WAV Travel News - Tuesday Edition

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Bill Vervaeke, CDME

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Jun 23, 2015, 9:53:27 AM6/23/15

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Ryanair confirmed as world's largest international airline

Delta is the world's largest airline in terms of passenger numbers, but Ryanair carries more passengers on international routes than any other.

Latest data released by IATA revealed that Ryanair carried 86.3 million international passengers last year, making it the world's largest international airline, well ahead of easyJet in second place with 56.3 million.

British Airways lagged well behind in fifth place with 35.3 million, after Lufthansa with 48.2 and Emirates with 47.2.

Delta Air Lines carried more than 129 million passengers on domestic and international routes, making it by far the largest airline overall.

In terms of international and domestic passengers carried, Ryanair was the sixth largest in the world and easyJet the eighth biggest. Aside from Lufthansa, they were the only two non-US or Chinese airlines to feature in the top 10.

Total (International + Domestic Passengers)

Rank	Airline	Thousands
1	Delta Air Lines	129,433
2	Southwest Airlines	129,087
3	China Southern Airlines	100,683
4	United Airlines	90,439
5	American Airlines	87,830
6	Ryanair	86,370
7	China Eastern Airlines	66,174
8	easyJet	62,309
9	Lufthansa	59,850
10	Air China	54,577

International

Rank	Airline	Thousands
1	Ryanair	86,370
2	easyJet	56,312
3	Lufthansa	48,244
4	Emirates	47,278
5	British Airways	35,364
6	Air France	31,682
7	Turkish Airlines	31,016
8	KLM	27,740
9	United Airlines	25,708
10	Delta Air Lines	24,243

Domestic

Rank	Airline	Thousands
1	Southwest Airlines	129,087
2	Delta Air Lines	105,190
3	China Southern Airlines	91,729
4	American Airlines	67,761
5	United Airlines	64,731
6	China Eastern Airlines	57,986
7	US Airways	48,043
8	Air China	46,466
9	All Nippon Airways	39,277
10	Gol Airlines	36,311

Demand for Tampa Bay area hotel rooms on the rise

TAMPA — Demand for hotel rooms in Hillsborough County is outstripping availability, allowing the lodging industry to raise rates, but retain good occupancy numbers, according to Visit Tampa Bay, the company that promotes the county as a tourist and convention destination.

Revenue per available hotel room is up 13.3 percent, on average, since January, according to new data released to Visit Tampa Bay by STR Inc. (formerly Smith Travel Research). Hillsborough County, for the first time, is ahead in the revenue measure of all 10 destinations it competes with for both convention business and vacationers, the data shows.

STR statistics show that Hillsborough County room rates sit right in the middle of its competitive set. The average room price here is $118.13, compared with $106 a night in May and $104 a year ago. That compares with Orlando at $118.51 and Fort Lauderdale at $157.77, Visit Tampa Bay reported.

When looking at revenue per available room, Hillsborough County leads its competitors, which include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, North Carolina, Nashville, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth, as well as Milwaukee, Baltimore and Long Beach.

“This is great news for hotel operators in Tampa and Hillsborough County,” said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay.

“It’s a testament to the work of Visit Tampa Bay and our partners that our hotels are producing more revenue and profitability than ever,” Corrada said. “And yet, Tampa Bay remains extremely affordable in terms of rates, which shows the potential we still have as a tourism destination.”

Total revenues for hotels in 2015 are just shy of $300 million, more than 14 percent above the same time last year. County hotel occupancy for the year is 79.2 percent, nearly equal to Orlando (80.4 percent) and slightly behind Fort Lauderdale (84.6 percent).

Since Oct. 1, according to Visit Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County has collected $18.2 million in bed taxes, more than 14 percent above the same period last year.

Universal's Harry Potter expansions spark fans' imaginations

When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood next year, it will feature an upgraded version of the attraction at its sister parks in Orlando.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is growing beyond the borders of Orlando. But its first superfans hope there will be room for expansion at the boy wizard's first theme-park home as Universal adds new attractions at parks in Japan and California.

Wizarding World saw its first growth spurt when London-themed Diagon Alley was added at Universal Studios last year. It was connected — via Hogwarts Express train — to the original attraction, which turned 5 years old last week.

Another Wizarding World opened at Universal Studios Japan last summer, and Universal Studios Hollywood will become home to the third World next spring.

All three locations will feature the signature Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, but in California, it will be presented in 3-D. Japan's version recently was retrofitted to have those effects. Universal officials have not said whether Orlando's ride will be updated, but the biggest Potter fans expect similar upgrades here, if not one-ups.

Keith Carden of Casselberry imagines a stage show featuring wand duels and 3-D projections.

"That, I think, they're missing out on. They have the technology to do it already," said Carden, who, back in the day, waited with his 2-year-old daughter outside construction walls at Islands of Adventure.

Although he understands the business advantages of Universal's expansion strategy, he thinks Orlando should have first dibs on additions to the Potterverse.

"We were the first park, and I feel like that if they want to do something new or different, we should be the ones to get it," Cardin said. "Obviously, I want to see everything I can as fast as I possibly can."

Karen Martin, who frequently traveled from her home in St. Petersburg in the early days of the first Wizarding World, has been glad to see the expansions.

"I think it's good for other fans to get to enjoy what we have — I mean, I'm glad we got it first," said Martin, a firm fan of J.K. Rowling's fiction and the "Potter" films who says she grew to appreciate the theme-park version and approves of the Diagon Alley branch.

"I really appreciate Universal for using that Potter money in the best way," she said.

On her wish list is an attraction based on a Wizarding World sport with flying broomsticks.

"Quidditch is my absolute favorite thing about Potter," she said. "I think any sort of ride involved with that would be the coolest thing ever."

Back in 2010, Martin sometimes rode to Orlando with friend Cody Meacham, who, during the Potter construction, would spend days off outside the construction walls. ("I had to be the first one in there. That was ridiculous," he said.)

Meacham wishes Universal Orlando had devoted an entire park to Harry Potter's adventures.

But "looking back at it, they were taking a huge risk," Meacham said. "Obviously they didn't know what they outcome would be in the long run, so I can't say that they messed up."

