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Delta Air Lines’ Customers to Benefit from New U.S.-Japan Air Services Agreement.

Delta Air Lines will make Asia even more accessible to travelers thanks to an agreement reached between the U.S. and the government of Japan.

Today’s agreement, makes important steps toward achieving a more liberalized air services framework between the two nations – steps that will benefit U.S. and Japanese airlines and better enable Delta and its U.S. SkyTeam partner airlines to compete in and beyond Japan.

This is the first time since 1998 that the U.S.-Japan agreement has been modified.

"Delta applauds the U.S. and Japanese governments for reaching an agreement that affords Delta and its U.S. SkyTeam partners the ability to offer greater choice of services to our customers flying between the United States and Japan and beyond to other Asian countries,” said Sametta Barnett, director for Government Affairs for Delta. “Under this new accord, Delta will now have greater flexibility to place its code and sell services operated by its partners and vice versa."

Delta offers nonstop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Tokyo´s Narita airport and to Seoul´s Incheon airport.

"Delta looks forward for future bilateral aviation talks between the two countries that seek to further liberalize the agreement," Barnett added.

from Delta Airlines

Admirals Club members now have unlimited access to the Regus network of more than 750 business lounges in 60 countries through a complimentary Regus Executive Club membership (an annual value of $300).

These prestigious lounges are located in downtown areas and major suburban markets in 350 cities.

Regus business lounges provide professional work environments that you may have already experienced at our Admirals Club conference room facilities. In addition, Admirals Club enrollees will receive preferred rates on Regus day offices, meeting rooms, and business support services.

American Airlines opens its’ lounges to American Express card holders.

American Express card members who use Platinum or Centurion cards now have access to American Airlines’ Admiral’s Club lounges worldwide, including those at Mineta San Jose International Airport and San Francisco International.

The Airport Club Access Program means that fliers with those cards can use any of 44 American lounges while traveling. American Platinum and Centurion members have access to: Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines.

To use the Admiral Club lounges, card members must show their American Express card, an ID (driver’s license, passport) and their ticket showing that they are traveling that day on the corresponding carrier. Spouse and children, or up to two traveling companions, can accompany the card member.

United Airlines will begin introducing the new international United Business along with its First Class Suites in the fall of 2007.

Details of its new international United Business cabin, that will feature a new seat that reclines to a 180 degrees, 6-foot, 4-inch lie-flat bed.

Business Class Seat

• Fully adjustable kits with lumbar support and leg rests
• Access to United Red Carpet ClubSM on day of departure
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• Three-course meal with complimentary selection of award-winning wines
• Individual video screen with nine channels, plus audio channels and noise-reducing headsets

International amenities

• Pre-departure beverage service
• Room for work and relaxation in United Business seats (above)
• Complimentary amenity kit

Meals and beverages

• Menus featuring choice of three entrees including local cuisine where available
• Express Dine meals served whenever you choose
• Premium wines, ports, liqueurs, desserts, fruits & cheeses, desserts and Starbucks® coffee
• Traditional Japanese meals between the US and Japan and between Hong Kong and Japan

Airport arrival & departure

• Priority check-in positions
• Priority boarding and deplaning
• Priority bag delivery available
• Fast Track service for London Heathrow immigration and customs
• Access to United Arrivals SuiteSM in select locations offering showers, breakfast and business services (phone, fax, laptop power ports, etc.)
• Access to United Red Carpet ClubSM and Star AllianceTM partner lounges

Provided by United Airlines

Delta AirElite Business Jets is pleased to announce that it has received the annual Robb Report Best of the Best honor for the fourth consecutive year. The company was recognized in the Flight-Card Programs/Charter category.

Delta AirElite launched its Fleet Membership jet card in 2003, and recently celebrated the program’s four year anniversary. The luxury charter operation has been serving private jet travelers since 1984.

“Since launching Fleet Membership, we have continually enhanced our program, giving our customers more options and more flexibility,” said Michael B. Green, chief executive officer of Delta AirElite.” As the first private jet operator to offer a national jet card program, ours continues to be the most comprehensive. We are delighted to be recognized by Robb Report for our excellence and commitment to our customers.”

