Travel Update-Weekly Edition

May 1st, 2008

Airline News

 

Air New Zealand - Two weeks of strike action being threatened by Air New Zealand engineers could severely disrupt travel plans. Aviation engineer members of the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA) and the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) are threatening strike action from May 9 over a pay dispute. The unions represent around 1500 engineers. EMPU national secretary Andrew Little said the workers were seeking a 5.8 percent pay rise. 

 

Alaska Airlines - Alaska Airlines will begin charging passengers $25 for a second checked bag beginning May 21, 2008. First class passengers, Mileage Plan members and customers on flights within the state of Alaska will be exempt from the new fee. Additional fee changes that will be introduced on May 21 include an increase from $25 to $50 for overweight baggage; transporting pets in the cabin one-way will increase from $75 to $100; the unaccompanied minor fee will increase from $30 to $75 for nonstop flights and from $60 to $75 for connecting flights. In addition, if you book a ticket through reservations, the fee will be $15 instead of the current $10 charge.

 

American - American Airlines on Monday became the latest carrier to announce that it would require passengers to pack light, or pay up. The nation's biggest airline said it must charge passengers $25 for checking a second bag to help offset rising fuel costs. The fee will apply to travelers who buy domestic economy-class tickets on or after May 12, American said. It will also affect passengers on the American Eagle commuter line.

 

American Airlines has announced plans to assist passengers originally ticketed to travel on Eos. While AA will not be accepting Eos ticket stock, AA is prepared to waive advance purchase requirements on published fares. This assistance is available through Friday, May 2 for customers who had purchased tickets on Eos on or before April 28, 2008 for travel between April 28 – May 19, 2008.  The passenger must provide an Eos ticket number. Advance purchase requirements are waived on AA fares in the same market as ticketed, on the dates originally ticketed. For passengers who had already started their travels, any requirement to travel round-trip on otherwise-applicable AA fares is waived.  Customers may opt to use AA flights to/from LHR in lieu of STN; customers ticketed to/from EWR may use replacement flights to/from JFK.  

 

British Airways - British Airways plans cooperation with American and Continental. British Airways has issued a statement saying it is "exploring opportunities" with two U.S. airlines. In a brief statement yesterday, it said "BA is exploring opportunities for cooperation with American Airlines and Continental Airlines. Further details will be announced when appropriate." The airline refused to disclose any further details about the talks, but its statement has led to industry speculation of a renewed attempt by BA to merge with American Airlines. BA had previously tried to merge with American, but the move was rejected by competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. It also believed that Continental might be about to join the Oneworld alliance, of which BA and American are already partners. BA's statement follows announcement of a merger between Northwest and Delta Airlines last month. The two airlines plan to form a new airline under the Delta name. BA shares rose almost 5 percent Thursday as investors reacted positively to the news.

 

Continental - In a message to employees on April 27, Continental Airlines said it has decided not to merge with another carrier at this time. Continental had reportedly been in advanced merger talks with United. “In the current industry environment, the best course for Continental is to not merge with another airline at this time,” said CEO Larry Kellner and President Jeff Smisek in the letter to employees. “The board very carefully considered all the risks and benefits of a merger with another airline, and determined that the risks of a merger at this time outweigh the potential rewards, as compared to Continental's prospects on a standalone basis. “We have significant cultural, operational and financial strengths compared to the rest of the industry, and we want to protect and enhance those strengths, which we believe would be placed at risk in a merger with another carrier in today's environment.”

 

Continental has raised its domestic change fees from $100 to $150, effective for tickets issued on or after April 24, 2008. International fees will vary based on the fare.

 

EasyJet - A Manchester-Alicante service is to be started by EasyJet in September. The airline is to fly four times a week on the route during the winter, starting from September 29. Fares lead-in at £27.99 one way including tax. EasyJet expects to carry almost 60,000 passengers on the route in the first 12 months of operation.

EOS -  After filing for bankruptcy over the weekend, Eos ceased operations on April 28. The business-class-only airline, which operated transatlantic flights linking New York and London Stansted, announced on April 19 that the airline was to receive $50 million in financing from an existing investor, but the deal fell through. Eos said last week that the money would help Eos become profitable in 2009. Eos has $70 million in assets and owes $34.9 million, according to Chapter 11 filing documents. Servisair, a ground service provider at airports, holds the largest unsecured claim against Eos, $744,000. Delta, United and Mexicana also are creditors.

 

Frontier Airlines - Frontier Airlines is leaving Memphis International Airport. You may remember, two weeks ago the carrier announced reorganizes under a Chapter 11 petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Frontier is cutting its service in Memphis starting in the middle of June. Frontier started regular flights from Memphis to Denver, Las Vegas and Orlando last May. Flights to Las Vegas and Orlando were cut in the fall. The airline is also canceling services to Sioux City, IA, Jacksonville, FL, Little Rock, AR, and Tulsa, OK, along with Memphis.

