Northwest considers a charter as a backup
Northwest considers using charter as strike backup — Champion Air could be doing some flying for Northwest Airlines if mechanics strike at Northwest later this month, both airlines said. Northwest has said it plans to maintain a full schedule if mechanics strike, and it has been arranging with contractors and replacement workers to work on its planes. But the possible arrangement with charter carrier Champion is the first time Northwest has acknowledged that it might shift flights to another carrier. (USA Today)
Win free airline tickets! — Wanna fly somewhere for free this summer? When you register at Tripso’s forums and make your first post, you’ll be automatically entered to win two tickets on US Airways. The tickets are good through June 30, 2006. But hurry: you have to register and post before August 15, 2005 to be eligible.*
Black box shows Air France jet was ‘unstoppable’ — The Air France jet that slid off the end of the runway in Toronto last week was virtually unstoppable, according to investigators. The Airbus A340 failed to stop after touching down during a severe thunderstorm at Canada’s busiest airport, plunging into a ravine and burning to a charred and twisted hulk. All 309 people on board survived. (The Australian)
Insuring peace of mind for your summer vacation — Summer is vacation time for most Americans. However, amidst the planning and fun, many travelers fail to find out how their auto and homeowners insurance will protect them while they are away, leaving them vulnerable when something goes awry. “Taking a few minutes to understand how your insurance coverage works during times away from home can help make your vacation a relaxing one,” said Jon Osterberg, PEMCO spokesperson. (PRNewswire)
City and state police to guard Amtrak — With the London bombings fresh in their minds, police along Amtrak’s New York-Washington corridor joined forces Monday to begin patrolling the train platforms and watching for suspicious activity along the tracks. There is no specific threat to Amtrak’s most heavily traveled route, New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said. But in assessing security risks after bombers targeted mass transit in London, officials were concerned that a route involving “two high profile cities” might become a target, he said. (Washington Post)
Luggage thief arrested at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood airport — A man who deputies said was stealing luggage from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has been arrested carrying two stolen bags and a stroller through the airport. Deputies said they think Langston Carlos Austin, 33, a homeless man originally from Buffalo, N.Y., also stole at least 10 other bags. Austin was arrested and charged Friday with three counts of grand theft. (Miami Herald)
Cruise lines required to be ADA compliant, but what about the shore excursions? — When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing from U.S. ports must adhere to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and be accessible to travelers with disabilities, it addressed the basic issue before it. The court, however, could not take up another serious problem that confronts mobility-impaired passengers: shore excursions. The Supreme Court, in its 5-4 decision, also didn’t specify what changes the cruise lines must make or issue a deadline for changes. (Chicago Tribune)
Mexico opening air travel to more than the wealthy — Though low-cost air carriers from India to Central Europe to Brazil have begun to democratize flying, in Mexico, it seemed, life went on as usual. For a decade, the Mexican government has had a virtual lock on domestic air travel through two state-owned airlines. Fares have been kept high enough that only the well-off could afford to fly, with the poor condemned to interminable bus rides. (NY Times)
Space travel – Space travel has never been billed as a first-class affair, but back in 1939 it was deemed downright uncivilized in the February 20, 1939, issue of TIME. The article summarized the British Interplanetary Society’s prediction of what astronauts would forgo on their flights to the moon. Topping the list: smoking and water for washingâ€â€and there would be just enough coffee to keep the navigators from “falling asleep over their interminable calculations.” (Time)
Airline pilots more prone to cataract — Airline pilots have an increased risk of nuclear cataracts due to cumulative exposure to cosmic radiation, according to a study in the August issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. (WebIndia123)
Two planes grounded after wings touch at O’Hare — Two United Airlines planes that were carrying more than 100 passengers each were taken out of service Monday after their wings touched while on the ground at O’Hare International Airport. (USA Today)
TSA revamping shoe-screening policy — The Transportation Security Administration wants to try clearing passengers through airport security without removing their shoes. TSA, the employer of federal airport security screeners, posted a notice Friday for a program this winter to test devices to inspect shoes. (Government Executive)
Contributors: Charles Leocha and Stephanus Surjaputra