Welcome to the January 2010 Issue of Travology Today

The U.S. Travel Association is urging policymakers to embrace screening techniques that meet a three-part test: strengthen security, balance travelers' privacy needs and improve traveler facilitation. U.S. Travel highlighted "whole body imaging" (WBI) and increased use of canine security as examples of promising security measures in need of greater analysis.

"Security is job one and the travel industry is committed to working with President Obama and others in government to protect our customers," said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "We must find new screening techniques that strengthen security, protect privacy and reduce wait times and other hassles for travelers. A 21st Century security system can meet these objectives given the necessary financial resources and investment in research and development."

U.S. Travel noted that WBI has received significant attention with regard to privacy, but significantly less focus has been paid to its security benefits, affect on wait times and any potential of reducing travelers' hassles at security checkpoints.

"Whole body imaging may or may not be a panacea for security and travelers, but one thing that is clear is that this technology has not received the necessary analysis to determine if it can significantly strengthen security and improve travel facilitation," said Dow. "Nearly all of the WBI focus to date has been on privacy. It is past time for a more detailed analysis."

For more information, click here.

The Transportation Security Administration issued security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S. effective January 4, 2010.

The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners.

Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world who holds a passport issued by or is traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights.

Q: What additional security measures are being taken for international flights to U.S. destinations?

A: TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world who holds a passport issued by or is traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. TSA directed the increase use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for majority passengers on U.S. bound international flights.

Q. Do passengers need to do anything differently to prepare for checkpoint security procedures? Has anything changed in terms of what passengers can bring in their carry-on or checked bags?

A. At this time, security checkpoint requirements for passengers departing U.S. airports remain the same. Passengers do not need to do anything differently, but they may notice additional security measures at the airport. TSA's checkpoint security screening procedures for persons with disabilities and medical conditions have not changed. TSA permits prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions.

In addition, TSA’s current procedures for the screening of bulky clothing or headwear remain unchanged. To ensure the highest level of security, passengers wearing loose fitting or bulky clothing - including headwear - may be subject to additional screening. In instances where passengers choose not to remove bulky clothing, including headwear, our officers are trained to offer a private screening area and may conduct a pat down search to clear the individual.

Q. Should passengers plan to arrive at airports earlier than normal?

A. Passengers may want to allow additional time to get through security on international flights bound to U.S. These times may vary by airport - check in with your airport or carrier.

Q. How long will these measures remain in place?

A. TSA will continuously review these measures to ensure the highest levels of security.

For more information, click here.

Air travelers will find it easier to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) about airline service, compare the historical on-time and baggage mishandling records of airlines, and find helpful tips about air travel thanks to a redesigned, more user-friendly aviation consumer web site unveiled today by the Department. The web site can be found at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.

“This updated web site is part of our ongoing effort to improve resources for consumers and ensure that airline passengers are treated fairly when they fly,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “We want to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find the information they need to make their air travel experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible.”

The improved site contains useful information about the Department’s complaint handling system for consumers who experience air travel service problems, including a web form that consumers can use to file a complaint with DOT about airline service.

The site also offers guidance regarding aviation rules and statutes, advice concerning airlines that have stopped operating or filed for bankruptcy protection, and travel tips and publications related to air travel, such as the Air Travel Consumer Report, Fly-Rights and the annual report on disability-related air travel complaints.

It also features easy-to-navigate links to all of the Department’s information for air travelers, as well as links to other agency web sites with useful material for air travelers. The public will also find it easier to obtain enforcement orders, rules and guidance pertaining to a wide array of subjects such as baggage, fare advertising, refunds, overbooking, disability and flight delays.

For more information, click here.

The nation's largest airlines set a single-month record in November for on-time performance for the nearly 15 years the U.S. Department of Transportation has collected comparable data, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). They also set a record for the lowest rate of mishandled baggage in a single month since these data were first collected in September 1987.

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 88.6 percent in November, higher than both November 2008's 83.3 percent and October 2009's 77.3 percent. Since comparable data was first collected in January 1995, the previous high on-time mark for reporting carriers was 88.0 percent in September 2002.

In addition, the U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.78 reports per 1,000 passengers in November, an improvement over both November 2008's rate of 3.75 and October 2009's 3.48 rate. The previous record low rate for mishandled baggage was September 2009's 3.01 mark.

The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, 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

The consumer report includes BTS data on the number of domestic flights canceled by the reporting carriers. In November, the carriers canceled 0.5 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, a lower rate than both the 0.8 percent cancellation rate of November 2008 and the 1.0 percent rate posted in October 2009.

Tarmac Delays

In November, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that .00079 percent of their scheduled flights had tarmac delays of three hours or more, down from .0013 in November 2008 and .002 percent in October 2009. There were no flights with tarmac delays of four hours or more in November.

Causes of Flight Delays

In November, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 3.91 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 8.52 percent in October; 3.23 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 7.20 percent in October; 3.39 percent by factors within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 5.26 percent in October; 0.20 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.52 percent in October; and 0.01 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.03 percent in October. 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 November, 33.43 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 20.56 percent from November 2008, when 42.08 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and down 18.74 percent from October when 41.14 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.

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

This spring, Air Canada will offer new daily service between Toronto and seven more American cities including: Orange County (Santa Ana) and San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon; Memphis, Tennessee; Cincinnati, Ohio; Portland, Maine; and Syracuse, New York… American Airlines said it will change its checked bag charges, effective with tickets purchased on or after Feb. 1, 2010, to $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag, payable at the airport on day of travel…Continental Airlines announced that it will operate daily nonstop service between its Cleveland hub at Hopkins International Airport to Green Bay, Wis., and Norfolk, Va., beginning May 2, 2010…Air France is offering a third daily flight between Paris and New York equipped with the Premium Voyager cabin which started on January 18,2010…Delta Air Lines will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground…Emirates’ A380 has become the 6000th Airbus aircraft to roll off the production line in Hamburg, as the airline continues to weather the financial storm and thrusts ahead with its ambitious expansion plans.

in November ‘09 increased to 88.6%, up 9.7 points vs. the running 12 month average of 78.9% and up 1.6 points from October’s 86.2%. 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, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Yemen.