Airlines Try Another Fare Hike

Major U.S. airlines are raising fares again, but this time some are trying to smash a fare cap Delta Air Lines (DAL:NYSE - commentary - research) put in place in January with its Simplifares initiative.

On Thursday afternoon, Northwest Airlines (NWAC:Nasdaq - commentary - research) raised fares on a significant number of its routes, the airline said in a message to employees. In markets where it goes head-to-head with low-cost carriers, it boosted ticket prices $5 to $10 each way.


But in a bolder move, Northwest raised by $50 each way fares that had been affected by Simplifares, which capped last-minute walk-up tickets at $499 each way. Analysts say Northwest was particularly hard hit by the cap, but like other airlines, it found itself forced to go along with it.

The Eagan, Minn., airline also put two-night minimum stay requirements on some fares that used to require only a one-night stay. By Friday afternoon, AMR's (AMR:NYSE - commentary - research) American Airlines, Continental Airlines (CAL:NYSE - commentary - research), Delta and US Airways (UAIRQ:OTC BB - commentary - research) had largely matched Northwest's $5 and $10 hike, representatives for the airlines confirmed.

Terry Trippler, the in-house airline expert at the travel company 1-800-CheapSeats, said UAL's (UALAQ:OTC BB - commentary - research) United Airlines had also matched the $5 and $10 hike, although an airline representative couldn't be reached.

Trippler said Continental and United also matched the larger increase breaching the $499 Simplifares cap, characterizing it as the first "real attempt" to remove it. A Continental spokeswoman confirmed the move. It remains to be seen whether the latest increases will hold, however. A separate attempt to boost fares last weekend fell apart after AMR and Northwest backed off.

Since February, the industry has successfully conducted seven rounds of increases as passenger demand has risen ahead of the peak summer travel months. The moves have boosted revenue, although not enough to offset the effect of historically high jet fuel costs.

In its message to employees, Northwest said its latest moves reflected the need to be selective in how it raises fares. "While record high fuel costs require Northwest to increase revenue through fare increases, we need to increase the fares that customers are buying and will actually raise revenue," said Tim Griffin, the airline's vice president of marketing and distribution, who was quoted in the message. "The prior increases have run their course and we need to be more targeted in our approach."

Another Northwest executive said that fares matching low-cost carriers had remained low for Northwest and offered the greatest potential revenue increase if lifted throughout the industry. At the same time, other fares had become so expensive that some consumers were choosing not to fly.

Source: Ross Snel - TheStreet.com

Emirates Airlines offers Holy Quran listening service to passengers

Emirates Airlines offers Holy Quran listening service to passengers Dubai, 10 June, 05 (WAM) - As of June first, Emirates Airlines has become the first carrier in the world to offer passengers the choice of listening to the complete recitation of the Holy Quran by the Imam of the holy Al Haram Al Makki.

The passengers can also combine listening to the holy Quran with reading the verses on the personal video installed in each seat.

Source: WAM/MAB 19 32 CCCCQQE

Along with the extra socks, suntan lotion and hiking boots packed in the suitcases of travelers this summer, care should be taken to remember adequate

Along with the extra socks, suntan lotion and hiking boots packed in the suitcases of travelers this summer, care should be taken to remember adequate or even extra doses of medications needed while traveling.

Kari Trotter Wall, Pharm.D., director of the USC University Park Campus Pharmacy, advises travelers on “maintenance medications” such as those to regulate blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or birth control, to plan ahead.

“Talk with the insurance benefits office to verify if they allow multiple months' supply of medications in the event of traveling,” says Trotter Wall. “The pharmacy may also be able to help patients determine if their insurance plan will cover a multiple month supply should they not have access to a pharmacy while traveling.”

Trotter Wall advises investigating these options at least two weeks before departing for the trip, in the event of any problems.

A second option for people vacationing away from home within the United States for more than a month is to transfer prescriptions between pharmacies over the phone. This enables them to be refilled on schedule at a pharmacy nearby.

Trotter Wall also recommends seeking pre-travel advice from a traveler's clinic or physician, particularly if you will be leaving the country. “Most travelers are exposed to diseases in other countries and become ill when a little pre-travel information and proper precautions could have avoided it.”

During travel, particularly if it is by plane, Trotter Wall advises keeping all medications in a carryon bag that you can keep close at hand. She also reminds people to read the instructions on the medications for proper storage.

“Some medications warrant refrigeration, so for those items it is good to check with the flight attendants to see if they can store items that absolutely need to be refrigerated,” says Trotter Wall.

It is also important to keep prescription drugs in their original containers. “For international travel, customs agents may at times be leery of the pill box with unlabeled medications,” says Trotter Wall.

In the event of a lost medication, travelers within the U.S. can call their home pharmacies to have their prescription transferred nearby, however they may have to pay for the replacement (unless their insurance has a provision for lost medications). International travelers may need to visit a travel clinic in the region for a new prescription, if their medications are available in the countries in which they are vacationing.

“If you are traveling internationally, it is best to treat your medications like you do your passport. Guard them carefully,” says Trotter Wall. “It is always a good idea to travel with a list of your current medications' doses and your physician's name and phone number.”

Source: http://www.usc.edu

Boeing, Shenzhen Airlines Celebrate Delivery of Airline’s First 737-900

Boeing and Shenzhen Airlines today celebrated delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 737-900 airplane, the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 family.
The airplane is the first of five 737-900s that Shenzhen Airlines will receive through 2005 for domestic and regional routes.

