Airlines & Air Travel

(Dive Travel Business News - October 11, 2011) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has eased some restrictions on Americans travelling to Cuba: Just 90 miles across the Florida Straits from Cuba, Key West joins a string of other U.S. cities - Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico, Miami, New York and Los Angeles - to be authorized by federal authorities to host charter flights to Cuba.  read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 2, 2011) - Rock-bottom deals are starting to get scarce, as airlines increase prices and cut capacity in response to increasing fuel costs. To offset surging fuel costs, airlines are reducing the number of available seats. As post-recession demand starts to grow the remaining seats will cost more.  "Seats will be more difficult to find, especially deeply discounted ones," said Ray Neidl, an industry analyst. Read the entire article here. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 17, 2011) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's new proposal on the disclosure of airlines' ancillary fees through global distribution systems will likely not be announced until next year. However, a draft of the rule is expected to be sent to the Office of Management and Budget in August and will be evaluated until the end of the year.

The U.S. Department of Transportation does not expect to publicly reveal before January 2012 a new proposal on airlines' disclosure of optional service fees through global distribution systems. According to a DOT update issued last week, a public comment period following that Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would extend until June 2012. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - March 12, 2011) -- Federal regulations announced in January 2011 that expanded religious, academic, cultural and journalistic travel between the U.S. and Cuba have prompted the approval of eight new U.S. airports to offer passenger charter flights from the U.S. to/from Cuba. 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is allowing airports in Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Tampa and San Juan to offer charter air service to the destination. Charter flights currently operate from Los Angeles, Miami and New York LaGuardia, primarily for travel by family members to visit relatives in Cuba.  read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 20, 2010) -- Air Pacific, Fiji's International Airline, the world’s friendliest airline, has been voted by the readers of Global Traveler magazine as the “Best Airline in the South Pacific” in the seventh annual award survey for 2010.  This is the third year in a row Air Pacific has been awarded this prestigious award by Global Traveler readers.

Global Traveler, a premier luxury travel magazine, is dedicated to the executive traveler.  The annual survey was created to tap into this readership of experienced travelers with prominent opinions of the business and luxury travel market resulting in an exclusive listing of the best in a variety of travel related categories. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January  28, 2011) -- To control mounting political protests, the Egyptian government has imposed a curfew  that has affected air service to Egypt.  Flight disruptions so far appear to be limited to Cairo including National flag carrier EgyptAir that has suspended its service from the capital. Many international airline flights in Cairo arrive late in the evening or in the pre-dawn hours that are now included in the 4pm - 8am curfew. International airlines are scrambling to readjust their schedules into and out of Cairo International to ensure that their passengers arrive and depart outside the curfew hours.  read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - November 8, 2010) -- WestJet has begun new seasonal nonstop service between Toronto and Santa Clara, Cuba. WestJet will fly between Toronto and Santa Clara weekly each Friday. One-way fares, available in both directions on non-stop flights only, are available from $149 plus applicable taxes and fees. For more information, call WestJet's Sales Super Centre at 888-WEST-JET (937-8538) or visit www.westjet.com.

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(Dive Travel Business News - October 29, 2010) -- It's time to double check ticket reservations.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will launch it's Secure Flight Information procedures next week.   As of Nov 1, 2010, ticketing information must have the passenger's name, date of birth and gender that matches their government-issued identification.

The new Secure Flight Information requirements are a means for the TSA to update its Watch List:  The list contains the names of people who are not permitted to fly or are required to have a special screening prior to flying.  Previously airlines had been responsible for checking passenger's names on the watch list, but with errors and mishaps that have frustrated legitimate flyers, the TSA will be taking over this security task. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - November 2, 2010) -- The Transportation Security Administration said it is implementing new pat-down procedures at airport security checkpoints nationwide in the U.S. The TSA called the initiative "one of our many layers of security to keep the traveling public safe," but has so far declined to detail exactly what its new procedures entail.

Television news reports from around the country show TSA agents using the palms of their hands on passengers at the checkpoints. Instead of patting passengers, the agents are firmly sliding their hands along and around the passengers' bodies. The American Civil Liberties Union said the new methods are "now much more invasive." read more »