United gets urge to merge
United Airlines has the urge to merge — United Airlines chief executive Glenn Tilton says it’s time for airlines to merge, and he wants United to take part in that consolidation. Tilton, speaking at an airline investor conference in New York on Thursday, did not say which airlines he expects would combine.
Airborne cell phones may debut with A380 — The Airbus A380 superjumbo, due for launch in 2006, looks set to become the first aircraft on which you can use your mobile phone. Manufacturer Airbus this week announced a joint venture with airline IT firm SITA called OnAir to develop voice and data communications on flights
‘Hitler Hotel’ opens in Germany — A new luxury hotel will open next month on the site of Adolf Hitler’s Alpine retreat, which served as a part-time seat of government where he and other Nazi leaders often met to plan Germany’s assault on Europe and the Holocaust. The new hotel, the Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden, will open on the Obersalzberg mountaintop to guests on March 1, the Bavarian Finance Ministry said Thursday.
QE2 visitors steal vase — Four people evaded security and sneaked aboard the luxury Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner in a West Australian port, one stealing a flower vase before the group was caught by crew, it is alleged. The security breach came as the Cunard ship was docked at Fremantle last night during its 39-port world cruise.
Cocktail waitresses told to stay skinny or ship out — The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J., has told cocktail servers if they pack on too many pounds, they’ll get an unpaid suspension to lose the weight  or be fired. The policy will apply to anyone gaining more than 7 percent of their body weight; weight gain related to pregnancy or a medical condition will be exempt, casino officials said. The company will pay to put the offender through a weight-loss program during the up-to-90-day suspension.
Passenger’s luggage blown up after outburst — A woman trying to catch a flight to San Diego caused an emergency search of the plane when it landed at Lindbergh Field yesterday by berating security officers and saying they were incapable of finding any weapons, authorities said. The comment kept the 46-year-old New Jersey psychiatrist from boarding the flight in Phoenix.