Shenzhen Airlines is the first Chinese carrier to order the 737-900 and this is the carrier’s first direct delivery from Boeing.

Boeing has received orders for 55 737-900s from six customers. Alaska Airlines received the first 737-900 in 2001. Overall, the 737 is the best- selling commercial jet airplane with more than 4,500 airplanes of all 737 models currently in service.

The Shenzhen 737-900 carries 189 passengers up to 2,745 nautical miles (5,083 kilometers), and is capable of serving such routes as Shenzhen - Beijing and Urumqi - Shenzhen. Like the other Next-Generation 737 airplanes, it incorporates a new, advanced-technology wing design that helps increase fuel capacity and efficiency, both of which increase range.

"Shenzhen Airlines exhibits a visionary perspective of the market with this important delivery," said Rob Laird, vice president, China Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The capabilities, efficiency, economics and passenger comfort of the 737-900 clearly keep Shenzhen Airlines at the forefront of the world’s airlines."

Source: boeing.com

Touches turn 2 hotels into green resorts (The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.)

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Guests at the Palm Plaza Oceanfront Resort and the Beachside Motel may spot the recycling bins on the pool deck or new air filters in their rooms, but they may not realize their air-conditioners use less electricity or their faucets and showers use less water.

These environmentally-friendly measures have been noticed by state environmental officials, who announced Wednesday that this pair of Daytona Beach Shores hotels have been certified for the Florida "green lodging" program.

Under a new voluntary program run by the state Department of Environmental Protection, hotels and motels in the program take extra steps to recycle, conserve water and electricity, and make other changes that benefit Florida's environment.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Boardwalk Resort, both in Lake Buena Vista, were among the first four to join the program last year.

"Voluntary programs like this can be very effective," said Vivian F. Garfein, director of the DEP's central district. "We still have our regulatory programs, but we're looking for ways for industry to go above and beyond what is required to make a difference for Florida's environment and to become leaders and stewards."

These environmental practices also benefit the businesses' bottom line by reducing utility costs and earning rave reviews from guests, said Larry Fornari, chief executive officer of the hotels that became the fifth and sixth businesses certified as "green hotels."

Since instituting the changes, Fornari said, the hotels have cut their electricity bills by 26 percent and are using 22 percent less water.

Several guests have praised the air filters, which not only improve air quality and help customers breathe easier, but also make air-conditioning systems run more efficiently.

"The long-term benefits of the program are tremendous," he said.

About 10 years ago, Fornari decided to swap out high-wattage incandescent light bulbs for lower-wattage fluorescent lighting and to use more water-efficient washing equipment. He and his managers realized that greater attention to environmental improvements could add up to even more savings.

The 98-room Palm Plaza and the 33-room Beachside Motel have recycling bins throughout the floors and public areas, use low-flow faucets and showers, and have new air conditioners that use less electricity than older models. There are top-of-the-line air filters in every room, maintained and sterilized by the Tallahassee company Rejuvinair.

The hotels also offer a linen-reuse program, in which hotel guests can choose to have sheets and towels changed every three days instead of daily.

Garfein said $1.50 is saved for every night a hotel guest makes such a request. "That doesn't seem a whole lot when you look at just that number," she said.

However, it adds up, because Florida has 35 million tourists annually, staying at 400,000 rooms at 4,700 hotels, she said.

"We could save $25 million a year, and conserve billions of gallons of water," she said.

As incentives for joining the program, Florida officials will promote the certified green hotels through a state Web site, floridagreenlodging.com, and will encourage state employees and state conventions to be held at certified hotels.

About a dozen hotels have applied to join the program, officials said.

Fornari said taking extra environmental steps is not difficult, and the return on the investment should be enough to get other hotels to go green.

"It's not a huge hurdle. All it takes is some thought and creativity," he said. "Then, the business not only reaps the savings, but is also offering a great environment for guests to stay."

Source: Ludmilla Lelis, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Colorado ski resorts post third-best season (The Denver Post)

Colorado's ski resorts posted their third- best season in 2004-05, with a total of 11.81 million skiers.

"We were up in all categories," said Rob Perlman, president and chief executive of Colorado Ski Country USA, at the industry trade group's annual meeting.

The past season brought an increase of more than 550,000 visits over the 2003-04 season, Colorado Ski Country USA said Wednesday.

Fueled by the weakened U.S. dollar, Colorado's $2.5 billion ski industry saw a 28 percent increase in international visitors. An additional 200,000 foreign skiers and snowboarders visited Colorado's 25 ski resorts compared with last year.

The United Kingdom, Colorado's largest international market, sent 31 percent more skiers.

"We've been very active in marketing to international skiers the past few years, and now we're enjoying the benefits," said David Perry, Aspen Skiing's senior vice president, noting that skier visits were up 3.3 percent at its four resorts. "And the infrastructure is in place for more growth." To capitalize on demand in the U.K., Colorado Ski Country is ramping up its marketing there, including working with a local tour operator to wrap eight London taxis in advertisements showing skiers gliding down a snowy Colorado slope.

Next season, Colorado ski resorts should see a record- breaking 12 million skier visits, Perlman predicted. The record of 11.98 million skier visits was set in 1997-98.