Robb Report’s Best of the Best issue provides an expert’s view of the very finest the luxury world has to offer. The issue features premium-quality products and services including aviation, automobiles, yachts, and vacation destinations.

Earlier this year, Delta AirElite also received recognition from the Luxury Institute in their 2007 Private Jet Services Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey.

Fleet Membership gives customers the ultimate choice. They simply choose the number of hours they wish to fly (10, 25, or 50 occupied hours) in either a light, midsize, or large cabin category.

Members also have the option to choose from Delta AirElite’s Membership Fleet or Premier Fleet. The Membership Fleet features a wide range of meticulously maintained jets that combine luxury and value.

The Premier Fleet guarantees members access to only the latest model aircraft. In addition, our exclusive Efficiency Bonus™ rewards program lets Members fly more hours than actually purchased—up to 35% more flying time.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, only Fleet Membership offers customers instant Medallion® status in the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles® program.

Delta AirElite’s 10-hour card, the Perfect 10™, offers the lowest cost of entry in the industry and allows customers to experience all the benefits of private jet membership with less expense and less commitment.

The 10-hour card is an ideal way to experience an introduction to private jet travel or as a supplement to alternative and more restrictive travel options.

Customers have also purchased a 10-hour card recognizing the insurance value that Fleet Membership provides should the need arise for nationwide guaranteed aircraft availability on short notice.

Fleet Membership has one of the highest renewal rates in the industry, and confirms Delta AirElite’s position as a leader in the private jet travel marketplace.”Our membership continues to grow at record pace,” added Green. In 2006, we more than tripled the number of new members over the previous year.

This loyalty from our customers and recognition from independent sources such as Robb Report underscores our desire to always exceed customer expectations.

Delta AirElite Business Jets is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, providing aircraft charter, aircraft management and its innovative Fleet Membership and Flexjet 25 jet card programs.

With 23 years of serving business aviation travelers, Delta AirElite is the only business jet operator owned by a major U.S. airline.

The company operates a diverse fleet of Bombardier, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna aircraft. For more information, please visit www.AirElite.com.

Emirates Air
plans to equip its entire fleet by mid-2007 to give passengers the option to use mobile phones in flight, subject to approvals.

Emirates will turn off the system at certain times, limit the number of concurrent calls to five or six and encourage passengers to use the silent or vibrate modes.

United
is considering a pricing plan called “bare fares,” in which some customers would be offered a base fare with the option to pay extra for seat assignments, checked bags, Mileage Plus credit and other extras.

The idea was revealed December 12 by Greg Taylor, United’s senior vice president
for planning, at United’s first Investor Day in six years. In his presentation, Taylor said unbundling with bare fares was one of the pricing ideas United officials were “doing some work around” and “hope to roll out in the next year or so.” He did not indicate whether value-added options would be offered at booking or at check-in.

The idea of bare fares he said is to apply the add-on options to promotional
fares or other cheap leisure fares.

He said that United officials were convinced that offering bare fares would enable the airline to offer customers a competitive fare while generating a revenue premium for United. Bare-fare add-ons that United could roll out within the year include:

• Elite status for a single trip. Buyers would get priority check-in, priority security line access and priority boarding.
• Flight flexibility or the right to make a change in their tickets between purchase time and time of departure without paying the $100 change fee. Taylor said United believed that, at the right price point, this option would result in more revenue than just the change fee alone.
• A one-day pass for Red Carpet lounges. United could use the data it has on passengers, such as a long layover between flights, to proactively offer this option when they check in at an airport kiosk or online.

All of these options, Taylor said, “could be nice revenue generators” while “providing a better experience for our customers.” Taylor said the premium customer was still United’s focus and that there were customers at the other extreme who just wanted basic transportation at a low price.

Taylor added that “there’s clearly this constituency in the middle who would be very happy to do a value exchange where they pay a little bit more for an improved travel experience. We think these types of products just perfectly target that audience.”

