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.
The addition to its fleet of a fourth 767 aircraft enabled LOT Polish Airlines to carry a record number of passenger in 1995. The airline flew a 1.9 billion passengers for the year, an increase of 16% over the 1.58 million flown in 1994. It was the fourth consecutive year that the carrier's traffic increased. LOT had a 70% load factor for the year, up from 67% in 1994. Of the nearly two million passengers the airline carried, 1.57 million flew LOT to international destinations.
Air Seychelles has leased a new 767-300ER from International Lease Finance Corp. The GE-powered aircraft will be delivered in December to the carrier, which leased a 767-200ER from ILFC in July 1989. The new aircraft will replace an ILFC 757-200ER, increasing capacity.
Air France is offering what it described as its lowest discounts ever from the U.S. to Paris. The reduced fares, available from every U.S. gateway except Newark and New York Kennedy, range from $316 to $428 roundtrip. The tickets carry several restrictions and must be purchased by Jan. 31.
The Travel Funds Protection Plan, an escrow agreement endorsed by the American Society of Travel Agents, has been approved as a consumer protection escrow plan under California law. The approval means tour operators participating in the TFPP no longer need to establish a bond or trust account in California. The escrow agreement is between wholesale tour operators and the Travel Services Division of First of America Bank.
Swissair traffic rose 8.3% for 1995, compared with 1994, on a 7.6% increase in capacity. Passenger traffic rose 9.3%. The carrier logged 3.5 billion revenue ton-kilometers on 5.1 billion available ton-kilometers. The overall load factor grew 0.5 points to 69.4%, while the passenger load factor increased one point to 64.4%. The load factor was a record for the carrier, as were the 8.6 million passengers Swissair carried for the year, up 3.2% from 1994 levels.
St. Petersburg, Russia, government officials are planning to develop resorts and recreational areas along the Finnish Gulf Coast. Reports from Russia say the officials envision tax, visa, customs and investment privileges for investors who want to participate in developing leisure areas. The Kurortny District Government is conducting a financial and marketing survey for development that will be financed in part by the Russian government.
Southwest intends to expand its new Florida service in May with the delivery of two new 737s. From Orlando to Nashville, it will increase from one daily flight to three; Orlando-Fort Lauderdale from five to seven, and Orlando-New Orleans from one to three. Also in May, as previously announced, it will add Birmingham and Louisville to its Orlando destinations.
Baltia Air Lines is aiming to inaugurate service between New York and St. Petersburg, Russia, late this spring, according to Igor Dmitrowski, Baltia's president and chairman. DOT granted tentative approval this week for Baltia to operate the service (DAILY, Jan. 24).
National Transportation Safety Board Member John Goglia's comment on learning that FAA conducted a news briefing on board recommendations on air traffic control system outages before the board even voted on them: "It appears that FAA has clearly transcended the electronic age and moved into clairvoyance....I think they would be well served if they could apply some of that clearly unusual talent toward addressing the problems of the ATC outages. Maybe they could predict them so they could be prepared when they occur."