Despite the franchise's popularity, the question remains whether Potter has staying power, said Chad Emerson, columnist with Tourist Attractions & Parks magazine.

"A road map might be the 'Star Wars' series. It really is starting to come back on every single level, from Lego Star Wars to new animated features," he said. "But it's really the new live-action content ["Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens"] that's coming up this winter that's going to keep it fresh."

The final film of the Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2," debuted in 2011.

"The good luck for them is the attraction was so amazingly done that even if Harry Potter loses some relevance, it's still an interesting place to go," Emerson said.

He'd like to see Universal explore the culinary side of the Potterverse, beyond butterbeer.

"With food innovation being so popular these days, I'd like to see them put as much effort into food-and-beverage innovation as they did with ride mechanism," Emerson said.

Although more Potter projects have not been announced for Universal Orlando, the resort is amid a building mini-boom. Going up are the Skull Island: Reign of Kong ride at Islands of Adventure, the Sapphire Falls hotel and Volcano Bay water park. Last month, Universal announced it will build "immersive" Nintendo-themed attractions within its resorts, although Orlando was not specified.

"I'm glad that they're doing different things and not just Potter. Like, the King Kong attraction, I think, is going to be cool, and I'm extremely excited that Nintendo is coming," Martin said. "I love Potter, but I want there to be diversity."

Airline checked bag, reservation change fees set 1Q record

NEW YORK — U.S. airlines continue to collect record fees from passengers who check suitcases or make changes to their reservations. In the first three months of this year, airlines took in $1.6 billion in such fees, up 7.4 percent from the same period last year.

That’s the highest amount for the first quarter since bag fees started in 2008, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. January through March is traditionally the slowest period for air travel.

The fees climbed, in part, because more passengers flew at the start of the year - 3.2 percent more seats were filled. The airlines also increased some fees and forced more passengers to pay them.

While the standard fee for the first checked suitcase remains $25, fees have been going up for the second or third checked bag or for overweight luggage. And more passengers are now subject to those fees, which can be as high as $200 per bag. For instance, United Airlines recently reduced the number of bags some elite frequent fliers can check for free.

And JetBlue Airways announced in November that it will soon start charging for checked baggage for its cheapest fares, although it has to disclose the amount of the fee and when it would apply to passengers.

All of these add-on charges, along with falling jet fuel prices, helped the largest 26 U.S. airlines post a combined $3.1 billion in profits during the first quarter. Their net profit margin reached 8 percent, a significant jump from the 1.3 percent margin in the year before.

During the past 12 months, the airlines took in $3.6 billion in bag fees and another $3 billion in reservation change fees, typically $200 for domestic tickets and as high as $1,000 for an international itinerary.

Uber could track passengers after they leave car, privacy group claims

Turn on or off the "God View?" A privacy group is concerned that Uber could abuse user trust

Uber says users will always "be in control" of their data

A privacy rights organization lashed out against Uber on Monday, accusing the country’s largest ride-sharing company of plans to deceptively collect personal data under an updated privacy policy slated to roll out next month.

In a 23-page complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the Electronic Privacy Information Center called for the agency to investigate Uber and halt possible privacy invasions ahead of a revised policy set to take effect July 15.

“Uber’s revised privacy policy creates several risks for American consumers,” said EPIC in its complaint.

But Uber said in a statement that the complaint has “no basis” and that users would “be in control” of how they release personal information.

“Our new privacy statements are much simpler to read and set out more clearly the data we collect, as well as how we use it,” the company said.

The biggest concern for EPIC, a Washington D.C.-based research center, is that Uber will collect location data from passengers even after they arrive at their destinations, as the Uber app can track GPS data if left running in the background of an iPhone, or other iOS device. Even users who turn off their GPS location finder could still be found through their phone IP address, which the privacy policy says offers a “unique identifier” for each user.

EPIC also claims that Uber will be able to access passenger’s contact lists, which it could use to send out promotional ads.

Such practices would not comprise new parts of the privacy policy. Rather, they are existing data collection possibilities that have come under scrutiny after Uber revised its policy May 28, with the intent, it said, to be jargon-free and clear to readers.

But exacerbating the possibility of privacy invasion, said EPIC, is that Uber could abuse its users’ trust. According to EPIC, Uber tracked the location of journalists reporting on the company who had used its app, and one employee shared that data within the company. Other employees had turned on “God View,” an internal program, to track customers without their knowledge.

Uber has acknowledged that it could potentially track location data and contact lists as it launches new features on the app, but said it would do so only with the permission of users. Whether that would be through opting-in or opting-out has yet to be seen. For now, Uber said it does not plan to begin either practice on July 15.

“Users will be in control: they will be able to choose whether to share the data with Uber,” the company said in a statement.

The FTC could not be reached Monday, and has not publicly stated how it plans to address the complaint.

Lawsuit against Boeing says airplane cabin air can turn toxic

A lawsuit filed by four flight attendants in Cook County Circuit Court says that when certain valves and seals leak, engine oil and byproducts can mix with drawn-in air, forcing harmful fumes into the airplane cabin.

Can airplane cabin air turn toxic?

Airplane cabin air can turn toxic, sickening passengers and crew, a problem that's been alleged for decades in the U.S. and around the world, says a lawsuit filed Monday against Chicago-based aircraft-maker Boeing Co.

Toxic fumes sometimes described as smelling like dirty socks can enter the cabin through a bleed-air system, which draws outside air through the aircraft engine and pumps it into the cabin. Drawing air from the engine is not normally a problem. But sometimes, for example when certain valves and seals leak, engine oil and byproducts can mix with drawn-in air, forcing harmful fumes into the airplane cabin, according to the suit filed by four Alaska Airlines flight attendants in Cook County Circuit Court.

Boeing's "dirty little secret," as the lawsuit calls it, in one instance led to those flight attendants vomiting and three of them passing out during a coast-to-coast flight that was diverted to Chicago in 2013. They were taken to a Chicago hospital, and two of them never returned to work, according to the plaintiffs' lawyer.

Attorneys for the flight attendants claim the crew was "poisoned" and that Boeing's "design defects" and failure to warn anybody about the dangers of toxic cabin air were fraudulent and negligent, and that the company is "knowingly endangering airplane passengers."

