Marshals to patrol land, sea transport
Marshals to patrol land, sea transport — Teams of undercover air marshals and uniformed law enforcement officers will fan out to bus and train stations, ferries, and mass transit facilities across the country this week in a new test program, according to internal federal documents. (The Washington Post)
Disappearance of Connecticut man spurs probe of cruise ship safety — The mysterious disappearance of a Connecticut man during a honeymoon cruise is drawing congressional attention to a seamy side of the glitzy cruise industry. (AP)
Nigeria grounds two airlines — Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has grounded Sosoliso Airlines in the wake of a weekend crash that killed 108 people, many of them Catholic secondary school students on their way home for the holidays, the president’s office said Tuesday. (CNN)
City seeks stiff fines for workers and transit union if they strike — With three days to go before a threatened transit shutdown in New York City, the Bloomberg administration stepped into the middle of the fray yesterday, asking a judge to fine the transit workers’ union should workers go on strike. (The New York Times)
Boeing lands $10 billion Qantas jet order — Boeing Co. won a $10 billion order from Qantas Airways Ltd. Wednesday to deliver 65 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, with an option for a further 50 planes, dealing a blow to rival aircraft maker Airbus. (Reuters)
Bright spot on Gulf as casinos rush to rebuild — Anyone visiting Biloxi, Miss., in the days after Hurricane Katrina might reasonably have concluded that it would be a long while before slot machines were again ringing their incessant chimes. But one casino will be ready to open next week. (The New York Times)
Next stop in New Orleans: Disaster trip for tourists — Visitors to New Orleans who once toured the graceful mansions of its Garden District or learned the history of its Mississippi River plantations have a new attraction: The Hurricane Katrina disaster tour. (Reuters)
Peaceful times for tourists in country remembered for strife — Nicaragua, where revolution and civil wars raged until 1990 as the Sandinistas came to power and then were fought by U.S.-backed rebels, is now peaceful. But unlike Costa Rica, its neighbor to the south, Nicaragua is still perceived by many U.S. citizens as a dangerous place, with little to offer travelers. (AP)
United top execs stand to gain a lot — United Airlines’ creditors and two labor unions have asked a judge to block its exit from bankruptcy over a proposal to reward CEO Glenn Tilton and several hundred top executives with a 15% stake in the reorganized company. (USA Today)
Marriott’s looking forward – and up — CEO J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr. told USA Today that business is very good and that the chain plans to open We’ll open about 23,000 rooms this year and, hopefully, between 25,000 and 30,000 rooms next year. (USA Today)
10 must-ski experiences — Even in an era in which so many resorts seem the same, there are still a handful of one-of-a-kind features that can entice even the most jaded skiers and riders. When booking your trip this winter, consider these spots from Colorado to New Hampshire. (USA Today)
Phone cards dial up gripes at airport — There are many hassles at Miami International Airport: Long lines, scant short-term parking and detours caused by construction. But the No. 1 complaint for passengers is this: The phone card machine took my money. (Miami Herald)
BWI to buy $6.9 million network to boost safety — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport plans to buy a $6.9 million radio system to improve safety communication within BWI and its neighboring counties. (Baltimore Business Journal)
Independence Air cuts more flights, jobs — With a Friday deadline looming for bids to buy Independence Air, the low-cost carrier is cutting more flights and jobs to further reduce expenses. The Dulles-based airline says it will end service to Chicago, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Fla., and Manchester, N.H., next month. (Washington Business Journal)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.