Travel & Travel Technology News

EU sweep targets Web sites with unfair practices. An EU investigation has found that 226 Web sites that sell airline tickets may have violated EU consumer protection laws with misleading advertising and other unfair practices. 11/15/2007

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Ninety-three percent of Americans believe travel-related problems increase during the peak holiday season, according to a survey by the US Travel Insurance Association. The survey also revealed that more than a quarter of the 1,000 respondents believe airlines would reimburse any losses, which is untrue, noted Brad Finkle, USTIA's president. "Airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for delays caused by bad weather or natural events, and policies vary in regard to delayed and damaged baggage," he said. Finkle noted that 60 percent of those surveyed believed having travel insurance would give them peace of mind while traveling this holiday season. More than 67 million people purchased travel insurance policies last year, an increase of 20 percent in two years, he added. 11/15/2007

Major EU Airline Web shotdown. More than half of Europe's airlines could have their websites shut down because of opaque fare conditions and pricing. A European Union investigation to be published Nov. 14 shows that more than 50 per cent of all websites showed irregularities, according to a news report from Reuters. The irregularities in particular relate to price indications, contract terms and clarity of proposed conditions, added the report. The EU consumer affairs watchdog carried out a probe over one weekend in September, checking 400 airline websites with the help of 15 EU national authorities and Norway. 11/13/2007

American Airlines

Airlines turn to technology upgrades to prevent service problems. Airlines hope new software upgrades will help them avoid stranding travelers this holiday season. At American Airlines, new technology displays information in ways aimed at preventing service disruptions, and top managers will receive text messages automatically when operational problems occur. 11/15/2007

American Express

American Express is rolling out a new booking interface in Europe that is designed to improve access to hotel content on a consistent basis with any kind of source - including Internet rates, preferred hotel rates loaded on the global distribution systems, direct connections, room allocations or a central hub, such as Pegasus or Octopus - as well as improve data capture. 11/14/2007

Chicago O'Hare International

New computer system at O'Hare may help cut near collisions. A new $17 million computer system installed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport shows the precise location of planes on the runway and in the airfield. Similar systems are being installed at airports around the U.S. 11/13/2007

Etihad Airways, Language Direct

Etihad Guest members have the opportunity to prepare for their next trip abroad both mentally and financially, thanks to Etihads new partner, Language Direct. Language Direct puts students in contact with private tutors through the telephone and Internet, to create a more comfortable and convenient learning experience that still has the counseling of an expert. And now, guests who sign up for this program can earn 10,000 Etihad Guest Miles for 10 lessons of 60 minutes each and 20,000 Etihad Guest Miles for 20 lessons of 60 minutes each. 11/13/2007

Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd is introducing an online program to certify agents as specialists in the cruise line. Through a program created in conjunction with Cruise-Campus, an online training platform, agents can take four educational courses on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Two are already online, and additional courses will be added in the next few months. When travel agents complete all four courses and score a minimum of 58 points, they will receive a certificate accrediting them as a Hapag-Lloyd Cruise expert. 11/14/2007

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed plans to launch three GPS satellites next year. Lockheed Martin expects to launch three more Global Positioning System satellites in 2008. The company said one of the satellites will include a payload that will transmit a third civil signal. 11/14/2007

Mexicana, Amadeus

Mexicana and Amadeus announced Friday that the airline signed a preliminary agreement to adopt the full Altea Customer Management Solution to manage its reservations, inventory and departure control. Mexicana CIO Santiago Ontanon pegged the value of the investment at around $40-$50 million out of $100 million the airline has committed to invest in IT systems over five years. The carrier began its search for a new reservations system around the time it was privatized in 2005. He described the exercise as a "very interesting [and] very difficult process," during which Mexicana talked to virtually every supplier including low-cost new entrants and traditional res system providers. In addition, he noted that half of the carriers with which it has alliances use at least one component of Altea. Mexicana itself uses the Amadeus e-commerce platform. The switchover is expected to be completed in about a year upon conclusion of a final contract. 11/13/2007