Welcome to the February 2009 Issue of Travology Today

Directravel is pleased to announce that, effective March 1, we will have entered into an affiliate agreement with the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG).

The Affiliates Program affords us the opportunity to more efficiently service our existing clients in the global arena as their businesses grow as well as opens the doors to additional new business opportunities with larger, global companies. HRG’s worldwide network will provide us with access to a range of products and proven international expertise.

“Directravel is proud to become part of the HRG North America Affiliates team. Having one central source for worldwide customer service will allow for more consistent and competitive pricing as well as enhanced reporting options on a global basis,” said Patrick Fragale, president of Directravel. “HRG is a quality company with a tremendous reputation and we are pleased to have our name affiliated with theirs.”

For more information on this program, please contact your National Account Manager.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the new Obama Administration in the US to prioritize aviation as a catalyst to stimulate the US economy. “Smart investments - not bailouts - in air transport will pay-off with jobs and boost other industries,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

In a speech to the Wings Club in New York, Bisignani urged the Obama Administration to go beyond the airport investments in the White House Agenda. “The US air traffic management system is in desperate need of an upgrade. Airlines and airports cannot be efficient economic catalysts if we operate in gridlock. I urge the President to allocate the US$4 billion needed to get the ball rolling with the first phase of the long-awaited NextGen project that will create some 77,000 jobs in the US economy,” said Bisignani.

IATA also urged the Obama Administration to deliver broad policy changes in the areas of security and the environment:

• Security: Security improvements since September 11, 2001 have come with a growing bill that now totals US$5.9 billion annually. Bisignani challenged governments on efficiency. “I am not convinced that we are much wiser or any more efficient in our processes,” said Bisignani. ”We have a great record on safety because data drives decisions that are implemented with global standards. We spend billions on security with little data to support the actions taken. Governments have made minimal progress on recognizing each other’s security standards. We need a system that is threat-based, risk-managed and cost-efficient, with mutual recognition of standards. Security principles must be a part of the corporate structure of all industry players. And governments must be accountable to show value for every dollar that is invested”.
• Environment: Bisignani praised the Obama Administration’s intention to be a leader in addressing climate change and urged the President to support aviation’s global efforts to contain and reduce the 2% of man-made carbon emissions attributed to aviation. The aviation industry is united behind IATA’s Four Pillar Strategy of technology investment, efficient infrastructure, effective operations and positive economic measures. The strategy is delivering results. Since 2004, some 59 million tons of CO2 have been saved and this year, aviation’s carbon footprint will shrink by 4.5% - 2.5% from capacity reductions and 2% due to efficiency gains.

For more information, click here.

The on-time performance of the nation’s largest airlines improved in 2008 compared to the previous year, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 76.0 percent for January through December 2008, up from 2007’s 73.4 percent rate. During December 2008, the carriers posted an on-time performance rate of 65.3 percent, up from December 2007’s 64.3 percent but down from November 2008’s 83.3 percent.

The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as information on reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers, airline bumping, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.

Cancellations

In December, the carriers canceled 3.3 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, down from the 3.5 percent cancellation rate of December 2007 but higher than the 0.8 percent rate posted in November 2008.

Causes of Flight Delays

In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 10.57 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 6.56 percent in November; 11.13 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 4.79 percent in November; 7.65 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 3.89 percent in November; 1.53 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.37 percent in November; and 0.07 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.02 percent in November. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.

Data collected by BTS also show the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In December, 45.36 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, up 4.18 percent from December 2007, when 43.54 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and up 7.79 percent from November when 42.08 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.

Mishandled Baggage

The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 6.96 reports per 1,000 passengers in December, an improvement over December 2007’s rate of 9.05 but higher than November 2008’s 3.75 rate. For all of last year, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 5.26 per 1,000 passengers, an improvement over 2007’s rate of 7.05.

The Air Travel Consumer Report can be found on DOT’s World Wide Web site at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.

TSA will pilot millimeter wave technology in the place of the walk-through metal detector at six airports and will examine the operational efficiency of this configuration. This configuration will be used at airports in: San Francisco, Miami, Albuquerque, Tulsa, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

Passengers are reacting positively to the millimeter wave technology pilots currently taking place at 20 airports around the country. TSA is committed to continually exploring and testing technologies that enhance security and will continue to examine them in new configurations to maximize their potential.

Millimeter wave technology will remain voluntary for passengers; those who do not wish to receive millimeter wave screening will undergo metal detector screening and a pat-down.

Passenger imaging technologies, like millimeter wave, enable TSA to detect prohibited items including weapons, explosives and other metallic and non-metallic objects concealed under layers of clothing without physical contact.

Passenger privacy is ensured through the anonymity of the image. The officer attending the passenger cannot view the image, and the officer viewing the image is remotely located and cannot see the passenger. Additionally, the image cannot be stored, transmitted or printed and is deleted immediately after being viewed. Finally, the facial area of the image has been blurred to further ensure privacy.

Millimeter wave technology passes harmless electromagnetic waves over the human body to create an image that looks much like a fuzzy photo negative. It is safe and the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 10,000 times less than a cell phone.

For more information, click here.

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely (FAST) Redress Act early in the new Congress. This legislation was first introduced by Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY 11th) with support from NBTA in 2007 and was passed by the House in 2008 but did not become law. The measure, which would take significant steps in helping commercial aviation passengers who are mistakenly placed on terrorist watch lists, passed the House earlier this month by a vote of 413-3.

The Fast Redress Act would set up a dedicated office within Department of Homeland Security to coordinate and streamline the process of appeal for individuals who believe they have been wrongly placed on a government watch list and consequently remanded to secondary screening or denied boarding. This office would then create and share with airlines a “Cleared List” of individuals who have gone through the redress process. The bill would also strengthen the existing DHS Traveler Inquiry Redress Program (DHS TRIP) launched in 2007.

Representative Clarke said, “I am glad to see that the House has acted on the FAST Redress Act for the second straight year, demonstrating the high level of support that exists for this legislation. Once again, the ball is now on the Senate’s court to act on this bill and ensure that Americans and global travelers have relief when misidentified as terrorists. NBTA’s great commitment to the FAST Redress Act has been important in getting to this point, and I look forward to working with them to move this bill the rest of the way to the President’s desk.”

For more information, click here.

American Airlines has refreshed its onboard amenity kits to better suit the needs of customers traveling in First Class or Business Class on American’s International Flagship Service. American is providing larger-sized cosmetic products, including Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion, Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, Colgate toothpaste, a toothbrush with a re-sealable cap, thicker plush socks, and larger eyeshades…Asiana Airlines was awarded the “2009 Airline of the Year” award by Air Transport World Magazine…Continental Airlines will enhance its New York/Newark to Charlotte, NC route by servicing with larger aircraft, starting April 2009…Delta Air Lines has moved all daily JFK-LAX flights to Terminal 4…US Airways is returning complimentary beverages to the coach cabin on all US Airways and US Airways Express Flights beginning March 1st. Passengers will be offered free soda, juices, tea, water, and coffee in flight. Beer, wine, and cocktails will still be available for purchase for $7.

in December decreased to 65.3%, down10.7 points vs. the running 12 month average of 76.0% and down 18 points from November’s 83.3%. To view the USDOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Air Travel Consumer Report, click here.

The United States Government has posted recent travel advisories and warnings for Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Iran, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.