OAG Travel News

New York (AirGuide - Airport News)

Airlines Add $10 Surcharge for Busiest Travel Days
Airlines will be adding a $10 surcharge on ticket prices for the busiest travel days of the winter.Travelers looking to fly on the busiest days of the year will see new sky-high prices on airfare, after multiple airlines decided to add a new $10 surcharge for popular travel dates this winter.American Airlines first created the surcharge for domestic flights for the Sunday following Thanksgiving and the weekend of Jan. 2-3-, the dates during which many Americans will be returning home from Christmas and New Year's trips.United Airlines and Delta followed American Airlines, announcing they would impose the same surcharge, BusinessWeek reported.JetBlue, Continental, Southwest, Alaska Airlines and AirTran have not announced that they will match the $10 fee for their tickets. Passengers already pay more to fly on certain days typically, cheaper airfares are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays but American and United have now upped the ante, by determining that certain peak travel days are worth an additional passenger-paid premium, Graeme Wallace of Farecompare.com was quoted by BusinessWeek.While the fee is unwelcome news for the millions of Americans who will be traveling during the winter holidays, it is a sign that airlines expect more people to travel this year than last year.

Sensis said US FAA has introduced its wide-area multilateration surveillance system at four
Sensis said US FAA has introduced its wide-area multilateration surveillance system at four Colorado airports to enable ATC to track aircraft not covered by radar in the state's remote mountainous regions. FAA is sharing the cost of the system with the Colorado Dept. of Transportation. Initial operations began on Sept. 12 at Yampa Valley-Hayden, Craig-Moffat, Steamboat Springs and Garfield County Regional-Rifle. "The new system is comprised of a network of relatively small sensors deployed in remote areas," FAA said. "The sensors send out signals that are received and sent back by aircraft transponders. No other aircraft equipment is required." It said WAM is a near-term solution while ADS-B is rolled out and eventually is aimed at serving as a backup to ADS-B. The agency will operate the WAM system in Colorado and "monitor how [it] works. . .to determine further deployment." CDOT Aeronautics Director Travis Vallin said that the "Sensis WAM system [provides] accurate surveillance of flights in this area during all weather conditions," increasing the airports' capacity and efficiency.

Travelers will soon have the chance to donate USD 2 or more to help fight AIDS in developing countries when they buy an airline ticket.The money will go to the Millennium Foundation, which is working with the United Nations to fund health goals, including fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. They're calling the donation effort MassiveGood. This is the first big fundraising effort by the Geneva-based Millenium Foundation, founded in 2008 to find innovative ways to finance UN health goals. It's working with UN-funded UNITAID, which supplies low-cost drugs to the developing world.The three major ticket distributors Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre Holdings Corp. announced on Wednesday that they've agreed to make the donation an option for ticket-sellers and buyers starting early next year.It's optional for everyone involved, including online travel sites, travel agents and corporate buyers such as American Express Business Travel. Business travel manager Carlson Wagonlit Travel confirmed on Wednesday that it intends to offer the donation through its systems, though it's still working out details.However, it remains to be seen how often travelers will encounter the pitch to make a donation. Tickets sold directly through airline Web sites aren't part of the program. And it's not clear whether companies will allow the donations on corporate travel purchases.


Airports Council International-North America came out in support of limits to runway and tarmac delays, with President Greg Principato saying the organization "supports airlines working with Congress and the Dept. of Transportation to determine specific deadlines," and that "airlines should be held accountable for adhering to the predetermined deadlines." ACI-NA has filed motions with DOT supporting enhanced protections for passengers, such as increased compensation for delayed or cancelled flights and lost baggage.

Reading Not a Lost Art for Travelers Stuck at Airports
Despite a measurable decline in reading among the general population, travelers overwhelmingly prefer to read when killing time at the nation's airports, according to a recent survey.Conducted by GO Group, LLC, the nation's largest airport and ground transportation provider, the survey asked travelers to identify which activities they engaged in while waiting at the airport. Some 83 percent cited reading a book, newspaper or magazine as the No. 1 choice on a list of several options available.The poll of more than 200 travelers also shows that doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku or other thinking games is the second-most popular method for entertaining oneself while waiting for take off, cited by 29 percent of respondents. Listening to music on an MP3 player was the third-most popular activity at 21 percent, in a survey that allowed for multiple responses.About 45 percent of the respondents said they found other diversions, such as grabbing a bite to eat, accessing the Internet or buying gifts at airport shops. Other activities included playing handheld video games or watching DVD movies on laptop computers or other devices. Respondents were able to check all of the methods that applied to their time traveling, but reading was the clear favorite activity.