One expert said that such "fume events" are relatively common, likely happening on at least one U.S. flight per day.

The suit cites an internal email from a Boeing engineer who in 2007 wrote about the alleged fume problem, "I think we are looking for a tombstone before anyone with any horsepower is going to take interest."

However, Boeing over the years has maintained that there is no problem with bleed air, and that contaminants in cabin air remain at safe levels — assertions that it says are backed up by independent studies. On Monday, Boeing declined to comment about the lawsuit.

Chuck Horning, chairman of the aviation maintenance science department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., said contaminated bleed air can happen, but in his mind it's not a common occurrence. "Under normal conditions, I would find it hard to believe this would be a problem," Horning said.

All commercial aircraft models manufactured by Boeing and its rival Airbus of France use bleed-air systems, except for Boeing's newest model, the 787 Dreamliner. Fume events stem from jet engine oil contaminating the air. Contamination can happen for many reasons, including leaking engine seals, engine malfunctions and overfilling of an oil reservoir, according to the lawsuit.

Inhaling toxic cabin air can cause injuries because chemicals from heated jet engine oil include neurotoxins such as organophosphates, which are used in pesticides and nerve gases, the suit said.

Similar allegations about health effects from bleed-air systems have been made around the world, recently gaining attention in the United Kingdom and Australia, according to published reports.

The lawsuit filed Monday documents how Boeing has been "put on notice" more than 40 times that its aircraft were "unreasonably dangerous" but it failed to fix the problem by installing filters or sensors and alarms that could alert cabin crew of a toxic-fume problem.

"Our focus is on Boeing not fixing a problem they've known about for more than 60 years," Rainey Booth, one of the attorneys for the flight attendants, said in an interview. "The risk to any individual passenger might be low on a daily basis, but what we know is, every day people in this country are exposed."

Rainey said the flight attendants are seeking unspecified monetary damages, but the suit goes beyond that. "This needs to be fixed," Rainey said. "This is a very fixable, unnecessary risk."

Judith Anderson, an industrial hygienist who researches flight attendant health issues for the Association of Flight Attendants union, called using bleed air "a flawed design."

"You shouldn't be pulling air off an engine for ventilation air when you know that the engine can leak toxic oil into the air supply — without installing appropriate design measures to prevent the breathing air from being contaminated," Anderson said. "It doesn't make sense."

Anderson's own research published in a study said that based on data that probably under-reported fume incidents in 2006 and 2007, about 0.86 incidents per day happened in the United States, or nearly daily. She said a study in the United Kingdom showed it might be more common, in about one in every 100 flights.

"I'm not suggesting this happens on every flight and all passengers are getting sick — it's not like a conspiracy theory," Anderson said. "But it happens often enough that regulators should be doing something about it."

The flight attendant union earlier this year advocated that the airline industry should either halt the use of engine bleed air for cabin air supply or use filters to stop the circulation of contaminated air.

"People have this misconception that there are filters between them and whatever air is coming in (from the outside), but it's just not true," Anderson said. "All the aircraft manufacturers use the same system. It's not just a Boeing issue. It's a design issue across the board."

Despite her research, Anderson said she continues to fly on commercial flights.

"I don't think the average flier should be afraid to fly," she said. "I think the average flier should be aware of the potential for this to happen. And I think the manufacturers should be rethinking their systems and designing them in a way that won't put people at risk."

The Alaska Airline flight attendants suing Boeing are Vanessa Woods, Faye Oskardottir, Darlene Ramirez and Karen Neben, all residents of California.

According to the lawsuit:

The Alaska Airlines flight attendants are suing over an incident on July 12, 2013, when they were part of the crew on a relatively new Boeing model 737 — manufactured in 2012 — on a flight from Boston to San Diego. They noticed an unpleasant smell in the cabin, and Woods soon began feeling sick and eventually passed out. Neben told the flight captain that fumes were coming from the vents and that her throat was burning, and she was not feeling well. Oskardottir then said she didn't feel well, fainted and vomited. Two passengers with medical training tried to help. Then Ramirez and Neben got sick.

"I remember walking down the aisle and just gripping the seatbacks because I felt like I was going to fall over," Woods said in an interview. "The next thing I know, I was on the galley floor, looking up at Faye who was paging for assistance. She was mumbling incoherently into the PA system.

"It was beyond frightening."

The captain diverted the plane and landed at O'Hare International Airport. The flight attendants were taken to the emergency room at Resurrection Medical Center, near O'Hare. There, flight attendants reported that doctors concluded that their symptoms were consistent with "hydrocarbon exposure." The next morning, the flight attendants were still sick, disoriented and had trouble thinking or retaining information.

The flight attendants still have health problems arising from that flight, the suit alleges. Symptoms include nausea, pain, a metallic taste in their mouths, gastrointestinal difficulties, and extreme fatigue and exhaustion.

"My life has not been the same since," said Woods, 40, who had been a flight attendant for seven months and also worked as an occupational therapist. She has not returned to either job. "Basically, it's ruined my life."

She said she is excessively tired, had blinding headaches and would sweat blue substance from her skin.

"For the first month, I was totally and completely out of it," she said. "I felt like I couldn't think, like I was in a fog … When I would read, I would be switching letters and numbers. It's very odd. It's nothing I've ever had before in my life."

Woods said she had no idea that aircraft cabin air could allegedly become toxic, and she describes her injuries as brain damage.

She has had to return to live with her mother, she said.

"It's embarrassing and humiliating to say I'm unable to take care of myself at this stage in my life," she said. "I'm just hopeful that I can recover to some degree and try to become a productive citizen again. I was somebody who worked multiple jobs and had tons of energy and looked forward to going to work. And now, I'm just a different person."

Woods' mother, Fran Cruse-Woods, said it's sad.

"I had a daughter who hit the floor at 4:30, 5 in the morning and was out the door … and who had a full social life and things to do, a very productive, high-energy person," she said. "Now, all she does is sleep. … This whole thing has been devastating."

A similar lawsuit against Boeing regarding alleged toxicity of bleed air was filed by American Airlines flight attendant Terry Williams in Washington state and was settled in 2011. Terms were not disclosed.