"We're seeing a lot of favorable trends for the state -- record traffic at DIA (Denver International Airport), the economy is doing well, the currency situation," he said. "We have tremendous momentum right now." Colorado resorts saw a 6 percent increase in destination visits, defined as out-of- state and international visitors. In-state skier visits were up 3.6 percent over the previous season, accounting for 39.2 percent of total visits, said Colorado Ski Country spokeswoman Molly Cuffe.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort said it saw a 12.3 percent increase in skier visits last season, thanks in part to an increased marketing effort targeting Front Range skiers.

"We're concentrating more on Front Range skiers because they're in our backyard, and we realized that we should," said Gina Kroft, director of marketing and sales at Crested Butte. "We certainly have a different experience to offer as we're more of a vacation destination."

Source: Julie Dunn, The Denver PostKnight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Criminals Taking Advantage Of People On Vacation

Identity theft continues to be a growing problem in Utah and police are noticing a new way criminals are using stolen identities to take advantage of people on vacation.

PROVO (KSL News Services) -- Identity theft continues to be a growing problem in Utah and police are noticing a new way criminals are using stolen identities to take advantage of people on vacation.

Detective Wally Perschon with the Utah County Sheriff's Office says if any type of identification is stolen from you while you’re out of town, make sure your neighbors are keeping an eye on your house.

“You need to contact those people and make them aware that there is a high potential that someone may be coming by to burglarize their place and break in to steal their valuables.”

Perschon says some criminals have many connections so they can hit your house quickly even if they steal your wallet or other forms of identification while your away from home.

“You don’t know how well the criminals are connected. They may just go to your address and knowing your on vacation and burglarize your home depending on what security measures you have set up there,” says Perschon.

Source: KSL NewsRadio 1160

State tourism officials take new approach to marketing (New Haven Register, Conn.)

Jun. 10--A three-year string of budget cuts -- including another $600,000 trimmed when the legislature passed a budget Tuesday -- has forced state tourism officials to take a new approach to marketing.

In the two-year state budget passed this week, $8.1 million is earmarked for state and regional tourism promotion, down from $8.7 million in the previous budget, said Jennifer Aniskovich, executive director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Thursday.

The state's tourism budget totaled $16 million in 2003, the year a $1 billion budget deficit led to massive cuts in many state programs.

"The message was pretty clear," she said. "There's got to be a new model."

So for the first time, the commission is overseeing a statewide branding campaign, with a new logo that will be used by each of the regional tourism districts, to eliminate duplicated efforts.

The logo is the word "Connecticut" in large capital letters, with the letters spelling the word "Connect" in a brighter hue than the rest. The logo conveys the idea that visitors may "connect" to family, friends and themselves by coming to Connecticut for fun and relaxation.

New television and print ads portray Connecticut as a relaxing, scenic state with a variety of activities. They target busy women aged 35 to 54 who live in the New York City metropolitan area, emphasizing that Connecticut is nearby.

New Haven advertising and marketing firm McLaughlin, DelVecchio & Casey Inc. designed the campaign.

In the campaign's kickoff event, more than 120 tourist attractions statewide will be on display Saturday for Open House Day, designed so residents may see what the state has to offer and then act as "ambassadors" by telling out-of-state family and friend.

Museums, theaters, galleries and historic properties will offer free admission and attractions during the day. A list of participating attractions and events is online at www.ctvisit.com.

The state has never before promoted and marketed its distinct tourism regions with a common logo and brand, Aniskovich said.

The regions -- consolidated from 11 to 5 in 2003 -- previously worked independently to promote their respective areas, now Greater New Haven, Fairfield County, Mystic Country, Litchfield Hills and River Valley.

"We were fairly scattered, and our budgets allowed us to be that way," Aniskovich said.

But declining state funding has forced officials to be more cost effective, said Steven Paganelli, new president and CEO of the Greater New Haven regional tourism district.

As Connecticut cuts its tourism budget, other states -- including Pennsylvania, which also targets New York and boasts a $33 million budget -- are increasing theirs, Paganelli said.

"We're being outspent by our competitors," he said.

The new television ads recently began airing and radio and print advertisements are scheduled to launch over the next several months, along with a new set of postcards.

The state's previous tourism logo, which had the slogan "We're full of surprises," has been retired after more than 10 years

Source: Cara Baruzzi, New Haven Register, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Saudi Vacationers Again Favor European Destinations

Saudis are now more inclined to visit Western destinations compared to the practice in the past three-four years when they chose to spend their vacation in the Far East. Growing market liquidity is the main reason as more and more citizens are making a bundle through the booming stock market enabling them to pick and choose their destinations. A straw survey shows that many would like to go to the West.

"I've done well trading on the Kingdom's booming stock market. I now have a new Cadillac and am planning a vacation with family to a set of European destinations," said Fahd Hassan Ahmed, a 22-year-old student at King Abdul Aziz University.

He decided six months ago to try his luck in the stock market, which has shot up around 300 percent in two years as oil prices and corporate profits have soared and local investors continued to repatriate capital following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

"The very rich to the very poor are buying and selling shares," said Abdullah Al- Ghamdi, another Saudi student. "Thanks to electronic information providers, many Saudis are scrambling for stake in the stock market," he said, adding that he has been one of the successful players and is heading the West this summer.

The flow of tourists from this part of the world to the United States has been negligible and to Western destinations minimal since the 9/11 events. Saudi families have since been visiting the Far East, aside from popular destinations in the Middle East. The flow of tourists, however, dropped following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the subsequent tsunami that hit some of the Far Eastern countries.