Fears among Muslims world-wide that this year's pilgrimage high season in Saudi Arabia will become a breeding ground for the new H1N1 flu has Saudi tourism officials worried."We're receiving cancellations from all over the world," said Waleed Abu Sabaa, head of the Hotels and Tourism Committee for the Mecca Chamber of Commerce and the owner of a company that controls 20 hotels in Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam. "It's tough. It's very tough."The pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, is mandatory for all Muslims once in their lives, if they are physically and financially able, and takes place during a specific time in the Islamic calendar -- this year, between Nov. 25 and Nov. 30. An average of three million Muslims arrive in that month alone to perform the Hajj. Pilgrims also flock to Mecca and Medina year-round for the Umrah, an optional pilgrimage often made during the sacred month of Ramadan, which ended Sunday.Early estimates based on pilgrims already traveling to Saudi to perform Umrah rituals suggest a plunge in visitors this year, travel officials say, though it is still too early to conclusively tell just how this year's Hajj numbers will be affected by the flu. That is partly because pilgrims have delayed making reservations, holding off until the last minute to decide on whether to go.To date, at least 3,205 people world-wide have died from the virus, according to the World Health Organization.Health officials aren't reporting unusually high infection rates in the Mideast. Egypt, the Middle East's most populous country, has reported just two deaths. Authorities in Saudi Arabia, which has reported 28 fatal cases, say they are prepared to conduct the annual ritual safely.Still, Egypt has postponed the opening of all schools until next month as a precaution, and the health ministry has said it will consider extending that if there is an outbreak. In Oman, officials canceled an annual cultural festival held in January in the capital, Muscat.

Here are 10 places to find the deals during 2010.1. Bargains are (almost) everywhereIf you come across a hotel or cruise line that insists it never discounts, don't believe it. In 2010, everyone will discount. It's just a question of how much. Amanda Sundt, the chief marketing officer at the adventure travel site iExplore, says upscale resorts will continue to offer spa and dining credit credits and two-for-ones. Worse, hotel capacity is expected to grow as major chains like Hyatt and Four Seasons open new properties. Look for good introductory deals as the hoteliers want to start seeing an immediate return and build buzz about the new properties, she says.2. Yes, even airlinesThe travel industrys soothsayers want you to believe that airfares are on the verge of taking off again. They may be right. But they probably arent. Chris Lopinto, the president and co-founder of Expertflyer.com, says lackluster demand from leisure travelers will continue to keep fares low. In fact, he predicts fares will stay depressed until business travelers jump back into the game. I think once business and business travel picks up again, we'll see air prices go significantly higher, he says. When? Maybe by the fall of 2010. Then again, maybe not.3. Forget blackout datesResorts offer so-called value season during off-peak times to lure guests. Guess what? Those value prices could last all of 2010, according to hoteliers like Steve Heydt, president of Elite Island Resorts, one of the largest independent Caribbean hotel groups. Resort business is not showing any measurable increase,he told me. We've responded to this trend by ensuring that we allow our current value pricing to roll over and be available next spring, summer and fall. This is the only way we believe we can stimulate advance vacation bookings. Catch the wave Wave period, which happens early in the year, is the time when most cruises are booked. In 2010, they'll be giving them away, from the sounds of it. Cruise lines are putting the brakes on new ship builds, and those under construction are still being built, but most of those on the drawing board are on hold, says Danny Borg, a partner for the discount travel site Undercover Tourist. The cruise lines will continue to lower prices until their ships sail at capacity. He and other experts recommend booking early in 2010, which is when all the sales are likely to happen.5. Get socialHere's a tip from an airline insider: If you're looking for deals in 2010, it pays to participate in social media, like Twitter or Facebook. Social media has quickly become a new sales and loyalty channel for airlines, says Lufthansa spokeswoman Jennifer Urbaniak. Her airline sees social media as a way to offer special Internet-only discounts on tickets next year and she expects other airlines to do the same.6. Go where the crowds don't The problem we are battling now is perception, says Robert Tuchman, an executive vice president at New York-based event planner Premiere Corporate. Companies don't want to seem like they are being extravagant, so they are making employees fly coach and not business or first. That's translating into bargains just where you wouldn't expect them: in business- and first-class fares and at upscale resorts.7. Log on for deeper discountsHow much deeper? A lot. I asked Clem Bason, president of Hotwire, and he's looking for sharply discounted deals — both on the kind of opaque deals his site offers (those are ones where the name of the resort isn't revealed until you book) and vacation packages. Archrival Priceline.com also offers opaque deals, but most of the major online agencies, including Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, have aggressively discounted packages that promise to be even more aggressively discounted in coming months.8. Look for an all-inclusive rateMany travel companies plan to make up for lost revenue by unbundling their rates meaning they'll separate the base fares and rates from extras like the ability to make a confirmed seat reservation or get a newspaper delivered to your room in the morning. The trend towards a la carte pricing will definitely continue in 2010, says Todd Dirks, a vice president at WNS, a business process outsourcing company. Airlines have found this to be a material and sustainable source of revenue.  Just one problem: The reservations systems can't handle these fees, so customers don't find out about them until it's too late. Lesson? Look for a rate that includes everything (Southwest Airlines is one of the few carriers that doesn't nickel and dime customers).9. Zig when everyone else zagsA bargain-hunter's natural instinct is to look for a deal where the deals are known to be. In 2010, they'll be there and elsewhere, predicts Elie Seidman, the chief executive of Oyster Hotel Reviews. Take New York City, for example. Rooms at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas would cost USD 500 a night if it were in Midtown Manhattan, but these days, they're often going for less than USD 100 a night, she says. Prices in Las Vegas will go even lower when City Centre opens at the end of the year. And if the Fontainebleau in Vegas is able to get out of its current problems, Las Vegas will get even cheaper for tourists. People don't normally associate these destinations with bargain rooms. But that's the thing about 2010  whether you follow the crowd or not, you can't lose.10. You don't even need to spend real money for these dealsSome of the most attractive offers in 2010 may be related to your award miles, according to Points.compresident, Chris Barnard. That's because travel companies are trying to unload as many miles as possible. In order to increase their value to travelers, program operators are adding new and different redemption options everything from restaurant and retail gift cards to program-sanctioned mileage trades, he says.


