Feds collect data on air travelers
Feds collect data on air travelers — A federal agency collected extensive personal information about airline passengers although Congress told it not to and it said it wouldn’t, according to documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press. A Transportation Security Administration contractor used three data brokers to collect detailed information about U.S. citizens who flew on commercial airlines in June 2004 in order to test a terrorist screening program called Secure Flight, according to documents that will be published in the Federal Register this week. (Business Week)
Taking a cruise? Great, but don’t read this book — According to one survey about the supposed romance of the ocean cruise, 25 percent of passengers would jump overboard to save a favorite hat. Only 13 percent would do the same to save a spouse. This is just the faintest whiff of evidence, among all the data provided by Kristoffer A. Garin’s new investigative book,that the cruise ship industry is significantly at odds with its public image. (New York Times)
Avis and Delta pilot air check-in kiosk at car rental location — Avis Rent A Car and Delta Air Lines today introduced check-in kiosks at the Avis rental location at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, allowing joint customers to check in when returning rental vehicles. The companies partnered with Hackensack, N.J.-based I.D. Systems to develop and install the kiosks. I.D. Systems vice president of marketing Greg Smith said the Atlanta kiosk project “is the pilot installation” with the possibility to expand to other airports. (Business Travel News)
Fourth big airport may be needed for metro NYC — The head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Monday that the metropolitan region may need a fourth major airport to meet the great demand for air travel. “At some point someone thought of building the George Washington Bridge and eventually built it,” Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia told reporters after testifying to lawmakers. “We have an obligation to ourselves and to the future to be able to build for that growth.” (Newsday)
Lawmakers seek to create NY beer trail — Lawmakers are encouraging residents and visitors alike to enjoy a tall, cold one. A bill making its way through the Legislature aims to create a New York state beer trail, similar to those the wine industry has successfully used to attract millions of oenophiles to the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and eastern Long Island. (USA Today)
Supreme court curbs SF hotel conversions — The U.S. Supreme Court turned away a challenge by hotel owners Monday to San Francisco’s conversion ordinance, which requires owners of long-term residential hotels to pay a city fee before switching their property to short-term tourist use. (Chronicle)
Pilots express ‘deep concern’ over US Airways merger — America West Airlines pilots, already worried about losing jobs to US Airways’ more experienced pilots, are openly questioning their managers and citing a lack of support — early signs of how delicate a merger between the two airlines will be. (Post Gazette)
Lawyers warned of freebie Congress trips — A law firm under scrutiny for its role in arranging overseas trips for members of Congress says House ethics lawyers advised the firm several years ago that it could pay for some Congressional travel, an assertion that may bolster the argument of Representative Tom DeLay that he did nothing wrong in accepting lavish trips organized by the firm’s star lobbyist. (The New York Times)
The next big thing in aviations? Zeppelins, babe — The Paris Air Show has showcased the aviation sector’s future flight paths, from superjumbos to nano-drones, with even dirigibles making a big comeback in the interest of surveillance. Hundreds of thousands of visitors were expected to throng the final day Sunday of the weeklong show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. (AFP)
Editor’s note: Many thanks to John Frenaye and Charlie Leocha for editing The Daily while I was on assignment last week. Nice work! – Christopher Elliott
Correspondents: Carrie Charney, Charlie Leocha, John Frenaye, Stephanus Surjaputra.