FAA Decision to Shutter 149 Contract Control Towers Beginning on April 7 Raises Serious Concerns for Airports, USCTA

Alexandria, VA, 2013-03-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — The decision by the Federal Aviation Administration, finalized today, to close 149 contract towers across the country beginning on April 7 raises serious safety, efficiency, and economic concerns that the agency has failed to consider, according to the U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA), an affiliate organization of the American Association… Read the full news article

RYANAIR CALLS FOR IRISH TRAVEL TAX TO BE SCRAPPED AS WEF REPORT RANKS IRELAND AMONGST THE WORLD’S WORST FOR AVIATION TAXES

KAZAKHSTAN, MOZAMBIQUE & RWANDA MORE COMPETITIVE THAN IRELAND 2013-03-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (25 Mar) called on the Irish Govt to scrap its €3 travel tax after the World Economic Forum’s Transport and Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Ireland in the bottom half in an aviation charges competitiveness study of… Read the full news article

IATA Honors the 2013 Top-Performing Global Training Partners

Montreal, 2013-03-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its 2013 worldwide best performing training partners as part of its training partner recognition programs. The IATA Training and Development Institute (ITDI) training partner recognition program recognizes excellence among IATA’s Authorized Training Centers (ATCs). The program also awards IATA’s strongest partners in dangerous goods… Read the full news article

ICAO and UNWTO Affirm Cooperation on Joint Aviation and Tourism Goals

Montreal/Madrid, 2013-03-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and UNWTO signed a special Joint Statement on Aviation and Tourism today, acknowledging the intention of the two UN agencies to begin cooperating more closely on issues of common priority. The Joint Statement was signed by ICAO Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin, and UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb… Read the full news article

Civil Aviation Authority: Passenger numbers at UK airports up 1.4 million, but still below 2007 peak

UK airports handled 1.4 million (0.6%) more passengers in 2012 than 2011 London airports grew by 1.3 million and regional airports by 0.1 million Overall passenger numbers are still 8% below the peak reached in 2007 2013-03-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — UK airports handled 221 million passengers during 2012 according to figures published by the Civil Aviation… Read the full news article

New Distribution Capability Filing with US DOT

Washington, D.C., 2013-03-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) filed an application with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval of Passenger Services Conference Resolution 787, which is the foundation standard for the New Distribution Capability (NDC). NDC is an IATA-led collaborative industry initiative to define an Extensible Markup Language (XML)… Read the full news article

GBTA Asks For Delay In Knife Policy On Board Aircraft

Alexandria, VA, 2013-03-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The following statement can be attributed to Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO, on the Transportation Security Administration’s decision to allow knives on board aircraft. “The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) urges the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to delay implementation of its recently announced policy allowing passengers to… Read the full news article

Gatwick submits recommendations for key sifting criteria for capacity options

Gatwick lists eight key tests to help the Airports Commission identify the best options for further development Gatwick provides comment on the Department for Transport’s demand forecasting 2013-03-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Gatwick Airport has submitted its list of suggested criteria the Airports Commission should use to determine which airport locations would be suitable for further study…. Read the full news article

EASA certifies the Airbus A400M

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) today handed over a type certificate for the Airbus A400M to Airbus Military. 2013-03-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — This type certificate supersedes a restricted type certificate that was issued by EASA in April 2012 for the same type. It follows the satisfactory completion of a functioning and reliability flight testing campaign… Read the full news article

New Format for European Conference Announced by Global Business Travel Association

Event To Provide Key Insights for Forward Planning Prague, Czech Republic, 2013-03-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – has released details of a new format and underlying theme for their annual European conference in 2013. The event, for approximately 400 industry professionals, will… Read the full news article

IATA Disappointed with EC’s Proposed Revisions to EC261

Geneva, 2013-03-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reacted with disappointment to the European Commission’s proposed revisions to its passenger rights legislation (EC Regulation 261 or EC 261). There are some positive aspects to the Commission’s review but overall the package of proposed changes will still leave major deficiencies in the legislation. Many… Read the full news article

UNESCO joins UNWTO to advance Silk Road tourism development

Berlin, 2013-03-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The development of a ‘Silk Road Heritage Corridors’ tourism strategy for Central Asia and China is among the main outcomes of the 3rd UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting held at ITB Travel Trade Show. (Berlin, Germany 6 March 2013). With the support of ITB Berlin, the 3rd Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting brought together Ministers… Read the full news article

Patrick Ky appointed as new EASA Executive Director

The Management Board of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) today announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ky as Executive Director of EASA with effect from 1 September 2013. 2013-03-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Mr. Patrick Ky is currently Executive Director of the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking and has driven the… Read the full news article

Single European Sky Performance Scheme Targets Set to Disappoint Again

Geneva, 2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticized the decision of the European Single Sky Committee to endorse weakened Performance and Charging Scheme regulations for air navigation services over the period 2015-2019. The decision was made on 8 March and impacts the calendar years 2015-2019 (known as Reference Period 2 or RP2)…. Read the full news article

The U.S. Travel Association Applauds House Bill to Fund Government

Legislation Requires Staffing to Facilitate International Travelers Washington, D.C. 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The U.S. Travel Association today applauded the House for approving a six-month stopgap spending bill to keep the government operating past March 27 and require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain its staffing levels from the end of fiscal 2012. “We applaud… Read the full news article