World's most over-rated ancient and historical sites1. Stonehenge, UK : Famous for its astonishingly huge stones. The summer solstice ceremony held by druids and New Agers confirm it as a cathedral to mystical paganism.Reality: Tourists can't touch the stones, can't walk inside the area, can't wander about its space and have to pay an entrance fee to see it.2. Petra in Jordan : It rises out of rose-red sandstone in a hidden valley. Firmly featuring on the itinerary of every traveller to the Middle East since the days of the Grand Tour, Petra is one of the most visited sites in the Middle East.Reality: The tourism village that has grown up around Petra now threatens to outsize the ancient city itself.3. Colosseum in Rome, Italy : A breathtaking sight for tourists.Reality: The sight is often crowded and usually has long queues. The entire building is a traffic roundabout and the interior is too precious to host concerts. Then, there is the danger of tourists falling victim to pickpockets.4. Machu Picchu in Peru : It is South America's most-promoted destination. It has held the top spot for travellers eager to see the majesty of the Inca for several years.Reality: The journey to Machu Picchu is not pleasant, and the entrance fee has risen to more than 25 pounds.5. Angkor in Cambodia : It boasts of some of the most jaw-dropping Buddhist monuments in Southeast Asia. The dozens of spectacular temples here are crowned by the peerless Angkor Wat - the site's largest monument - in a memorably atmospheric setting among gnarled jungles and glass-like paddy fields.


Airlines passengers around the globe will benefit from low ticket prices well into the next ten years, according to an industry body, as airlines continue to lose millions of dollars due to the recession and downturn in air travel.Increasing oil prices, slowdown in demand and strong competition will see the worldwide airline industry post a loss of USD 27.8 billion (GBP 16.9 billion) for 2008 and 2009 according to the International Air Travel Association (IATA).IATA, which represents about 90 percent of the airline industry including major players such as British Airways and American Airlines, expects airfares to remain low until around 2013.This year IATA expects airfares to fall by 12 percent. Ryanair, Europe's largest budget carrier, has forecast a 20 percent drop in fares as it attempts to fill an expanding fleet.

ACSS, L-3 Communications, Thales
ACSS, an L-3 Communications and Thales joint venture, introduced a software enhancement that will enable aircraft operators with its TCAS 2000 and TCAS II to upgrade to "Change 7.1 capability," which it said "delivers two important safety enhancements: Reversal logic and new aural alerting for Adjust Vertical Speed." The upgrade will be available in the fourth quarter.

Aeroflot-Don, Donavia
Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot's wholly-owned southern airline, Aeroflot-Don, is to be rebranded under the new name Donavia. The airline, which is based at Rostov-on-Don, will continue to codeshare and co-operate with Aeroflot.

Air China
Air China has applied to increase the international services from Hangzhou and Nanjing via Beijing.The carrier is keen to start a seven-time weekly Hangzhou-Beijing-Frankfurt service using an Airbus A330 aircraft in October, says the Civil Aviation Administration of China.It is also keen to begin a weekly Nanjing-Beijing-New York service using a Boeing 747-400 from October, adds the CAAC.

Air China
Air China has seen a huge increase in Chinese tourists visiting Nepal. There are now 70 times more Chinese tourists visiting the country than in 2002, the year that Nepal became a tourist destination for Chinese people. Air China is the only airline that connects the two destinations, with flights between Lhasa, Tibet, and Kathmandu, Nepal, a route that has been available since 1988. This is the only route that provides views of the legendary Mount Everest to its passengers. Aircraft on this route are flown by experienced pilots, and incorporate advanced technology, including Required Navigation Performance (RNP), ensuring optimal safety levels. For more information, visit www.airchina.com.