Delta and Montana-based Big Sky Airlines
have signed a memorandum of understanding for Big Sky to operate Delta Connection carrier service beginning in the second quarter of 2007. As part of the agreement, Big Sky initially will fly eight 19-seat Beech craft 1900D aircraft, an 18 percent increase in departures.

Specific routes and frequencies will be announced later this winter.

Continental partnered with US Helicopter
to offer shuttle service between New York’s Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Wall Street and the airline’s Newark hub at a one-way fare of $159 plus security fees.

Apple
has teamed with Air France, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM and United Airlines to deliver what it calls the first seamless integration between iPods and in-flight entertainment system.

These six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections that will power and charge their iPods and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on back seat displays.

In-flight connectivity will be available in mid 2007 and Apple is working to provide iPod connectivity to more airlines in the future.

Third Quarter Air Travel Index Hits 11 Year High:
The Air Travel Price Index (ATPI) for the third quarter of 2006 reached the highest third-quarter level recorded in 11 years, 7.5 percent higher than the previous third quarter high in 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The fare index rose 7.5 percent in the third quarter of 2006 from the third quarter of 2005, the biggest year-to-year rise since third quarter 2000.

While reaching a third-quarter high, the ATPI declined 2.6 percent from the record high set in the second quarter of 2006. Quarter-to-quarter changes may be affected by seasonal factors. (Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics press release).

FAA Reports Third Annual Drop in Air Traffic Control Staff:
Air traffic controller staffing levels have dropped for the third straight year, to a new low of 14,206, according to the most recent Federal Aviation Administration “Administrator’s Fact Book.”

The fact book reports that the overall total number of controllers working in its 300- plus facilities dropped from 14,227 at the end of fiscal year 2005 to 14,206 in fiscal year 2006. The figures are listed as being current as of October 31, 2006, taking into account hiring and attrition statistics a full month into the current fiscal year.

Controller staffing totals reached as high as 15,386 as recently as September 2003. But a year later, in October, 2004, the FAA reported that total had fallen to 14,736 as the long-expected controller retirement wave began to increase in size. (Source: National Air Traffic Controllers Association press release).

BA, Air France to Launch Clear at JFK:
Air France is sponsoring the Clear Registered Traveler program at John F. Kennedy International’s Terminal 1. This means all airlines from Terminal 1, and their passengers, can take advantage of the Clear program.

The program allows business traveler and other frequent fliers to pay an annual fee of $99.95 and provide background information about themselves to the Transportation Security Administration for pre-screening.

If approved, they get a biometric ID card that gives them expedited access through airport security checkpoints. Last month, British Airways opened its Clear Lane at JFKs Terminal 7. (Source: Air France press release).

Air Canada Relocates U.S. Transborder Flights to Pearson Terminal 1:
Air Canada has relocated all of its U.S. transborder Toronto flight to Terminal 1 at Pearson International Airport. This means all of Air Canada’s U.S. operations out of Toronto have been consolidated with its current domestic and international operations in the terminal.

Air Canada will no longer operate from Terminal 2. Air Canada expects this to dramatically improve the customer experience, reducing distances between gates and making connections much easier. (Source: Air Canada press release).

Virgin Atlantic Brings To Chicago an Antidote to Transatlantic Travel:
Virgin Atlantic announced their newest route from Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow, aptly named The High Riser, to honor those pioneers who envisioned a city that could touch the sky, and for today’s jetsetters who elevate business to new heights. Daily service commences April 23, 2007.

Increased Air Passenger Duty Levied By The UK Government:
From February 1, 2007, the UK Government has increased Air Passenger Duty (APD) from £20 to £40 per passenger for Economy passengers, and £40 to £80 per passenger for Premium Economy and Upper Class passengers. The tax applies to every passenger (excluding infants and some transit passengers) leaving on a flight from any UK airport. APD is a government tax which has been paid by passengers since it was introduced 13 years ago.

