Subscribe


September 2008
S M T W T F S
« Aug    
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  

Categories

Archives

« Older Home
Loading Newer »

USDOT Awards New Brazil Routes

Published by Mark August 8th, 2008 in Airlines, Amazon, American Airlines, Atlanta, Aviation Policy, Bahia, Belo Horizonte, Bilateral agreements, Brazil, Delta Airlines, Fortaleza, Manaus, Miami, Salvador, South America, TAM, USA and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Today, the US Department of Transportation approved American Airlines’ and Delta Airlines’ applications for new service into Brazil.  This is a follow up on our previous post on US-Brazil. Service on the newly available 21 frequencies for US carriers is planned as follows:

–AA daily service Miami-Salvador-Recife-Miami (eff Nov 02)
–AA 3x weekly service Miami-Belo Horizonte (eff Nov 02)
–DL daily service Atlanta-Manaus (eff Dec 22)
–DL 4x weekly service Atlanta-Recife-Fortaleza-Atlanta (eff Dec 18)

However, the awards to AA and DL are not city-pair specific, so AA or DL may choose to move the number of flights per week from one route to another, or may serve an entirely new city in Brazil altogether; however, the Brazilian city is limited to the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil and Belo Horizonte.

On the Brazilian front, TAM received ANAC approval (the Brazilian regulatory body) for seven additional frequencies for service between this region and the US, and is planning to split these seven between Fortaleza-Miami (FOR-MIA) and Brasilia-Miami (BSB-MIA), to commence in mid-2009.

Between American, Delta, and TAM, this is a substantial increase in non-stop service between the United States and large regions of Brazil that are currently unserved.  We hope the next batch of frequencies, which becomes available in 2009, add a few other US cities as ports of entry beyond Atlanta and Miami. But for now, we are happy to see new direct access connecting the US to a few fascinating corners of the world.

A New Low

Published by Mark August 5th, 2008 in US Airways. 0 Comments

As the airlines are now nickel and diming us to death, the latest brilliance from US Airways has reached a new low: charging for water and coffee. Two bucks for bottled water and soda and $1 for coffee or tea (Envoy, transatlantic, and Shuttle flights exempted). And as far as we understand it, there will be no non-bottled water, so your choices are a $2 bottled water or bathroom sink water. So much for water being a basic human right.

Will the revenue gained really offset all the bad blood created? Given a choice between US Airways and another carrier for comparable (or even slightly higher) price, I’ll take the other carrier just for this ill-conceived water-coffee-soda policy.  How much time and effort will flight attendants now have to spend dealing with cash and making change for every beverage not purchased with exact change? And will the airline eventually get wise to folks only asking for a cup of ice (as they’ve brought their own beverage on board)? Perhaps a new 50-cent cup with ice product line coming?

And the airlines feed off of each other. JetBlue announced today they will begin charging $7 for a travel blanket and pillow. And United is apparently polling its frequent flyers to test the outrage level on charging for food on international flights. Airlines are scrambling to pay for fuel. But we’d gladly pay a higher fare or a fuel surcharge than be harassed for numerous little charges along the journey.

But US Airways’ water policy crosses the line.

Northeast Brazil – US Update

Published by Mark July 30th, 2008 in Airlines, Amazon, American Airlines, Atlanta, Aviation Policy, Bahia, Belo Horizonte, Bilateral agreements, Brazil, Delta Airlines, Fortaleza, Manaus, Miami, Photos, Salvador, Spirit Airlines and USA. 2 Comments

Beach in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Itapua Beach in Salvador, Bahia, in Brazil’s Northeast. If their request pending before the US Department of Transportation is approved, which seems likely, then American Airlines will offer daily non-stop service to this city from Miami beginning this November.

A few days ago we wrote about the new routes that airlines have applied for with USDOT for service to Northern and Northeast Brazil, competing for the 21 newly available weekly frequencies. Since its application, Sprit has deferred its proposal for daily Manaus service until the next batch of frequencies become available in 2009.

Yesterday (July 29th), both American Airlines and Delta Airlines amended their proposals.

American’s revised application now proposes:

Miami-Salvador-Recife-Miami – Daily
Miami – Belo Horizonte (CNF) - 3x/week

Dropping one MIA-CNF frequency, AA is now requesting 10 frequencies from 11.

Delta’s revised application now proposes:

Atlanta-Manaus – Daily
Atlanta-Recife-Fortaleza-Atlanta – 4x/week

Withdrawing its Atlanta-Belo Horizonte (4x/week service), DL is now requesting 11 frequencies from 15.

It seems as though AA and DL may have discussed these changes, though as it appears so blatantly, it may well have been at DOT’s request. As AA and DL now are requesting 21 frequencies of 21 available, and with no other takers in line, American and Delta jointly filed a request that DOT immediately award the two airlines the routes and frequencies. Furthermore, and despite the routes each airline had already requested, the joint request states:

“Because this is not a contested matter requiring a comparative carrier-selection proceeding, American and Delta request that the frequency awards be non-city-pair specific (that is, from any point in the U.S. to any point in Brazil eligible for 2008 service…)” In other words, they are asking for non-city specific routes while also formally requesting specific routes in each of their individual applications. Not sure if the DOT will go for the free-for-all approach of non-specifc routes, as the agency is charged with promoting diverse and economically feasible air routes and services for the flying public.