Airlink, British Aerospace
Airlink Jetstream 41 on a repositioning flight from Durban to Pietermaritzburg crashed shortly after takeoff yesterday morning owing to what the airline called an "engine loss of power." The aircraft hit in a vacant lot and slid into the grounds of a school about 400 m. from the runway, causing substantial damage to the plane and injuring the two pilots, one flight attendant and a bystander. There no passengers. The Johannesburg-based carrier said the four were being treated at a local hospital.

Airlink, British Aerospace
South African rescuers are attending the scene of a crash involving an Airlink British Aerospace Jetstream 41 turboprop at Durban.The aircraft was on a positioning flight, SA8911, from Durban to Pietermaritzburg when the accident occurred at around 08:00, says the carrier.Images from the scene show that the aircraft's fuselage has broken into several pieces.Airlink says the aircraft departed Durban but, shortly after take-off, the crew declared an emergency, reporting an "engine loss" and smoke from the rear.

AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways is holding a sale for travel to all the airline's destinations with fares starting as low as USD 39. Fares are available for purchase through Sept. 24 and are good for travel through Jan. 27, 2010. Lowest fares are valid for travel Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, and additional sale fares are valid for travel on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Like all AirTran Airways fares, prices included in this sale are available for one-way travel and do not require a roundtrip purchase or an overnight stay. For more information, visit www.airtran.com.

Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has begun daily nonstop service between Houston and Seattle. Alaska is offering introductory one-way fares of USD 99 between the two cities for tickets purchased by Sept. 30. Houston is the third destination added to the Seattle-based carrier's route system this year. Alaska began service to Austin, Texas, on Aug. 3, and Bellingham, Wash. on June 25, and will add daily service between Seattle and Atlanta on Oct. 23. For more information, visit www.alaskaair.com.

Alitalia
TourCrafters is offering a five-day/four-night Alitalia Supersaver Package that costs USD 799 and covers the round-trip flight from New York on Alitalia, fuel surcharge, accommodation in four-star hotels, four breakfasts, an upgrade to a superior room, a complimentary bottle of wine and hotel service charges and taxes. The package is available to Rome, Florence and Venice from early November to the end of March, but must be booked by Oct. 30. The Rome package includes overnights at either the four-star River Hotel, conveniently located near the Piazza del Popolo or the four-star Oxford Hotel, just off the Via Veneto. There are several choices of four-star hotels in Florence: the new San Gallo Palace; the Kraft and Adriatico, near the Arno River; and the Roma and Rivoli, which are close to the train station and Santa Maria Novella Church. In Venice, there's one choice, the family-run Hotel Carlton & Grand Canal which is, on the Grand Canal. All prices are per person, double occupancy, are subject to availability and do not include airport taxes. Reservations must be paid for within 72 hours of booking. For reservations or more information, call 800-482-5995 or visit www.tourcrafters.com.

Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air will launch twice-weekly Bangor-Tampa (Nov. 20), Grand Rapids-Fort Lauderdale (Nov. 13), Grand Forks-Phoenix Mesa (Nov. 13) and Duluth-Orlando Sanford (Nov. 20) aboard MD-80s.

Baboo
Baboo will launch service from Geneva to London City (11-times-weekly), Milan Malpensa (12-times-weekly) and Marseille (12-times-weekly) on Oct. 25 aboard E-190s or Q400s. Air France will codeshare on the LCY and MRS routes.

Belgrade
Australian tourists became the target of attacks by Serb extremists in the center of Belgrade. One man suffered light head wounds and was hospitalized. Police are now searching for the group of men who beat up the 25-year-old foreigner. Friends of the victim who spoke with the B92 television station said the group of young assailants had followed them around on the streets before attacking them.The incident is the second attack on foreigners in Belgrade in one week. Last Thursday, fans of the local Partizan football club attacked a 28-year-old Frenchman. He is currently in critical condition in the hospital after undergoing an operation on Saturday.Ten people were detained in relation to that incident, including the presumed organizer of the attack. The Serbian General Prosecutor said the men might be charged with attempted murder. If so, they would face between 30 and 40 years in prison.The threat posed by extremist groups has begun to grow in Serbia. They are also responsible for the cancellation of the Gay Pride parade that was to have taken place yesterday in the center of Belgrade. Authorities decided to cancel the march because the police said they were unable to guarantee the security of the participants. It was to have been the first Gay Pride parade in Belgrade since 2001; that event ended in violence when police forces were not able to detain the ultra-nationalist assailants, who were joined by football fans and skinheads.

Blue1
Blue1 will resume operating seasonal service from Helsinki Vantaa to Kuusamo (Nov. 29-April 11), Ivalo (Dec. 6-April 11), Kittila (Nov. 6-April 18) and Rovaniemi (Dec. 4-April 11) and from Kittila to Paris Charles de Gaulle (Dec. 16-April 3) and Dusseldorf (Dec. 17-March 11).

