JANUARY 2009

msnbc - January 29, 2009
The down-low on duty-free
Is it a true tax loophole or just a gimmick?.

msnbc - January 29, 2009
Panic in paradise
The news is bad everywhere. The good news? Great deals are easy to find.

USA Today - January 27, 2009
Delta Air Lines reports quarterly net loss
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Delta Air Lines, the world's largest airline, reported a quarterly loss on merger costs and fuel hedge losses.

Reuters - January 27, 2009
Bookings at TUI Travel Germany seen down -source
HANOVER, Germany, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Bookings for the current winter season and the coming summer season at the German operations of TUI Travel PLC (TT.L) look set to be weaker than last year, a source close to the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Telegraph.co.uk - January 27, 2009
Virgin: the world's best passenger complaint letter?
Here we reproduce a complaint letter sent to Sir Richard Branson, which is currently being emailed globally and is considered by many to be the world's funniest passenger complaint letter.

msnbc - January 26, 2009
Airports testing radar that could spot birds
NEW YORK - A handful of U.S. airports will soon begin testing experimental radar systems designed to track flocks of birds.

USA Today - January 26, 2009
Las Vegas airport has biggest passenger decline since 1981
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Delta Air Lines, the world's largest airline, reported a quarterly loss on merger costs and fuel hedge losses.

Reuters - January 23, 2009
Everything but the turbulence at Taipei airline diner
TAIPEI (Reuters Life!) - Imagine boarding a plane without security checks or even tickets and more importantly, there's more than just fish or chicken for dinner.

New York Post - January 21, 2009
Plane Crazy
A US citizen was booted from a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York after he complained there were "Arab types" on board, Turkish news media reported.

Airport Business - January 20, 2009
Caribbean islands slammed with double financial hit; Fewer tourists, cuts in air service deal crushing blow
NASSAU, Bahamas -- A year ago, tourists lined up to eat at Conch Fritters, a downtown restaurant here known for its blackened grouper, conch chowder and other local specialties. Yet, on a recent midweek night last month, tourists were scattered among just a few tables.

Reuters - January 20, 2009
Air France-KLM sees Q3 operating loss, shares fall
PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) warned it would post a third-quarter operating loss after the economy deteriorated and fuel hedging backfired, sending its shares lower after the latest profit warning to hit the airline sector.

USA Today - January 19, 2009
Airlines threaten to shift Atlanta flights in dispute over airport fees
ATLANTA — Airlines that do business at the world's busiest airport are playing hardball in talks over new lease agreements, threatening to move some flights to other airports if they can't maintain competitive costs on fees they pay.

USA Today - January 19, 2009
Pa. flight attendant sues airlines over sexy dress
PITTSBURGH — A flight attendant is suing JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines, saying a male employee denied her a work-related flight because she wasn't dressed provocatively enough.

Reuters - January 19, 2009
Shanghai Air says 2008 net loss at least doubles
SHANGHAI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Shanghai Airlines Co (600591.SS) said on Tuesday it expected its net loss for 2008 to have at least doubled from the previous year's 435 million yuan ($63.65 million), or 0.402 yuan per share, as the passenger travel market weakened.

Morningstar - January 19, 2009
Mexico City Airport 2008 Passenger Traffic Up 1.3% To 26.2 Million
MEXICO CITY -(Dow Jones)- Passenger traffic at the Mexico City International Airport rose 1.3% last year from 2007 to 26.2 million passengers as the number of domestic and international passengers increased, the Communications and Transport Ministry said Monday.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - January 16, 2009
Cancun for $100 each way? No way! Yes way on AirTran
Cancun is one of AirTran’s newest non-stop destinations from Atlanta. A daily flight will operate from Feb. 25. The carrier puts the destination on sale at $100 each way on midweek trips finished on or before March 12. Rates are $115 each way on Fridays through Sundays. Buy tickets through Jan.

1888pressrelease.com - January 16, 2009
Elated Worldwide Group to build First Amusement Park in Cozumel
January 16, 2009 - The first phase of the project is expected to be ready in 2010 with its first operational water park. With an estimated 4 thrill rides 5 family rides, including local theme rides newly developed, the master plan for Mayan Adventures incorporates design elements as well as other components such as retail and food outlets. DKY Architects will break ground for the project in 2009.

msnbc - January 15, 2009
Airlines’ traffic fell 7.1 percent in October
DALLAS - Traffic on U.S. airlines fell 7.1 percent in October compared with a year before, the carriers' weakest October since 2003, government researchers said Thursday.

Canadian Business - January 14, 2009
New flights to Cancun, Mexico provide more choice for consumers
OTTAWA, Jan. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, today announced that WestJet Airlines Ltd. has been designated to operate scheduled international air services between Ottawa and Cancun, Mexico.

Aviation Today - January 14, 2009
Frontier Leads Airline Industry With Fewest Complaints in November 2008
DENVER, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frontier Airlines had the fewest complaints of any airline in the industry during November 2008 as measured in the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) monthly “Air Travel Consumer Report.”

msnbc - January 14, 2009
Airlines’ performances worsened in November
ATLANTA - U.S. airlines' on-time performance, baggage handling and domestic cancellation rates were not as good in November compared to the previous month, but still improved over a year earlier, the Transportation Department said Wednesday.

