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.

Image Credit

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

There is an increasing number of websites that can help travelers to find the best of cheap flight deals available. Momondo and Sidestep.com are the sites that recently joined the many websites that offer automatic, constant searches of booking engines.

While you look for the best airfare, there are certain things that that should be kept in mind. The first and the foremost thing which should be made clear is that there is no magic bullet airfare website.

Here, I’m discussing about few of the websites.

•Travelocity’s Canadian affiliate and Mobissimo.com are the sites that can help you if you are looking for a flight between two foreign countries. The sites are very useful but the drawback lies in the fact that these sites don’t include all the discount foreign airlines, such as Ryanair.

•No doubt, majority of sites charge a booking fee but Kayak and Sidestep.com are two such websites that don’t charge a booking fee. However, neither of the sites includes Southwest, SkyBus, Allegiant, some super-low-cost airlines and many of the international airlines’ lowest discount fares.

•Kayak, Sidestep and Mobissimo are the sites that don’t have good flexible date searches, so if you’re willing to adjust your travel dates to find the best deal, these sites are not for you.

•You can search on third-party sites such as Travelocity and then book the fare on the site of the airline. This way you can avoid booking fees and gets bonus frequent flyer miles.

•Many airlines such as Southwest Airlines, Skybus and Allegiant Airlines release their fares and other relevant information to any site other than their own. Also, Spirit Airlines 1 cent or $1 fares only appear on Spirit’s site.

It can be concluded that all the sites have advantages and drawbacks and there is no magic bullet airfare website so, you need to do proper planning and good amount of homework to enjoy budget-friendly trip.

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Source: MSNBC

Most of us are aware of the new passport rules which have made it harder to obtain a passport. What many people may not be aware of is how these new rules will effect the US government?

The new passport hassle has actually generated some good but according to the federal paperwork filed recently, these new travel rules will cost the government an estimated $944-million during three years which is triple of the original amount estimated.

Initially the amount figured was $289-million between budget years 2006 and 2008 to handle the boost in demand for passports created by post-9/11 security measures. But calculations done recently showed that, the passport rules are expected to cost $944-million in budget years 2008 to 2010.

The new travel rules have not only caught government officials flat-footed with the astounding amount but have also inflicted high costs and personal anguish on consumers.

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Source: Globe And Mail

The boarding process and seating strategies of Dallas-based airline, Southwest has long been a hot-button issue. Southwest Airlines plans not to ditch its cattle-call boarding for assigned seating but announced to switch to a more orderly system throughout the country this fall. It is anticipated that already quick boarding will become speedier and frustrating campouts at the gate will be eliminated.

Southwest is the only big domestic carrier that lets passengers pick their own seat. This 34-years long cattle-call system is expected to be alleviated by November when the airline will give passengers an assigned number within its current boarding groups (A, B and C). The new system will allow passengers to get rid of the need to wait in line to secure a good boarding position. The airline also plans to make other changes at its airport gates.

This means, the check-in process will remain the same. Fliers will still be able to get a boarding pass 24 hours in advance. But they will be issued a number and a letter. At the gate, Southwest agents will call out groups and divide them according to number into six columns of five people each.

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Source: ABC News

Google has already been slapped the federal suit by companies like Geico and American Blinds. Yet again, it is facing the similar situation as American Airlines has sued Google claiming giant’s ad system infringes trademark laws by selling search terms such as American Airlines or AA.com to other companies for promotional means.

The company alleges that Google doesn’t have the right to sell its name to any other company and this practice could divert customers away from American’s own site. Also, the company wants Google to award unspecified monetary damages to the airline and pay any money it has made by selling its trademarks.

However, American, a unit of AMR Corp, tried to confer a settlement with Google before going to the court. Google, on the other hand, deems that its trademark policy strikes a proper balance between trademark owners’ interests and consumer choice.

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Source: USA Today

There are retail shops being opened, eateries, spas, bars and lot more options for travelers to spend layovers, delays. Name anything and you just get it. Not only this, fewer and overpriced choices which the flyers had have become the matter of the past. Numerous airports are implementing street pricing policies, in which stores charge no more for goods sold in the airport than they charge elsewhere.

Now think of a reason why these shopping malls and eateries are popping up at more and more airports. Y’all know this year has been the worst year for the aviation industry, reason being the long flight delays. Is this the reason for more and more airports turning into malls? Quite possible! The basic reason is augmenting retail revenue. Airports are finding the retail and restaurant offerings the best source of adding revenue and meeting the needs of passengers.

Popping up of shopping malls at airports doesn’t end here itself. There are numerous airports that are incorporating more retail space into future plans. Many of them seek a mix of national brands and local retailers and restaurants to give travelers a taste of the local fare.

Whatever be the reason for airports turning more like malls, flyers are surely liking the idea and finding it too convenient. One reason is obviously they’re getting good option to spend layovers and second is they don’t have to waste time on a weekend at a mall before they go for their next trip. Enjoy shopping at airports!

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Source: CNN

To heighten the security, British Airways plans to introduce a new biometric security system at Heathrow Terminal 5 when it opens in March next year. Terminal 5 is the biggest aviation project in Europe that will host British Airway’s entire Heathrow operation and extra checks on passengers have been introduced following the recent security threats.

The passengers will have their fingerprints checked and faces scanned when they pass through the regular security check, and they’ll have to undergo a security check again before they board the plane.

Domestic passengers departing through Terminal 5 will have to undergo the biometric security check but International passengers will be subject to the normal checks and controls and will not undergo these biometric checks.

British Airways spokesman said:

The biometric system basically adds another level of security and ensures that people can’t swap tickets or go on flights they weren’t supposed to go on or whatever else they may be up to.

The biometric security check has been introduced after a successful trial of the biometric technology at Heathrow Terminal 3.

Source: Telegraph