Even then Malaysia has remained a strong destination for Saudi families.

"But now there has been a perceptible change and Saudis have shown more inclination toward vacationing in popular European destinations," Imran Salehjee, managing director of London-based Saltours International, said. "In fact, affluent Saudi families have continued to visit Europe, though fewer in numbers," he added.

"Saudis have become more Internet savvy and so more travel savvy as travel information is readily available to them. So they are able to make their travel plans in advance and like to visit not one but a few key tourist destinations together," he said, adding that London and the rest of UK has been one of the top five choices in Europe whether for business, travel and tours, or leisure.

Salehjee was among a dozen participants from Europe, Malaysia, Turkey and Maldives at a road show organized by Unique choice, a wholesale worldwide accommodation specialist, at Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wednesday.

"We expect a 25 percent increase in the number of Saudi tourists to France compared to last year," Jean-Marc de Margerie, vice president and general manager at Hotel Concorde La Fayette Paris of Concorde Hotels, said.

"In fact, what is contributing to an increased flow of tourists from this part of the world is the 'liberalized visa procedure' adopted by some Western countries."

Spain too is catching up with the rest of Europe for Saudi vacationers. "Arabs, Saudis in particular, have now been evincing more interest in various destinations in Spain," said Bill Fontgivell, deputy director general and deputy general manager at Hotel Rey Juan Carlos 1, a business and city resort in Barcelona. "In fact, we've been getting Saudi families who spend in our five-star property from one to three weeks, especially since the 1992 Olympics," he said.

Switzerland remains one of the favorite destinations for Saudi families, said Yasser Noman of Zurich-based Kuoni Travel.

Helicopter transfers on request have been among the many attractions for Saudis across Swiss destinations.

Aside from Europe, Maldives is one other destination that is trying to attract Saudi families. The island state has villas costing as much as $5,000 a night, said Harsh Roopchand of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili — Six Senses Luxury Hotels of Maldives.

Their features include tree houses and spa suites. Malaysia remains one of the most favored destinations of Saudis in the Far East.

"Arabs in general feel at home in Malaysia due to the availability of Arabic-speaking staff and halal food. In addition, vacations in Malaysia cost much less than in Europe or elsewhere in the world," Brendan Wong of Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur said.

One other growing attraction for Saudi families has been to experience the marvels of the high seas, said Najeeb Mithvani of Dubai-based Star Cruise Management Ltd.

SuperStar Virgo is the newest and largest world-class megaship in Asia-Pacific that will appeal to the vacationer with comprehensive facilities, entertainment, recreational activities and services. "Of course, the 13-deck Virgo also offers the informality, flexibility and choice of freestyle cruising coupled with hospitality which have become the hallmarks of Star Cruises," he said. The company, which offers Asia-Pacific cruises from Singapore, is introducing cruises in India soon.

Zawfir Ziard, chief operations officer and managing director at Riyadh-based Unique Choice, a wholesale worldwide accommodation specialist who organized the road show, said the organization worked through 300 agents worldwide.

Bolivian International Flights Cancelled; UK Issues Travel Warning

The Bolivian Congress has halted their attempts to find a new President since the Monday resignation of Carlos Mesa. They are engaging in political meetings away from the rioting capital of La Paz; relocating to Sucre for their emergency session.

Protestors have succeeded in cutting off the capital from food, water, and fuel. The thousands who have taken to the streets have forced repeated flight cancellations and delays, which have prompted international airlines, American Airlines, and LanChile, to cancel all flights to La Paz.

In the United Kingdom, the Foreign Office warned Britons against all but essential travel to La Paz and the Altiplano area; where oil fields have been seized. Those already in the areas were advised to take extra care and to avoid demonstrations while respecting the roadblocks put in place by protestors.

The UK joins the United States which has not only issued a travel warning, but evacuated their embassy of nonessential personnel.

The protesters are demanding that Vaca Diez, who is constitutionally the next-in-line to succeed former President Mesa, not assume power, which would force the Supreme Court call early elections.

The Commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces, Admiral Aranda, has made it clear that the government security forces will support the “constitutional and democratic system” and “will continue to safeguard this entire process."

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/

More Japanese flights for Australian

Australian Airlines will operate an extra four services between Cairns and the Japanese cities of Nagoya and Sapporo from August.

Two additional flights will operate between Cairns and Nagoya from August 3 to October 28 and a a second season of non-stop flights between Sapporo and Cairns will be added between November 2 and March 25.

The Nagoya and Sapporo services will provide a further 1080 seats into Cairns each week.

"Cairns continues to be one of the most popular destinations for Japanese visitors and Australian Airlines is the only carrier to provide non-stop flights from the Japanese cities of Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo," Australian Airlines Chief Executive Andrea Staines said.

"The timing of the seasonal Nagoya services is designed to allow passengers from Korea, China and Taiwan as well as Japan to fly to Cairns for their holiday or make same day connections through to other Australian holiday destinations such as Hamilton Island and Ayers Rock."

Ms Staines said the additional flights to Nagoya and Sapporo also provided more options for Australian holidaymakers.

Tourism Australia Managing Director Scott Morrison said the services would be good news for North Queensland, where the Japanese market was critical. - Travelpress travel news

Source: http://au.travel.yahoo.com/

Keep your biometric passports' US to tell UK

Uncle Sam makes concessions as EU lags behind

The US looks set to ditch its demands that all UK citizens wishing to travel to the US must have biometric passports by this October.


