Bill: eliminate TSA screeners
Bill: eliminate TSA screeners — The chairman of the House aviation subcommittee said Monday he is drafting a proposal to get rid of all government security screeners at the nation’s airports and replace them with employees working for private companies. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said that air travelers would face fewer long waits at checkpoints if the Transportation Security Administration hired private screeners.
American to unveil low-price guarantee — American Airlines is rolling out a new marketing campaign guaranteeing that travelers will find the airline’s cheapest fares on its Internet site. The campaign, expected to be unveiled today, tells consumers that American will refund the price difference, and throw in a $50 travel voucher, if they find a lower fare for the same flight on another travel Web site.
International air traffic jumps in 2004 — International airline passenger traffic in 2004 grew 15.3% over the same period a year ago, industry trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced Monday. IATA said that the Asia-Pacific region — which includes China’s fast-growing aviation sector — led the way with a 20.5% passenger increase. Passenger traffic to and from North America, as well as between the United States and Canada, was up 14.8%.
Budget billed $20 million in NY wreck — A car rental company must fork over more than $20 million to a Manhattan man paralyzed by a crash caused by one of its customers — who leased a car and then ran a red light, the man’s lawyers said yesterday. Ethan Ruby, 28, was nearly killed when he was hit by a driver who rented a Budget Rent A Car, blew through a red light and struck a van Nov. 29, 2000.
Booking online travel is a chick thing — Online male consumers are lagging their female counterparts when it comes to researching and booking airline tickets, rental cars and hotels. A new report by BURST! Media finds that online females register higher research-to-purchase conversion rates than males.
Swedish airport weddings take off — The number of weddings performed at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport are taking off. Spokesman Niclas Haerenstam said Monday such ceremonies increased by more than 30 percent last year compared with 2003. “It’s mostly couples on their way to their honeymoon that take the opportunity to exchange rings at the airport,†Haerenstam said.