Better fire safety in hotels saves lives
Better fire safety in hotels saves lives — Deaths and injuries from hotel fires are down dramatically in the United States, thanks to tough safety regulations enacted in recent decades. At the same time, hotel fires continue to kill or injure scores each year, and the threat of catastrophe remains. (USA Today)
Broadband service ready to board more corporate jets — Executives who travel on corporate jets may soon be finding in-flight high-speed Internet a common feature. Only Annapolis, Md.-based Arinc is on the market now with a broadband service for corporate jets. But competition is set to intensify in 2006. (USA Today)
Gamma claims 14 lives, weakens — U.S. military helicopters began flying aid to survivors in central America on Sunday as Gamma, the 24th major storm in a record-breaking hurricane season, weakened after killing 14 people. The storm was expected to dissipate by early Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. (Reuters)
Mexico’s Cozumel, storm survivor, awaits tourists — Unlike nearby Cancun, whose high-rise resorts are nearly all shut for repairs after their beaches were sucked away by Hurricane Wilma last month, many of Cozumel’s hotels are open. All the island needs now is for the tourists to return. (Reuters)
When the bigwigs met to discuss the state of the travel industry last week at the PhoCusWright Executive Conference, the buzz among online providers was all about “content” and “community.” Does the new online environment really empower travelers, or is it just chaos? (Charles Leocha on Tripso)
Why cruise web sites are so 20th century — Why are cruise Web sites so lousy? Despite the boom in the Internet, particularly when it comes to travel, most cruise lines have yet to embrace the online world. (The New York Times)
When bumped by an airline, know what you have coming — Despite the amazing technological improvements in aircraft and air-traffic control, winter can still snarl air traffic and result in cancellations, delays and missed connections. In such cases, travelers find quite a bit of differences in what airlines owe them in a major snarl. (San Jose Mercury News)
Portugal airport saga showcases political strains — Construction of a new airport would be Portugal’s biggest infrastructure project since it hosted the European soccer championships last year. But political bickering and delays have stymied the project for a decade. (Reuters)
China agrees to buy 30 Boeing 737s — China agreed to buy 70 planes from Boeing Co. in a deal worth up to about $5 billion before discounts as U.S. President George W. Bush prepared to lobby Beijing this weekend to slash a ballooning trade deficit. (Reuters)
Hooters Air ending service from Rockport — Just days after United Airlines announced plans to start flying out of Rockford (Illinois) International Airport, Hooters Air said last week it was discontinuing all flights there after less than a year. (AP)
American woos unions, seeking cooperation — Some American Airlines employees say their counterparts at Northwest Airlines could have chosen cooperation over conflict. They say American has worked closely with its unions to make cuts to avoid bankruptcy.
Boeing unveils $4.6 billion in 787 sales — Rivals Boeing and Airbus announced more than $9 billion in aircraft orders on Monday, pushing them closer to a record tally this year as airlines grab more cost-efficient models due to high oil prices. (Reuters)
Nike corporate jet makes safe landing — A Nike Inc. corporate jet carrying seven people developed landing gear problems shortly after takeoff Monday but then made a safe emergency landing after the gear was unstuck. (AP)
Confiscated items from airline passengers sold on Internet — Oregonians who have tried and failed to get items like cigarette lighters and nail scissors onto commercial flights now have a way to recover their confiscated items: Online. (AP)
Poll: Most Alabama residents support Aruba boycott — Three-quarters of Alabama residents back the governor’s call for a travel boycott of Aruba that was spurred the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway, a new statewide survey suggests. (AP)
Drunken smoker tries to open airliner door in flight — A French woman who is terrified of flying admitted in an Australian court Monday that she drunkenly tried to open an airplane door mid-flight to smoke a cigarette. (AP)
Carrie Charney, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.