Italy's tourism industry continues to generate twice the income of its food and garment industries, while a favorable exchange rate is fueling increased travel to the country. A need for improved basic services accounts for the influx of hotel chains and travel companies and the rise in conventions. In the first half of 1995, Italy, for the first time, matched France in inbound tourist receipts totaling about $13 billion, according to the Italian Department of Tourism. The devaluation of the lira also is prompting more Italians to vacation within the country.
U.S. Major and National Carriers Labor Expenses Third Quarter 1995 % Of Total Operating Systemwide Expenses America West $ 91,368,605 25.54 American 1,215,799,000 33.61 Continental 264,518,000 22.55 Delta 930,460,000 32.12
Radisson Hotels Worldwide has filed a lawsuit in a St. Paul, Minn., court against Westin Hotels and Resorts, and its chief executive Juergen Bartels, for patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation. Radisson claims Westin and Bartels copied features of Radisson's "Look to Book" travel agent incentive program that awards points for each booking in Westin's comparable Westin Connections program. Bartels was president of Radisson's parent company, Carlson Hospitality, when the program was being developed.
Association of Flight Attendants at America West intend to conduct informational picketing tomorrow at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for being denied pay from the AWArd program, an employee incentive payment based on 1995 profits. The AFA complains that the flight attendants are the only workers who will not receive the pay, and are the only employees represented by a union, but currently without a contract. The union says the company is seeking concessions in 1996 and beyond in exchange for a share in the profits.
Air Canada's traffic grew 13.9% in December, compared with December 1994. The airline generated 1.3 billion revenue passenger miles on a 9.9% rise in capacity. The load factor gained 2.1 percentage points to 58.1%. The growth was fueled by international traffic, which rose 17.6%. For 1995, traffic was up 11.7%, compared with 1994, on 12% more capacity. The airline flew 16.7 billion RPMs, and its load factor slipped 0.2 points to 63%. The annual growth was split between an 8.7% rise in Canadian traffic and a 13.6% increase in international RPMs.
Travelers gave high ratings to their last vacation experience in a survey grading on fun, overall value, lack of hassles and level of service. The Travel Industry Association survey found the highest rating went to the "fun" category, which equates to an A, while the lack of hassles received the lowest score, a B+. The other two categories scored an A-. TIA said women tend to rate value for the money and level of service higher than men, but there was little difference between the sexes in rating a vacation as fun.
Atlas Air said yesterday it has contracted to acquire six 747-200s now being flown by Thai Airways International. The GE-powered aircraft will be converted to freighters and delivered to Atlas over the next 18 months, with up to four to be delivered this year. The transaction, in conjunction with Langdon Asset Management, also involves the purchase of Thai's spare engines and parts.
The U.K.'s Royal Mail service expanded its contract with EVA Airways for letter and package delivery from the U.K. to cover new destinations, including Taipei, Bangkok, Auckland and Saigon, the carrier said. The airline won its first Royal Mail contract in March 1994 for service between the U.K. and Sydney. Shipments on EVA from London Heathrow have increased from an average of 13 tons per month in January 1995 to more than 48 tons in December 1995, the carrier said.
Millon Air objected at DOT to Southern Air Transport's request to serve a number of intermediate and beyond points in Latin America on its U.S.-Chile operations, part of Southern Air's bid to renew its all-cargo authority in the market (DAILY, Jan. 11).
Venezuela's tourism development agency expects an increase in tourists in 1996 over 1995, when 428,000 visitors traveled to the country and spent an estimated $600 million. Eco-tourism and adventure travel are the top attractions for Europeans, according to U.S. government reports on tourism trends. But treks to rivers, waterfalls and areas populated by indigenous tribes are usually through national parks or environmentally protected areas, where modern hotels are not allowed.
Continental has abandoned plans to operate daily service between Newark and Munich during the summer season. The carrier still intends to operate twice-daily Newark-Frankfurt service. The decision reduces Continental's request for Germany summer frequencies to 14 from 21, leaving 309 bids from all U.S. carriers for third- and fourth-freedom flights. This still is 33 more than the 276 frequencies available in the market (DAILY, Dec. 12). (Docket OST-95-813)
The Airports Council International-North America in the coming months will focus on educating the aviation community, government and the public about the challenges and pressures facing airports and on the need for more financial resources to address them, the association's new president said yesterday. In a meeting with reporters, ACI-NA President David Plavin said he will try to change the tone of the debate in Washington, particularly between airports and airlines.
