AirOptions Blog

Airioptions recently attended the Medical Tourism Conference, which was recently held in Los Angeles. It attracted a broad range of players, including representatives of airlines, hospitals and destination management companies and doctors, insurance brokers and travel agentcies such as AirOptions. Medical tourism is focused on patients seeking treatment abroad, offering significant opportunities for travel agents. “We are marrying two of the largest industries in the world, and there has not been a lot of interaction between them until recently,” said Dan Cormany, a medical tourism marketing doctoral candidate at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Read more about it here Travel Agent (10/29)

In airline new followed by AirOptions we see that USAirways will be cutting up to 1000 jobs next year. They will also be cutting their least profitable international routes. AP says the carrier is suspending flights between Philadelphia and London Gatwick; Birmingham, England; Milan, Italy; Shannon, Ireland; and Stockholm.

Airoptions has learned that the Department of Transportation said it will not make its original Oct. 31 deadline for ruling on a proposed alliance between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia, the Spanish airline. The delay is a result of differences between the DOT and the Department of Justice, as well as other issues. The delay could push the final ruling into 2010, sources said. The Wall Street Journal (10/27)

AirOptions has learned that Tourism officials from China recently met with their counterparts from the U.S. in Orlando, Fla., to discuss ways to increase travel between the two nations. The leaders signed a memorandum of understanding that includes cooperation in tourism initiatives. Last year, almost 500,000 Chinese citizens visited the U.S. and that figure has much room for growth, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Read more about it here: Travel Agent (10/26)

As AirOptions reported before, Continental Airlines abandoned merger negotiations with United Airlines about a year and a half ago. A deal would have created the largest air carrier in the world. Instead, Continental is joining the Star Alliance, which includes United and 23 other carriers. Continental’s migration from SkyTeam alliance to the Star Alliance is the most significant switch since airline alliances started being formed more than 10 years ago. Read more about it here: The Wall Street Journal (10/26)

AirOptions has received a travel alert for the State Department. It said the political and security situation in Honduras is unstable, prompting a recommendation that all U.S. citizens defer nonessential travel to the country. Political demonstrations have been taking place around Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and Roatan, and they are expected to continue. Read the official Travel Alert for Honduras.

A lost or stolen driver’s license may mean delays at the airport, but passengers should still be able to travel, according to the TSA. An agency spokeswoman says other forms of ID, including a letter with a home address, should be enough to get through security, although additional searches may be required. “Anything this person might have to help identify themselves would be very helpful,” said TSA’s Lara Uselding. AirOptions suggests you read the following article: Chicago Tribune/Tribune Newspapers (10/25)

Transport ministers from across Europe are meeting in Luxembourg this week and are expected to lift the limit on liquids travelers are allowed to take on an airplane. Great Britain, however, is expected to keep the limit in place. The EC proposals would start coming into effect in April. Scanner manufacturers say they have the technology to screen for potentially dangerous liquids. Breaking Travel News (10/9) , USA TODAY/The Associated Press (10/9)

The International Air Transport Association said airlines, airports and aerospace firms around the world have agreed to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% each year for the next decade. “Airlines have set even more ambitious targets than governments for the longer term,” said IATA Director-General Giovanni Bisignani. “No other industry has been able to achieve what we have done.” Reuters (10/10)

Two competing entities have proposals for high-speed rail service between Southern California and Las Vegas. Both are striving to reduce travel time and ease the congested highways between the destinations. Train service has not been available between Vegas and SoCal since Amtrak discontinued its Desert Wind line more than a decade ago. Travel Weekly (10/9)