Archive for April, 2009
JetBlue Airways plans to further develop its growing international route network this fall with new service to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, subject to receipt of government operating authority. Award-winning JetBlue intends to serve Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport with flights to/from its home at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. From JFK, JetBlue plans to offer onward connections to/from other US cities. Flights are expected to go on sale in June. Read the rest of this entry »
The global aviation industry must rely on technological advances to address three of its most pressing challenges - the worldwide economy, the environment, and global air transportation system modernization - Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) president and CEO Marion Blakey told the audience at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Lindbergh Lecture today.
“The industry should tap into the innovative strength shown by early pioneers to address the trials we face today and will face tomorrow,” Blakey said. Read the rest of this entry »
The World Health Organization is not recommending any travel restrictions to contain an outbreak of swine flu that has killed people in Mexico and spread around the world.
Countries worldwide have ramped up their border and airport checks and many are advising against non-essential travel to areas where the virus has been found, especially Mexico where it has proved most deadly. Read the rest of this entry »
CyberSource Corporation announced today the general availability of its Airline Online Fraud Report, a comprehensive study of the impact of online fraud on the airline industry. CyberSource commissioned the study in association with Airline Information LLC. It can be downloaded at: http://forms.cybersource.com/forms/airlinefraudpr .
Dr. Akif Khan, head of client and technical services at CyberSource Ltd., said, “eCommerce is one of the most important sources of airline revenues, with about a third of all bookings deriving from the online sales channel. So this form of crime is of paramount concern to our airline customers and to us. We hope this study will enable all who care about the industry to better understand fraud, its implications, and possible solutions.” Read the rest of this entry »
Boeing is targeting a 2% reduction in 737NG fuel consumption by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine improvements.
The manufacturer unveiled a new “787 style” interior for the 737NG in Seattle yesterday to be implemented in aircraft operated by seven airlines beginning in late 2010. The changes “are more than cosmetic,” it said, noting that a major component of the improved 737NG will be increased fuel efficiency. About 1% of the targeted fuel savings with be achieved through airframe “structural improvements [that] will reduce drag on the airplane,” while the other 1% will come from “hardware changes” to the engine made by CFM International. Read the rest of this entry »
A week after cutting Barbados from its itinerary, Air Jamaica has announced a resumption of services for the summer months.
It will operate a twice weekly service between New York and the Caribbean island from July 2nd to August 20th. Read the rest of this entry »
IATA said airline profitability remained weak in the first quarter as traffic and yields declined, offsetting the benefits of lower fuel prices and capacity cuts, but “pessimism about the outlook ahead. . .has softened somewhat,” according to its latest Airline Business Confidence Index released yesterday.
IATA’s survey of airline members revealed that carriers “have on balance moved away from indicating significantly further reductions in profitability,” the organization said. “The sharp falls in both passenger and cargo traffic over the last three months have hit current results hard but expectations for the year ahead are for more stability. . . Success in resizing capacity combined with sustained lower fuel price outlook and stabilizing traffic towards the end of 2009 drive the more optimistic responses.” Read the rest of this entry »
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has taken the issue of the planned increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) to British Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the House of Lords in London.
Bartlett, who was guest speaker at the Caribbean Council’s annual Parliamentary reception held at the House of Lords at Westminster, charged that the increase in APD, as proposed by the British government, is unfair and will undermine Jamaican and Caribbean tourism. Read the rest of this entry »
Airline booking fees charged by Travelocity, Orbitz and Expedia are on vacation through May. That’s giving travelers who had avoided those sites a reason to reconsider.
The fees generally run about $7 per transaction, just enough to send many travelers to airline Web sites. But in April, first Expedia, the biggest online travel agent, and then Travelocity and Orbitz suspended airline booking fees on tickets bought through May 31. Priceline had dropped airline booking fees almost two years earlier. Read the rest of this entry »
The world’s airlines have scheduled 6 percent fewer flights for April 2009 compared with the same month last year, with a 3 percent drop in seat capacity, according to the latest statistics from OAG. This is the ninth successive month of declines and represents a reduction of more than 136,000 flights and 9 million seats year on year. The total number of flights scheduled to operate worldwide this month is 2.34 million, offering 287.3 million seats to travelers around the globe. Read the rest of this entry »