A documentary film, "Angel Without Wings" is about the same issue.

Bill Vervaeke, CDME

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Jun 30, 2015, 10:11:07 AM6/30/15

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In case you missed these news stories.

Bulletin Warns of Heightened Threat of ISIS Attack on July 4th

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint bulletin alerting authorities to the “heightened threat of attack by ISIL and its supporters” ahead of the Fourth of July holiday and this summer in general.

The bulletin is titled “Holiday Celebrations Remain Attractive Target” and was sent to 18,000 law enforcement agencies around the country.

The document warns that that Independence Day celebrations and any activity which appears to defame the prophet Mohammed will “likely result in threats or plans to conduct violent extremist acts.”

FBI, DHS and National Counterterrorism Center officials "remain concerned about the difficulty in detecting violent extremists—especially lone offenders given the individualized nature of radicalization to violence,” the document states.

Syrian based ISIS members have been pressing through social media for adherents to carry out attacks wherever they are. The bulletin warns that attacks by “U.S. based ISIL supporters could happen with little to no warning.”

The document also cautions the U.S. government and military personnel to be mindful of their social media presence and any personal postings which could “attract violent extremists’ attention."

The bulletin comes after an attack by an ISIS supporter on a resort last Friday in Tunisia left 38 dead, many of them European tourists.

Baha Mar files Chapter 11

The unfinished Baha Mar resort in Nassau, Bahamas, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to complete construction and open as soon as practical, according to a statement issued late Monday by Sarkis Izmirlian, chairman and CEO of Baha Mar Ltd., the developer.

Baha Mar’s board of directors determined that due to the financial consequences of repeated delays by the general contractor, China State Construction, the Chapter 11 process was the best path to put a viable capital structure in place to complete construction and open the resort.

The filing was made in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Baha Mar will file an application in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas seeking approval of the U.S. court orders.

Under terms of the filing, Izmerlian agreed to arrange the funding for the debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility.

The financing will enable Baha Mar to operate and meet its financial obligations during the Chapter 11 process.

The DIP amount is up to $80 million, of which up to $30 million will be utilized by Baha Mar over the next 30 days.

Izmerlian said that the general contractor repeatedly missed construction deadlines, which caused sizable delay costs and forced the resort to postpone its opening.

“Unable to open, the resort has been left without a sufficient source of revenue to continue our existing business,” he said.

The original opening date had been set for December 2014. After China State guaranteed that the resort would open on March 27, 2015, Baha Mar undertook a number of preparations, including the hiring and training of close to 2,000 employees and purchasing goods and services.

When the March 27 date came and went with no opening because construction was not completed, Izmerlian said Baha Mar maintained employment levels and salaries in anticipation of a revised opening date.

Baha Mar sought help from its major lender to bring the project to fruition. “We informed both the lender and the general contractor of our willingness to invest more of our own funds to help cover the delay costs. Our efforts, as well as those of the Bahamian government, have not accomplished that objective,” Izmerlian said.

“The Chapter 11 process is the best path for Baha Mar to now undertake,” he said.

Baha Mar will continue to operate and fund payroll for the time being.

“Baha Mar believes that a negotiated solution is possible among existing parties that would lead to its completion and opening. We will do our best to continue to engage the resort’s lender to reach a consensual solution to complete construction and open,” he said, but warned that if a resolution is not reached in the next few weeks, difficult decisions would have to be made, including workforce reductions.

Izmerlian referred to the frustration and disappointment among members of the travel industry and guests because of the failure to open.

“All of this now stops with and can be remedied through the Chapter 11 process,” he said.

Baha Mar hotels include the Grand Hyatt, Rosewood, the Baha Mar Casino & Hotel and the SLS Lux. The project’s fifth hotel and lone pre-existing property, the Melia Nassau Beach, will continue to operate during the Chapter 11 proceedings.

Travelers to Greece advised to bring sufficient cash

Travelers heading to Greece should make sure they bring enough euros in cash to cover emergencies, given that banks in the country will be closed from June 29 to July 6, advised the U.K.’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Greek government decided to close the banks and establish strict limits on ATM withdrawals after bailout negotiations between the country and its creditors stalled over the weekend.

The Greek government said it is not limiting withdrawals on cards issued outside of Greece, but long lines have formed at ATMs in the country, making it difficult to get cash quickly, according to reports.

The system for paying with debit and credit cards for retail transactions continues to function, noted the U.K. government, but travelers should have sufficient cash with them in case those banking services fail.

Travelers should take appropriate security precautions against theft, added the U.K. government.

Bailout terms from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have been rejected by the Greek government. The Greek people will vote on whether to accept the terms in a snap referendum on July 5. If the vote is no, Greece could default on its debt and leave the eurozone.

According to this list, Florida is the worst state

For Floridians, there are any number of reasons to love the state: sunsets, beaches, theme parks, palm trees — we live where people vacation.

But according to one website, Florida is far from the best state. Actually, it’s the worst.

Yes, Thrillist ranked the 50 states — the list touts itself as the “definitive and final ranking” — based on “everything,” and the Sunshine State came out on the bottom.

Before the list even begins, the author apologizes to his cousins in the state: “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. It appears nothing could.”

Here’s what the list’s entry for Florida says:

“When putting together a list such as this, there can be some temptation to defy popular expectations, and go against the grain. However, Florida’s awfulness resume is so staggeringly impressive that it couldn’t go any other way. You were born for this. Embrace it.”

It’s yet to be determined if lists such as this, which are increasingly popular online, have any real effect on a state or its ability to draw new businesses and tourists.

In fact, Florida has seen its tourism numbers leap in the past few years. Florida broke its annual tourism record in 2014. And Palm Beach County has seen a boom in hotel stays.

Sure, the state’s real estate market was hit hard by the recession, but home sales are up, and Palm Beach seen its property values rise 10 percent over last year.

So which state is No. 1? Michigan, which the ranking says has been mischaracterized because of Detroit’s issues but actually has a wealth of strengths, including its coastline and beer offerings.

