Holiday week airfares up 15 percent
Holiday week airfares up 15 percent — Thanksgiving week air travelers this year face sharply higher fares, fewer options and virtually no bargains. (USA Today)
Congress to TSA: What’s the holdup? — Lawmakers plan to ask the chief of the Transportation Security Administration on Thursday why his agency has faltered in moving ahead with a program that speeds pre-screened travelers through airport security. (USA Today)
FAA is set to improve ground radar at Logan — After a worrisome string of runway problems at Logan International Airport over the past year, the Federal Aviation Administration said yesterday that Logan will be one of 14 of the nation’s busiest airports to get an advanced ground radar system to better detect impending collisions on runways at night and in bad weather. (The Boston Globe)
U.S. may relax airline ownership rules — The Bush administration has proposed to ease some restrictions on overseas investment in U.S. airlines, a move that could give struggling carriers access to fresh capital and break the logjam in trans-Atlantic aviation talks. (Reuters)
New Orleans businesses at a crossroads — Across New Orleans, business owners are at a crossroads. Many have dipped deep into personal savings to clean up and reopen in the two months since Hurricane Katrina, which was followed weeks later by more flooding from Hurricane Rita. (Reuters)
World Bank warns of bird flu cost — A bird flu pandemic would lead to “enormous global costs” for the world economy, a new World Bank report says. (BBC News)
Mechanics strike at Northwest appears over — Defiant Northwest Airlines mechanics still picket. Their union urges them to stay strong. But airline observers and even some strikers say it’s as good as over. (AP)
Death of the travel salesman? — A good travel agent was once a valuable friend to the business traveler, finding last minute plane seats, comfortable hotels and making the frantic calls needed when plans suddenly change. Not anymore. (CNN)
NBA hopes publicity idea will fly — The NBA is teaming with Southwest Airlines to create a league-themed airplane called the “Slam Dunk One.” (USA Today)
Suspect travelers to be screened for infectious diseases — The federal government will install a new quarantine station at Logan International Airport to evaluate travelers who may pose a health threat to the region, officials said. (AP)
Strike propels Northwest to top of late-flights list — Northwest Airlines topped the list of late airlines for the second month in a row during September, the first full month of its mechanics strike, according to data released Thursday by the federal Transportation Department. (AP)
Developer unveils revival of shuttered landmark hotel — A developer has announced plans for a $176 million renovation of the shuttered landmark Book-Cadillac Hotel, which would reopen with about 455 rooms in spring 2008. (AP)
Air Canada chops North American in-flight meals — Hungry Air Canada passengers travelling on flights within North America, in the lower-fare classes, will now need to pay for breakfast, lunch or dinner. (CBC)
Carrie Charney, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.