The nursing industry has grown rapidly over the last few decades. Men and women are starting nursing careers in record numbers and the industry is enjoying a growth of nurses in all areas of specialty. The standard nursing jobs in hospitals or doctor’s offices are highly competitive with people who have similar education and experience levels and who would be a great asset. However, since the competition for nursing jobs is so stiff, which is good, there are still a lot of people who look for nursing jobs. A lot of nurses may not realize that they can still enjoy their careers and the field of nursing if they would transfer their interests over into the concept of travel nursing. Not only would they enjoy themselves, but they would receive a more significant amount of benefits as a travel nurse.

Flexible Scheduling

Travel nurses get to choose a flexible schedule that fits into their lifestyle. In some cases, they may also get to choose what nursing assignments and locations they prefer based on available nursing assignments. None of these things may be guaranteed, but the travel nurse has more flexibility than if she was working a standard eight or nine hour shift daily.

Options and Conveniences

Travel nurses sometimes have to take on assignments that they don’t like. They may have to even travel to a particular area that they don’t like. That comes with being a part of a travel nursing pool. However, travel nursing offers options that aren’t available to shift nurses and they get to make choices. They can choose to not go somewhere, but they also get travel pay for some assignments. Travel nurses who have been doing it for a long time realize the full benefits in travel nursing and keep themselves busy on assignments. It’s the only way to stay busy and establish a lucrative nursing career.

The sacrifice was made after one of the company’s Boeing 757 aircraft faced some technical difficulties. The sacrifice was made in front of the aircraft in accordance with the Hindu traditions at the Katmandu Airport. The airlines, which currently supports two Boeing aircrafts, had to suspend its services. Officials now say that the problem has been resolved not disclosing what the actual problem was. The tradition of animal sacrifice is common in Nepal. After all, who minds those who can’t protest!

Source: MSNbc

Image credit: Voxakis

Aviation industry accounts for two percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and has come under increasing pressure from environmental campaigners. Realizing the environmental impact of flying and their contribution to the greenhouse gas emission, several airlines are taking ardent steps.

Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd. and its popular budget carrier Jetstar are the latest airlines to join the rush of airlines going eco-friendly. Qantas has set a target of cutting its emissions by two million tones by 2011. Virgin Blue, Australia’s second-largest carrier launched an offset program earlier this year.

Qantas and Jetstar have launched a new carbon offsetting scheme for all of its international and domestic passengers. Australia-Los Angeles flight generates around 1.4 tons of greenhouse gases per passenger, can be offset by paying just 17 Australian dollars ($14.50; 10.46 euros) per flight.

The launched scheme will let travelers calculate the per-passenger emissions of their flights and buy carbon dioxide credits. The money which airlines will earn through this offset program will be used for government-approved environment-friendly projects. Moreover, 90,000 mallee eucalyptus trees will be planted across Australia to offset the carbon dioxide emissions.

Offsets are no doubt, the powerful weapon in the fight to reduce greenhouse gases and presently, the airlines are launching their offset programs voluntarily but it is anticipated that air travel carbon offsets could become mandatory in nearby future.

Source: MSNBC

In a big blow to Zimbabwe, the British Airways (BA) has decided to stop its flights from UK to the southern African nation next month due to increasing losses on the route in the wake of Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis under the leadership of current president Robert Mugabe.

In a statement, the British Airways has confirmed that its flights between Harare and London would stop on October 28. This has further deepened Zimbabwe’s international isolation.

Steve Harrison, British Airways commercial manager for southern Africa expressed,

The economic situation in Zimbabwe has contributed to a decline in market demand. The withdrawal of Harare flights is for commercial reasons as it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify our operation.

With this assertion, British Airways has joined with other leading airlines such as Qantas, Air France/KLM and TAP Portugal to pullout its flights from the troubled southern African country.

Zimbabwe is facing acute shortage of fuel which has led foreign airlines to bring in fuel by road and refuel its planes in neighboring countries.

Under Robert Mugabe’s leadership, the economy of Zimbabwe declined from one of the strongest in Africa to one of the weakest. Inflation has increased by 7,000 percent with industrial sector is in a precarious state and agricultural output is steadily falling.

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Air New Zealand’s year-round lead-in fares are now the same as Pacific Blue’s. Yes, you have read it right! To meet competition from newcomer Pacific Blue, Air New Zealand plans to offer never-seen-before deals with $1 domestic fares and turn part of its planes into budget cabins.