Although Florida is no slouch when it comes to beaches and brews. South Florida is home to a wealth of craft breweries, and the state has 663 miles of beaches and almost 1,200 miles of coastline.

Crashes in Alaska brought safety steps for tourism flights

Officials moved to heighten safety of sightseeing flights after deadly 2007 crashes in Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- A federal agency installed weather cameras and took other steps in Alaska in recent years to aid the safety of sightseeing planes like the one that crashed last week and killed all nine people aboard, officials said.

The locations of the webcams include Misty Fjords National Monument in southeast Alaska, where the plane operated by Promech Air crashed on a cliff above a lake.

The cause of the crash has not been determined and an investigation was continuing.

The safety measures were implemented after two sightseeing planes crashed within a month in 2007, killing 10 people and raising concerns about Federal Aviation Administration oversight of the Alaska air tour industry and pilot training to deal with weather conditions.

In the eight years prior to 2007, there were five fatal air tour crashes in Alaska, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said by email.

"A lot of people down south think we're just a bunch of reckless cowboys up here who don't care about safety, which couldn't be further from the facts," said Kevin Roof of Taquan Air, which operated a Misty Fjords flightseeing plane that crashed in 2007.

He welcomed the steps that have been taken to make aviation in Alaska safer.

The weather cameras have "made a huge difference in making a go or no-go decision," Roof said about flights, noting the company no longer has to send a scout to check the weather on questionable days.

The webcams provide glimpses of near-current conditions, with images updated every 10 minutes, according to the FAA. The images can be compared with the view on a clear day.

Officials with Alaska aviation safety groups say strides have been made to improve flight safety in general in a state notoriously treacherous for pilots — many times because of weather.

All air tour operators with more than one pilot must now put their pilots through the training program, Gregor said.

Among other things, the FAA created a computer program that gives pilots a visual display of the route to and from Misty Fjords, and air tour companies can program in different weather scenarios so pilots can see what they might encounter and know when they should turn around for safety reasons, he said.

Every region of the nation's largest state has its own unique weather systems and patterns.

Ketchikan, like most of southeast Alaska is in a rainforest, where subtle temperature changes in the high-moisture content can make clouds suddenly appear or disappear.

Weather continuously shifts in mountainous southeast Alaska, making for different conditions in a small geographic area. It can be beautiful in Misty Fjords National Monument but horrible just a few miles away in Ketchikan.

Officials have not released any details about the weather at the site of the crash last week. The eight passengers on the plane were on an excursion offered through Holland America Line. The pilot also was killed.

Holland America has suspended flightseeing tours operated by Promech, cruise line spokeswoman Sally Andrews said by email.

No decision has been made on the length of the suspension, she wrote.

Andrews said Holland America will continue offering flightseeing excursions in Ketchikan and other Alaska ports but has offered guests a chance to cancel any currently booked flightseeing excursion this week with a full refund.

2 Uber executives ordered to stand trial in France

2 Uber executives ordered to stand trial in France over charges including 'deceptive' business

PARIS (AP) -- Two Uber France managers have been ordered to stand trial on behalf of the San Francisco-based company on charges including "deceptive commercial practices" and complicity in illegal activities linked to its low-cost ride-hailing service.

The Paris prosecutor's office said Tuesday that Thibault Simphal and Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty were taken into custody on Monday after a police sweep at Uber France headquarters. They will appear in a Paris court on Sept. 30.

French authorities say the low-cost UberPop service is illegal and are frustrated that Uber doesn't pay the same taxes and social charges as traditional taxis. Uber calls the French system outdated and says it needs reform to keep up with technological changes.

Claiming unfair competition, taxi drivers staged a violence-marred strike on the issue last week, blocking many French roads.

Striking French ferry workers block Eurotunnel for 2nd time

Striking French ferry workers block train traffic between France, England for 2nd time

CALAIS, France (AP) -- About 100 striking French ferry workers have blocked train traffic between France and England for a second time in a week.

Both freight companies and Eurostar said they were suspending train services on Tuesday after the workers blocked the tracks in the French port city of Calais. The port workers are striking for a second week over expected job cuts.

The Eurostar train service carries about 10 million people a year across the English Channel.

An Associated Press photographer saw the striking workers swarm the tracks on Tuesday afternoon.

After resisting for years, JetBlue adds checked bag fee

Longtime holdout JetBlue Airways adds new fee for checked suitcases; lowers some other fees

NEW YORK (AP) -- The era of free checked suitcases on JetBlue has come to an end.

The airline proudly proclaimed itself a holdout on fees for years, allowing passengers to check one bag for free. Now it will charge up to $25 for checked luggage.

The move leaves Southwest Airlines as the only major U.S. carrier not to charge a bag fee.

JetBlue Airways had announced the change in November but didn't detail how it would be implemented until Tuesday. The fee only applies to new bookings; existing reservations still get one free bag.

Passengers will pay less if they plan ahead. Those with the cheapest tickets will pay $20 each way if they check in online or at a kiosk. The fee jumps to $25 if they go to the counter. A new fare class that costs about $15 extra each way would include one free bag.

Fees for a second checked bag and reservation changes are being lowered.

The airline plans to reinvest the millions of dollars it will collect from bag fees into new seats and TVs, according to Marty St. George, JetBlue's executive vice president of commercial products and planning.

"Some of these changes are going to help pay for what's the biggest product upgrade JetBlue has had in the history of the company," he told The Associated Press in advance of the announcement.

Under pressure from investors and Wall Street analysts, JetBlue has been slowly adopting the practices of other airlines. It has launched and then expanded a first class product called Mint. It has reduced legroom on some planes to fit more passengers. Now it is charging for bags, something other carriers started doing in 2008.

The New York-based airline still stands out in other ways. By the end of next year, it will offer free Internet on all its Airbus A320 and A321 jets. Passengers also get free access to more than 100 channels of live satellite TV and radio and JetBlue still has more legroom than its competition.

JetBlue doesn't have a fixed bag fee like other airlines. Instead, it has rolled out three new fare classes. The cheapest, called Blue, doesn't include a checked bag — although passengers can always add one later at a higher cost. The next fare, Blue Plus, includes one free checked bag, more frequent flier points and lower fees if passengers want to make changes to the reservation. The most-expensive tier is called Blue Flex and comes with two free checked bags and allows changes without penalty.

