air travelers must leave at home: lighters.

Unlike guns, knives and other dangerous items that a passenger cannot carry on in his pocket but may stow in checked bags, lighters are banned from anywhere on a plane.

"It's been 3 1/2 years since 9/11 and they've finally figured it out," said Mark Peterson, a Sioux Falls, S.D., appraiser who was grabbing a smoke outside Reagan Washington National Airport today.

The rule change is expected to produce a large number of seizures of lighters even though airports, airlines and the government have been telling travelers for the past 45 days about the impending ban.

"I'm sure we'll have a bunch of them," said George Doughty, executive director of Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa.

Screeners from the Transportation Security Administration have been more vigilant about finding and seizing banned items than were the private screeners who worked at airports before the Sept. 11 hijackings.

Lighters have not been permitted in checked bags for at least 30 years because they might start fires in cargo holds. Congress passed a bill last year adding lighters to the list of prohibited items in the cabin.

The genesis for the ban was Richard Reid, who tried unsuccessfully to light explosives hidden in his shoes on a trans-Atlantic flight in 2002. He used matches. The sponsors of the ban, Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Ron Wyden of Oregon, worried that a lighter might have worked in that kind of situation

The ban does not include matches. Passengers still may carry aboard a plane up to four books of safety matches, which must be struck on a strip of friction to light. Not allowed on planes are strike anywhere matches, which have an extra chemical tip that allows them to be struck using any abrasive surface.

David Stempler, president of the advocacy group Air Travelers Association, said the lighter ban is long overdue. But he said matches ought to be included, too.

"The problem with the TSA on the matches is the inability to detect them," Stempler said.

Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition, said the ban on lighters amounted to "silliness in the extreme." "It only adds to consumer confusion and longer lines, and longer lines represent a security threat," Mitchell said.

Wehns Billen, who was visiting Washington from Micronesia for a conference, said he was told of the impending ban by his airline.

He decided to leave his expensive lighter at home.

People can mail prohibited items, take them to their cars or give them to someone who is not traveling. Otherwise, seized items are not returned.

"The whole thing is silly," Billen said. "I wish they'd put a smoking section on the plane." Billen may be typical of overseas travelers. They are more likely to smoke than U.S. citizens, said Steve van Beek, executive vice president of the Airports Council International, which represents airport officials.

"How are we going to notify every other passenger in the world connecting through and transiting the United States that their lighters are going to be seized?" van Beek said.

Source: By Leslie Miller The Associated Press

Indian Airlines, prices rise 12%

Indian Airlines has implemented an across the board increase in airfares by 12% from April 15. The airline said the price rises followed a 19% increase in aviation fuel costs which comprise around 35% of the cost of air travel.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/

Tourism and Travel

Critic points out holes in airline ratings Earlier this week, you may have seen the 2005 Airline Quality Rating produced by Professors Brent Bowen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Dean Headley of Wichita State University. The AQR is an airline report card, scoring the performance of 16 air carriers for on-time performance, denied boardings, mishandled baggage and customer complaints. Based on a formula developed by the two professors and comparisons from previous years, the study determined that service got worse for three-quarters of the airlines watched. The 2005 report examined performance in 2004. Noteworthy to Las Vegans is that Southwest Airlines, the largest commercial carrier at McCarran International Airport, was third among the 16 airlines studied, maintaining its ranking from 2003 and 2002. America West Airlines, No. 2 at McCarran, was sixth in the ranking, down from fourth in 2003 and 2002.
	The rest of McCarran's top five: No. 3 United finished fourth in the study (up from ninth in 2003 and eighth in 2002), No. 4 Delta came in at 11th (up from 12th a year ago, but down from seventh in 2002) and No. 5 American was eighth (up from 11th last year, but down from sixth in 2002). The top airline performer, incidentally, was JetBlue Airways, a New York-based carrier with a small presence in Las Vegas -- six flights a day to two destinations, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Long Beach, Calif. In May, the airline will add a new daily round trip to and from Boston. The researchers said overall, the AQR score was lower in 2004 than in 2003 with decreased industry performance in the four areas tracked. Bowen and Headley concluded that the airlines' personnel belt-tightening was to blame for the lower scores on the quality scales. The AQR conclusions are widely reported every year, but at least one aviation expert says the study isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Mike Boyd of the Evergreen, Colo.-based Boyd Group, said the study is flawed because it relies on unverifiable data from the Department of Transportation. In addition, Boyd said he has a hard time swallowing information filled with some fundamental mistakes, like the name of the top airline in the report. Boyd rightly points out that the carrier is JetBlue Airways -- not Airlines, as listed in the report. "The guys in academia really need to get out more before they start criticizing this industry," Boyd said.
He also was critical of the report reaching conclusions based on the unverified DOT data. Mishandled baggage and customer complaints are compiled by DOT, but are taken directly from the carriers "On his own Internet site, Boyd mocked the report's terminology." ... When it comes to indicating the depth of knowledge the authors apparently have regarding the airline industry, dig this (Associated Press) quote from one of the learned professors who compile this yearly statistical comic book, in regard to airline employee attitudes: " 'Morale's going to be down and they're not going to care if they get the bags to the loading dock in five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes.' " 'Loading dock?' Now, there's a real tidbit of new airline-ese. "Hello, professor. Before you sally forth to critique the industry, it'd be nice to first learn what happens at an airport. Bags, professor, are taken to baggage make-up areas, if they're outbound. And if they're inbound, it's to the baggage claim area. Loading docks, learned one, are for trucks and freight." The AQR is well read because all people who have ever flown have their own stories about how an airline did them wrong. Seeing a report on the topic validates the feelings we have about airlines. But if Boyd is right -- and he and his staff have a great track record for being on top of the industry -- the annual AQR should be taken with a grain of salt. "There's nothing wrong with issuing studies on the airline industry," Boyd concluded. "But they'd better be supportable and based on hard, verifiable data sources. The random, unverified complaint system at the DOT does not meet that standard. In the past, the AQR, which gets lots of coverage from an unquestioning media, has not met that standard, either. Source: Richard N. Velotta / Staff Writer - http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/

Lan Airlines prelim March traffic up 23%

Lan Airlines S.A. LLF said after Friday's closing bell that preliminary March traffic increase 23% and monthly capacity rose 17.2%. Load factor for March, or the percentage of a plane filled with customers, increased 3.6 points to 76.3%, the Santiago, Chile-based carrier said.

Source: CBS MarketWatch.com