Air NZ took the decision to slash the airfares after Pacific Blue announced its plans for the domestic airline business and an introductory fare of $39 on Wellington-Auckland, Wellington-Christchurch and Auckland-Christchurch routes on Thursday.

The airline also plans to make more changes to remain the No. 1 choice for travelers. The volume of both domestic and international fares available on the Grabaseat cheap price scheme will be increased. One-off campaigns such as buy one get one free child fares would also be build up significantly.

There are many more airlines that are making large number of changes in their carriers and airfares in a bid to beat the rivals.

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Source: Stuff

Airports across the country will soon get better bag screening equipment to scan carry-on bags at security check-points. In a bid to upgrade security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to replace the old X-ray machines with new high-powered X-ray machines.

The advanced technology X-ray machines aim to counter a major threat to aviation by photographing bags from two angles instead of one and showing the images on side-by-side screens.

TSA has already started testing the new machines at three airports in US and the tests at these major airports will determine how many machines TSA will buy but for now the agency plans to buy 500 of the machines for major airports starting this fall. It is anticipated that these advanced technology X-ray machines will make the security check speedier.

Source: USA Today

Do you think Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has gone too far in security checks at the airports? If yes, then wait I’ve yet another news for you. TSA now plans to expand its use of screening machines that look under passengers’ clothing for hidden weapons.

New York’s Kennedy and Los Angeles International airports and Phoenix Sky Harbor will test backscatter X-ray machines that create anatomical images using low-intensity millimeter waves to scan passengers’ bodies.

Though the scanning machines can screen bodies of passengers but TSA officials assured that striking balance between privacy and security will maintained and that private concerns will not be violated. The scanning images will use software that will blur images of passenger’s bodies and only weapons will be visible and the machines will not be used for all passengers but will be used voluntarily for passengers who are pulled aside for extra screening beyond a metal detector.

Also, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is using millimeter-wave machine by L-3 Communications and plans to start operation in Phoenix this month. The additional X-ray machines will also be started in coming months.

Source: USA Today

The hotels taking part in the service are Ramada, Holiday Inn, Ibis, Yatch, Marriott, Hilton and a few others. The guests of these hotels will be entitled to the airport shuttle service which will pick them up and drop them off to and from hotels/airports. The price will be fixed. The fares start from pound 1.

The service will be available starting October 8th. These fixed price and fixed departures will run between hotel and airports for every thirty minutes. The hours of operation are: 06:00 to 22:00 BST between Monday and Friday, 06:00 to 13:00 BST on Saturday and 12:30 to 22:00 BST on Sunday.

I think this is a pretty cool service. This kind of legitimate service lets passengers avoid the fraudulent and misleading cab drivers who can charge extra just to drop the passenger off at their respective hotels. Hopefully, all major airports throughout the world will run similar service like these.

Image Credits:fast

Well-known for in-flight entertainment, Australia’s largest airline Qantas plans to expand its operations in New Zealand and offer new business services, as competition for air travel on domestic routes intensifies. It plans to beef up its domestic service by providing free alcohol and food on domestic flights.

There are further plans to re-start a Wellington-to-Christchurch service, add another Boeing 737 to its New Zealand domestic fleet and invest at least $3 million to upgrade its domestic club lounges in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. The airline will also enhance its electronic check-in scheme and introduce radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to allow rapid check in of bags.

Business and frequent fliers will be the major beneficiaries as the airline upgrades the domestic flight services by introducing improved lounges, electronic check-in and better in-flight services, more legroom, complimentary newspapers and a free bar service.

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Source: Stuff

If you’ve seen the lines outside you passport offices, you’ll realize that yes, the new passport rules are affecting a lot of people. The new security rules have swamped offices and infuriated the would-be travelers.

Prior to new security laws about one in five U.S. citizens had passports. This year, the figure is already approaching one in four and is expected to increase in the coming years. The surge in applications led to the massive delay in processing passports. The regular passport applications that generally took six weeks to deliver to the applicant were delayed by as much as 12 weeks or more.

To adjust the higher levels of demand and tackle the mountain of paperwork, the State Department is planning to hire 800 new workers (double the current passport staff). Also, changes have been made in wait time for the pricier, faster service. These changes are expected to increase the production of passports in the coming years, which will reduce the wait time for regular passport applications.

The demand for passports is expected to increase by next year with new travel rules. The State Department and travelers are already facing so many problems with new travel rules that went into affect this year. I wonder what will happen with the next wave of travel rules.

Source: MSNBC