Travel Cruncher » Travel News

Going mobile: Travel’s eventual high-tech future

janicav — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:16:23 +0000

LONDON |
Mon Feb 6, 2012 5:39am EST

LONDON (Reuters) – Welcome to the airport terminal of the future.

There are self-service bag drops but no check-in desks. Your passage is seamless, punctuated behind the scenes only by discrete Near Field Communication sensors.

Occasionally you stop to scan your NFC-enabled smartphone at a touch point. Your biometric information, picked up by automated surveillance cameras, will ensure there’s no need to queue up to see whether you pose a security threat.

This is where travel needs to be, say technologists who also insist that their wizardry, if employed universally, could solder together the jagged edges of the industry.

It may sound far-fetched, but automated systems that talk to handheld devices are in the trial stage: In Australia, Qantas has rolled out frequent flyer cards with radio frequency identification tags to streamline the luggage-tagging process; Japan Airlines JAL.L is deploying NFC-based mobile boarding passes later this year for domestic flights.

“Technology is joining the dots by giving passengers the opportunity to ‘automate’ their way through the airport touch points,” says Renaud Irminger, a director at air transport communications and IT solutions provider SITA.

But a report from global IT group Amadeus on how airlines, airports, ground transportation firms and hotels can be more collaborative, argues that there is no focus on the interfaces where travellers feel the pain.

Andrew Curry, a director of The Futures Company who helped research the Amadeus report, told Reuters that if nobody leads on this, nothing could happen for five or 10 years.

The report is available at bit.ly/wMix0V.

Recent SITA

Article source: Read More Here

Dollywood, Huss Park Attractions and Huss Parts & Service Settle Lawsuit over Timber Tower®

Mikee — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:16:20 +0000

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Dollywood Company, Huss Park Attractions and Huss Parts Service of
Bremen Germany have settled all of their differences in a lawsuit filed
by Dollywood over the ride called Timber Tower™ at Dollywood.

“We wish Huss Park
Attractions and Huss Parts Service well in their future endeavors.”

“We have resolved all of the issues to our mutual satisfaction,” Ken
Bell, President of the Dollywood Company said. “We wish Huss Park
Attractions and Huss Parts Service well in their future endeavors.”

Terms of the settlement are sealed and will remain confidential.

Media: Contact Dollywood Public Relations Manager Pete Owens at
865-428-9486, 865-755-7972 or by email at powens@dollywood.com
for B-roll, photography and more information. Check the Dollywood Press
Room at http://www.dollywood.com/dollywood-q10214-c1-Press_Room.aspx
for updates and new images.

Article source: Read More Here

FlyersRights.org: Final Passage of Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights in FAA Bill a "Major Victory"

Mikee — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:16:17 +0000

An Array of New Rights for Passengers Will Make Skies Safer, More Efficient

NAPA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – FlyersRights.org today hailed the passage of a new, four-year FAA Reauthorization Act that contains a number of significant new protections for airline passengers. After five years of continuous effort, FlyersRights.org worked to build a nationwide coalition of individuals, groups and lawmakers to make the legislation a reality, despite stiff opposition from airline industry lobbyists.

“We would like to thank all our supporters across the U.S. and our champions in the Congress for making the Passenger’s Bill of Rights a reality including: Senators Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Congressman Mike Thompson,” said Kate Hanni, Founder and Exec. Director of FlyersRights.org. “Airline consumers are now protected against a host of abuses and the skies are safer and more efficient today.”

The new FAA Bill contains provisions for the following:

A Tarmac Delay law, leaving it to the DOT to manage the rulemaking’s for 3 hours domestic and 4 hours on the tarmac for international flights.
Musical instrument provisions to allow musicians to bring instruments on board or checked at no extra charge
A smoking prohibition
“No Child Left Unbuckled” air carriers must now require seat dimensions be disclosed so that parents can choose seating that will fit an infant safety restraint
Establishment of an Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection: There will be one appointed from each of the categories: Airports, Airlines,
Article source: Read More Here

Airlines for America Commends FAA Modernization and Reform Act

Mikee — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:16:13 +0000

Download image

Airlines for America Commends FAA Modernization and Reform Act

Helps Improve Safety, Limit Tax Burden on Airlines, Customers

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commended Congress for its bipartisan leadership in passing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, a comprehensive bill that will help make air travel even more safe and efficient for passengers and shippers while avoiding further tax increases for customers and airlines.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111201/DC15444LOGO)

“We commend Congress for passing a responsible bill that recognizes that commercial aviation is central to America’s global competitiveness and a key enabler of job growth and U.S. productivity,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “Holding the line on federal aviation taxes and fees paid by airlines and their customers enables carriers to work toward being sustainably profitable, so they can maintain jobs and service to communities and invest in their product. This bill also recognizes that safety is our highest priority and includes several provisions that help us build on our strong safety record.”

Safety: The bill will further enhance aviation safety by promoting the sharing of safety data by airlines and airline employees with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Article source: Read More Here

Bomb-proof bins installed in London before Games

janicav — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:10:34 +0000

By Drazen Jorgic

LONDON |
Fri Feb 3, 2012 12:16pm EST

LONDON (Reuters) – A London-based business has reinvented the rubbish bin, making its new recycling containers bomb-proof and sticking LCD screens on the side to tell Londoners about market moves and breaking news.

Renew, a brainchild of two former London School of Economics students, will install 100 bomb-proof bins in London’s financial district before the Olympics kick off in July.

“There has hardly been any innovation in this space. Rubbish bins have just been a box with a hole,” Kaveh Memari, CEO of Renew, told Reuters.

Historically City of London authorities have been reluctant to place rubbish bins in busy areas and near London Underground stations, mainly because of bomb threats from the Irish Republican Army IRA.L guerrilla group.

In recent years, Londoners have also become accustomed to being handed free newspapers and magazines on their way to work, making recycling a greater priority.

Memari, a businessman who appears more like a Silicon valley entrepreneur in trendy jeans, vintage glasses and sporting Apple’s ultra thin MacBook Air in his bag, said Renew’s recycling bins will be much more than just a waste management solution.

“We don’t think this is just solving issues with recycling or bins. Yes, it helps to go green and it helps to be safe, but this is also about usefulness,” said Memari, who recently received funding from Qatar Islamic Bank to complete the latter stage of the project.

One bin is outside the entrance to Aldgate underground station in east London, scene of one of the suicide bomb attacks on London’s rail

Article source: Read More Here