According to a report in the Financial Times, US and European officials have said the plans are set to be shelved in order to prevent disruption in transatlantic travel and to prevent travellers being put off visiting the US as a result.

European justice commissioner Franco Frattini recently warned the US the mandate's deadline, which covers countries within the European Union, is unlikely to be met.

Only six EU countries - Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden - look set to be ready in October and the EU has been calling for a 12 month extension to the deadline.

Despite the legislation requiring biometric passports entering the US' statute books in 2002, the UK recently revealed it expected to be able to introduce the 'ePassport' in the first quarter of next year.

The FT also reports the US is gearing up for a policy shift that will mean countries with passports using digital photos will be allowed to enter the country without a wavier, whereas those with laminated printed photos, such as France and Italy, would have to apply for a visa to visit the country.

Source: Silicon.com

Hawaii is Americans’ No. 1 choice for vacation, poll says

Black sand beaches, warm Pacific breezes, bubbling lava and the waves of Waikiki top the list of Americans’ vacation fantasies.

If time and money are no object for vacation planning, Hawaii rules.

Only half of the people in this country say they are planning to take a vacation trip this summer, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll found. But 79 percent of those surveyed said they would travel this summer if they could afford it and had the time.

When people were asked to name any place they would want to go on vacation if they had the time and the money, Hawaii was the choice of 14 percent, more than any other specific place.

The attraction of Hawaii is easy to understand for Edward Harsh, a 41-year-old car salesman from Phoenix who lived last year on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

"It’s probably one of the most secluded places on Earth," Harsh said. "You can go anywhere in your shorts and flip-flops. People go to church in their flip flops. In Hawaii, the most dangerous thing there is a rogue wave that could carry you away."

On the vacation wish list, places specifically mentioned most often in the poll:

● Hawaii

● Europe

● Italy singled out from other European locations

● Alaska

● The Caribbean

● Florida

One-fourth of those questioned named warm, sunny locations from Hawaii to Florida to The Caribbean, while slightly more mentioned some place in Europe, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos.

People with at least some college education were more likely to see Europe as the perfect vacation; those with a high school education were more likely to say Hawaii.

Sharon Manning, a mother from Eldon who works as a correctional officer, says she has only one requirement for her dream vacation. "I’ve never seen the ocean before, so it wouldn’t matter where I went to see it," she said.

Of those who plan a summer vacation trip, about two-thirds said they will go outside their state, while 22 percent said they will go outside the country. Some 13 percent of respondents said they plan to take their longest vacation trip in their home state.

But many in the United States just do not make time for vacations. "We have sort of a love-hate relationship with vacations," said Cindy Aron, a professor of history at the University of Virginia and author of a book about the history of vacations. "Americans aren’t very comfortable being away from work."

Three in 10 people surveyed said they have changed vacation plans because of gas prices. Gasoline prices are averaging almost $2.20 per gallon nationally, according to a recent analysis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: Associated Press

Passport rules could cost Caribbean dearly

The Caribbean region could lose up to $3.2-billion a year in tourism revenue if the United States goes ahead with new passport rules at the end of the year, according to a study released by the Caribbean Hotel Association last week.

The study, prepared for the association by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), also found that close to 190,000 tourism-related jobs were at risk if the rule was put into effect.

Under new Department of Homeland Security regulations announced in April, American citizens visiting the Caribbean, Central and South America will be required to have a valid passport or another form of identification that would include biometric information, such as fingerprints or iris scan, to re-enter the United States after Dec. 31.

Now, Americans can travel to most Caribbean destinations using other forms of identification, such as a driver's licence or a birth certificate.

The WTTC study examined the percentage of American visitors to the Caribbean who do not use a passport and how the new requirement might impact the region's $25.8-billion annual tourism earnings. Only about 20 per cent of Americans have passports.

The passport rule will cause “a permanent realignment of [tourist] traffic, with spontaneous, last-minute travel significantly reduced,” according to hotel association president Berthia Parle. She said the organization wants an extension of time for the Caribbean to Jan. 1, 2008, the date when American travellers to Canada and Mexico will need a passport to re-enter the United States.

According to major tour operators, the majority of vacation bookings are now made less than 14 days before travel.

Among 23 Caribbean destinations, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the Bahamas — countries that draw the largest numbers of Americans among those that will fall under the regulations — stand to lose the most money and jobs, according to the WTTC study. Jamaica could lose 114,000 tourism jobs and $1.4-billion a year in income; the Dominican Republic 48,000 jobs and $604-million; the Bahamas 13,000 jobs and $555-million.

As part of the phased-in anti-terrorism regulations, Canadians visiting the United States, or transiting the U.S. on return trips from sun destinations, will have to have a passport by the end of this year. Currently, only about 31 per cent of Canadians have passports.

“The United States' new passport requirement for the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada is likely to change the nature of regional travel and tourism and cause significant hardship for several destinations that have grown to rely on a more open movement of visitors,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of the WTTC.

In April, the premiers of Ontario and Quebec took their complaints about the security plans to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in Washington, arguing that the proposals could do great economic harm to Canada's two largest provinces.

Source: www.caribbeanhotels.org/caribpassports.ppt.

Discount Airlines Taking Off in Latin America, WSJ Reports

Bloomberg -- Latin America is getting discount air travel for the first time, as companies such as Mexicana Airlines and Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA gear up to offer bargain travel to tourists and middle-income residents, the Wall Street Journal said today.