Ultimately, it looks like AA and DL will be awarded the routes, most likely on the routes detailed above, particularly as there is no longer any competition between carriers. As proposed by AA and DL, American’s routes will begin Novermber 2nd, and Delta’s, around December 18-22.

New Haven Union Station (ZVE)

Published by Mark July 29th, 2008 in Continental Airlines, Discount travel, Frequent flier programs, New Haven, Photos, Rail and Student travel. 2 Comments

I was passing through New Haven, Connecticut the other day, and was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of its train station. Just two hours by Metro-North commuter train from New York City, or just over an hour and half on Amtrak, the station (and city) is easily accessible. And in case, the rails aren’t working or you’re traveling to or  from points not on a railroad, the station doubles as a bus station, and there’s a Greyhound ticket counter within the station, in addition to counters for Amtrak and Metro-North. The station is also served by Shoreline East, a commuter rail line running between New Haven to New London, CT. (Metro-North’s service from New York City terminates in New Haven.)

New Haven Union Station, 25 July 2008

Designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert (think NYC’s Woolworth Bldg, US Supreme Court Bldg, and the Minnesota Capitol), the station opened in 1918, and is the premier gateway to the city, carrying by far more passengers to and from New Haven than the city’s airport, Tweed New Haven. At Tweed, the sole carrier is US Airways, with daily service to/from the airline’s hub at Philadelphia.

Tweed Airport aside, we’re talking about the train station here! And you can indeed earn frequent flier miles getting here. Continental Airlines offers a code-share with Amtrak for service connections at Newark Airport. Thus if you fly into Newark, you can catch an Amtrak train adjacent to the airport, which will take you to New Haven. You must, of course, book the trip through to New Haven, and not Newark/NYC. The “airport” code for the New Haven Train Station is ZVE and you still earn Continental OnePass’ minimum 500 miles per segment on the rail portion.

Open that Door and Get Some Fresh Air in Here!

Published by Mark July 26th, 2008 in Aviation Safety. 0 Comments

Just last week we wrote about passengers opening plane doors at…um…inappropriate times. And that it appeared to be happening with much greater frequency than ever before. Well it just happened again.

Two women aboard an XL Airways Flight 237, flying from the Greek island of Kos to Manchester, England, tried to open a cabin door at 33,000 feet while flying over Austria, thus forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Frankfurt for their removal. The culprits were two drunken women, aged 26 and 27.

On top of possibly smoking in the bathroom, bringing their own booze on board, and verbally abusing the crew, the 26-year-old woman apparently tried to strike a flight attendant with a vodka bottle. Classy girl.

But why open the door?

As reported by the BBC, they apparently wanted to get “some fresh air” into the plane.

On your next flight, if you’re sitting in the exit row for that extra legroom, be sure to guard remain vigilant and guard that door!

Brazil and the Amazon

Published by Mark July 25th, 2008 in Airlines, Amazon, American Airlines, Atlanta, Aviation Policy, Azul, Bahia, Belo Horizonte, Bilateral agreements, Brazil, Delta Airlines, Fortaleza, Ft. Lauderdale, Gol, Manaus, Miami, Salvador, Spirit Airlines, TAM, USA, Varig and Virgin Atlantic. 0 Comments

Getting to Brazil and around the country is becoming easier, as a lot has been happening on the Brazilian front lately. First, a new airline and the intentions for a second, have been announced, and by successful industry veterans. Second, the US-Brazil bilateral has been approved, increasing the number of weekly flights from each country from 105 to 154.

New Carriers

The new airline is called “Azul” (which is Portuguese for “Blue”), and is being created by David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue. And the planes will resemble Neeleman’s original airline, with leather seats and free satellite TV, aboard an E-190 (the Brazilian-made aircraft in JetBlue’s fleet that complements its A320’s). With rumors that JetBlue is looking to fly Ft. Lauderdale-Fortaleza (FLL-FOR), though this is a bit beyond the range of an A320, meaning they would need a third equipment type, we may see easy connections between the two blues, JetBlue and Azul. Says Neeleman, “Our target market is the 150 million passengers who travel annually by long distance bus as well as those who, for lack of a convenient alternative, don’t travel at all.” Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2009.

But Neeleman is not alone. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin brand, including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, Virgin Blue (in Australia), and Virgin Nigeria, announced in late June that he was in negotiations with a Brazilian partner to create a new domestic (at first) airline. However, we have yet to see any concrete plans.  Like the US, Brazilian law does not allow complete foreign ownership of an flag-carrying airline. Thus, as Branson did with Virgin America (where he officially owns 49% of the airline), he needs a Brazilian partner. (Neeleman on the other hand, didn’t as he is a Brazilian citizen.)