Reuters - January 13, 2009
Delta eyes 2,000 job cuts via early retirement
TOKYO (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc, which took over rival Northwest Airlines last year, said it expects about 2,000 staff to opt for an early retirement program as it aims to trim capacity as much as 8 percent this year.

Airport Business - January 13, 2009
Airlines unleash slew of fare discounts
Worried about the effect of economic pressures on travel, the major airlines have unleashed a slew of unusually steep fare sales in recent days, travel experts say.

NBC DFW News - January 13, 2009
AA Passenger Wants Millions After Long Flight
An Alabama man has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines after his trip home from Cancun in December of 2006 took 28 hours, according to an article in the Huntsville Times newspaper.

msnbc - January 13, 2009
Suit filed over fumes from Alaska Airlines plane
SEATTLE - An Alaska Airlines passenger is suing the airline over injuries she says she suffered when deicer fumes entered an aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Christmas Eve.

Reuters - January 13, 2009
Obama wants to lift travel bans on Cuba: Clinton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday the incoming Obama administration wanted to lift travel restrictions on families wishing to visit relatives in Cuba and urged Havana to make its own concessions.

Aviation Today - January 13, 2009
Hawaiian Airlines Reports December, End-of-Year Traffic Statistics
HONOLULU, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), today announced its systemwide traffic statistics for December, the fourth quarter, and year-to-date.

Reuters - January 12, 2009
Geneva airport reports travel surge in 2008
GENEVA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Geneva airport, bucking a global industry downturn, on Monday said 11.5 million passengers passed through the hub in 2008, an increase of 5.7 percent over 2007 and the highest number in its history.

Reuters - January 12, 2009
Geneva airport reports travel surge in 2008
BANGALORE, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Shares of B/E Aerospace Inc (BEAV.O), the world's biggest supplier of plane seats, are hovering near their year-low, as the company's customers are crippled by the slowdown in the airline industry.

Economist - January 12, 2009
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation
As of today, people flying to America from countries including Britain, France and Australia will require one more document.

USA Today - January 9, 2009
US Airways expects loss for 2008, capacity cuts in 2009
US Airways said yesterday it expects to post a full-year loss for 2008 and cut more capacity in the coming year. Reuters says US Airways' projected shrinkage comes "as more recession-hit travelers stay at home.

Reuters - January 8, 2009
Boeing annual plane orders fall 53 percent
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) took orders for 662 commercial planes last year, a 53 percent drop from 2007, handing the title of biggest-selling plane maker to archrival Airbus and signaling the end of an unprecedented three-year boom in jetliner sales.

USA Today - January 7, 2009
Continental flight powered with biofuel takes off
HOUSTON — Continental Airlines on Wednesday became the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels, though large-scale use of such fuel is forecast to be several years away.

Aviation Today - January 7, 2009
ASUR Announces Total Passenger Traffic for December 2008 Up 1.0% Year over Year
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), today announced that total passenger traffic for December 2008 increased by 1.0% when compared to December 2007.

Reuters - January 7, 2009
Tough year ahead for Mexican airport firms
MEXICO CITY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Mexican airport operators are bracing for a tough 2009 as small airlines, hurt by the financial crisis and fuel costs, close businesses and travelers fly less.

Reuters - January 6, 2009
Planes full in December despite U.S. economic woes
CHICAGO, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Downsizing at major U.S. airlines kept planes full during the winter holidays despite weaker travel demand in a sagging economy, according to data released this week.

The Times of India - January 6, 2009
Air India sacks 10 air hostesses for being overweight
NEW DELHI: Air India has begun shedding flab on its domestic network. Nine airhostesses of the national carrier received the bad news over New Year with a month's salary in advance - their services had been terminated with immediate effect for being overweight.

USA Today - January 6, 2009
Company cost cuts put limits on business travelers
With the economy in full swoon, more corporate travel departments are requiring cost-saving measures. Employees are increasingly pressured by travel managers to book tickets further in advance, opt for limited-service hotels, take public transportation and refrain from paying for others' meals.

msnbc - January 6, 2009
Man living at Mexico airport has a new home
Nohara is now clean-cut, freshly bathed and living in an apartment.

Stars & Stripes - January 5, 2009
Many government employees now face airline baggage fees
Flying got a little more expensive for some government personnel as Delta Air Lines recently changed its baggage fee policy.

Houston Chronicle - January 3, 2009
Continental Jetliner to test biofuels
Continental Airlines next week could become the first U.S. airline to demonstrate passenger jets can fly on a special blend of algae, the jatropha weed and jet fuel.

msnbc - January 2, 2009
Airline apologizes for removing Muslims
One of the passengers said the confusion started at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when he talked about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

msnbc - January 2, 2009
JetBlue, TSA pay discrimination settlement
Man awarded $240,000, claimed he was persecuted due to ethnicity.

msnbc - January 2, 2009
FAA reaches settlement with whistle-blower
Controller claimed he was retaliated against after voicing concerns.

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