The fare difference between Blue and Blue Plus will change based on route and demand but should be "about $15," according to JetBlue. Blue Flex would cost about $100 more each way than the cheapest tickets and is fully refundable.

Online travel agencies like Orbitz, Priceline and Expedia, will — for the foreseeable future — only sell the cheapest fares, those that don't include a checked bag. Passengers will still have to pay at the airport for their checked bags but St. George notes that about 75 percent of passengers book directly with JetBlue.

Some fees are being cut. The charge for a second checked bag will drop from $50 each way to $35. JetBlue used to charge $75 to $150 to make changes to a reservation, based on the price of a ticket. That fee is dropping to $70 to $135 for the cheapest tickets and $60 to $120 for the Blue Plus fares.

WestJet flight diverted after threat, cleared of passengers

June 30 (Reuters) - A WestJet Airlines flight bound for Toronto was diverted Monday evening to Winnipeg and evacuated after an unspecified threat and six passengers were injured when leaving the plane, the airline said on its official Twitter account.

It marks the second time in three days that a WestJet flight had to be diverted because of a threat.

On Saturday, a flight from Halifax to Edmonton was diverted to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Police searched the aircraft, and no bomb was found.

WestJet said the plane, which took off from Edmonton, had been cleared by police, and would go back into service after routine maintenance and safety checks.

WestJet did not offer details on the latest threat, or the seriousness of the injuries.

Passengers stuck in Denver overnight after jerk lights cigarette on United flight

If you’ve ever wondered why commercial airplanes are still filled with no smoking signs, announcements and ashtrays on the lavatory doors nearly 30 years after smoking was banned on flights, just look to United Flight 677. The Boston-bound plane was forced to turn around just 30 minutes after leaving Denver because an unnamed male passenger refused to put out his cigarette.

Details of the incident are still unfolding, but apparently the passenger retired to the plane’s bathroom in the economy section after feeling ill, according to officials from United Airlines and Denver International Airport. However, once inside, he promptly lit up.

The aroma quickly tickled the nostrils of nearby flight attendants, who repeatedly asked the man to stop. When he refused, the plane was turned around and landed back in Denver, where police officers took him into custody. He was not arrested and has not been charged with a crime, so his name remains confidential. Instead, he was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

As for the other passengers, they had to spend Friday night in Denver, as continuing the flight would have put the flight crew outside of their legally scheduled hours. Seems like it would only be fair to send him the bill.

Greyhound Expects More Than 500,000 Riders to Travel Fourth of July Weekend

With a whopping 41.9 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this Fourth of July weekend, driving on roads across the U.S. promises to be a crowded, stressful experience.

But for the 500,000-plus traveling with Greyhound Lines to more than 2,300 U.S. destinations this upcoming holiday weekend, getting there is bound to be far less difficult.

In anticipation of a busy holiday period this summer, one in which it plans to carry more than a half a million customers, Greyhound has unveiled a new feature known as BusTracker that allows its riders to track their bus in real-time in order to gain a better idea of when they will arrive at their destination.

"We want to ensure that our customers' experience with us this holiday weekend is as hassle-free as possible," said Greyhound Lines chief commercial officer Andy Kaplinsky in a statement. "Customers can have confidence in knowing that by traveling on Greyhound for the July Fourth holiday, they can simply sit back, relax and enjoy a safe, comfortable ride with access to our premium amenities."

In addition to the new BusTracker feature, access to Wi-Fi and power outlets is certain to provide added convenience and comfort for the hundreds of thousands boarding Greyhound buses this weekend. Those travelers will also be able to access the OnTouch onboard catalog, which allows customers to sort through destination packages and purchase tickets to attractions at their next destination.

"We expect there to be a high demand beginning now through the post-holiday Monday, July 6," added Kaplinsky. "We encourage customers to buy tickets now, to ensure that they get a seat on their desired schedule at the lowest fares."

Kaplinsky also encouraged customers to "consider traveling on off-peak travel dates to allow for more schedule options."

With a busy weekend for travel ahead, that sounds like a good idea.

Cheapest July 4 gas prices in five years predicted

Floridians will see the cheapest Fourth of July gas prices in at least five years as a record number of Americans are expected to hit the road this holiday week, the travel club AAA said.

A gallon of regular unleaded gas averaged $2.69 Monday in Florida, down from $2.71 a week ago and nearly a dollar off last year's $3.62, the travel club said. In the last week Florida's gas prices have been running about eight cents cheaper a gallon than the national average.

"Motorists have been nervous about rising pump prices during the past five months, but will be delighted to see that prices are on the way back down," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. "Gas prices are likely to continue falling through the holiday weekend, and travelers will find the cheapest gas prices in at least five years."

Concerns about a worldwide glut in oil supplies are causing gas prices to fall, Jenkins said. "Pump prices have likely hit their peak for the year and should continue falling," he predicted.

An estimated 35.5 million Americans are expected to take a road trip during the Fourth of July holiday week. That's the most since 2000 when records started to be kept, AAA said.

South Florida gas prices have been running about a dime more than the statewide average, due to higher local gas taxes.

In Broward, regular gas averaged $2.79 a gallon, down from $2.81 a week ago and 87 cents from a year ago, AAA said.

The average price of regular gas in Palm Beach County was at $2.84 a gallon, down from $2.86 a week ago and $3.723 from a year ago.

Seven years ago in July, a gallon of regular gas hit an all-time high here. The highest recorded price of regular gas was set in Palm Beach County at $4.18 a gallon on July 17, 2008. Broward hit a high of $4.14 on July 2, 2008.

State Park Where Visitors Mine for Diamonds Boasts Another Amazing Find

At a rather amazing Arkansas state park, the diamonds are a visitor’s best friend.

The Associated Press reports one tourist at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro came away with something offering more monetary value than those priceless memories afforded by the trip: an 8.52 carat diamond.

The AP reports, “Park officials said Friday that the gem found by Bobbie Oskarson of Longmont, Colorado, is the fifth largest diamond found since the park was established in 1972. The park does not provide an estimate of the diamond's potential value.”

