Metrolink Orange County Line trains delayed up to 45 minutes due to Rail Signal Upgrades on Saturday, Sept. 8

Anaheim station closed on during work; buses provided to passengers departing from and returning to Anaheim LOS ANGELES, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Due to rail signal upgrades planned on Sept. 8, Metrolink’s Orange County Line trains will not stop at Anaheim and will be rerouted causing up to 45 minute delays to all 600 series trains…. Read the full news article

DUSSELDORF WEEZE CLOSES FOR 3 DAYS IN NOVEMBER FOR RUNWAY MAINTENANCE

2012-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (5 Sept) confirmed that Dusseldorf Weeze Airport will close for 3 days in November (from Mon 12 to Wed 14 Nov) for essential runway maintenance works. Ryanair regrets that it has been forced to cancel all flights to/from Dusseldorf Weeze during this 3 day… Read the full news article

Strike action by the Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO)

The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) has ended the strikes at Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich Airport. Flight operations from and to Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich are still affected. 2012-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Further nationwide 24h strike actions by the Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) announced for Friday, 7. September 2012. Lufthansa sincerely regrets that the labor… Read the full news article

ABTA Warns Pilgrims to Avoid Unlicensed Travel Companies when Booking Hajj Trips

2012-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — With 25,000 pilgrims estimated to be heading overseas to Saudi Arabia from the UK for Hajj which takes place between 24 & 29 October 2012, ABTA is warning all potential Hajj pilgrims about the dangers of booking with unlicensed travel companies, which every year sees individuals paying for travel arrangements that are… Read the full news article

Virgin Trains welcomes Transport Select Committee hearing on West Coast franchise competition

* Virgin’s bid offers better services to passengers and more secure deal for taxpayers * £800m guaranteed investment to deliver new trains, routes and onboard services 2012-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Virgin Trains today (4 September 2012) backed the decision by the Transport Select Committee to hold a hearing into the West Coast rail franchise competition…. Read the full news article

Virgin Trains responds to FirstGroup’s proposals for West Coast

2012-09-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Virgin Trains has responded to FirstGroup’s proposals for improvements on the West Coast Main Line which were outlined to Parliament today, 3 September 2012. Normally, under franchise process, the successful bidder sets out a range of ‘franchise obligations’ – legally binding commitments – but none has been published by FirstGroup or the… Read the full news article

Virgin Trains: Concerns were expressed on West Coast Bid process over three years

2012-09-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Despite the Department for Transport(DfT) and Transport Minister, Justine Greening claiming that Virgin only started challenging the process once they had lost the Bid for the West Coast rail franchise, records show this not to be the case, Tony Collins, Chief Executive Officer for Virgin Rail Group said today: “There must be… Read the full news article

Sir Richard Branson letter to Financial Times

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The following letter from Sir Richard Branson appeared in the Financial Times on 1 September 2012 Dear Sir, Your assertion that Virgin is seeking to re-write the competition rules for the West Coast train franchise (‘No Second Act for Virgin Trains – August 29, 2012) is wrong.  On the contrary, we have… Read the full news article

Financial Times story on Saturday 1 September 2012 on West Coast franchise issue

Branson denies contract loss led to concerns By Rose Jacobs and Jim Pickard 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Sir Richard Branson has denied the assertion that he only raised concerns about the UK rail franchising process after losing the lucrative contract to run the West Coast main line. In a letter to the FT, Sir Richard said… Read the full news article

FirstGroup’s criticism of West Coast Performance

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tim O’Toole, CEO of FirstGroup, has publicly criticised Virgin Trains’ performance citing the Public Performance Measure (PPM), which measures the number of trains arriving on time, as evidence to support his claims that FirstGroup would operate West Coast better. He has also commented on the number of complaint letters received by the… Read the full news article

Statement re: InterCity West Coast Franchise Award

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — We understand that Virgin Rail Ltd a subsidiary of Virgin Rail Group, the joint venture between Virgin Group and Stagecoach Group plc, has brought a legal challenge against the Department for Transport in relation to the recent award of the InterCity West Coast rail franchise to FirstGroup. We have every confidence in… Read the full news article

Virgin challenges First Group on West Coast Bid promises

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Virgin Rail Group (VRG) today challenged FirstGroup(FG) CEO Tim O’Toole to ‘come clean’ on his company’s commitments for the West Coast Main Line franchise after a series of contradictory and unclear statements made to City analysts and MPs. In a 10-question challenge, published below, the company asked for clear evidence of… Read the full news article

Operational Impact of Isaac – Updated Thursday, August 30

2012-08-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Thursday, August 30 – Thursday Update on Operational Impact of Hurricane Isaac As of 5pm on Thursday, Southwest and AirTran intend to resume operations at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at noon on Friday. The suspension of service for Friday morning means Southwest will cancel approximately 23 total flights in and… Read the full news article