 

Mexicana - Mexicana airlines will suspend its flights in and out of Bakersfield beginning later this week. A Meadows Field Airport spokeswoman said Mexicana is blaming high fuel costs for shutting down the flights.  The airline says suspension is only for 30 days. Mexicana has three flights weekly from Bakersfield to Guadalajara. The suspension begins this Sunday. 

 

Nationwide Airlines -  Nationwide Airlines has suspended all its flights due to financial difficulties, it was announced this week. The South African budget carrier which operates around 50 domestic and international flights, said yesterday that it had not been able to recover after its entire fleet was briefly grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority over safety concerns in November last year. This followed an investigation after an engine fell off one of its planes shortly after take-off from Cape Town airport. The airline operated four times weekly from Gatwick to Johannesburg.

 

RyanAir - Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (April 28) announced that it will continue its drive to increase the number of passengers checking in on-line by increasing baggage and airport check-in charges on May 5. From this date Ryanair’s checked in baggage fee will rise from €9 to €10 while airport check-in fees will increase from €4 to €5. Ryanair encourages passengers to avoid these charges altogether by travelling with our 10kg hand luggage allowance and checking in on-line. Passengers who book their flights in the next week (before May 5) will avoid these charges. 

 

United - United Airlines and US Airways are in very advanced talks and expect to announce within weeks that they are combining, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday. Putting the two carriers together would create an airline that would jockey with a combined Delta-Northwest for the title of the world's largest airline. United and US Airways stepped up their talks after Continental Airlines Inc. caught United off guard by deciding not to pursue a deal with the UAL Corp.-owned carrier.

 

US Airways - Due to the rising cost of fuel, US Airways is increasing the change fee on non-refundable fares by $50 per ticket. This increase is effective for all tickets issued on or after Tuesday, April 29, 2008. The new change fee will be $150 for US Airways flights between the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America.  The fee will be $250 for transatlantic/transpacific flights originating from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean or Latin America unless otherwise specified in fare rules.  The change fee for transatlantic/transpacific flights originating from any other location will remain unchanged. Tickets issued prior to April 29, 2008 are not affected by the increase and are subject to the change fee at the time of ticketing.

 

US Airways is refuting a Las Vegas newspaper report that says the airline will close its hub there. In a Wednesday story, the Las Vegas Sun writes US Airways "has notified its workers that it will discontinue its hub operation in Las Vegas and curtail the number of flights here." But, US Airways spokesman Phil Gee states that's not entirely the case. He acknowledges US Airways will make some cuts at Las Vegas, but he says Las Vegas will keep its place as a "secondary hub" for the carrier. Gee notes the carrier has called Las Vegas a secondary hub since the US Airways-America West merger in 2005.

 

 

 

Airport/Destination News

 

Austin - To accommodate more low-cost carriers, Austin-Bergstrom International will unveil a new terminal on May 1. The South Terminal, refurbished from an abandoned military building, is located across the airfield from the main terminal and will feature three gates. It will initially serve discounter VivaAerobus, partly owned by Ryanair. The Mexican airline will start two daily flights each to Cancun and Monterrey, Mexico, on May 1. Funjet, which offers charter flights to Mexico, will also start flying from the terminal later this year. In a lease agreement, GE Commercial Aviation Services will manage the terminal, with its own parking lot, customs and concessions. "It's a new business model for us. It's a good way to look at how transportation is hitting totally different targets," airport spokesman Jim Halbrook says.

 

Baltimore/Washington - Baltimore/Washington has installed new flight-tracker and weather-display monitors throughout its main terminal. The monitors, located alongside other flight-information displays, provide a real-time, visual image of air traffic and weather conditions. Flights are represented on the map by plane icons with their flight number. Arriving flights are shown in red, and departures are in blue.

 

China - Security has been substantially increased ahead of the Olympics, with foreigners reporting random ID checks, as well as increased security checks at hotels, entertainment areas and rented homes. Staff at the International School of Beijing have been advised to carry identification at all times and be prepared for breathalyzer tests to be administered randomly on the streets.

Johnstown's Airport - Runway repair will halt flights at Johnstown’s Airport Starting next Monday and continuing until June 5th. During that period, United Express flights won’t operate. Halting flights will be necessary because the repair work involves resurfacing the intersection of the two main runways. Passengers already booked on affected flights will be rebooked on flights departing from the Altoona-Blair County Airport or the airport of the customer’s choice. United Express will contact those passengers. Courtesy van service from Johnstown Airport to Altoona Airport will be provided free of charge to customers who require ground transportation. Vans will depart Johnstown Monday through Friday at 4:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Saturdays 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and Sundays at 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in time for Altoona flights. The vans will then return to Johnstown with passengers from Washington Dulles International, departing Altoona approximately 15 minutes after the flight arrives.