U.S. Major and National Carriers Maintenance Expenses Third Quarter 1995 % Of Total Operating Systemwide Expenses America West $ 32,807,659 9.17 American 356,190,000 9.85 Continental 142,246,000 12.12 Delta 250,513,000 8.65
ValuJet will launch service March 1 to New Orleans from its second largest hub, Washington Dulles, offering one daily flight with fares starting at $99 one way for tickets purchased 21 days in advance. Also on March 1, the carrier will begin operating four daily nonstops from Atlanta to Charlotte and three daily flights to Pittsburgh from Atlanta. It will offer its no- frills service in the markets with tariffs about 65% lower than currently published unrestricted fares. With a 21-day advance purchase, fares start at $39 to Charlotte and $59 to Pittsburgh.
Pilot representatives of several unions and airlines believe FAA's proposed rules on flight and duty time limits fall short in providing enough rest. Officials from the Air Line Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association, Southwest Pilots Association, Teamsters Airline Division, Independent Pilots Association (IPA) and pilots from Emery Worldwide met this week in Louisville to study the proposals.
Virgin Atlantic Airways says it is the first airline to offer free Eurostar rail tickets to frequent flyer members who cash in their miles. Virgin Freeway members can travel roundtrip from London to Paris or Brussels on Eurostar in coach class by redeeming 15,000 miles, or in first class for 20,000 miles. First-time passengers in Virgin's Upper Class earn enough miles for a Eurostar ticket with one roundtrip flight because of a 25,000-mile bonus for the first roundtrip purchased.
Continental's hopes for a strong first quarter are supported by bookings and new technology. Bookings are about the same as last year's at this time, but with much less capacity in the air, the airline should be more efficient and profitable. Technology helped the carrier get back on its feet after - and minimize financial consequences of - this month's East Coast blizzard. President and Chief Executive Gordon Bethune said Continental was fully operational 18 hours after the storm, a feat that would have taken days before.
Undersecretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism Greg Farmer went to Capitol Hill yesterday seeking support for a public/private tourism promotion agency - and more funding for his own - armed with new statistics that show the U.S. is falling further behind. The World Travel and Tourism Organization said yesterday in Madrid that Spain has surpassed the U.S. as the second most popular tourist destination, behind France. According to Farmer, Spain, with an annual tourism promotion budget of $100 million, leveraged publicity from the 1992 Summer Olympics. The U.S.
Hainan Phoenix, a joint venture 70% owned by the Phoenix Information Systems Corp. and 30% by China Hainan Airlines, received Chinese government approval to operate a computer reservations system for airlines, hotels and travel agencies. The company said it is the only commercial entity to receive formal approval from China to operate a CRS. The joint venture has installed reservations terminals in Xiamen, Wuhan, Beijing and Haikou, and it plans to expand to all 15 cities served by China Hainan Airlines.
Some at Air France are less than thrilled with special adviser Stephen Wolf's departure for USAir. Optimists consider USAir a potential North American partner. But others worry about a man with so intimate a knowledge of Air France at the helm of a sister company of British Airways. Wolf attended most weekly meetings of Air France's "strategy committee" and had lunch regularly with Chairman Christian Blanc.
American Society of Travel Agents has scheduled specialty courses for marketing to families and mature adults. The Family Travel Certification program, sponsored by Premier Cruise Line, will be held at the Harvey Hotel DFW Airport in Dallas Feb. 26-28. The core course convenes Feb. 23-24. The Mature Adult Travel Certification Program, sponsored by Delta Queen Steamboat Company, will be held at the Crown Plaza in Houston March 6-8, and the core course convenes March 4-5. The core courses are sponsored by Budget Rent a Car.
Dalfort Aviation, the Love Field-based repair station, is expanding beyond its traditional third party maintenance business into joint ventures with startup airlines and leasing older aircraft that it has refurbished, Chief Executive Officer Bruce Leadbetter, told The DAILY yesterday. The first joint venture with a startup, Air 4000 of Myrtle Beach, is under way, Leadbetter said. Air 4000 has filed a Form 401 with the Transportation Department and an application for a Part 121 certificate with FAA, he said.
Air France has retimed the departure of its Concorde service from New York to Paris. Beginning March 31, the daily flight will leave Kennedy Airport at 8 a.m. instead of 1 p.m. Passengers will arrive in Paris at 5:45 p.m., in time to connect with other European flights.
American Express Travel Management Services has reached an agreement with Symantec Delrina Group and Wallace Computer Services to provide businesses with an automated travel expense reporting system. The partnership was formed to give companies support for integrating Expense Manager, American Express' new software, into their systems.