Cargoitalia
Cargoitalia launched twice-weekly Milan Malpensa-Hong Kong freighter service aboard an MD-11SF.

Caticlan Airport
It went almost unnoticed, except in the Philippines. On June 29th, a 60-seat aircraft from domestic carrier Zest Air overshot Caticlan Airport’s runway forcing to a closure of the airport. It was the second serious incident at the airport in a six month-time.The problem is that Caticlan serves Boracay, one of the Philippines most popular resort destination. The airport has been reopened but only for small 19-seat aircraft of commuter airline SE Air and only for one-way operations. All other airlines with 60 to 70-seat aircraft had to divert their operation to the next airport in Kalibo, an over two-hour-drive and boat ride from Boracay Island.Caticlan airport redevelopment has been a long time topic for Philippine tourism with the project of upgrading the airport. The airport is surrounded by sea and a hill providing difficult landing conditions for aircraft. Its runway is in fact limited to only 970 meters. The urgency comes from the fact that the airport is now among the top five busiest in the country with some 800,000 passengers a year. 

China Eastern Airlines
Naverus said China Eastern Airlines, supported by CAAC, successfully completed an RNP-validation flight at Yushu Airport in the Himalayas using an A319 on Sept. 15.

China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines has applied to increase its international services out of the southern Chinese city of Nanjing from October,The carrier is targeting twice-weekly services to Nagoya in Japan and twice-weekly services to South Korea's Jeju Island, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). China Eastern hopes to use Airbus A320s on both services, it adds. There are no other carriers serving both routes, according to Innovata.

CSA Czech Airlines
CSA Czech Airlines will cease operating from Prague to both New York JFK and Manchester, UK, during its winter schedule and will reduce frequencies to London Heathrow, Riga and Hamburg.

CSA Czech Airlines
CSA Czech Airlines will add flights to Moscow Sheremetyevo, Yekaterinburg, Yerevan, Rostov-on-Don, Tbilisi and Minsk.

Emirates Airlines
Emirates now is scheduled to launch its previously postponed Dubai-Luanda service on Oct. 25. Route will be operated thrice-weekly with a 777-300ER.

Emirates Airlines
Emirates Airlines will begin flights to Durban, South Africa, on Oct. 1. The daily service will provide the only direct air link between the international aviation hub of Dubai and Durban, one of South Africa's host cities for FIFA-mania next year. Emirates, an Official Partner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, already flies to two South African destinations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Durban will provide another gateway to the world's greatest football spectacle, one of South Africa's key tourism hubs and the busiest port in Africa. Emirates currently flies to 15 destinations in Africa. Services to Johannesburg commenced in 1995 and now operate on a thrice daily route. In March 2008, the airline launched daily service to Cape Town. For more information, visit www.emirates.com/usa.

Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines will launch thrice-weekly Addis Ababa-Monrovia service on Oct. 25.

Etihad Crystal Cargo
Etihad Crystal Cargo launched twice-weekly Abu Dhabi-Baghdad service aboard an A300-600F.

FlyDubai
FlyDubai, the emirate's first low-cost carrier, will add up to eight new destinations by the end of the year and plans to expand at a faster pace until 2011, despite the downturn in the global aviation market, the airline's chief executive said.

We've not seen any impact from the financial crisis, Ghaith al-Ghaith told Zawya Dow Jones in an interview at his Dubai office. We're planning to grow as fast next year as we have done since we launched and even faster in 2011.The airline, which started operations in June at the height of the economic downturn in the emirate, will focus not only on destinations covered by full-service airlines such as Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways, but also on smaller, secondary cities in the region.

Germany
The Australian government has warned travelers to Germany to take special care because of an al-Qa'ida threat of a terrorist attack aimed at influencing tomorrow's national election.A German resident of Moroccan background warned in a video on an al-Qa'ida-linked website that "bitter times await the Germans" if they re-elect Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has maintained more than 4000 German troops in Afghanistan.Armoured vehicles were stationed at German airports yesterday, and soldiers armed with machineguns patrolled major railway stations.The German troop contingent in Afghanistan has been placed on high alert for fear Taliban and al-Qa'ida fighters will target them for publicity-seeking attacks ahead of the election.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warned Australians: "In response to al-Qa'ida threats, German authorities have increased the level of security precautions at train stations and airports for the period surrounding the elections."We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Germany because of the risk of terrorist attack."Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security threats."The Australian government warning noted that in September 2007 the German authorities arrested three people suspected of planning terrorist attacks at airports and locations popular with foreigners, and in July 2006 two bombs were found on regional trains in the Dortmund and Koblenz areas.The US and British governments issued similar warnings on Germany, with Britain's foreign office saying any attacks "could be indiscriminate, including in public places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers".Thousands of foreign tourists are in Munich for the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, which is halfway through its two-week program.The al-Qa'ida video, spoken in German, told Muslims in the country to avoid public spaces for two weeks after Sunday's vote.Some analysts fear terrorists might by inspired by the Madrid train bombing of 2004, which came on the eve of that country's national elections and helped to turn the result against the conservative government, which had sent a military contingent to Iraq.Whether the threats are intended to unseat Ms Merkel or lead to the withdrawal of the German forces from Afghanistan, they seem certain to fail.