Without a firm value, we have to estimate that it’s roughly more valuable than, say, those Mickey ears you snagged when you last went to Disney World.

Delta to resume Cuba charters from Atlanta

Delta Air Lines hinted it may restart direct charter flights from its Atlanta hub to Cuba next year.

Flights to Havana may resume from spring 2016, says Tony Torres, Delta's General Manager of Sales for the Caribbean and Central America.

"Delta is very interested in serving the Cuban market. It's such a unique market that people have not had access to in the past," said Torres.

The comments come after a delegation of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta visited Havana recently, which included Delta representatives, business leaders and Atlanta officials, including Mayor Kasim Reed.

The World Affairs Council meeting heard that tourism experts estimate Cuba could receive up to five million US visitors within two years, once general unrestricted tourism is permitted.

Delta expects "to be in a position to capitalize on that when these markets start to open," Torres said.

Farm Waste and Animal Fats Will Help Power a United Jet

Sometime this summer, a United Airlines flight will take off from Los Angeles International Airport bound for San Francisco using fuel generated from farm waste and oils derived from animal fats.

For passengers, little will be different — the engines will still roar, the seats in economy will still be cramped — but for the airlines and the biofuels industry, the flight will represent a long-awaited milestone: the first time a domestic airline operates regular passenger flights using an alternative jet fuel.

For years, biofuels have been seen as an important part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And airlines, with their concentration around airports and use of the same kind of fuel, have been seen as a promising customer in a biofuels industry that has struggled to gain traction.

Now that relationship is showing signs of taking off.

On Tuesday, United plans to announce a $30 million investment in one of the largest producers of aviation biofuels, Fulcrum BioEnergy, the biggest investment so far by a domestic airline in the small but growing field of alternative fuels. (Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, last year announced a smaller investment in Fulcrum.)

The quantities that United is planning to buy from Fulcrum constitute a small drop in its voluminous fuel consumption. Last year, United’s fleet consumed 3.9 billion gallons of fuel, at a cost of $11.6 billion.

But airlines are increasingly under pressure to reduce carbon emissions. The Obama administration proposed this month that new limits on aviation emissions be developed, and the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency, is expected to complete its own negotiations on limiting carbon pollution by February 2016.

“There is a significant role for biofuels within the aviation sector, specifically for reducing carbon emissions,” said Debbie Hammel, a senior resource specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, who focuses on biofuel.

Airlines, in turn, say they have every reason to adapt, not only to reduce pollution but also to lower what is usually their biggest cost: jet fuel.

Fulcrum, a California-based company, has developed and certified a technology that turns municipal waste — household trash — into sustainable aviation fuel, a kind that can be blended directly with traditional jet fuels. It is currently building a biofuel refinery in Nevada to open in 2017, and has plans for five more plants around the country.

Fulcrum said its technology can cut an airline’s carbon emissions by 80 percent compared with traditional jet fuel. “There is definitely a huge interest from airlines in this market,” said Angela Foster-Rice, United’s managing director for environmental affairs and sustainability.

United’s deal with Fulcrum is one of many that airlines have made in recent years.

Alaska Airlines aims to use biofuels at least at one of its airports by 2020. Southwest Airlines announced last year that it would purchase about three million gallons a year of jet fuel made from wood residues from Red Rock Biofuels. The first blend of this new fuel product, however, won’t be available until 2016.

Last year, British Airways joined with Solena Fuels to build a biofuel refinery near London’s Heathrow Airport, which will be completed by 2017.

United’s deal is the airline’s second major push toward alternative fuels. In 2013, the airline agreed to buy 15 million gallons of biofuels over three years from a California-based producer called AltAir Fuels, which makes biofuels out of nonedible natural oils and agricultural waste. United expects that the first five million gallons from AltAir will be delivered this summer at its Los Angeles International Airport hub to help power the flights to San Francisco.

For the first two weeks, four to five flights a day will carry a fuel mixture that is 30 percent biofuel and 70 percent traditional jet fuel; after that, the fuel will be blended into the overall supply, United said.

“The AltAir project serves as a catalyst intended to pave the way for the industry,” Ms. Foster-Rice said. By burning biofuel products like farm waste that have already absorbed carbon during their lifetime, jet engines avoid introducing into the atmosphere new carbon from a fossil fuel that has been locked away, underground, for millions of years.

And the airlines seem to have little choice. For example, airlines, unlike automakers, cannot turn to other options like electrification, said Ms. Hammel of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is why it is important, she added, that the fuels be sustainably produced. But despite the airlines’ interest, there are still substantial hurdles to the large-scale development of biofuels — most notably reasonable cost and reliable supplies.

“It remains quite difficult to get biofuels for aviation that is cost-effective, and to make sure the fuels will be available,” Ms. Foster-Rice said. The airline conducted its first test flight in 2009, with biofuels from algae.

Then there is the issue of where the biofuels companies get their raw material. E. James Macias, Fulcrum’s chief executive, said that the company had secured 20-year agreements from municipal waste management companies, including Waste Management, to provide stable supplies for the company’s projects.

He said Fulcrum could produce its biofuel for “a lot less than” $1 a gallon. (United bought its jet fuel for $2.11 a gallon, on average, in the first quarter, and said its deal with Fulcrum was competitive with the price of traditional jet fuel.)

“We are producing very large volumes at a very good price,” Mr. Macias said. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and neither company disclosed the size of United’s equity stake in Fulcrum.

Behind the deals is pressure on airlines to reduce carbon pollution. Although they account for about 2 percent of global carbon emissions, airlines are one of the fastest-growing sources of carbon pollution around the world.

Separately from the Obama administration’s recent push, commercial airlines have already voluntarily committed to limit the growth of their carbon emissions to 2 percent a year through 2020, then cap emission growth after that. By 2050, the industry hopes to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to half of their 2005 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association. But getting there will not be easy.

“That is why it is important to actually invest, and be willing to take on some of the risk,” Ms. Foster-Rice said, “and encourage the companies to really focus on jet fuel at a cost-competitive price.”