CAA publishes prosecutions data for 2011 /12

2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today published its log of prosecutions for the year 2011/12, including details of the offences prosecuted, pleas and penalties imposed by the courts. In total during the year, the CAA undertook 16 prosecutions, resulting in fines totally in £20,050. The most common types of offences… Read the full news article

Virgin Trains Limited commences Court proceedings in respect of West Coast Main Line franchise award

Statement by Virgin Trains Limited, 28 August 2012 2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — “Virgin Trains Limited (VTL) has today commenced Court proceedings in respect of the decision to award the West Coast Main Line franchise to FirstGroup. We have tried for three weeks to get clarity over the Department for Transport’s decision and to have a… Read the full news article

Travel Guard® North America Providing Free Assistance Services to U.S. and Canadian Travelers Affected by Tropical Storm Isaac

Flight and Hotel Rebooking, Emergency Medical Assistance and More Available Through Toll-Free Number Stevens Point, WI, 2012-08-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — As Tropical Storm Isaac continues on its path through the Gulf of Mexico, Travel Guard North America® (www.travelguard.com) announced today that it will provide emergency travel and medical assistance services free to all U.S. and Canadian travelers… Read the full news article

TRAFFIC ADVISORY – PARTIAL CLOSURE OF LINCOLN BOULEVARD AT LAX SCHEDULED

Los Angeles, California, 2012-08-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has informed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officials of the closure of Lincoln Boulevard (SR-1) from Sepulveda Boulevard to McConnell Avenue beginning Monday, August 27 through Friday, August 31 as part of a pavement rehabilitation project. Caltrans work aims to enhance safety and mobility… Read the full news article

Southwest Airlines Midday Update on Operational Impact of Isaac

2012-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — As of 1pm CDT today, Southwest Airlines canceled 13 flights and AirTran canceled 22 flights due to Tropical Storm Isaac. The Florida airports affected by cancelations are Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, West Palm Beach, and Key West. Key West Airport made the decision to close until tomorrow. Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, and… Read the full news article

Cathay Pacific Flight Operations to and from Seoul Tomorrow Affected by Severe Typhoon Bolaven

2012-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Cathay Pacific Airways today (Monday, 27 August) announced that based on the latest forecast for Severe Typhoon Bolaven, two flights to and from Seoul on Tuesday will be cancelled. Details of the flights cancelled are as follows: Flight No. Route Scheduled Departure Time (Local Time)   CX434 From Hong Kong to Seoul… Read the full news article

Frontier Airlines Issues Travel Advisory for Customers Impacted by Tropical Storm Isaac

Airline allows passengers to change travel plans and waive change fees for travel to, from and through New Orleans DENVER, 2012-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Due to the projected impact of Tropical Storm Isaac in New Orleans and nearby areas, Frontier Airlines today enacted a flexible policy for travel to, from or through New Orleans, La. This… Read the full news article

Marriott Customer Update on Tropical Storm Isaac

2012-08-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — (August 24, 6:00 p.m.) Marriott International, Inc. and The Ritz-Carlton continue to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac and have begun taking the appropriate precautions in areas that may be affected by the storm. As always, the safety and security of our guests and employees is a top priority. Marriott International will provide… Read the full news article

Concern mounts over transfer of West Coast rail franchise as 100,000 people ask for review

2012-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — As more than 100,000 people sign the petition set up by passenger Ross McKillop to force a debate in Parliament on the decision to strip Virgin Trains of the prestigious West Coast rail franchise, celebrities are offering their support. Sir Richard Branson said: ‘In less than a week one hundred thousand of you… Read the full news article

Hurricane Travel Trends

PULSE POLL: HURRICANE SEASON TRAVEL TRENDS TRAVEL TIP: KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE STORM EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: TURNING A TROPICAL VACATION AROUND 2012-08-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Despite predictions of an above-normal hurricane season in 2012*, 63% of travelers polled still plan to travel to destinations within the hurricane belt during this time. Of those, 36% plan to… Read the full news article

Celebrities back ‘Keep Virgin Trains’ e-petition as it passes 36,000 signature mark

As of 15:15 on August 22 total signatures reaches 50,000 London UK, 2012-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — 22 August 2012: High profile celebrities have given their backing to the independently-set up Government-run e-petition to force a debate in Parliament on the decision to strip Virgin Trains of the prestigious West Coast rail franchise. Earlier today the number of… Read the full news article

ADAC presents the Program for the World Route Development Strategy Summit 2012

The 2 day conference to tackle critical air transport issues on a global platform Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2012-08-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) presented today the program of the World Route Development Strategy Summit, the conference that will be held along side the 18th World Route Development Forum (World Routes), the largest… Read the full news article

Precautionary Health Advisory at the JW Marriott Chicago

2012-08-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has alerted the JW Marriott Chicago that three previous guests of the hotel have been diagnosed with a type of a pneumonia referred to as Legionnaires’ disease.  The hotel responded immediately with an investigation in cooperation with the CDPH.  On their advice, the hotel drained… Read the full news article