Airport Business News - North America

AirGuide Business, May 5, 2008

May 5, 2008

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will set a Tuesday procedural vote on a measure to modernize the nation's aviation infrastructure. The vote functions as a deadline of sorts for Democrats and Republicans to break an impasse over which amendments will be allowed onto the bill. Reid plans to file a cloture motion Thursday on the bill that funds Federal Aviation Administration programs, his spokesman Jim Manley said. That would set up a Tuesday vote that, if successful, would limit debate and allow the Senate to proceed to amendments on the bill. May 1, 2008

Sweeping legislation to upgrade the aging U.S. air traffic system and to strengthen airline safety and service stalled in the Senate Wednesday over airline pensions and procedural wrangling. On the first day of debate, lawmakers quickly clashed over a proposal to toughen airline pension funding rules, a plan opposed by congressional allies of American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp , and Continental Airlines. The bill proposes a multi-year blueprint for modernizing the aging U.S. air traffic control system as well as steps to address pressing concerns about commercial aviation - maintenance practices, FAA safety oversight, delays and congestion, and service complaints. May 1, 2008

As the battle over funding the Federal Aviation Administration and upgrading the nation's air-traffic control system comes to a head, anyone with anything to do with airlines is scrambling to get aboard. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., backed by the Teamsters Union and the Business Travel Coalition, plans to introduce an amendment to strengthen standards for aircraft maintenance performed outside the U.S. Sen. Olympia Snow, R-Maine, wants slipped into the bill a "Passenger Bill of Rights" which would allow passengers stranded on runways for at least three hours to get off the plane if they wish. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., plans to introduce at least two amendments, one to improve runway safety and another to require airlines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Apr 30, 2008

The Senate is taking on what Sen. Jay Rockefeller calls "a national embarrassment," an antiquated air traffic control system that is making flying more unpleasant and possibly less safe. Legislation being debated this week in the Senate to modernize the nation's aviation system could provide immediate relief to suffering passengers. It would set a three-hour limit on how long airliners may sit on a runway without allowing passengers to get off. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., heads the Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee. He is citing predictions that none of the 1 billion people predicted to fly in 2015 will reach their destination on time if aggressive steps are not taken in the meantime to upgrade air traffic control. The House passed its version of the bill in September. It stalled in the Senate because of disputes over how to pay for the needed modernization efforts. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said an agreement reached last week would provide an additional $800 million every year for the Aviation Trust Fund. One source of new money would be raising the tax on jet fuel used by noncommercial aircraft from the current 21.9 cents a gallon to 36 cents a gallon. That would help fund NextGen, a satellite-based Global Positioning System for tracking the exact locations of aircraft. Current radar-based air traffic control "is a relic of the 1950s," Rockefeller said. GPS systems "in cars or cell phones are more sophisticated than the hardware used in passenger and cargo planes".The Senate voted Monday evening to open a weeklong debate on the bill. Apr 29, 2008

The US Tour Operators Association (USTOA) has updated its Baggage Allowance Table to reflect new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations, according to Bob Whitley, president of the USTOA. The update includes policies regarding lithium batteries, more relaxed carry-on rules for passengers flying into some UK airports, and more stringent rules on checked baggage for U.S. domestic airlines. Located in the USTOA web siteis Smart Travel Planningi section, The Airline Baggage and Security Guideline page provides an online chart with baggage allowances for both checked and carry-on luggage for various parts of the world. Apr 28, 2008

Complaints prompt senator to question Philadelphia airport paths. Complaints by Pennsylvania residents about takeoff paths from Philadelphia International Airport prompted Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to ask FAA officials for details on flight paths at a hearing Friday. FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell said controllers may only use the flight paths in question during times of heavy traffic. Apr 28, 2008

The Travel Industry Association (TIA) praised Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for his rapid expansion and strengthening of the Visa Waiver Program. The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) is seen by TIA as the first step toward enabling Korean citizens to travel to the United States securely without a visa.The TIA said including South Korea in the Visa Waiver Program is critical to strengthening the national security and economy of the United States, and improving America's image abroad. "The continued expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to include one of America's closest allies and most important travel partners is an extremely positive step," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association. Korean citizens traveling to the United States will be required to use the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Once operational, travelers must submit biographical and other security-related information to U.S. authorities in advance of travel. The MOU commits Korea and the United States to conduct a joint outreach campaign to inform Korean citizens of their obligation to use the ESTA system. There are now 27 countries in the Visa Waiver Program. Apr 28, 2008