International Airlines Travel Agent Network's board of directors has agreed in principle to expand its accreditation, endorsement and related services now offered to full-service travel agents to include agencies that specialize in cruises. The program is anticipated to be ready by the second quarter of 1996.
Delta is offering student discount fares as low as $138 roundtrip in the U.S. and to five Canadian destinations. Students who call Delta between Jan. 4 and March 4 can receive student select savings certificates. Only one request per student will be accepted. The "extra credit" fares are valid for travel Jan. 15- March 31.
The U.S. aerospace industry "rebounded sharply" this year from its years-long slump as the backlog of on-order large commercial transport aircraft increased by $3.4 billion to $71 billion through the first three quarters, Don Fuqua, president of the Aerospace Industries Association, said yesterday in Washington. Airlines ordered 215 commercial jet transports through September, compared with 79 in all of 1994, he said in a yearend address. "We do not, however, expect an immediate boom in transport production.
High hotel occupancy rates have led several large hotel chains to consider charging a penalty fee of up to $50 for guests checking out earlier than planned. Hyatt and Westin hotels will begin charging the fee in a few weeks, and others are considering imposing a charge. The new policy has raised the ire of the Business Travel Contractors Corporation (BTCC), which says business travelers have little control over schedules and already are paying increasingly higher room rates.
Peruvian flag carrier Faucett is challenging Fine Airlines' assertion that a Peruvian investigation cleared it of charges that it transported arms to Ecuador early this year during the Ecuador-Peru border war. Embroiled in an ongoing battle with the government of Peru over the charges, Fine filed this month an English translation of the findings of the "Eleventh Public Prosecutor's Office in and for the Province of Lima," which the carrier maintained absolved it of wrongdoing (DAILY, Dec. 7).
American Society of Travel Agents has appointed a subcommittee of its Aviation Committee to prepare policy recommendations for the board of directors on whether to maintain or reverse its opposition to the mileage- based corporate fare program proposed by Business Travel Contractors Corp. Several ASTA members have asked the association to take another look at the proposal, and the board will do so in March. (Travel and tourism news below)
United has debuted its World Wide Web home page, found at http://www.ual.com. The Web site includes an e-mail area, and United plans to incorporate its personal travel planning software, United Connection, as well. The site includes the usuals - frequent flier information, press releases and information on destinations, aircraft seating and airport maps. It also includes a word search function.
British Airways received a record number of entries in its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards program, which highlights tourism projects that promote natural and cultural environments. BA received nominations for 121 projects from 44 countries, a 25% increase from last year. The award will be presented in February.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Balance Sheet As of September 30, 1995 ASSETS Undisbursed Balances: Available for Investment $ 753.18 TOTAL UNDISBURSED BALANCE (Cash in Account) $ 753.18 Receivables: Interest Receivables $ 185,284,072.86 TOTAL RECEIVABLES $ 185,284,072.86
Hotel News Roundup: Radisson Hotels Worldwide has added seven hotels in Israel through an agreement linking its European partner Radisson SAS Hotels Worldwide with the Moriah Hotel Group of Israel. The new hotels are in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Eilat, Zichron Yaacov and the Dead Sea resort area...Holiday Inn Worldwide opened a record four hotels in its Asia Pacific division in October, with facilities in India and Pakistan and two in Indonesia.
Food and Drug Administration this week ordered Las Vegas casinos to stop using outdoor laser displays following numerous reports of "illumination" of aircraft cockpits, including one instance in which a Southwest pilot was temporarily blinded (DAILY, Nov. 21). "All outdoor laser displays within a radius of 20 miles of any of the operating airports in Clark, County, Nev., are required to cease operation" until they comply with interim guidelines issued by FAA, the FDA said.
The City of Phoenix is supporting British Airways' application for authority to operate scheduled combination service between London and Phoenix. "Among the 20 largest U.S.