In July, Mexicana is expected to start Click, a budget airline offering domestic routes from Mexico City, the newspaper said. In December, Gol started no-frills flights to Buenos Aires from its home base of Sao Paulo, for fares starting around $167, the Journal said.

Traditionally, delays are common at Latin American airports, and government regulation kept prices high, the newspaper said. Over the past few months, aviation officials are making cross- border flights easier in countries such as Peru and Brazil, the newspaper said.

Source: Wall Street Journal Online 6-8

Malaysia Airlines to expand services in India

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) would expand its services from India by adding three more destinations and starting three additional flights between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur this winter.

"Our very next step in the expansion plan would be to launch services from Amritsar from October, followed by Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram early next year. These destinations have been allowed as part of India's liberalised open sky policy for the ASEAN nations," the airline's new Regional Manager (South Asia), Christopher Yek, told reporters here.

With the additional three flights from Delhi, the airline would mount daily services from the winter schedule.

Another official, Syed Abdillah Aziz, said the additional destinations would take the total number of Indian cities served by the airline to ten. The other destinations are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Observing that MAS could operate to a total of 18 non-metro destinations in India under the treaty with ASEAN nations, Aziz said India was one of the fastest growing markets forecasting a 15 per cent rise in passenger traffic.

This, he said, had led MAS to increase the number of flights from 18 in 2004 to 30 flights a week this year.

Source: The Hindu

Ancient Greek travel inspired sci-fi

Ancient Greek knowledge of travel inspired early forms of fantasy and science fiction writing, British researchers found. Greek literature has a long tradition of fantasy beginning with Odysseus' fantastic travels in Homer's Odyssey, according to Karen Ni-Mheallaigh, of the University of Liverpool's School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology. She is exploring fantasy in ancient literature, examining theories of modern science fiction writing and how these can be applied to texts from the ancient world. Fantasy writing in the ancient world is still relatively unexplored from a literary perspective, said Ni-Mheallaigh. What is so interesting about these fantastical journeys is that many of them are written in the form of truthful travel logs and historical texts. The Greeks had a fascination with the exotic and other worlds and some writers traveled and found cultures so different from their own that they were inspired to fantasize and speculate about even more remote and exotic worlds, according to Ni-Mheallaigh. Source: Big News Network

Eurotunnel slashes fares to compete with no-frills airlines

Eurotunnel will today launch the biggest overhaul of its passenger shuttle service since the opening of the Channel Tunnel 11 years ago by unveiling a new budget airline-style fares structure.

Passengers will be able to book low-cost return fares for as little as £50 per car if they buy their tickets early or travel at off-peak times.

There will also be much greater flexibility to change travel times once bookings have been made.

The dramatic move is designed to stop the haemorrhaging of revenues and passengers as the embattled Anglo-French company prepares for crunch negotiations with creditors over its £6.4bn debt burden. Eurotunnel says that without a deal to reschedule or cancel two-thirds of the debt it will be forced into bankruptcy by Christmas.

Last year Eurotunnel suffered a 7 per cent decline in overall shuttle revenues as the number of cars using the Channel Tunnel fell by 8 per cent to 2.1 million. The fall in coach traffic was an even steeper 12 per cent.

The introduction of the new tariff structure is aimed at preventing a further decline in traffic levels this year despite forecasts that the overall cross-Channel market will fall once again as competition from low-cost airlines bites deeper.

One effect of the move towards a "yield management" type of fares structure, whereby passengers pay more the nearer they book to the date of travel, is that Eurotunnel expects to operate 30 per cent fewer services.

At present, the company operates a shuttle service day and night with up to four trains an hour running in each direction at peak times.

During heavy periods such as the summer high season the service is full but at off-peak times load factors can be as low as 5 per cent with only three or four cars using a shuttle train that can transport up to 180 vehicles.

The fares structure, meanwhile, is similar to those used by the ferry operators whereby prices are based on the length of stay rather than the time and day of travel.

This means that passengers going on two-week holidays in high summer can pay twice the fare of those taking short breaks even though they may travel out on the same shuttle.

Jacques Gounon, Eurotunnel's new chairman, said: "The effect of the new tariff structure will be to provide low-cost travel for those who want it. We are moving from being an infrastructure company to a transport operator just like the low-cost airlines."

Mr Gounon predicted that although many fares would be significantly cheaper, Eurotunnel would protect its revenues through increased passenger numbers.

"We want the fares structure to be simplified and more attractive but we do not intend to enter a price war," he added.

The Eurotunnel chairman, who is seeking to beat off a challenge from the rebel French investor and share tipster Nicholas Miguet at the company's annual shareholders meeting in 10 days' time, also repeated his vow that any deal with creditors would not dilute the interests of existing shareholders.

Eurotunnel's creditors are pressing for a massive debt-for-equity swap, which would give them control of the tunnel in exchange for writing off up to £4bn of their loans. They have criticised M. Gounon's proposal that the debt be written off without creditors receiving anything in return as "economically illiterate".

M. Gounon insisted that a debt-for-equity swap was "definitively not" an option as it would be defeated by Eurotunnel's French shareholders who own a majority of the company.

However, a source in the creditors camp said: "If he really means that then there are only two options - bankruptcy or substitution, both of which would leave shareholders even worse off."

Source: Michael Harrison - independent.co.uk

Airport reduces fees for airlines

Pittsburgh International Airport just became cheaper for airlines.

