The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday fined Air France ($200,000), British Airways ($150,000) and Lufthansa ($200,00).
The airlines had failed timely reply to complaints that passengers with disabilities had filed. The airlines are required to reply to these complaints within 30 days.
Hong Kong‘s Chief Executive (their effective Head of State, though it’s a SAR of China) is in hot water after he allegedly invoked exceptions for his family not to undergo the usual security procedures at HKIA.
The widely unpopular politician has denied the allegations even though various media reports and statements by the airport authority shine doubt on his accounts.
The Economist’s 1843 Magazine has made an interesting graphic about international airlines and comparing the prices they charge to the service provided.
They have used Skytrax (not my favorite source for quality info) for the service and had run ticket price tests between 30 most popular airports in the world to come up with the cost.
European lawmakers in Brussels are discussing to cancel the Visa Waiver Program for U.S. and Canadian citizens based on a regulation that requires reciprocal action with all EU countries.
Currently the United States and Canada still require some E.U. Member countries to apply for visas since these do not fulfill the requirements for Visa Waiver Travel set by the U.S. and Canada.
Chinese tourists have received bad publicity in Japan after Japanese television station exposed their activity with the cherry trees.
Shanghaaist (access here) reported on their website with photos about the “Cherry Selfies” that these tourists had taken after climbing to the trees and causing damage to them.
A LoyaltyLobby reader alerted me the other day to the changes in China (mainland only) that will affect hotel pricing (basically making them more expensive).
Until now, there has been a 5% Business Tax that will become 6% VAT on May 1, 2016. Many hotels have only been charging 10% or 15% service charge, but will start adding this 6% VAT from May 1st.
Airports Council International (ACI) released its preliminary passenger traffic figures for the 2015 by number of passengers, number of international passengers, plane movements and various other categories.
The Atlanta is still the busiest airport if you count the total number of domestic and international passengers, and also by plane movements. The Dubai (DXB) is the busiest airport by number of international passengers that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
A United Airlines Flight Attendant must have had a bad day at work as right after landing and the plane stopped she opened the emergency exit door and left the aircraft over the inflated slide.
United Airlines clarified that they believe this was done fully intentional and that the staff involved has been relieved of duty.
Brussels International Airport re-opened yesterday after shutting down operations since the March 22 terror attacks that left 16 people dead and many more injured.
Three flights left Brussels on Sunday to European destinations through temporary departure areas that have been installed by airport authorities.
The World Travel & Tourism Council released its report about the travel in 2015 that includes some interesting info that both CNN & Financial Times covered yesterday.
Chinese tourists have really taken over (if someone hasn’t noticed it). They now represent 10% of all the tourists and spent $215B outside of mainland China last year.
A series of two bomb blasts at the check-in area in the Brussels International Airport terminal building this morning left several people dead and many injured. The airport has been closed for the time being.
In the meanwhile a third blast has been reported from a Metro Station in the city, Metro service has been suspended as well.
An Airport Rail Link train from Bangkok Airport to the City Center suffered a malfunction this morning and got stuck after the power went out which also caused the air conditioning to fail.
With temperatures in Bangkok hovering between 36-40 degrees Celsius these days the train quickly became an oven with passengers starting to faint.
A Lufthansa jet approaching Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reported a near collision with a drone last Friday which the pilots spotted in the very last moment.
The remote controlled drone was flying about 200 feet above the jet which was on 5000 feet during it’s approach towards LAX.
When I was reading the International New York Times at the airport lounge this morning, I came across this good article about the teething issues surrounding the launch of the Eurowings.
Eurowings is a low coast airline within the Lufthansa group and handles all short-haul flights that are not touching Munich or Frankfurt. The airline also started long-haul operations recently with two leased planes that have caused the recent issues.