Hawaiian Airlines, Airbus
With the first of its new fleet of long range, wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft arriving in April, Hawaiian Airlines will expand its service from Hawaii’s largest visitor markets for the summer peak travel season with the addition of three daily flights to Hawaii from California. Hawaiian also announced it would put the first two of its new A330 aircraft into service on the Los Angeles-Honolulu route starting in June.Hawaiian is adding two daily nonstop flights to Maui – one from Oakland and the other from San Diego – as well as another daily flight between Los Angeles and Honolulu, beginning June 17, 2010.

Iceland Express
Iceland Express will operate seasonal weekly London Gatwick-Akureyri service from June 2010.

Jazz Air
Regional operator Jazz will work with partner Air Canada to resume operations at Toronto City Center Airport (TCCA) as early as next year following a three and a half-year hiatus from the downtown facility.Jazz operated fromTCCA for 18 years until it was "evicted" from the facility, Jazz president and CEO Joseph Randell said during a CIBC investors conference on 23 September. He adds the airline has been trying to return to the airport ever since.The carrier suspended operations from TCCA in March 2006 after a pact between airport operator the Toronto Port Authority and TCCA-based Porter Airlines essentially forced Jazz out of the airport in favour of Porter.Jazz subsequently sued the port authority over access to TCCA. The legal matter is still pending, a Jazz spokeswoman says.

JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways is offering a sale on two of its newest Caribbean routes, linking Boston and Orlando with Montego Bay, on Jamaica's north coast. Nonstop flights on both routes are set to begin in the New Year, subject to receipt of government operating authority. At Boston's Logan International Airport, JetBlue will debut new nonstop service to Montego Bay -- its 33rd destination -- on Jan. 9, 2010, subject to receipt of government operating authority. Fares start at USD 149 each way. JetBlue already offers nonstop service to more cities than any other carrier in Boston. The new Montego Bay flight will operate on Saturdays, complementing JetBlue's existing daily connecting service to Montego Bay via New York/JFK. Customers interested in other sunspots this winter can take advantage of JetBlue's nonstop service from Logan to Aruba; Cancun, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and St. Maarten. Daily service between Orlando International Airport and Montego Bay is set to begin Feb. 8, 2010, subject to receipt of government operating authority, with fares as low as USD 69 each way. For more information, visit www.jetblue.com.

JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways was revealed as a winner in Budget Travel Magazine's 5(th) annual Extra Mile Awards, celebrating companies and destinations that are going the 'extramile' to make travel easier and more affordable in 2009. New York's hometown value carrier, already traveler-friendly, was recognized for upping the ante on its in-flight perks, including free snacks and drinks, personal seatback televisions and comfy leather seats, bringing equally valuable amenities to the airport experience, including gate-side food delivery options at its new Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Lan Airlines
Tourcan Vacations, Promperu and Lan Airlines are hosting Quebec and Ontario evening seminars promoting Peru. The seminars provide an opportunity to learn about the culture, history and landscapes that Peru has to offer. A typical itinerary for the first-time traveler is presented in a powerpoint presentation and Lan Airlines will present the various options of getting to Peru. Seminars will take place Oct. 13, Burlington/Hamilton at the Royal Botanical Gardens; Oct. 14, Ottawa at the Delta Hotel and Oct. 15, Montreal at Ruby Foo's Hotel. For information and registration contact tours@tourcanvacations.com or call 416-391-0334 or 1-800-2632995, press 3 and ext. 2668.

Las Vegas
It's part convenience, party security. A new piece of travel technology is now in place at McCarran Airport's International Terminal. For some passengers, the wait at customs may disappear.It's the last thing most travelers want to deal with after a lengthy flight from a foreign country: long lines at customs.The new piece of equipment is called a Customs Kiosk. You insert your passport, look into the lens for facial recognition, hold your hand up to the fingerprint pad, and you're done.

Malaysia Airports
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has announced that Kuala Lumpur International Airport will introduce new measures to make the airport the first Next Generation Hub.Despite its growing success as Southeast Asia third largest international gateway with over 27 million passengers per year, Kuala Lumpur suffers from the disadvantage to have its passengers flow separated by two distinctive air terminal: on one side, the KLIA main terminal welcomes legacy carriers including Malaysia's flag carrier MAS; 20 km away, on the other side of the runway, the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) welcomes all low cost carriers, most of them being AirAsia operations. It already welcomes over 10 million passengers a year.With AirAsia offering more and more connections to unserved destinations in Asia and the Pacific, more passengers look also to connect in the most simple and effective manner.A KL airport's feasibility study revealed that the existing landside bus transfer service between the two terminals sees at least 500 self connect passengers per day (or 1,000 passenger movements), representing an annual market of over 180,000 passengers.However, selecting the best combination of carriers is not easy for KL airports users as there is not one single portal combining all possibilities under one roof.