 

New York/LaGuardia - Passengers at New York LaGuardia can now charge their electronic gadgets and laptops at its free charging stations. LaGuardia's 12 "Power Poles" are located beyond the security checkpoints throughout the Central Terminal building, which serves about half of the airport's passengers. The poles are 8½-foot-tall stations wired with four outlets and have counters to place laptop computers. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey installed the poles at New York JFK in 2006 and plans to introduce them at Newark Liberty, possibly later in the year. Samsung Electronics, whose ads are prominently featured on the poles, paid for the program.

 

Pittsburgh International - The Transportation Security Administration opened self-select lanes last week at Pittsburgh International. Passengers can select from one of two sets of lanes in Pittsburgh's Landside Terminal, depending on their travel needs and level of familiarity with the security process. The expert lanes are for the business traveler who flies frequently. The casual/family/special-assistance lanes are for passengers who are somewhat familiar with the procedures, elderly passengers, passengers with children or strollers and people in need of special assistance. The TSA program, aimed at unclogging checkpoint congestion, has been introduced at 11 other airports since beginning at Salt Lake City earlier this year.

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

State Dept Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see  http://travel.state.gov/travel

 

Bolivia - The U.S. Embassy in La Paz issued the following Warden Message on 28 April 2008: "This Warden message is being issued to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Bolivia that there is a higher potential for civil unrest, demonstrations, and blockades from Thursday, 1 May, to Sunday, 4 May, when an autonomy referendum is scheduled in Santa Cruz. "The Regional Security Office (RSO) La Paz is urging all official American employees and their family members to take extra precautions over these dates and is not authorizing travel (overland) outside La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz from 1 May to 4 May, 2008. "Demonstrations or large gatherings may take place in major cities on 1 May and 4 May. American citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational between security forces, demonstrators, and bystanders, and escalate into violence. Americans are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any protests. If you find yourself in the vicinity of a large gathering, it is recommended you leave the area immediately for your own safety. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events. "In addition to civil unrest in cities, it is not uncommon for roads between cities to be blocked by protesters or marchers. You could become a convenient target of opportunity. Please note that the police have limited capabilities outside major cities and communication is poor. "The police will be on a heightened alert for potential civil unrest. Traffic is expected to be congested throughout all major cities. Because the police will be involved in addressing potential civil unrest, there will be minimal municipal patrols. As a result, you can expect criminals to take advantage of large crowds and use ruse or diversionary tactics to prey on potential street victims. Pick-pocketing, purse snatching, and car thefts are the most common street crimes during such periods. Everyone is advised to limit their cash on hand, unnecessary credit cards, jewelry, and other portable valuables."

 

Chad - This Travel Warning is updated to note that the Department of State has authorized the return of U.S. Embassy non-emergency personnel and adult family members to Chad.  The Department of State continues to urge American citizens to defer travel to Chad and for American citizens in Chad to exercise caution.  This supersedes the Travel Warning for Chad dated March 25, 2008.  American citizens should defer all travel to Chad due to the unstable security situation throughout the country.  Although the Government of Chad announced on March 16 that the state of emergency and night curfew had been lifted, the Department of State advises Americans in Chad to avoid all travel after dark and exercise caution at all other times, bearing in mind the political situation remains fluid and potentially dangerous.  The Department of State authorized the return to Chad of non-emergency Embassy personnel and adult family members of Embassy personnel on May 2, 2008.  However, family members of Embassy personnel under the age of 21 still are not authorized to reside in Chad.  American citizen services are available at the Embassy, but visa services are suspended until further notice. U.S. citizens in Chad, particularly those outside N’Djamena, should be aware that the U.S. Embassy cannot guarantee that the same options and level of evacuation assistance that existed in February 2008 will be available should the situation again deteriorate.  The Embassy strongly recommends that U.S. citizens be prepared to implement their personal evacuation or safe haven plans on short notice should the situation warrant.