CVG: Pre-Check and Global Entry Gain Local Approval Process

Faster Security Screening Now More Convenient Travelers Avoid Trips to Detroit, Chicago or Atlanta for Approval 2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — U.S. Customs and Border Protection will now conduct interviews and approvals for its Global Entry Program at its Erlanger office to accommodate passengers flying through CVG. In addition to qualifying low-risk travelers for pre-approved, expedited re-entry… Read the full news article

CATSA videos provide March break travel tips

OTTAWA, 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Counting the days until you take off on your March break vacation? Here are a few tips from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to help you prepare so you can get through security screening as quickly and effortlessly as possible. At home Before arriving to the airport know what’s allowed in your… Read the full news article

CAA publishes advice to DfT on the UK’s terminal air navigation services market

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today (Thursday 28 February 2013) published its advice to the Department for Transport (DfT) on how the market for terminal air navigation services at the UK’s largest airports is currently working. The advice was requested by the Secretary of State for Transport in March 2012,… Read the full news article

Gatwick Airport to submit connectivity and capacity options to the Airports Commission

Gatwick formally expresses its intent to participate in the work of the Airports Commission Gatwick’s vision of competing airports will deliver for the passenger and the UK economy 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Gatwick Airport announced today that it has formally submitted its expression of intent to put forward short, medium and long-term proposals to address the… Read the full news article

Aviation Needs a Global Agreement on Market-Based Measures

But Long-term Solution is Technology, Operations and Infrastructure Hong Kong, 2013-02-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to agree on a global approach to market-based measures (MBMs) to help aviation manage the 2% of global manmade carbon emissions for which it is responsible. IATA also stressed the need for governments… Read the full news article

EASA welcomes ICAO agreement on new aircraft CO2 and noise standards

2013-02-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) welcomes progress made by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) at their 9th Meeting on 4-15 February in Montreal. Agreement was reached within CAEP on a new aeroplane CO2 certification requirement, as well as a new global noise standard that… Read the full news article

Heathrow to pilot new noise insulation scheme

Heathrow is to trial a new noise insulation scheme, designed to provide more effective and tailored assistance for people affected by aircraft noise. 2013-02-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — The ‘Quieter Homes Initiative’ has been developed following a consultation about the existing noise insulation schemes on offer and research into schemes offered by other major airports around the… Read the full news article

U.S. Travel Association: Flight Delays, Long Lines Predicted for Travelers Due to Sequester

U.S. Travel Association Urges Congress to Act on Looming Budget Cuts; Launches Mobile Messaging Campaign to Empower Travelers to Make their Voices Heard 2013-02-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Washington, D.C. – Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, today issued strong remarks on the potential impact of looming federal budget cuts on the travel… Read the full news article

Houston Gains New Downtown Enrollment Center for Global Entry Program in Partnership Between City of Houston and Customs and Border Protection

HOUSTON, 2013-02-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — Due to strong international trade and commerce, the City of Houston marks the opening of a satellite enrollment center for the Global Entry program on the mezzanine level of the historic City Hall Visitor’s Center. Houston Mayor Annise Parker embraced the new satellite center not only as Houston’s Mayor, but also… Read the full news article

AIRPORT COMMISSION OKAYS $7 FARE FOR NEW LAX FLYAWAY® STOP AT EXPO/LA BREA; FARE AT FLYAWAY® VAN NUYS TO RISE $1 TO $8 ONE-WAY

Los Angeles, California, 2013-02-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — In anticipation of a new LAX FlyAway® bus service between the Metro Rail Exposition Line rail station at La Brea Avenue and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this spring, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today approved a one-way passenger fare of $7. To encourage ridership, the Board also… Read the full news article

Houston Obtiene Nuevo Centro de Inscripción para el Programa Global Entry en Asociación entre la Ciudad de Houston y Protección de Aduanas y Fronteras

HOUSTON, 2013-02-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — Debido a un fuerte comercio internacional, la Ciudad de Houston marca la apertura de un centro satélite de inscripción para el programa Global Entry ubicado en el nivel mezzanine del Centro para Visitantes del histórico edificio del Ayuntamiento. La alcaldesa de la ciudad, Annise Parker, acogió el nuevo centro satélite no… Read the full news article

UNWTO and Italy advance accessibility in Tourism

Milan/Madrid, 2013-02-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ensuring that tourism facilities and sites meet the needs of persons with disabilities, both as a key means of promoting tourism for all and as an engine for market growth, were the main focus of the International Conference on “Accessibility in tourism: an ethical value, a business opportunity” (14 February 2013, BIT… Read the full news article

CAA’s GA safety publications overhauled

2013-02-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is to strengthen its provision of safety information to general aviation pilots from this spring. The CAA announced today that the publishing group, Archant, will begin producing general aviation safety material on its behalf. Archant, publisher of Pilot magazine, has been awarded a contract to write… Read the full news article

IATA Applauds ICAO-CAEP Agreement on a More Stringent Noise Standard for Aircraft and Progress on Aircraft CO2 Standard

Montreal, 2013-02-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the agreement on a new noise standard with more stringent requirements for future aircraft achieved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) comprising ICAO member states, industry, and environmental non-governmental organizations, reviewed technological feasibility, environmental benefits… Read the full news article

Red Tape an Issue in Australian Tourism Development

2013-02-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Realities of Remaining Competitive: speakers at the PATA Hub City Forum Sydney on 12 February addressed the issue of congestion at Sydney airport and the need for a new secondary airport to ease constraints. It was pointed out by aviation expert Peter Harbison that this issue was first raised by the government… Read the full news article