America West Vacations packages can be found on Worldspan Tour Source, the electronic tour and vacation booking system for travel agents. The system is available to about 50,000 travel agents.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Income Statement October 1, 1994 - September 30, 1995 Current Month RECEIPTS (Revenues) Revenues: Excise Taxes (Transferred from General Fund): Liquid Fuel other than Gas $ 15,866,000.00 Transportation by Air, Seats, Berths, etc. 407,094,000.00 Use of International Travel Facilities 22,722,000.00
Kiwi is offering its KiwiPack package delivery service free to customers Dec. 15 through Dec. 25. Customers need only to check in a package at the ticket counter at least one hour before departure and arrange for it to be picked up in baggage claim at the destination airport. The offer is limited to two packages per person. KiwiPack normally costs $35 for packages up to 51 pounds and $50 for packages 51-70 pounds.
American has been named the best airline for domestic flights by readers of Business Traveler International magazine for the sixth year in a row. The magazine targets frequent-flying executives.
AirTran Airways reported that its traffic increased by 539% last month over November 1994, to 56.9 million revenue passenger miles, on 393.2% more capacity, yielding a 13.6-point load factor improvement, to 59.7%. The carrier transported 65,748 passengers, a 543.1% increase for the month. AirTran operates from Orlando to 17 cities using a fleet of seven 737-200s, and expects to take delivery of three more of the aircraft in mid-January. On Feb.
Many airline experts predict a consolidation of the U.S. airline industry in 1996, but "that's not going to happen," says Paine Webber airline analyst Samuel Buttrick. The only possible combination he sees next year is a merger of Northwest and Continental. Such a union would add a fourth airline to the ranks of the "Big Three," but it would not trigger other transactions.
British Airways unveiled a new management structure that places more responsibility on a smaller group of the company's top officers who will report to Chief Executive-designate Robert Ayling. Under the new scheme, announced yesterday, 11 senior officers will report to Ayling. The move streamlines the old structure, under which 25 top officers had direct access to Chairman Colin Marshall. "This new structure frees Bob to be more of a visionary, to get out and see the troops," a BA spokesman said. The changes go into effect Jan.
Carnival Air Lines traffic jumped 41% in November over the same month last year, to 156 million revenue passenger miles, on 33% more capacity. The load factor improved from 62% to 66%. A major reason for the traffic increase, a carrier spokesman said, is the increase in its fleet from one 254-seat A300 last November to the current six, bringing its total fleet to 22 aircraft. Carnival also added several routes during the winter and operated extra sections from Florida to Nassau. Nov. 1995 Nov. 1994 11 Mths 1995 11 Mths 1994
Atlantic City will have a much-needed new look for those entering by the main entrance to the city through several projects to recapture lost tourism dollars. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) awarded contracts this week for construction of a $90 million roadway project for the primary entrance, to be completed in mid-1997. The project includes landscaping, a park, a fountain and a 60-foot lighthouse-style tower and boardwalk. At night, a computerized light show will greet visitors.
American Society of Travel Agents intends to put more resources into advertising the benefits of using an ASTA travel agent in 1996, and will seek more partnerships with suppliers, according to ASTA President Jeanne Epping. In a news conference Tuesday to highlight the results of ASTA's board meeting, Epping said ASTA's recently completed 1995 Membership Needs Assessment Survey found 73% of agents believe ASTA should focus its resources on building consumer awareness of the benefits of using a travel agent.
Travel Industry Association is predicting strong, if not record- breaking, travel this winter. Winter vacation travel will flourish, and U.S. citizens will take 145 million vacation trips, up 5% from last winter, with 78% traveling by automobile, TIA found in research conducted for the American Automobile Association. Christmas holiday travelers will be out in record numbers - TIA expects more than 38 million, with 29.8 million of those taking to the roads.
Air Transport Association Cargo Traffic October, 10 Months 1995 Revenue Ton-Miles (000) October October % 1995 1994 Change Domestic Freight 731,457 734,080 -0.4 Mail 148,423 145,307 2.1 Total 879,880 879,387 0.1 International
Qantas Airways and National Jet Systems signed a 10-year agreement yesterday with CAE Electronics Pl for use of the first de Havilland Dash 8- 100 simulator to be based in the Asia-Pacific region. Qantas's partners, Eastern Australia Airlines, Sunstate and Southern Australia Airlines, operate 13 Dash 8-100s. National Jet Systems, an independent operator, flies four of them and will take delivery of four more next year. Operators in China, New Zealand and South Africa have expressed interest in using the simulator, Qantas said.
