Site59’s revolutionary ‘Meet Me In’ tool
Site59’s revolutionary ‘Meet Me In’ tool — The new online tool coordinates trips for up to four people meeting from different locations. Known for its last-minute weekend travel packages, Site59.com unveils today Meet Me In, an ambitious, original tool capable of coordinating travel plans for up to four people traveling from two cities to a common destination in the U.S. or abroad — seemingly tailor-made for reunions and impulsive getaways. (Budget Travel)
Bird flu declared ‘global threat’ — European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday declared the spread of bird flu from Asia into Europe a “global threat” requiring international action. (CNN)
Wilma may threaten Gulf Coast — Tropical Storm Wilma stalled over the warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean early Tuesday, but forecasters warned that it could soon strengthen into a hurricane before potentially menacing the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend. (AP)
Delta to expand flights overseas — Delta Air Lines Inc. said Tuesday it will add 11 new routes between the United States and Europe/Middle East in 2006 in a bid to become the world’s largest transatlantic airline despite its financial troubles. (Reuters)
Judge: Pilots must file suit to challenge Delta on pensions — A bankruptcy judge ruled Monday that if Delta Air Lines pilots want to challenge the company’s decision not to make certain pension payments, they need to file a lawsuit. (AP)
Private business flights prepare for takeoff at Reagan — Reagan National Airport will re-open today to private business planes for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but under strict security regulations that limit the number of flights. (USA Today)
Car-rental sites see consolidation — Amid the broader building boom at the nation’s airports is a major push to consolidate car-rental counters in a single facility. For most travelers, such facilities make price-shopping easier and provide quicker access to cars. (USA Today)
Italy’s Alitalia cancels 102 flights — Italian state airline Alitalia scrapped 102 flights and other carriers operating in Italy were expected to make cancellations ahead of a four-hour strike Wednesday by air traffic controllers. (AP)
Gas woes worse in Europe — Americans cringe at the average $2.80-a-gallon pump price, but people in Western Europe haven’t seen prices that low in almost two years. Because European governments tax gas so heavily (taxes account for 70% of the price of gas here, vs. 27% in the USA), the recent rise in oil prices has people here looking for creative, if not always legal, ways to save money when they fill up their cars or heat their homes. (USA Today)
Pieces in place for airline mergers — With so many carriers struggling, there’s a crying need for fewer airlines. The usual regulatory hurdles for mergers appear lower than ever. Analysts cite lots of reasons to expect more airline mergers, along the lines of the deal that melded US Airways Inc. and America West Airlines Inc. (Dallas Morning News)
LA’s Bonaventure Hall makes peace with plan for new Hilton — The owner of a landmark downtown Los Angeles hotel will drop his opposition to a nearby $1.7 billion hotel-entertainment complex in exchange for permission to convert some of his rooms to condominiums. (AP)
Security threat shuts down Baltimore tunnel — Authorities closed one of two highway tunnels carrying traffic under Baltimore’s harbor for nearly two hours Tuesday and partially shut the other because of a threat to detonate vehicles full of explosives inside the tubes. (AP)
Wilma could turn toward Florida — After days of drifting in the Caribbean Sea, Wilma became a record-tying hurricane Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said. (CNN)
FAA updates rule on airline seats — After 17 years, the Federal Aviation Administration has completed work on requiring passenger aircraft to have stronger seats, designed to increase the survivability of passengers and flight attendants in accidents. (The Washington Post)
Carrie Charney, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.