The government says the extra APD raised will be targeted at helping our environment and tackling climate change.

With US Airways proposing a merger with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines looking at Continental and AirTran seeking a merger with Midwest Airlines, some members of the business travel community are calling for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice to examine the consequences of airline mergers.

The Business Travel Coalition, an advocacy group for business travelers, predicts overwhelming competition problems. BTC chairman Kevin Mitchell says that the market power of resultant, reconfigured global alliances with antitrust immunity could be stunning. The impact on business travel:

• Higher ticket prices as capacity is removed
• Five major competing airlines become two
• More mergers would follow
• Mergers are short-term fixes that do not address systemic profitability problems of the airline industry

(Source: BTC statement)

Airlines FAA Institutes Temporary Measures to Ease LaGuardia Congestion
The Federal Aviation Administration is implementing temporary measures to control congestion at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

The temporary measures permit 75 scheduled and six unscheduled arrivals and departures per hour from 6 a.m. through 9:59 p.m., from Monday to Friday, and the same number of hourly flights from noon to 9:59 p.m. on Sunday. The FAA has regulated traffic into LaGuardia over the past 40 years because of the airport’s limited capacity and high demand because of its proximity to Manhattan. (Source: FAA).

JetBlue to Give Passengers More Space on Its A320s JetBlue Airways will remove a row of seats from its Airbus 320 fleet and reconfigure the cabin with at least 36-inch pitch in rows 1-11, and at least 34-inch pitch in rows 12-25. Aircraft modifications should be complete by March 2007. (Source: JetBlue press release).

American Upgrades Boeing 767-200
American Airlines is spending $20 million to upgrade its Boeing 767-200 aircraft. The upgrade includes updated First and Business Class seats, a lighter and brighter cabin interior, and new audio and video on-demand personal entertainment devices in First and Business Class.

The upgrade also increases the number of First Class Seats from 9 to 10 on each aircraft. American will enhance its lounge admittance policy in conjunction with the opening of the new Flagship Lounge and second Admirals Club lounge at the new JFK terminal by this summer.

First Class passengers flying on transcontinental routes on three-class aircraft will have access to American’s Flagship Lounges, usually reserved for international premium class customers. In addition, Business Class passengers traveling on transcontinental routes on three-class aircraft will have access to American’s Admirals Club lounges. American has a Flagship Lounge facility and Admirals Club lounge at Los Angeles International Airport and a new Admirals Club in Concourse C in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Source: American Airlines press release).

Delta Adds Boston Service
Delta Air Lines this spring will offer business travelers more choices for nonstop service between Boston’s Logan International Airport and key business markets throughout the Northeast. Delta and Montana-based Big Sky Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding for Big Sky to operate Delta Connection carrier service beginning in the second quarter of 2007.

As part of the agreement, Big Sky initially will fly eight 19-seat Beech craft 1900D aircraft, an 18 percent increase in departures. Specific routes and frequencies will be announced later this winter. (Source: Delta press release).

Delta
will launch nonstop, year-round service four times a week from Atlanta to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on December 9, in time for winter travel and the annual Carnival in February. The flight departs Atlanta Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:50pm, arriving at 8:30pm.

American Airlines
has introduced an enhancement to online Flight Check-In at www.AA.com. Now travelers who have return flights within 24 hours of departure can check in for both outbound and return flight segments at the same time.

Round-Trip Flight Check-In is available at www.AA.com/checkin for customers traveling with domestic e-tickets. The new feature is especially helpful for passengers who want to check in for their entire same-day trip online but may not have computer and printer access at their destination.

Additionally, Round-Trip Flight Check-In provides the earliest possible check-in time for customers seeking a flight upgrade or for those who would like to be added to a standby list. Just as before, passengers are able to check in online up to 24 hours prior to departure.

AirTran
disclosed plans to add Stewart Airport in New York’s Hudson Valley to its system with daily nonstops to Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, starting January 11 (Tampa and Fort Lauderdale begin at five flights a week and go daily in mid-February.)

