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Luxury brands worry Parisian crime will stop tourists from shopping
DestinationsThe streets of Paris are getting a reputation of being unsafe for tourists and is threatening the great brand names of French fashion. A leading association that counts Chanel and Dior as members urged the authorities to take action on the climate of insecurity which it said could keep cash-flush tourists away. Several recent incidents [...]
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Cruise passenger bill of rights effective immediately for all major U.S. lines
TransportThe cruise industry said Wednesday that it’s adopting a passenger bill of rights that guarantees the “safety, comfort and care” of guests. The bill of rights promises, among other things, full refunds for trips that are canceled due to mechanical failure, and a backup power source on every ship to keep systems running in the [...]
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In-flight theft of carry-on bags becomes more common, reports LAX
TransportCases of passengers breaking into other people’s carry-on bags during flights are on the rise at Los Angeles International Airport. Since 2011, airport police have received 130 reports of theft aboard flights, which includes items taken during the flight or after the plane landed. “I got my carry-on luggage out and the lady across the [...]
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Two new global viruses that could wreak havoc on travel economy
DestinationsTwo respiratory viruses in different parts of the world have captured the attention of global health officials — a novel coronavirus in the Middle East and a new bird flu spreading in China. Last week, the coronavirus related to SARS spread to France, where one patient who probably caught the disease in Dubai infected his [...]
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Air traffic control towers on FAA hit list to stay open for now
TransportTower(s) to the people. Some 149 air traffic control towers, initially slated to be shuttered in April because of sequester-manadated budget cuts, will remain open at least through the end of the year, the DOT announced. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that there is enough funding in the recently enacted Reducing Flight Delays Act of [...]
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Rental car loophole enables companies to rent and sell recalled vehicles
TransportRental companies would be barred from leasing or selling vehicles to consumers that are under a manufacturer’s recall until the defect is fixed under a bill introduced Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators. Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats Chuck Schumer of New York, Barbara Boxer of California and Claire McCaskill of Missouri in [...]
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American Airlines settles FAA safety claims for $24.9 million
TransportAmerican Airlines has agreed to pay $24.9 million to settle $162 million in potential fines that were proposed by U.S. safety regulators. American called the payment “a reasonable resolution” to the Federal Aviation Administration’s claims that it had violated safety regulations involving electrical wiring on planes and other issues. The airline’s parent company, AMR Corp., [...]
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Egypt to live stream from tourist destinations to show it is safe
DestinationsEgypt’s Minister of Tourism, HE Hisham Zaazou has revealed that the Egyptian Government is attempting to attract Arab Families with special offers in a bid to boost tourism figures. Speaking at a satellite event scheduled for the ATM at Raffles Dubai, Zaazou also explained that live camera streams had been set up in popular tourist [...]
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FAA’s lax oversight of plane repair shops revealed in government audit
TransportOversight of aircraft repair stations by U.S. aviation regulators is marred by inspectors who haven’t been trained and a system that can’t identify the areas of highest risk, according to a government audit. Independent repair shops, used increasingly by airlines trying to cut costs, couldn’t account for tools, document the training of their mechanics and [...]
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New Zealand urged to mandate higher safety standards for adventure tourism
DestinationsThe parents of four tourists who died in a 2010 plane crash have written to New Zealand’s Prime Minister urging him to improve safety measures for adventure sports in the country. Prime Minister John Key’s office confirmed Monday that the families wrote following the release of a coroner’s report into the skydiving plane crash that [...]
