November 2007

Good Start

Now that summer is behind us, it appears that air delays are on the decline. In September, domestic flights on major airlines arrived on time 81% of the time. You can compare that number to 72% which was in August, and 76% for last September. Flight cancellations also declined, with 9884 from 16,108 in August and 10,448 in September lf 2006.

All-Business-Class to Paris

Eos Airlines said it plans to inaugurate New-London Stansted flights next spring and New York JFK-Paris next fall, which will represent the carrier’s first routes outside of its flagship JFK-Stansted service, which has now expanded to 44 flights per week since launching nearly two years ago.

NBTA Survey Shows Price Increases for 2008

National Business Travel Association’s 2008 U.S. Business Travel Overview & Cost Forecast reports an expected 6% to 8% overall increase in published travel costs. The report is primarily uses the survey results from 215 NBTA member buyers. Increases are anticipated in each sector, including airfares, car rentals and hotels. Many travel planners will be restricting business class travel.

GROWTH WITHIN US TRAVEL PROJECTED FOR 2008

Approximately $778 billion is projected to be spent on leisure and business travel in the United States in 2008. This is an increase of about 5% over projected levels this year.

United Airlines Have New Flights to Far East and South America from LAX

Effective, October 29, United Airlines launched daily 747 services from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and daily seasonal 767 service from Washington Dulles to Rio De Janeiro.

New Immigration Procedures for Entering Japan

Starting November 20, The Japanese Ministry of Justice will require fingerprints and a photograph from all foreign nationals entering Japan as a part of their immigration procedures. Failure to submit to fingerprinting or the taking of a photograph will result in denied entry into Japan. Exceptions include diplomatic personnel, those holding permanent Japanese resident status, and persons under the age of 16 of age.

New procedures are as follows:
A-Submit passport to the immigration control officer
B-Place index finger of both hands on a digital fingerprint reader
C-A facial photograph will be taken using the camera above the fingerprint reader
D-The immigration control officer will conduct a short interview

The Ministry of Justice understand the potential impact on the processing time to enter Japan, and their goal is to maintain a 20-minute maximum wait time for clearance lines. The larger Japan airports are looking to provide a dedicated lane for returning holders of Japan Re-Entry Permits. Where there isn’t such a lane, those carrying Re-Entry Permits will no longer be permitted to clear through the Japan National line, and must instead use lanes assigned for foreign visitors.

For more information, please visit http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/

EGYPT AIR TO JOIN STAR ALLIANCE

Egypt Air is in the process of joining Star Alliance. The integration process will take place over the next 18 months. All Star Alliance carriers serving Egypt Air’s Cairo hub will relocate under the “Move Under One Roof Capaign” to the news International Terminal 3 at Cairo in 2008.

New Minimum Check-IN Time for International Travelers

Effective October 1, 2007 American Airlines will change the minimum check-in time to 45 minutes for any nonstop international flight at Logan International Airport in Boston. American claims that this will:

-Passengers will be allowed extra time at security checkpoints
-fleet service clerks will be able to ensure that baggage is delivered to the aircraft in a more timely manner

-overall delays will be reduced due to late-arriving passengers

If you have any specific topics of interest, or any feedback regarding the corporate newsletter please let me know at the email address or phone number below.

For more information or questions regarding corporate travel, meetings or incentives please contact Julie Shen at Worldview Travel. (800) 627-8726 or e mail at jshen@worldviewtravel.com