Mexicana, OneWorld
Mexicana and its MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink subsidiaries officially will become part of oneworld on Nov. 10, the alliance announced yesterday. Mexicana's network spans 67 destinations in 14 countries (including 37 in Mexico). Addition of the mainline and the two subsidiaries, which will join as affiliate members, will add 26 destinations to the oneworld map--24 in Mexico along with Oakland and Edmonton. Oneworld airlines currently serve 13 Mexican destinations. Iberia has sponsored MX during its membership process. Mexicana operates 26 A320s, 21 A319s, 10 A318s, two A330s, two 767-200s and two 767-300s. MexicanaClick operates 24 F100s and six 717s, while MexicanaLink flies 12 CRJ200s. Oneworld said S7 Airlines is "on track" to join next year.

Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines announced it will expand its Florida service with the launch of nonstop seasonal service between Milwaukee and Fort Lauderdale and between Kansas City and Fort Myers. Service will run Dec. 17, 2009, through April 19, 2010. Both routes will be operated on 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft, featuring two-by-two, all-leather seating, buy-onboard Best Care Cuisine or Best Care Cafe dining, and complimentary baked-onboard chocolate chip cookies. Service will be offered daily on the Fort Lauderdale route; service on the Fort Myers route will vary, beginning with six days a week and increasing to daily during peak winter travel times. To celebrate the launch of the new service, Midwest is offering pricing beginning at USD 81 one way on the Milwaukee-Fort Lauderdale route and at USD 72 one way on the Kansas City-Fort Myers route. Tickets require a 14-day advance purchase. For more information, visit www.midwestairlines.com.

Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines is bolstering service between Quebec City and Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) with three daily roundtrip flights, building on the current seasonal and weekend schedule. The new schedule begins Nov. 26, and comes after a second successful summer season, requests from passengers and ongoing strong ticket sales in the region. Connecting flights to other Porter destinations, including Thunder Bay, Boston, Chicago and New York are also available. For more information, call 888-619-8622 or visit www.flyporter.com.

Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines is considering launching operations to a second New York City area airport after it increases frequencies on its current Newark-Toronto service. The airline intends to add extra capacity on that city pair in the next 12 months.Porter presently connects Newark with Toronto seven times during the week, with reduced weekend service.

Qantas Airways, Boeing
Australian airline, Qantas, celebrated the delivery of their 75th Boeing 737 in Auckland, New Zealand today, arriving adorned with a special decal to commemorate the milestone. The new Next-Generation 737-800 will serve the trans-Tasman route between New Zealand and Australia.Qantas named the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 in honor of Jean Batten, a spirited New Zealand aviator who broke numerous flying records in the 1930s. Qantas has been flying Boeing 737s since 1986. This latest Next-Generation 737-800 features Qantas-specified, 2.5-meter-high (8.2-feet-high) Blended Winglets, which reduce fuel burn, thereby increasing range and payload.Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce said Qantas was pleased to be able to offer customers a new trans-Tasman product.

Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines
Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines reached a codeshare deal under which S7 will place its code on RJ's thrice-weekly Amman-Moscow Domodedovo flights

Ryanair
Ryanair yesterday began offering passengers smokeless cigarettes that "deliver a small amount of nicotine through inhalation" without being lit. Packs of 10 will be available to adult passengers for EUR 6 (USD 8.82).

Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines has applied to begin flights on the Sanya-Osaka and Jinan-Shenzhen-Singapore routes from October.The carrier hopes to have a seven-time weekly service on the Jinan-Shenzhen-Singapore routes, and twice-weekly on Sanya-Osaka, says the Civil Aviation Administration of China.It plans to operate either Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft on the routes, adds the CAAC.

SkyWest Airlines
SkyWest is operating all the new city pairs with 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.It will fly twice twice-daily from Chicago to both Duluth and Asheville, as well as two times daily between Los Angeles and El Paso.From Denver, United will start a once-daily service to Louisville and two daily flights to Midland.United says its Chicago-Asheville, Chicago-Duluth, Denver-Midland and Denver-Louisville operations will be the only nonstop flights in those markets.

South Pacific Express
The Samoan airline, South Pacific Express, or SPEX, has suspended flight operations.The airline's Chief Executive Officer, John McNeely, said in a statement on Tuesday that flight operations have been placed on hold.A year ago the airline incorporated in Samoa and switched its headquarters from Pago Pago of American Samoa to Samoa's Apia.The suspension of SPEX flights leaves only Polynesian and Inter Island Air flying between Samoa and American Samoa.

Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines between Los Angeles and El Paso, a route Southwest operates using Boeing 737 aircraft, according to Innovata.

TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal pilots called a 48-hr. strike today and Friday over pay. The airline said it expected "some disruptions in its operations" but that it "has taken all measures to minimize its impact." Flights operated by its PGA Portugalia Airlines subsidiary will be unaffected and connections between Lisbon and the Azores, Madeira, Luanda and Luxembourg will be maintained, TAP said. It estimated that the stoppage will cost the company around EUR 10 million (USD 14.8 million), according to the Associated Press.

TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal will launch flights from Lisbon to Valencia (twice-daily on Oct. 25) and Algiers (thrice-weekly from Nov. 25). Five-times-weekly LIS-Casablanca service will increase to 12 on Oct. 25.

United Airlines
The final new market United plans to introduce in December is Los Angeles-El Paso, Texas.

United Airlines, Boeing
United Airlines will retire its final 737, a -300 on Oct. 28. It has operated 737s for more than 41 years, having placed the launch order for the 737-200 version in April 1965. According to an internal communication, the aircraft has been numbered UA737 for its final journey, which begins at Washington Dulles with stops at Chicago O'Hare, Denver and Los Angeles, then on to San Francisco where it will be decommissioned at UA's maintenance base before being transported to Victorville for storage.

United Airlines, SkyWest Airlines
United Airlines today announced it is launching new service from the airline's hubs in Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles beginning December 17, while adding Duluth, Minnesota; Asheville, NC; and Midland/Odessa, Texas to the company's global network.United will offer twice-daily nonstop service between Chicago and Duluth; Chicago and Asheville; Denver and Midland/Odessa; and Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas. Once-daily service will link Denver with Louisville, Kentucky. The Chicago-Asheville, Chicago-Duluth, Denver-Midland/Odessa, and Denver-Louisville services will be the only nonstop flights in those markets.All of the flights will be operated by United Express carrier SkyWest Airlines, using 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jets.Service between Duluth and Chicago will offer travelers throughout eastern Minnesota more choice to dozens of cities throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. United offers more nonstop service to and from the Windy City than any other airline.

Virgin America
Virgin America again won "Best Business/First Class" among domestic airlines in Conde Nast Traveler's 2009 Business Travel Poll. The annual survey of the magazine's business travelers ranked Virgin America as the top U.S. airline for Business/First Class service for the second consecutive year, as reported in the October issue of Conde Nast Traveler. To thank its customers, the airline is introducing more business-friendly flexible fare options on its website and the "Let's Get Down to Business" 24-hour fare sale. Virgin America's website now features new business-friendly flexible fare options, including fully refundable main cabin and fully refundable main cabin select fares, as well as a new "Instant Upgrade to Main Cabin Select" fare class. Previously, fully refundable fares were only available via the airline's call center and travel agents. The new choices give business and leisure travelers more flexible fare options, as well as access to premium seats at lower fares when their travel plans are not likely to change."Let's Get Down to Business" fares must be purchased by 7 a.m. PT on Sept. 22. Main cabin fares start as low as USD 29 from SFO to LAX and SFO to SEA. Long-haul main cabin fares start as low as USD 89 from BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, JFK to LAS and IAD to LAX. Main cabin select instant upgrade fares are available for as low as USD 199 from JFK to LAX, JFK to SFO, BOS to SFO, BOS to LAX, IAD to LAX and IAD to SFO. For more information, call 877-359-8474 or visit www.virginamerica.com.

Virgin Atlantic
VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland, and Wales, along with Virgin Atlantic Airways, brought a piece of Britain to the streets of Boston this week. Britain Calling, a one-day event at Boylston Plaza by the Prudential Center, celebrated why it's never been a better time to "Get More Britain for your Buck" with exceptional deals on airfare, hotels, and events and a historically low exchange rate.Britain is calling and Bostonians who dared to answer any of the ringing red phone boxes at Boylston Plaza and complete a simple British trivia quiz, were entered into a drawing to win a five-night trip to London on Virgin Atlantic, hotel accommodation at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, and a USD 500 gift card.The activities featured classic British icons including nine life-size red telephone boxes and a cast of historic and modern British characters (Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, a Beefeater, a British Bobby, a Queen's Guard, and more) to help Bostonians with the trivia quiz. Traditional British grub served by Virgin Atlantic cabin crew, travel giveaways, and a DJ spinning popular British tracks throughout the day kept commuters, students, shoppers, and residents entertained.

Wizz Air
Wizz Air will add a third A320 to its Sofia base in May 2010 and will launch new thrice-weekly flights to Madrid, Paris Beauvais, Frankfurt Hahn and Forli on May 22. Frequencies to Eindhoven and Valencia will increase and passenger numbers at the airport are expected to rise 37 percent over 2009.

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