AirTran announced its proposed schedule for service to Aruba. Beginning Dec. 19, AirTran would fly one round-trip flight between Atlanta and Aruba every Saturday. On Feb. 13, AirTran would add Saturday-only service from Orlando. Both routes are pending government approval.

Continental announced passengers in Philadelphia who go to the airline's Web site within 24 hours of their flights can get their boarding passes e-mailed to cell phones or personal digital assistants, like a BlackBerry or Palm. The paperless boarding pass has an encrypted tamper-proof bar code, identifying the passenger, and the usual information - flight number, seat assignment, gate, and departure time

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has launched service between Chicago and its hub at Abu Dhabi. It's Etihad's third destination in North America after New York and Toronto and is operated with an Airbus A340 that can carry 240 passengers.

Frontier announced it will add nonstop service between Denver, CO. and Fort Myers, FL. with four weekly round-trip flights starting November 21. Frontier also will add nonstop service between Cancun and both Indianapolis, IN. and St. Louis, MO. The carrier will operate Saturday-only service on both routes beginning Dec.19. And on Dec. 23, Frontier will add a third weekly flight on its Kansas City-Cancun route. The airline also will increase the frequency of its flights on the Denver-Tampa, FL. route.

Midwest announced it will launch nonstop service between Milwaukee and St. Louis beginning March 1, 2010. The service, which will include three daily roundtrip flights, will also offer convenient connections to and from cities on Midwest's route map. Service will be provided on 37-seat Embraer 135 aircraft, featuring all-leather seating, buy-onboard Best Care Café snacks and complimentary baked-onboard chocolate chip cookies.

Porter Airlines has begun flying to Boston's Logan International Airport from Toronto 's downtown City Centre Airport. The airline's schedule includes three daily round-trip flights between Logan and Toronto's downtown City Centre Airport on Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

Southwest announced it will add three new nonstop routes out of Denver. The carrier will offer two daily round-trip flights to Boston Logan, MA., and one each to both Spokane, WA., and Reno, NV.

United announced a second-bag fee for passengers on some international routes. Passengers flying trans-Atlantic routes will pay $50 for a second bag at the airport or $45 if purchased on the carrier's website. This applies on routes going from the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean to Europe and back. Travelers going from the United States to Mexico or the Caribbean will pay slightly less - $30 at the airport and $27 online.

United Airlines announced the launch of Premier TravelSM and Premier Travel PlusSM, the latest Travel Options by UnitedSM, which enable customers to enjoy an enhanced travel experience with swifter movement through the airport, earlier boarding, more legroom and other amenities. By purchasing these options in a convenient bundle, customers can save up to 50 percent compared to buying these benefits individually. With the Premier Travel option available at most U.S. airports served by United, customers can check two standard bags with no charge, use Premier Line to quickly proceed through security checkpoints and boarding, enjoy increased legroom in United Economy Plus® and earn twenty-five percent more redeemable Mileage Plus® miles for those flights. With Premier Travel Plus, customers enjoy the benefits of the Premier Travel option, but with double redeemable Mileage Plus® bonus miles and access to United's Red Carpet Clubs - a travel oasis with complimentary WiFi, snacks and beverages. Travelers can purchase the Premier Travel or Premier Travel Plus options when checking in online. Purchase at airport EasyCheck-In kiosks will be available later in 2009. Starting at just $47, Premier Travel is available for most itineraries departing from the majority of U.S. airports served by United.

City officials in Irvine, CA. have approved plans for new direct bus service between Los Angeles International and the Irvine train station. The FlyAway Bus, which is operated by the city of Los Angeles and links Los Angeles International Airport to key regions of Southern California, currently doesn't serve Orange County, about 30 miles south of the airport and home to more than 3 million residents. The current plan calls for the service, which will likely start later this year, to provide 12 non-stop trips per day to and from LAX. One-way fare costs $25

Construction on the PHX Sky Train at Sky Harbor International Airport will be creating significant traffic restrictions for the weekends of Sept. 18 and Sept. 25. Sky Harbor is warning travelers of construction on the east side of the airport on both weekends, beginning Friday at 9 p.m. and ending Monday at 5 a.m. Travelers are advised to enter and exit the airport from the west side. Sky Harbor recommends avoiding the 202 freeway, State Route 143 or 44th Street and instead opt for Interstate 10 on the west side of the airport. Travelers using the METRO light rail should also be cautious as delays of several minutes or more are expected. The restrictions will be in place while crews make way for the PHX Sky Train to come to the airport. Stage one of the project will transport visitors between METRO light rail, east economy parking and Terminal 4. The first stage of construction of the PHX Sky Train will be complete in late 2012.

Philadelphia International Airport will open a 150-space cell-phone lot after a recent crackdown on motorists using the shoulder of Interstate 95 to wait for arriving flights. Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler says the project could be completed by Jan. 1. Drivers waiting to pick up passengers on arriving flights had long used the shoulders of I-95 and other nearby roads to wait for flights to land. But police began recently ticketing waiting motorists and no parking signs were erected.

Approximately 1,500 delegates will congregate in Pittsburgh, PA. September 24 and 25 for the bi-annual Group of 20 (G20) summit. The event is likely to cause massive business and transportation disruptions as officials attempt to secure the multiple summit venues. Thousands of media members and social activists are expected to flock to the city alongside the delegates, cramming hotels and straining Pittsburgh's mass transit system. Thousands of additional security personnel will be deployed to counter security threats and contain social unrest. Due to a history of mass protests and violence at G20 summits, expect security to be extremely tight as the summit date approaches.

San Jose International has opened several new restaurants: The Brit, a British pub, and Le Boulanger, a bakery, in the new Terminal B Concourse; Peet's Coffee and Sora's, a sushi restaurant, in Terminal A.

Washington Dulles has opened new security checkpoints September 15, eliminating the snaking lines that have crowded the airport's main terminal lobby for years. The checkpoints, located on the new underground mezzanine level, will house 16 lanes on the east side mostly for United Airlines' customers and eight more on the west side for other carriers. Travelers who check bags at airline counters in the main lobby can reach the checkpoint using escalators. It's also accessible directly from the ground baggage claim level for those without bags to check.