Landing fees at the airport have dropped by about one-third, and ramp and terminal rates were lowered by more than one-fourth, the airport said.

The new rates are expected to mean a difference of $4 million to $5 million to all the airlines operating at Pittsburgh, said JoAnn Jenny, airport spokeswoman.

"We are very excited to announce this adjustment," Kent G. George, executive director of the airport, said in a prepared statement. "The airport so far this year is realizing the impact of greater regional air travel than budgeted. The airlines stand to benefit from this savings."

Starting June 1, landing fees plummeted from $3.01 per 1,000 pounds to $1.99 per 1,000 pounds, the airport said. Terminal fees dropped from $115.66 per square foot per year to $85, and ramp fees fell from $153.55 per linear foot per year to $114.

"We purposely budgeted conservatively; we were looking at our worst-case scenario," Jenny said.

Though US Airways has announced it will cut 14 more flights from Pittsburgh at the end of summer, other cuts expected by US Airways haven't materialized, Jenny said. "But it's more than just US Airways, too. It's because of all the other airlines offering more flights and increasing; some of the planes are bigger than what they were anticipated to be."

With landed weights and passenger numbers up, the airport's revenues from parking, rental car income and some of the other airport services have grown, too.

The airport isn't a money-making entity, so when unexpected expenses arise, the airlines operating from the airport help to bear the brunt of them. On the other hand, when the economic outlook is better than expected, as it was for this midyear review, the airport is in the position of returning money to the airlines.

For the airlines, the new rate drops the cost of operating at Pittsburgh from $12.84 per passenger to $11.90 per passenger, Jenny said. The number of passengers expected at the airport this year remains at more than 5 million.

US Airways had no comment on the rate change. In recent years, as US Airways moved flights and connections from Pittsburgh and smaller planes started flying, the airport had to raise its fees to cover its costs. In 2003, the projected number of passengers dropped from 9 million to 7.75 million. As a result, landing fees rose from about $1.50 per 1,000 pounds to $1.74 and terminal fees were raised from $97.34 per square foot to $103.88.

All airlines at Pittsburgh will have their fees reduced, but the most favorable rate is given to long-term lease holders: AirTran Airways, American Airlines, British Airways, Chautauqua Air, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Independence Air, Mesa Airlines (Air Midwest), Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, US Airways and United Airlines.

Others operating from the airport but not holding long-term leases will pay at least 20 percent over this rate.

Sorce: Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2005

Hong Kong Disneyland Opens in 100 Days (AP)

Disney officials kicked off a 100-day countdown to their new Hong Kong theme park's opening on Sept. 12.

"We have felt the excitement growing all over Hong Kong and around the region as our grand opening approaches," said Don Robinson, Hong Kong Disneyland group managing director.

Donning gold and black Mickey Mouse hats and white gloves, hundreds of employees at the Hong Kong park celebrated the countdown on Friday.

The company said it has planned a series of promotions for the park in the next 100 days.

Built on reclaimed land on outlying Lantau Island, the park is a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co.

Hong Kong officials say the park is a key part of the territory's plan to become a prime destination for vacationing families.

Source: Associated Press

United Airlines plans Wi-FI on its planes

United Airlines is reportedly ready to announce it's the first U.S. airline to get regulatory approval to install wireless Internet systems in its planes. But the New York Times said the airline is at least a year away from having the in-flight Wi-Fi service operational, allowing passengers to check e-mail, send instant messages and surf the Web at 30,000 feet. Similar services are now available on international flights operated by Lufthansa and Japan Airlines, among other carriers. Wi-Fi is also available either free or for a flat daily rate in airport terminals across the nation, the newspaper said. Source: Big News Network

United Airlines to Offer Wi-Fi Service on Domestic Flights

Web hosting providers will be glad to know that the Internet is yet again expanding. The New York Times reported today that United Airlines is planning on an in-flight Wi-Fi service for domestic flights by the end of 2006.

According to the Times article the airline will announce today that regulators have given approval to the plan.

While some airlines already offer Wi-Fi service on International flights there are no domestic American flights that currently offer access to the Internet in-flight. Providing airlines Internet access is yet another niche that hosting providers can worm their way into to ease the pressure from the highly competitive industry.

Source: hostsearch.com/web_hosting_news.asp

Asia Pacific travel growing healthily: Abacus

Abacus International has stated that Asia Pacific travel is growing steadily as it enters the second quarter of 2005 in its latest booking figures. (6/6/2005)

In April, total bookings on the Abacus system rose over the previous month by 7% to more than 2.9 million and posted 10% growth over the corresponding period in 2004, which in itself was the best year in a decade for the Asia Pacific travel industry.

Intra-Asia travel comprised the bulk of the bookings at more than 78%.

Abacus president and chief executive officer Don Birch said Indochina and Central Asia posted a 14% growth in FIT bookings in April, while Vietnam was up 25%. South Korea and Hong Kong exceeded the previous month’s figures by 22% and 16%, respectively.

Referring to areas like Phuket and Krabi, he said tsunami-affected areas are taking a little longer to recover than originally expected.

“Also, the April/May period is the traditional lull season for Andaman destinations. Comparing this period with last year, we are seeing a 60% to 70% drop in bookings. But we are encouraged by stronger tourist returns to the Malaysian resorts of Penang and Langkawi,” he said.