 

China - This Travel Alert updates U.S. citizens about security issues in China and advises American citizens traveling or residing there to be alert to their surroundings and exercise caution at all times.  This Travel Alert expires on October 31, 2008. Any large-scale public event such as the upcoming Olympic Games may present an attractive target for terrorists.  There is a heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within China in the near future.  In light of these security concerns, U.S. citizens traveling in China are advised to use caution and to be alert to their surroundings at all times, including at hotels, in restaurants, on public transportation and where there are demonstrations and other large-scale public gatherings.  Consistent with our standard advice, American citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations. In accordance with these security concerns, Chinese authorities have increased security in China's airports during recent months.  For example, Chinese airport authorities recently implemented tighter restrictions on taking liquids, aerosols, or gels aboard flights in carry-on baggage.  Such restrictions may apply to food, cosmetics, toiletries and medicine.  Travelers should contact their air carrier before their flight to determine the precise regulation in place. American citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.  For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens planning travel to China should regularly check the Department’s Country Specific Information for China at travel.state.gov for the latest safety and security information, including the updated Olympics Fact Sheet, as well as the U.S. Embassy Beijing website at beijing.usembassy-china.org.  Americans planning travel to China are advised to register their presence with the U.S. Embassy at travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

 

China continues to tighten its visa policy in advance of the Beijing Olympic Games. In many cases, Chinese Consulates are requiring additional back-up documentation such as proof of hotel stay, flight itineraries, proof of previous visa, host business or Foreign Ministry invitation letters from China, and certificates of financial guarantee. These requirements are changing almost daily and are not uniform from city to city. These changes are also being immediately implemented without advance notice or grace period, so that items already in progress may be affected. In some cases; we are seeing that China may deny visa requests to certain foreign nationals residing in the U.S., and will refer the individual to their home country for application. We recommend that travelers verify the latest information prior to submitting documents for processing. 

 

Haiti - This Travel Warning is being issued to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Haiti until further notice.  The civil unrest of early April has subsided, but the political and economic conditions that precipitated these events have not been entirely resolved.  Conditions may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency services.  Americans are also reminded of ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom.  This supersedes the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on April 11, 2008. In early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely travel until calm was restored.  Because political and economic conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been resolved, American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti. The absence of an effective police force in many areas of Haiti means that, should protests reignite, there is potential for looting, the erection of intermittent roadblocks set by armed protestors or by the police, and an increased possibility of random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed robbery and assault.  Americans in Haiti should practice good personal security, take commonsense precautions, and avoid any event where crowds may congregate.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent.  Americans should closely monitor news media and the U.S. Embassy’s website at: http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information .html.

 

Sierra Leone - The U.S. Embassy in Freetown issued the following Warden Message on 25 April 2008: "On 23 April, there were clashes between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and an estimated 500 youths in Koidu Town, Kono District (eastern Sierra Leone), over a disputed mining site. During the confrontation several arrests were made and police were eventually able to disperse the crowd by firing tear gas and several live rounds of ammunition into the air. No casualties were reported. "Currently the situation is calm, but tensions remain high in the area. A curfew (2000 to 0800 local time) has been implemented and the SLP has been deployed to protect the police station, mining companies and their interests, and other buildings and offices that were targeted. "American citizens are urged to exercise caution when traveling in the Kono District due to the high tension and potential for sudden disturbances. American citizens traveling by vehicle are also advised to maintain an ample supply of fuel as periodic shortages in the region have been reported." 

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched Checkpoint Evolution, an initiative designed to create a calmer atmosphere at airport security checkpoints. The DHS introduced Checkpoint Evolution at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) on April 28. Checkpoint Evolution measures include soothing music and pastel lighting at checkpoints, easier-to-read signs and Plexiglas conveyor belts so passengers can see their luggage at all times. The DHS said that a calmer environment will enable screeners to do their job better. New technology is expected to help, too. The DHS said a new security imaging system will utilize millimeter-wave technology to detect weapons hidden under clothing. The technology is supposed to detect plastic and liquid explosives, as well as metal objects, hidden under clothes. Also, the DHS is providing airlines more flexibility to allow passengers to check in remotely who have been unable to do so because they have a name similar to someone on a watch list. Each airline will now be able to create a system to verify and securely store a passenger's date of birth to clear up watch list misidentifications. Additionally, the DHS is accepting more types of identification at checkpoints in the U.S. Beginning May 26, federal or state-issued photo ID will be accepted if it contains name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature.

 

Previous Updates

April 24, 2008
April 17, 2008
April 10, 2008
April 3, 2008
March 27, 2008
March 20, 2008
March 13, 2008
March 6, 2008
February 28, 2008
February 21, 2008
February 14, 2008
February 8, 2008
February 1, 2008
January 24, 2008
January 17, 2008
January 10, 2008
January 3, 2008
December 27, 2007
December 20, 2007
December 13, 2007
December 5, 2007
November 29, 2007
November 21, 2007
November 15, 2007
November 8, 2007
November 1, 2007
October 25, 2007
October 18, 2007
October 11, 2007
October 4, 2007
September 27, 2007
September 20, 2007
September 13, 2007
September 6, 2007
August 30, 2007
August 23, 2007
August 16, 2007
August 9, 2007
August 2, 2007
July 26, 2007
July 20, 2007
July 12, 2007