Bullet Train Passenger Torches Himself

AT LEAST 1 OTHER TOKYO-OSAKA PASSENGER KILLED

NEWSER) – A passenger on one of Japan's high-speed bullet trains set himself on fire today, filling a carriage with smoke, Japanese officials say. National broadcaster NHK reports that the man and a female passenger are dead. Japan's transport ministry and a fire official say the victims were in a state of "cardiopulmonary arrest," the term used before official confirmation. The passenger apparently poured oil over his head before setting himself on fire, according to a transport ministry official.

The train stopped when a passenger pressed an emergency button after finding one of the two victims collapsed on the floor near a restroom in the first car, the transport ministry official says. The other victim was found collapsed in an area between the first and second cars. At least nine others were injured, one seriously, mostly from smoke inhalation, a fire department official says. The train, which was traveling from Tokyo to Osaka, remained stopped on the tracks outside the city of Odawara for about three hours, and bullet train service between Tokyo and Osaka was suspended.

Remote-controlled passenger flights 5 years away, CEO says

(CNN )Little drones flying overhead are one thing. A much larger, unmanned, four-seater airplane is another.

You may not have heard about it, but a 4,100-pound twin-propeller experimental airplane called the Centaur was flight-tested this month at a Federal Aviation Administration-designated site in Rome, New York.

The Centaur flew with no pilot in the cockpit, becoming the first large-scale fixed wing unmanned aircraft to fly at an FAA-approved test site, according to Aurora Flight Sciences Corp., which makes the Centaur.

It represents an important new step toward airplanes without pilots in the cockpit being able to fly in the nation's commercial airspace.

Currently, the FAA limits large unmanned planes to special military or civilian test zones. But the popularity of drones and other remote-controlled aircraft is prompting officials to write new regulations for this kind of emerging technology.

Aurora calls Centaur an "optionally piloted aircraft" because it can be piloted in the cockpit or by remote control. When a pilot is operating it inside the cockpit, the aircraft is perfectly legal to fly around the U.S. like any other small passenger plane.

It's marketed as a cheaper way for pipeline operators or mining companies to survey their property. But if CEO John Langford has his way, people will be riding in them too.

"I'm a huge believer that the unmanned airplane revolution will make aviation safer for everybody," he told CNN. "That isn't to say there won't be accidents, but the overall level of safety will go up as the robotic stuff is introduced."

For many Americans, the idea of 30-foot-long remote-controlled airplanes flying overhead might take some getting used to.

Best-case scenario, in five to seven years, Langford guesses we'll see planes like the Centaur operate under the same U.S. certification levels that manned airplanes currently do.

Between now and then the FAA will have to develop new regulations for these remote-controlled planes. Engineers will have to perfect collision avoidance technology that will prevent crashes.

"There's kind of a race to do that now," he said.

FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker told a House committee this month that "very robust" technologies are being tested which "will allow the vehicles to stay clear from humans and other vehicles. We just need to make sure that technology is robust enough to incorporate into our air system."

The Centaur looks a lot like any other general aviation plane, with two propellers, three wheels, two passenger seats and two cockpit seats for pilots to sit in. It can fly as high as 27,500 feet and as far as 2,300 miles when it has a 200-pound payload. Top speed: about 200 mph. In just four hours, it can be converted from remote-control mode into a more traditional plane that will only fly if there's a pilot in the cockpit.

But unlike typical private planes at your local executive airport, the Centaur is outfitted with gear that allows a pilot to fly it from the ground, using not much more than a laptop computer and a satellite or radio link.

In company video showing the June 12-15 test in Rome, you can see equipment in the cockpit controlling the yoke, which normally would be handled by a pilot.

Aurora Flight Sciences is no stranger to drone technology. The company had a big hand in developing the U.S. military's Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned spy plane.

Earlier in his career, Langford, an MIT grad, interned at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and worked as a Lockheed engineer helping to develop the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter jet.

And as scary as it is to think about, you have to ask: How hard would it be for bad guys to get hold of a Centaur and do God-knows-what?

"Secure networks are made by humans, so they're not totally 100% perfect," Langford acknowledged. "You deal with it the same way you deal with all secure networks, which is, they have to be protected and there's a high degree of encryption."

Will remote-controlled small passenger planes lead to jetliners with no pilots in the cockpit? "I don't think we'll ever see that in our lifetime," Langford said. "I think the big commercial operations will continue to be done by professionals."

However, he said we may see something like Uber in the sky for short-distance travelers trained as "operators" -- but not as highly skilled as today's licensed pilots.

"If we want to go someplace, you'll have an app like Uber," he said. "The plane can come to you. Nobody's on board. It doesn't need a pilot. You're a trained operator."

He predicts authorities will develop a super-secure version of the Internet that would be used exclusively for aviation security, much as the U.S. Department of Defense has its own secure and more protected version of the Internet.

This scenario would lead to a huge increase in commercial flying, he said. Clearly it would fundamentally change many things about the way we travel and how we view the aviation industry.

Final commercial regulations for small unmanned aircraft systems will be in place "hopefully before June 17" of next year, the FAA's Whitaker said. But those rules will only apply to aircraft under 55 pounds -- what are commonly called "drones." For larger unmanned aircraft, he said the FAA has only recently started the rule-making process.

Whitaker hinted that a pilot on the ground would not be allowed to control multiple large unmanned aircraft simultaneously. "If it's a large aircraft, certainly there will be one [pilot] per aircraft," he said.

Merging large unmanned aircraft into commercial airspace will be a complicated bureaucratic journey with lots of moving parts including aircraft and operator certification, air traffic controllers and the FAA's ambitious air traffic system overhaul called NextGen.

With so many variables and stakeholders, routinely flying large commercial unmanned airplanes in the nation's airspace within five to seven years seems very optimistic.

For now, the focus will remain on testing, Langford said. Aurora Flight Sciences continues to use the FAA-designated site to gather data on Centaur that might be used to develop collision avoidance rules and systems.

The Swiss Air Force, Langford said, has also been testing Centaur to learn more about how to merge unmanned airplanes into its own national airspace system.

It's all part of a deliberate process, he said. "Baby steps, so that the safety level stays at least as high as it is today. But the goal is to make the whole aviation system even safer."

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