Parents
will soon have a new, smaller, lighter option to take with them to secure small children in airline seats.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it has approved a new type of child-safety device, the AmSafe Aviation CARES that can be used for children weighing 22 to 44 pounds. CARES, which the company said stands for Child Aviation Restraint, uses an additional belt and shoulder harness that goes around the seat back and attaches to the passenger lap belt to provide restraint for the upper part of the body.

AmSafe said that the device weighs one pound and fits into a six-inch stuff sack. It also said it is adjustable to virtually any size airplane seat and usable in any seat except for exit rows (where a child would not be allowed anyway). AmSafe said CARES are available at www.kidsflysafe.com at a price of $74.95.

Under pressure
from some airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering whether to lift mandatory retirement for pilots older than 60.

FAA administrator Marion Blakey on Sept. 27 appointed a committee to study whether to relax 37-year-old rules setting the requirement that neither pilot in a cockpit can exceed that age milestone.

The committee will study whether to allow at least one of two pilots in a cockpit to exceed the age limit, she said. “The FAA must ensure that any future rule change, should it occur, provides an equal or better level of safety to passengers,” said Blakey.

Northwest Airlines
said it ordered 72 new two-class regional jet aircraft, 36 apiece from Embraer and Bombardier. Northwest said the 76-seat Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet 900’s and Embraer 175s allow the carrier “to pursue growth opportunities in important markets, including the heartland of the U.S., and provide Northwest with improved aircraft economics.” Subject to bankruptcy court approval, the carrier said it expects to begin taking initial delivery of both aircraft in the second quarter of 2007.

Northwest did not disclose the value of the orders “Both new aircraft types will lower Northwest’s operating costs over the aircraft they replace, such as the Avro Regional Jet 85, through a combination of significantly lower fuel consumption along with inherent maintenance cost advantages,” Northwest president and CEO Doug Steenland said.

United Airlines
has begun using a fully automated, over-the-wing loading bridge that enables passengers to board and deplane simultaneously from the front and rear doors of narrow body aircraft at Denver International Airport. This cuts boarding and deplaning times in half. United plans to expand the dual-end jet bridge use in Denver and other airports.

Experts Predict 2007 Airline, Hotel, Car Rental Costs To Rise

A spate of forecasts issued by corporate travel industry consultants and travel management companies call for across-the-board supplier price increases in 2007, largely driven by corporate demand.

Though a handful of analysts predicted airfare hikes would cease for the remainder of 2006, particularly as the price of fuel slips back from record highs, most forecasts call for higher fares in 2007.

BCD Travel, for example, estimated airfares would increase 7% to 11% in 2007 from this year’s levels. This would continue an established trend: Domestic airfares have risen to their highest level since the end of 2001, with average ticket price at $247 for a one-way trip, up 13% from last year, according to American Express Business Travel Monitor, which tracks a variety of travel expense categories booked by American Express Business Travel clients.

The hotel industry has reaped the most benefits from the growth in business travel during the past few years, and 2007 does not promise an end to that trend.

Very strong demand coupled with a dearth of new full-service hotel development has allowed hoteliers to raise rates. BCD predicted 2007 daily hotel rates would average
6 percent higher than 2006 rates, with some markets rising as much as 10% to 14%.

Average negotiated corporate rate increases won’t be lower than the 5.25% rates increased this year, said Bjorn Hanson, head of the Pricewater-HouseCoopers hospitality and leisure practice, and gateway city increase could reach into double-digit percentages.

Car rental companies are facing pressure from increasing fleet costs caused by the struggling automobile industry-which is trying to improve its bottom line by de-emphasizing agreements with car rental firms – and likely will attempt to raise rates in the neighborhood of 10% from 2006 figures, said Neil Abrams, president of Purchase, N.Y.- based Abrams Consulting Group. BCD estimated car rental costs would rise 5% to 7%.

Meanwhile, in the second quarter of 2006, American Express Business Travel clients saw car rental costs rise 4 percent to $67.26, compared with the second quarter of 2005.

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