He said while Asia Pacific travel as a whole is growing healthily, a number of markets are enjoying exponential expansion. For South Asia, which is experiencing a travel boom, he said Pakistan is the market to watch out for.

For e-ticketing, Abacus said that growth as a percentage of total tickets issued was flat in April but in term of total tickets issued it was 105% up over 2004, with close to 1.4 million e-tickets issued.

Abacus is actively deploying the Internet in its solutions to enhance the business of its 11000 travel agencies. For example, it recently launched online solution, Abacus TravelNetwork, offering travel consultants with real-time access to leisure travel content with accurate pricing.

Source: eyefortravel.com

US biometric ID request raises ID concern in UK

The UK government plans to issue its ID card as a passport with biometric identifiers stored in a chip – and the US wants those chips to be compatible with its own scanners, raising the possibility that US agencies could have access to the ID Card database.

The US call for biometric standardisation exceeds currently agreed international standards for airline navigation, safety and security. In 2003, it was agreed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that the initial international biometric standard for passports would be facial mapping, although additional biometrics such as fingerprinting could be included.

Currently, for example, all foreign visitors entering the US have their two index fingers scanned, and a digital photograph taken before they are granted entry. Most visitors are also required to obtain a visa.

Nature of the US request

Michael Chertoff, US Secretary of Homeland Security, last week said this the EU and US were close to a deal on the introduction of biometrics in passports for those seeking entry to the US, and urged the EU to ensure compatibility between EU and US biometric systems.

According to press reports, Chertoff has also asked the UK to consider chip compatibility in respect of the proposed UK national identity card scheme.

He told reporters: "It would be a very bad thing if we all invested huge amounts of money in biometric systems and they didn't work with each other."

"Hopefully, we're not going to do VHS and Betamax with our chips,” he added.

Compatibility could deliver on-line data exchange

According to The Independent newspaper, this could mean that information held on UK identity cards could be accessed in the US.

The potential for this link arises because of the decisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to promote an international standard for passports. These decisions have been reinforced by a decision of the Council of Ministers of the European Community to introduce a common format passport for member states.

The decision of the UK government to link the ID cards with the passport means that the UK's ID card will be compatible with international passport standards. According to the Passport Office website, "For many UK citizens the identity card will be issued as passports come up for renewal or for first time applications." As a result, "The Home Office, the UKPS and other government departments will now work together "to start to lay the foundations for the scheme, which will establish a more secure means of proving people's identity."

As part of this process, the UKPS "will progress its major anti-fraud and secure identity initiatives including the addition of a biometric to the British passport. So if a biometric passport is linked to the ID Card in a common format which is compatible with the USA's travel requirement, then direct USA access to the ID Card/Passport database becomes an option in relation to travel to the USA."

Lack of biometrics still a problem

The US had initially set 26 October 2004 as the date by which Visa Waiver Program travellers were supposed to present a biometric passport for visa-free travel to the US, but extended it for one year when it became clear that the 27 states that are eligible for the Program – including the UK – would be unable to comply.

Unfortunately EU countries are still unable to produce the biometrically-enabled passports, and unless the US is prepared to extend its deadline again, EU visitors to the US will soon find themselves obliged to obtain a visa before they will be granted entry.

According to reports, the US and EU are now close to a deal on the timing of the biometric passport requirement.

Biometric passports and terrorism

Biometric passports have been identified by governments throughout the world as a key factor in the fight against terrorism, and their implementation is being driven by the US.

The USA-PATRIOT Act, passed by the US Congress after the events of September 2001, included the requirement that the President certify a biometric technology standard for use in identifying aliens seeking admission into the US, within two years.

The schedule for its implementation was accelerated by another piece of legislation, the little-known Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act 2002. Part of this second law included seeking international co-operation with this standard. The incentive to international co-operation was made clear:

"By October 26, 2004, in order for a country to remain eligible for participation in the visa waiver program its government must certify that it has a program to issue to its nationals machine-readable passports that are tamper-resistant and which incorporate biometric and authentication identifiers that satisfy the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)."

Citizens from those countries belonging to the Visa Waiver Program (including many EU countries, Australia, Brunei, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and Slovenia) do not require a visa, but as from 26 October last year, have been obliged to show a machine-readable passport.

Unless a further deadline extension is reached, VWP citizens entering the US after 26 October 2005 must, if their passport is issued after 26 October 2005, use a machine-readable, biometrically-enabled passport or obtain a visa.

OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.

Compensation for travel agency’s error

A Family that was deported back to India from Dubai while on a trip, for having tickets without a transit visa, will be compensated by the ticket agency of the airlines, which had sent them without the required documents.
Archana Kapoor, along with her husband and child, was to travel to Toronto from Delhi in 2000. Their travel agent Paradise Tour Company arranged for the tickets from Continental Airlines Ltd, a firm which issues tickets of different airlines. Continental Airlines arranged the tickets for the Kapoors to Toronto, on Emirate Airlines, via Dubai, London and New York. Accordingly, the Kapoors left for Dubai.

However, they were grounded by Dubai airport authorities as they did not have transit visas. The Dubai authorities deported them to India.

The enraged travellers filed a case in the consumer court, against the firm which had obtained their tickets. Paradise Tour Company said that it was Continental’s fault which, should have checked all the documents of the travellers.

The State Consumer Commission agreed with the arguement and ordered that Rs 10,000 be paid as compensation to the hapless travellers by the ticket agency.

Source: Express News Service