London transit disrupted after failed bombing
London transit disrupted after failed bombing — London police have been out in force to reassure commuters tentatively returning to work following yesterday’s failed bombings. Londoners faced disruption as station and line closures from Thursday’s attacks added to those from the July 7 bombings. (Evening Standard)
America West pilots sentenced to jail — Two airline pilots who got behind the controls after a night of heavy drinking at a sports bar have been sentenced to prison by a judge who didn’t hide his disdain, saying “What were you thinking of?” (AP)
Destinations pay bloggers for promotion — Milwaukee is one of several destinations trying to harness the blogosphere, a virtual universe laced with unvarnished, off-the-cuff comments produced by an estimated 12 million diarists. And rather than simply monitoring bloggers’ opinions, travel marketers are tapping them as paid evangelists. (USA Today)
Doggone Sun Valley — The spring water is served in plastic bowls — on the floor — at Sun Valley’s finest restaurants. The biscuits are cold and hard, and they taste doggone funny, come to think of it. But patrons pant for more. Sometimes they bark, too. Welcome to the most dog-friendly resort in America. (Been There on Tripso)
SAA cancels flights after strike — South African Airways cancelled some of its domestic flights on Friday as ground staff began a strike over pay, the airline said. “SAA has cancelled some of its domestic flights following industrial action by cabin crew and ground staff from early this morning,” spokeswoman Sarah Uys said. (Reuters)
Flight attendants sue Northwest over trainees — The flight attendants union at Northwest Airlines said Thursday that it has sued the carrier in federal court because the airline intends to start training replacement workers on board Northwest flights. The union contends, in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, that the airline’s training plans would violate its existing contract. (Star-Tribune)
Charlotte may raise car rental tax for arts — A Charlotte City Council committee has endorsed a higher tax on rental cars to help fund new uptown cultural facilities. The committee recommended raising the existing car-rental tax to 15 percent from 11 percent. (Biz Journal)
Fliers discover the thrill is gone — Flying used to be a miracle and a luxury, when Pan Am Clippers laid linen table settings and skycaps carried the bags. Now it’s a $59-each-way do-it-yourself RollAboard trudge that holds as much romance as climbing on a bus. That’s never been more clear than today. (Detroit News)
Bombings will cost London tourism — Concerns are growing about London’s reputation as a safe tourist destination following Thursday’s attempted bomb attacks in the capital. Figures from the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group estimate that the 7 July attacks alone could cost the UK industry about £300m. (BBC)
Independence Air could be fined for lax maintenance — U.S. regulators proposed a $1.5 million fine against Independence Air and its predecessor Atlantic Coast Airlines on Thursday for flying planes last year without completing required maintenance and inspections. The Federal Aviation Administration said the violations occurred between September and October of 2004 and involved thousands of flights. (Reuters)
Frontier rejects union proposal — Frontier Airlines Inc. said Thursday its flight attendants rejected joining a union, the fourth time they have done so. With a majority of the Denver carrier’s flight attendants needing to cast ballots in favor of unionizing, the organizing effort came up 45 votes short. (RMN)
Airline lobby cuts daylight savings time short — An agreement was reached Thursday to extend daylight-saving time in an effort to conserve energy, but not to the extent the House approved in April. (AP)
Southwest plans to leave Seattle — Southwest Airlines has offered to pay $130 million toward a new passenger terminal at King County International Airport, better known as Boeing Field, in a bid to move its operations there from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Biz Journal)
Skip Bowman, Richard Wong, Carrie Charney, Leslie Friedman, John Frenaye, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra.