WAV Travel news - Wednesday Edition
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SeaWorld fights back against opponents with new ad
In its latest effort to combat negative perceptions about its treatment of marine animals, SeaWorld Entertainment on Tuesday kicked off a national advertising campaign spotlighting the company’s commitment to its killer whales. The ad began airing Tuesday on network and cable television as well as online.
The new ad features Lara Croft, a veterinarian at SeaWorld Orlando, and Pedro Ramos-Navarrete, a senior member of the park’s animal rescue team, providing information about the lifespan and origin of killer whales, and emphasizes the emotional and personal aspects of caring for killer whales.
See the video here:
The national ad campaign comes as SeaWorld battles negative publicity about its killer whale program, largely spurred by the 2013 documentary “Blackfish” that aired on CNN and that took a critical look at SeaWorld’s killer whale program.
Since then, SeaWorld has come under fire from animal rights groups. The company said the new ad is intended to be a direct response to campaigns that target SeaWorld, including by groups such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), one of the harshest critics of SeaWorld’s practices.
“This campaign sets the record straight and ensures that the public has access to the facts about the company,” SeaWorld said in a statement.
The launch of the new campaign also marks a new era of leadership at SeaWorld. Joel Manby, former president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, officially moved into his new role as president and CEO of SeaWorld on Tuesday.
In January, former SeaWorld CEO Jim Atchison stepped down amid a period of declining park attendance, net income and revenue at the theme park company.
SeaWorld’s new killer whale campaign will run in concert with the company’s “Meet the Animals” campaign, a marketing initiative that puts a focus on patrons making up-close and personal connections with marine life at the SeaWorld theme parks.
SeaWorld has also introduced a national reputation campaign, the centerpiece of which is a website, AskSeaWorld.com, that aims to answer questions about how the company cares for its animals.
Questions, usually submitted via Twitter and Facebook, are also answered on SeaWorld's YouTube channel, and on the websites SeaWorldCares.com and SeaWorld.com/Truth.
Carnival adds room service items that cost extra
In a pilot program, Carnival Cruise Lines is introducing items on its room service menu that will cost extra.
The items are in addition to a basic menu of free items, which will continue to be available.
Carnival said the fee-based choices include chicken wings, fried shrimp, quesadillas, personal pizzas and sushi on ships that feature Bonsai sushi restaurants.
The free menu will still include seven hot and cold sandwiches, three salad choices, three desserts and eight beverages, along with a Continental breakfast menu.
Carnival said the changes were introduced to broaden variety and choice.
The pilot will start on Carnival Imagination, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Pride on April 12 and, based on guest feedback, may be expanded to other ships, Carnival said.
Celebrity plans more customized shore excursions
Celebrity Cruises will launch a series of new shore excursions around four themes that it identifies as pillars of its Modern Luxury branding.
The program includes 75 new excursions and 30 excursions that are in development, said Helen Paganos, Celebrity’s director of global product development.
Many excursions will be offered in a “Uniquely Celebrity” category, which Celebrity says will consist of tours that aren’t duplicated by any other cruise line. Some will be high-end adventures such as a Ferrari ride in Cannes, France. Some will be private or small-group experiences.
Paganos said that while some excursions will cost in the thousands of dollars, most are “reasonably priced” in the $179 to $289 range.
She said Celebrity offers about 3,100 tours worldwide, with about 1,100 of those specifically designed for Celebrity.
The three other themes will be Culture and Local, Lifestyle and Wellness, and Family. All are intended to resonate with the type of guests Celebrity targets with its Modern Luxury message and to differentiate Celebrity’s shore offerings, said Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity's senior vice president for sales, trade support and services.
The tours can be booked starting with 2015 sailings in Europe. As an incentive, Celebrity will offer a 10% discount on a package of excursions and free Wi-Fi in the process of coming and going to the excursion, she said.
As in the past, Celebrity will pay agents a commission on group tours but not on excursions booked for individuals.
Power station blast causes outages across D.C.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Widespread power outages affected the White House, the Capitol, museums, train stations and other sites across Washington and its suburbs Tuesday afternoon — all because of an explosion at a Maryland power station, officials said.
Many of the outages were brief, but some were longer and forced evacuations. Officials said a mechanical failure at a transfer station led to the outages, and terrorism was not suspected. Tens of thousands of customers lost power.
Some Smithsonian museums lost power. The National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Anacostia Community Museum were evacuated and closed to the public, a spokeswoman said.
At the White House, backup generators kicked on, so the interruption lasted only a few seconds. Power also went out at the State Department during the daily press briefing, forcing spokeswoman Marie Harf to finish her comments in the dark. Power in the U.S. Capitol building twice shut down briefly, and then came back on by way of a generator.
The mechanical failure occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at a transfer station in Charles County, Maryland, that is controlled by utilities serving Washington and southern Maryland. Homeland security officials in Washington and Maryland said there was an explosion at the station, although the two utilities, Pepco and the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, could not immediately confirm that there was a blast or fire. No one was injured, the utilities said.
The secret to how airports are making money (Hint: Not just flights)
WEST PALM BEACH — As airlines look to cut costs, a growing number of U.S. airports — including Palm Beach International — are filling the void by focusing on profits that have little to do with aviation.
Airports have become increasingly focused on boosting profits from sources including concessions and retail sales, land leases outside of the terminal, rental car charges and parking fees.
Those sources make up about 45 percent of the operating revenues at U.S. airports — and that number is steadily growing, according to the Airports Council International - North America, a trade group representing the airport and aviation industry.
At PBIA, non-aeronautical sources accounted for more than 60 percent of the airport’s operating revenues last budget year, and county officials are hoping to increase that amount.
As part of an update to the PBIA’s long-term development plan, airport officials will consider ways to boost revenue from non-aeronautical items and airport-owned property that is not needed for future aviation use.
“The way our contracts work with the airlines, it tends to be that they pay the net cost of operations,” said Michael Simmons, director of finance and administration at Palm Beach International Airport. “Anytime we can offset the cost of running the airport with other revenues, then that means the airlines pay a little less.”
Those savings don’t necessarily mean lower ticket prices for passengers, but they could help airport officials secure routes to new destinations or lure new airlines, Simmons said.
“We do think it helps an airline to maybe make a choice to start a flight or to keep service,” Simmons said. “Consumers want more choices. They want more non-stop flights. That is part of what we try to do.”
At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, officials launched a program six years ago to boost revenue from concession sales and parking fees, said Doug Wolfe, the airport’s chief financial officer. The airport recently completed upgrades to its concession areas, and revenues have jumped 26 percent over the last quarter, Wolfe said.
The airport plans to invest about $5 million in upgrades to help drivers find open spots in its parking garages, a change that is expected to boost parking fee collections.
A new curbside valet program is also planned, Wolfe said.
More than 70 percent of U.S. airports are focused on boosting non-aeronautical revenue by targeting customers who may not be boarding an aircraft, according to a 2013 study released by the airports council.
That represents a big shift for the industry. In 1990, less than a third of U.S. airports looking at ways to tap non-aeronautical revenue sources, the council’s survey shows.
“Non-aeronautical revenue critically determines the financial viability of an airport, as these revenue sources tend to generate higher profit margins in comparison with aeronautical activities, which are largely cost recovery,” the council wrote in a November study looking at non-aeronautical revenue. “Airports are heavily reliant on the non-aeronautical side of the business as a driver of revenue growth.”
Non-aeronautical revenues have grown roughly 4 percent a year since 2004, the council said. Parking, rental car fees and terminal concession sales are the three main sources of non aeronautical revenue at U.S. airports, according to the council’s study.
At the Fort Lauderdale airport, Wolfe said airlines and other aviation sources account for just 28 percent of the airport’s operating revenue — making the airport attractive to low-cost air carriers.
“In the aviation industry you only have a few opportunities to really reduce your costs,” Wolfe said. “When an airline is looking at their operating expense they have a lot of really heavy duty expenses in fuel, labor, and aircraft maintenance. The airport cost is very small, but it is very important because it is one of the few costs that the airlines feel like they have any control over.”
For the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, PBIA reported total operating revenues of $68.6 million, according to a financial summary filed with the Federal Aviation Administration. Roughly $42 million, or 61.3 percent of the airport’s revenue came from non-aeronautical sources. That is more than double the amount of non-aeronautical revenue the airport collected in 1996, according to FAA reports.
Last year, PBIA took in $15.6 million from parking and ground transportation fees, $11.4 million from rental car fees; and $8.6 million from land and non-terminal facility leases, a summary filed with the FAA shows. The airport collected roughly $4.5 million from airport sales at retail stores and airport eateries.
As part of its plan to boost revenue, PBIA recently agreed to lease a prime piece of airport-owned land at the southwest corner of Belvedere and Florida Mango roads to allow the construction of a travel plaza with a convenience store, gas station and a Dunkin’ Donuts. The plaza is designed for drivers waiting for a friend’s or relative’s flight to arrive at PBIA, but motorists traveling on Belvedere Road will also have easy access to the facility.
Under the development agreement, West Palm Beach Plaza LLC will lease the 3.5-acre site from the airport for $88,000 a year. The airport will receive 2.5 percent of annual gross revenues that exceed $1 million from the convenience store, restaurant and car wash. The airport will receive 3 percent of gross revenues that exceed $2.5 million.
The airport also will receive one-half cent from every gallon of fuel sold at the gas station, airport officials said.
The airport also leases county-owned property to the Hilton Palm Beach Airport and Trump International Golf Club. The airport draws revenue from those businesses, Simmons said.
Rental fees from airport-owned land have also helped the airline keep parking fees and food and beverage prices in the terminal low, Simmons added.
“A lot of times when we are making money, it is not to the end consumer,” Simmons said. “It is to another business…if we develop all of these other non-aeronautical sources, we don’t feel so compelled to go out and raise the price to the consumer.”
Palm Beach International Airport
1996
Aeronautical revenue: $24 million
Non-aeronautical revenue: $20.4 million
2014
Aeronautical revenue: $26.5 million
Non-aeronautical revenue: $42 million
TSA Collected $674,841 in Spare Change at U.S. Airports in 2014
Even in the age of debit cards and direct deposit, it turns out that loose change can be used to buy more than just a gumball or more time on a parking meter.
The Transportation Security Administration will look to expand its TSA Pre-Check program with the $674,841.06 in spare change air travelers left behind at checkpoints across the U.S. in 2014.
According to Alison Griswold of Slate.com, recently released figures from the TSA show a $37,000 increase in the amount of loose change collected by the agency this past year as compared to 2013.
In fact, that figure has risen each year since 2010, when the TSA counted just over $400,000.
Unclaimed change, defined by the TSA as "money passengers inadvertently leave behind at airport screening checkpoints," has typically been invested in the agency's operations ever since Congress gave it the green light to do so back in 2005.
"TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left at the checkpoint, however there are instances where loose change or other items are left behind and unclaimed," said agency press secretary Ross Feinstein via email. "Unclaimed money, typically consisting of loose coins passengers remove from their pockets, is documented and turned into the TSA financial office.
Unsurprisingly given its status as a major port of entry into the U.S., New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport produced the most unclaimed change last year, with $42,550 being left behind.
Los Angeles International Airport was a close second ($41,506), while San Francisco International Airport, Miami International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport rounded out the top five.
If the current trend continues, the TSA will rack up more than $700,000 in loose change in 2015.
Could Google Make Free International Roaming a Reality?
The Telegraph is reporting this week that there are talks going on right now between Google and Hutchison Whampoa, owner of the UK mobile carrier Three, on a deal to give Americans free international roaming while out of the country.
Google has been planning a mobile network for a while now, not so much to rule the world as to just shake up the status quo of the current mobile market in the United States. Google is seeking to eliminate roaming charges and create universal rates no matter where a customer is located. A wholesale access agreement between the two companies would give Google the chance to offer Americans the same rate for service in the UK, Ireland, Italy and several more countries where Hutchison Whampoa owns mobile networks.
Although Google keeps downplaying this as a “small scale” project quite like their Google Fiber plan, future demand may make a difference. The Google Fiber plan is to bring high speed internet access to places throughout the country where investment has not been made by existing carriers to upgrade internet delivery speed services. This extremely affordable plan has internet users across the country salivating for Google Fiber in their hometown.
According to the article, Google has a little plan to offer service to British consumers due to the fact that the rates in most European countries are relatively competitive and roaming charges are on their way to regulator termination. Hutchison Whampoa has already been seeking to end their customers' roaming charges so it makes for a nice fit for Google. In the U.S. on the other hand, mobile carriers enjoy much greater profit margins and with this initiative, analysts believe this will put pressure on the pricing of the major mobile operators.
The big problem with anyone who has become attached to their phone is that this may not be available to anyone who does not possess a Nexus 6. The experiment that is the Google Mobile Network is only going to be launched on that one device as of right now. Or course, everything is subject to change.
Still, having the ability to not have to figure out a way to make a call or send a text without incurring out of country fees or paying for a month of international service would be great. One World, right?
Virgin America to Begin Flying to Hawaii from SFO
There’s a new player in the Hawaii market.
Virgin America announced today it would begin service to Hawaii from its home base in San Francisco late this year.
Virgin will start flying to Honolulu, Oahu on Nov. 2 and to Kahului, Maui on Dec. 3, with fares on sale as of today from $199 one way (with taxes and restrictions applying).
According to the airline, Hawaii continues to be the No. 1 tourism destination from the West Coast, with over 3.2 million visitors in 2014. There are plenty of airlines that service the islands from the west coast – Hawaiian, American, Delta, United, Alaska, among them – but the carrier feels its customer service is strong enough to join the fray.
"This marks the next phase of growth for our airline, as we take delivery of new Airbus aircraft and expand our Elevate program with more world-class rewards destinations," said Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer David Cush in a statement. "With a loyal following of Bay Area-based business travelers who have long requested our expansion to the islands, we couldn't be more pleased to offer our 'work-hard/play-hard' frequent flyers the opportunity to fly in style to the ultimate getaway. We look forward to bringing a new kind of flight service to the market and to building lasting community ties with the state of Hawaii."
In a private call last month, Cush received permission from Hawaii Governor David Ige to bring Virgin America's new flight service to the state.
"On behalf of the state, I would like to welcome Virgin America to Hawaii and congratulate the company on its new service to the Hawaiian Islands," Ige said. "We are excited about the business and leisure travel opportunities the service will provide. We look forward to Virgin America's success in serving both visitors to and residents of Hawaii."
David Uchiyama, Vice President-Brand Management for Hawaii Tourism Authority, said bringing Virgin to the islands was five years in the making.
“This announcement is exciting news for Hawaii,” he said. “These new flights will increase access to the Hawaiian Islands from both our core U.S. West and U.S. East markets through Virgin America's extensive nationwide flight network. We estimate that flights will generate $138.6 million in visitor spending and $14.8 million in tax revenue for the state on an annual basis.”
Air India co-pilot starts fight with captain in cockpit minutes before flight – report
Verbal abuse and a fistfight reportedly took place in the cockpit of an Air India flight when the co-pilot attacked the captain before takeoff. The incident attracted extra attention after last month’s Germanwings crash in the French Alps.
"The commander told his co-pilot to take down critical take off figures for the flight. This involves writing critical facts like the number of passengers on board, takeoff weight and fuel uptake on a small paper card (trim sheet) that is displayed in front of the pilots for the entire duration of the flight. The co-pilot took offense at this and reportedly beat up the captain," the Times of India cited an airline source as saying.
Air India Flight 611 was reportedly minutes away from taking off from Jaipur for Delhi when the incident happened.
The claims by the source weren’t confirmed by Air India (AI) as the carrier’s spokesman, GP Rao, said that instead of a violent fight, “there was an argument between the two and nothing more.” He added that the pilots “have settled the issue.”
According to the spokesman, the commander made a decision “in the larger interest of the airline” not to delay the flight any further and move ahead as planned. The correct procedure would have been to report the incident, but that would result in everyone’s plans being ruined and the flight canceled.
Despite no violence in the cockpit, "both the pilots have been de-rostered [taken off flying duty],” and an inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Rao said.
The captain did mark the incident in a log entry with AI movement control after the pair landed the plane safely in Delhi.
It later turned out that the airline had previously received complaints over the co-pilot’s behavior while duty.
"Three years back, he asked the commander of a flight to come out of the cockpit, remove the stars on his shirt collar [epaulettes] and then fought with him. A year later, another commander complained about his 'rude and unbecoming' behavior in the cockpit and questioned his state of mind," a senior AI commander told the Times of India.
"AI and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should examine this latest problem in the cockpit. If the complaints about the said co-pilot's behavior are found true, then in the interest of aviation safety the authorities must act," another pilot said.
The incident takes place amid rising concerns for passenger safety among the AI staff. Recently an association representing Air India pilots wrote to the DGCA a complaint that co-pilots were being “forced to work overtime.”
“These co-pilots have being receiving an ad-hoc payment for more than 18 months which amounts to less than 1/3rd of their actual salary. They are being forced to work overtime without any remuneration and also are not allowed to take any kind of leave,” said the letter by the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association as cited by PTI. “Putting these highly-stressed and financially over-burdened co-pilots in the same cockpit... is a perfect recipe for disaster.”
The Air India incident comes as aviation authorities in Europe and around the world are implementing new safety regulations after the death of 150 people in the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash in the French Alps on March 27.
The investigators believe the crash was intentionally caused by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, who was declared “unfit to work” by a doctor due to his suicidal tendencies, but kept this information from his airline.
While in the air, Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit and initiated the decent of the plane, which saw the aircraft colliding with a mountain.
In response to the tragedy, European Aviation Safety Agency as well as Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Australia implemented new regulations, requiring two authorized personnel, including at least one pilot, to be present in the cockpit at all times.
Boeing Beats Airbus in Net Orders, Deliveries
U.S. planemaker Boeing beat its European rival Airbus in net new airplane orders and deliveries in the first quarter, according to figures released on Tuesday.
The two plane giants showed mixed results in the traditionally slow first quarter for new plane orders but the gap between them in deliveries widened after Boeing posted record first-quarter deliveries.
Airbus said it had booked gross orders of 121 aircraft between January and March, beating Boeing's total of 116.
After adjusting for cancellations and conversions between different models, it slipped behind Boeing with net orders for 101 aircraft as opposed to 110 for Boeing.
Airbus won the annual order race last year with 1,456 net orders, squeezing ahead of Boeing's total of 1,432. Both planemakers have set targets suggesting a slowdown this year.
In the first quarter, the bulk of Airbus's new business fell in March when Air Lease Corp. finalized orders for 55 aircraft including 25 revamped A330 wide-body models.
Philippine Airlines upgraded orders for 10 A321 jets to the A321neo, a re-engined 185-seat variant of the Airbus narrowbody family due to enter service in late 2016.
Ryanair Bans Pre-Bought Booze on Scottish Route to Party Island
Ryanair Holdings Plc has banned passengers from carrying alcohol into the cabin with them on flights connecting the Scottish city of Glasgow with the European party-island of Ibiza.
The new rule, unique to the route, means spirits or wine bought in the duty-free area must be checked in at the gate to be stowed or left behind, Europe’s biggest discount carrier said in an e-mailed response to queries. The policy took effect last week after consultation with Glasgow Prestwick airport and customers.
Many airlines, including Ryanair and rival EasyJet Plc, allow passengers to take their own alcohol to their seats on other flights but don’t permit them to consume it once aboard. Both carriers sell drinks as part of their standard service. Rules on consuming alcohol on planes are left to the discretion of airlines, according to the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority.
“We will not tolerate unruly behavior at any time,” Ryanair said. The carrier declined to say whether the policy was adopted because of a specific incident. A flight on the route was diverted to France in 2013 due to the behavior of some drunk passengers.
The Spanish island of Ibiza is known for its club and party scene, drawing bachelor and bachelorette groups from all over Europe. Dublin-based Ryanair operates 23 routes to the island, including eight from the U.K. and one from Ireland.
Carnival Cruise Lines Will Soon Be Brewing Beer At Sea
When setting sail on your next cruise you might want to skip the umbrella drink, as now there’s something a little bit better brewing aboard one ship.
Carnival Cruise Lines is adding an at-sea brewpub, and with it they’ll be brewing lagers and ales far from shore. The kegs and kettles will be loaded onto one of the newest ships in the fleet—Carnival Vista—that is scheduled to start doing its thing next year.
Right now it sounds like they’re still trying to figure out all the details, so no word on exactly what will be offered. However, we do know that things will be served up onboard within their RedFrog Pub, and we’re pretty sure that they will not be utilizing saltwater in any of their recipes.
US tourism sector outperforms as Americans buy fewer Chinese goods
Exports of American travel services to China doubled in the four years to 2014, the same year US trade in Chinese-made goods began its decline
For years China has been considered the factory for the world, a role that saw it supply most of the shoes, toys and clothes to US consumers. Now these roles are changing. US exports of services to China, especially travel, are growing rapidly while US imports of goods from China have been falling in recent months.
US export of services to China grew 10 per cent to roughly US$41 billion in 2014, faster than the 2.6 per cent growth of Chinese export of services to the US, according to official US data. The US trade surplus in services with China rose 14.5 per cent to US$26.8 billion last year.
In contrast, the US trade deficit in goods with China grew 7.5 per cent to US$342.6 billion in 2014, a new record, the data showed. US imports of goods from China fell from US$45 billion in October last year to US$31.2 billion in February, while US exports of goods to China dropped from roughly US$13.2 billion in October last year to US$8.7 billion in February.
"Total goods trade with China extended a rapid decline that began around November 2014. By a wide margin, the top US service export and largest service surplus to China in 2014 was travel, which represented 51 per cent of US service exports to China in 2014," said a report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).
US exports of travel services to China more than doubled from roughly US$9 billion in 2010 to US$21 billion in 2014, a much faster growth rate than other services, said USCC, a US government body that advises US Congress on Sino-US relations.
"That reflects increasing tourism by Chinese to the US," said Edmund Sim, a partner at Appleton Luff, an international law firm. US service export dollars are boosted by Chinese tourists purchasing property in the US, Sim pointed out. "The US property market has been a pretty good investment for them."
The number of Chinese tourists visiting the US surged 21 per cent to 2.19 million in 2014, faster than the 7 per cent growth of all tourists to the US which totalled 75 million, the US data said.
On average, each Chinese tourist spent US$6,000 to US$7,000 in the US, said Vivian Hong, Asia Pacific co-chief executive officer of Travelzoo, a Nasdaq-listed company offering online travel deals. "China has become the sixth biggest tourist source market for the US. Many Chinese tourists go to the US not only for sight-seeing, but to buy property, bring their children to universities and to shop."
Starting November, the US government extended the validity period of tourist and business visas for Chinese to 10 years from one year and the period of Chinese student visas to five years from one year.
The longer-term US visas will spur more Chinese to visit the US, Hong predicted. "China will become the country with the most tourist potential for the US."
US cities like Los Angeles and Chicago as well as states like Hawaii have been actively wooing Chinese tourists, Hong said.
Other US service export items were intellectual property, including computer software and trademarks, said USCC.
Hundreds of flights cancelled due to French strikes
The French Civil Aviation Authority has told airlines they need to cut 40 per cent of flights today (Wednesday) due to strikes by French air traffic controllers.
Ryanair has already cancelled over 250 flights and warned further cancellations and delays are likely.
The airline said the strike was 'unwarranted' and called on the EU and French authorities to take measures to prevent any further disruption.
"It's grossly unfair that thousands of European travellers will once again have their travel plans disrupted by the selfish actions of a tiny number of French ATC workers," it said.
All customers have been contacted by email and text message and advised of their options - a full refund, free transfer onto next available flight or free transfer onto an alternative flight routing.
EasyJet has cancelled 118 flights to and from France, including 10 to and from the UK, and is also keeping passengers informed of any flight changes via e-mail and text.
"Customers can also check flight information on our Flight Tracker page on our website," it said.
Air France has cut 40% of its medium-haul flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, 70% from Orlay, and 40% of flights from other French airports.
It said it will operate nearly all of its long-haul schedules.
Air France said last-minute delays and cancellations can also be expected and is strongly advising customers to rebook alternative flights from April 110.
It also advised passengers to update their contact details on its website with their telephone numbers or email address so it can keep them updated.
British Airways would not disclose numbers, but said it would be using larger aircraft as well as re-routing some flights to try 'to help as many customers as possible get to where they need to be'.
"Unfortunately there will be some knock-on delays to other parts of our short-haul network as a result of the strike action, given how much airspace in Europe will be affected. We are sorry for the disruption to customers' travel plans," it added.
The SNCTA is planning nine full days of strikes between April 8 and May 2, starting with a 48-hour walk-out.
Short-haul flights to and from France are most likely to be hit.
But even passengers flying to and from other European destinations, with flight paths over French airspace, are likely to be impacted.
French airspace is the busiest in Europe, with an average of 8,000 flights each day.
The strikes could cause disruption for thousands of British holidaymakers returning from their Easter breaks.
China to monitor its unruly tourists abroad
Authorities in China intend to keep close tabs on its misbehaving tourists abroad.
The China National Tourism Administration announced wide ranging measures involving law enforcement, customs officers, border control and even bank credit agencies in a bid to record all instances of inappropriate behaviour while overseas.
On their return to China, local authorities will work with misbehaving tourists to improve their conduct.
The agency said 'tourism reflects on the country and the people's image', adding that due to the sheer number of negative media stories in recent months, 'social supervision' of tourists is needed.
Authorities will keep records of any incidents for up to two years and has previously threatened to take action in serious cases, but has not disclosed what this might entail.
Recent cases of tourists behaving badly include causing disturbances on public transport, including mid-air assault of flight crew, defacing historic landmarks and many cases of reckless driving on foreign roads.
Many have taken place in Thailand with authorities there resorting to issuing visitors with Chinese-language etiquette manuals
Powdered alcohol could be banned before it hits Florida stores
TALLAHASSEE — Inventor Mark Phillips' hopes of selling powdered alcohol in Florida are dampening.
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee voted 25-1 for a ban on Palcohol, which is pretty much what the name suggests: dehydrated booze. Although four varieties — vodka, rum, cosmopolitan and margarita — won approval from federal regulators last month, Palcohol is facing blowback from 37 state legislatures this year, including Florida's.
Two committees in each chamber have now approved the ban, sponsored in the House by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, and in the Senate by Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami.
The push to ban powdered alcohol before it even hits liquor store shelves stems from a concern that it will be easier to overdose on liquor in a powdered form than as a liquid because it requires the drinker to mix the drink to have a safe alcohol content.
"We'd like to put a moratorium on it and see how the product works so there isn't abuse," Berman said Tuesday.
Each packet of Palcohol has approximately one ounce of powder. If added to about six ounces of water, it has the alcohol content of one standard drink, Phillips said.
That assumes it's added to water.
Berman, speaking Tuesday before the House Appropriations Committee, echoed worries brought by alcohol prevention activists in previous hearings.
"We've had so many problems in our state with other abuses of drugs," she said. "And now this powdered alcohol has a very large potential for abuse. People could be snorting it, people could be sneaking it into places."
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, the lone no vote Tuesday, said an outright ban isn't the best policy for a substance whose risks aren't confirmed because it hasn't hit the market yet. He's also worried about a one-year sunset provision added to the House version in committee.
"We're banning something that we don't even know what it is," he said.
Phillips says the state shouldn't get in people's way at all if they want to buy and use Palcohol.
Ultimately, he said, it's up to consumers to mix it with water and use it responsibly, as they would with liquid alcohol.
"The legislators are telling them they can't have a legal product, basically saying they know what's better than the people themselves," Phillips said in a statement. "Whether you are conservative or liberal, no one wants a nanny state telling its citizens what they can and cannot drink."
Saudis love to travel: New figures revealed
A new report published by Euromonitor International for The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2015 reveals today that online travel sales to residents in Saudi Arabia showed record 40% growth in 2014 to reach SAR6.5 billion in 2015, with the figure set to double to SAR13 billion by 2019.
United Arab Emirates continues to be the most popular destination in 2014. The city of Dubai attracts a heavy number of Saudis every year.
Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East in terms of the number of internet users - 8.5million in 2014, and the Kingdom ranked first in 2014 for active Twitter users.
Nearly all of the leading hotel chains in the Kingdom have now effectively devised online purchase and payment options to encourage domestic and international tourism.
Saudi ranks third globally in terms of smartphone ownership, with a penetration rate of nearly 73%, and mobile sales for hotels experienced a 28% increase in 2014 as a result. Hotel chains in the Kingdom such as Hilton, Ramada and Courtyard Marriott now have mobile specific websites to facilitate bookings.
Geraldine Calpin, Global Head of Digital at Hilton Worldwide said: “In 2014 Hilton Worldwide rolled-out its pioneering Digital check-in and room selection globally, including all 7 hotels in Saudi Arabia; putting our guests in the driving seat and giving them unprecedented choice and control across their entire stay. A first for the hospitality industry, the scale of the digital rollout marked the largest of its kind to date across the sector. Never before have guests been able to check-in on desktop, tablet and mobile devices, select their room from a digital floor plan and customise their room ready for arrival. We are truly revolutionising the industry and this is just the tip of the iceberg for digital at Hilton Worldwide.”
To coincide with this, Hilton Worldwide has launched an update to its Hilton HHonors iOS app, bookable websites in 22 different languages, and enhanced customer service via social media. Hilton Hotels were overall the biggest gainers in the Kingdom in 2014 with market share going up to 8% compared to 7% in 2013. The company also launched its DoubleTree brand in Dharan in early 2014, while occupancy rates and average daily rates improved.
Ahmed Skaf, IT Solution Business Manager at Samsung, is speaking on Smart Hospitality Trends at the first ever Vision Conference at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2015. He said: “Visitors to Saudi Arabia are now expecting much more with regards to technology. Not just from the initial booking process, but from what is available inside the hotel.”
He continued: “With increases in the number of domestic and international visitors travelling to and within Saudi, we have seen 40% growth in the number of hotels in the Kingdom adopting our smart TVs and other technologies as part of the Samsung Smart Hospitality Solution in the last 3 years. This smart technology, available in over 20 languages, provides a tailored experience suited to the culture and needs of the international visitor and is now a key factor for hotels to consider in order to remain competitive in an increasingly saturated market.”
Global technology brands including Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, LG Electronics, LEIN Technology and Equinox Arabia will be at Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events between 3-5 May this year for The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2015, demonstrating leading products and services to thousands of hospitality professionals from throughout the Kingdom.
One World Observatory opening May 29.
(CNN)It's official. New York's highly anticipated One World Observatory will open to the public on May 29, 2015.
Sitting on levels 100-102 of the One World Trade Center -- the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere -- it's vying to become the city's hottest new tourist attraction.
Visitors will be get panoramic views of pretty much every corner of New York City from 1,250 feet above ground.
It's obviously the scenes outside that sell this one but, to be fair, the developers have also come up with some impressive interactive features inside.
For starters, visitors get to the observatory via one of five "Sky Pod" elevators that whiz up to the 102nd floor in fewer than 60 seconds.
During the ride they'll be surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling virtual time-lapse that recreates the development of New York City's skyline from the 1600s to present day.
The Main Observatory space on the 100th floor will include an interactive skyline "concierge" known as City Pulse.
It's made up of a ring of HD video monitors that use gesture recognition technology to bring imagery to the screens, allowing guests to find out more about the landmarks and neighborhoods they're checking out from above.
There's also a Sky Portal -- a 14-foot wide circular disc that will deliver real-time, high-definition footage of the streets below.
Nice to meet you, Anna
The entire One World Trade Center, including the 408-foot spire, stands at a height of 1,776 feet -- the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The base is 200 feet by 200 feet, the same size as the original twin towers that were destroyed in the terror attacks of 2001.
Visitors who hang around long enough might even get to bump into Anna Wintour.
Conde Nast, which publishes Vogue magazine, was the first company to move into the One World Trade building when it opened in November, 2014.
Tickets to the One World Observatory go on sale from Wednesday, April 8, and are available on the official website www.OneWorldObservatory.com.