New Routes & Ports of Entry

To further both the aviation sector and the Brazilian economy in general, and to expand choices for air travelers, the US and Brazil have agreed to a new bilateral between the two countries. Prior to this month, only four carriers from each country were allowed to operate service. On this US side, it was American, Delta, United, and Continental; on the Brazilian side, TAM and Varig. The old agreement also identified which cities may be used as ports of entry and limited the number of frequencies to 105 per week for each country.

Continue reading ‘Brazil and the Amazon’

Stepping off the Plane at 35,000 Feet

Published by Mark July 19th, 2008 in Aviation Safety. 0 Comments

Suddenly there seems to be a rash of attempts (and one successful, though on the ground) of passengers going for an emergency exit on a plane.

Two weeks ago, a passenger aboard a Delta Airlines New York-Georgetown, Guyana flight was apparently so enraged at seeing economy-class passengers alighting the plane before he did (from his first class seat) that he opened an emergency hatch and slid down the slide. Having been immediately arrested may have delayed him ultimately, but he was at least spared the experience of having to witness additional economy passengers step off the plane before him.

At least the Delta plane was at the airport and on the ground. The next two incidents occurred about seven miles off the ground.

Two nights ago, on Thursday night, a passenger aboard a First Choice 767 charter flight from London Gatwick to Havanna, Cuba was very drunk and apparently became abusive to another passenger almost resulting in a fist fight. The captain announced the ‘no-more drinking the duty free booze you may have bought” announcement, but the man remained irascible. Later, after the crew tried to calm him door, he lunged toward a door and tried to lift the handle. Mind you, they are at 35,000 feet and over water. The flight was diverted to Bermuda where the man was removed and arrested. And the passenger clapped.

But the most recent event, we find most interesting (if there must be this kind of activity to begin with). Yesterday, a man aboard an American Airlines flight from Boston to LA apparently made a mad dash for an emergency exit door while the plane was at 35,000 feet. But moments before this, he had gone into the lavatory, removed all his clothes, emerging naked. At the coaxing of one passenger, he got dressed again, then darted to the door and was ultimately subdued by other passengers. The plane made an emergency landing in Oklahoma City where the he was removed.

Three emergency door incidents in just two weeks and two in just two days at 35,000 feet. I hope we are not witnessing an evolving trend…

Taxiing into the Sunset

Published by Mark July 10th, 2008 in Cleveland, Continental Airlines and Photos. 0 Comments

In Downtown Cleveland for only a few hours on July 7th, and decided to check how the city was faring.

Eastman Park, Cleveland, 7 July 2008

This studious fellow looked up from his book as he sensed me fixing my lens on him. He’s reading in the perfect serene settings of Eastman Park, a little park nestled between the two buildings of the main Cleveland Public Library in Downtown Cleveland.

Euclid Avenue in Downtown Cleveland, Under Construction for the Bus Rapid Transit Line, 7 July 2008

Euclid Avenue, one of the main drags of this city, is the local equivalent of Broadway in New York. With large sections of the avenue closed for months for construction of a new bus rapid transit line–a mass transit system that has attributes of both light rail transit and bus transport–the Avenue is set to reopen soon as a revitalized street with a new transit line that should quickly whisk passengers between Downtown and University Circle.The Line is named the “Health Line” (superseding the working name, Silver Line), as the line will connect Downtown with some of the city’s most famous medical facilities, including the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.

CO 737 at CLE, 7 July 2008.

As the day comes to a close, a Continental 737 taxies out into the sunset at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, 7 July 2008. In the background is NASA’s Glenn Research Center, which, when the need arises, uses the runways at the airport.

Omnious Brooklyn Sky

Published by Mark July 1st, 2008 in New York City and Photos. 2 Comments

A spooky Brooklyn sky over the neighborhood of Bay Ridge this past Sunday afternoon as a storm approached…

Omnious Brooklyn Sky

Continental to Join Star Alliance

Published by Mark June 22nd, 2008 in Alliances, Continental Airlines and Star Alliance. 0 Comments

So as we predicted in our previous post (despite all the rumors about CO and OneWorld), Continental Airlines has decided to join the Star Alliance. This will give CO loyalists some new and interesting destinations through member carriers, including South African Airways, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP, and Air New Zealand, amongst other carriers. Star Alliance is the largest of the three alliances, but maintains gaping hole in its system: Latin America. Competing alliances OneWorld and SkyTeam (Continental’s current alliance) each have a major carrier in this market, LAN and AeroMexico, respectively. And rumors are afloat that Star Alliance is aggressively courting TAM, the largest airline in Brazil, though we shall we see where TAM eventually lands…(no pun intended).

Subscribe in Your Favorite Way!

 Subscribe in a reader

Add to Google Reader or Homepage

ATTENTION IE6 & SAFARI USERS

The cool images on this site may have trouble displaying properly on Internet Explorer 6.0 and Safari browsers. Please upgrade to Firefox!
WITH ONE CLICK, SEARCH HUNDREDS OF DISCOUNT TRAVEL SITES AND AIRLINE WEB SITES FOR THE CHEAPEST TICKETS:
SkyMall, Inc.
American Express