EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 03/07/05 Welcome to EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of March 7, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news! To sign up for the e-Alert, click here. United will boost Ted fleet by 20 percent Continental shrinking first class cabins on 737-500s American adds more international e-ticketing partners China Southern gets first A330 with new business class Houston Hobby adds Sprint WiFi service Detroit moves ahead with new terminal plan for Metro Airport AIRLINES United will boost Ted fleet by 20 percent Claiming that its low-fare Ted subsidiary is making good progress, United Airlines said last week it plans to expand the division's fleet by 20 percent this year, from 47 aircraft to 56. United will pull nine Airbus A320s from its mainline fleet and convert them to Ted configurations. The division will use the planes to increase operations out of Denver, Washington Dulles and Chicago to destinations in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean; specific routes will be announced later, the company said. "Financially, Ted delivered strong year-over-year margin improvement, driven by an increase in both United elite customers as well as new customers to the airline," said Sean Donohue, a v.p. in charge of Ted and United Express. He said Ted carried seven million passengers in its first year, which just ended, and filled 80 percent of its seats during 2004. Continental shrinking first class cabins on 737-500s The Houston Chronicle reported last week that Continental Airlines is pulling some first-class seats out of its 737-500s. A Continental official told the newspaper that the reconfiguration - which has already started - will affect 63 aircraft, or about 18 percent of the total fleet. The change will reduce the number of first class seats in the affected aircraft from 10 to eight, and increase the coach cabin from 94 to 106 seats. While the work is going on, however, some planes may temporarily have only six first class seats, the newspaper reported. Meanwhile, Continental also said last week that it has succeeded in achieving the $500 million in concessions that it said it needed from its unionized workers, including pilots, mechanics, dispatchers and flight attendants, in part by offering them stock options for 15 percent of the company's shares. American adds more international e-ticketing partners American Airlines has started up new electronic ticketing capabilities with Japan Airlines and Mexicana Airlines. That means passengers on itineraries that involve connections between American and either carrier can now get a single e-ticket for the full journey. American already offers international e-ticketing with its Oneworld alliance partners - Aer Lingus, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas - as well as AeroMexico, KLM and Copa Airlines. INTERNATIONAL China Southern gets first A330 with new business class China Southern Airlines, China's largest carrier, has taken delivery of its first new Airbus A330, including new flat-bed business class seats. The company has ordered four A330-200s, to be used on long-haul international routes. The new Premium Business Class on the planes will have 24 "minipod" seats with privacy walls and electric controls; telephone/video control units, and 10.4-inch video screens; power ports; and 58-inch pitch. China Southern has also placed orders for five of Airbus' new A380 double-decker jumbo jets. AIRPORTS Houston Hobby adds Sprint WiFi service Houston's Hobby Airport last week deployed new high-speed wireless Internet service from Sprint PCS. The wireless network is available throughout the airport, including gate areas, restaurants, ticketing and baggage claim areas. Sprint PCS offers a pay-as-you-go option of $9.95 per connection per location for 24 hours of unlimited access; or a month-to-month plan with unlimited access for $49.95 a month. For details, go to www.sprint.com/wifi. Detroit moves ahead with new terminal plan for Metro Airport Detroit Metro Airport will lose some existing structures as part of an ongoing improvement plan that calls for construction of a new North Terminal. Officials of the Wayne County Airport Authority have approved design plans for the new terminal, a 27-gate facility that will require the elimination of the existing Smith Terminal, the Davey Terminal and the now-empty Marriott Hotel. After the new North Terminal opens in 2008, the existing Berry Terminal will also be torn down; it's used mainly for charter flights and immigration services. The latter will be incorporated into the new terminal. While Northwest Airlines has consolidated its operations into the new McNamara Terminal that opened in 2002, airport officials said the new North Terminal will allow current Smith Terminal tenants like Southwest and American Airlines to expand their operations at the airport. AIR ROUTES MIAMI (MIA). American Airlines has started new service between Miami and Bermuda, with two 737 flights per week (Wednesdays and Sundays). The schedule will increase to five roundtrips a week on June 10. THIS WEEK'S DEALS AND SPECIALS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS Delta's Song is offering a sale fare of $99 one-way for trips on its new route between New York JFK and Los Angeles International, which begins May 1. Tickets must be purchased by March 17, for travel May 1-May 25. Tickets must be purchased at www.flysong.com, www.delta.com or from a travel agent. SkyMiles members can earn double miles with the fare sale if they register by March 17 at www.flysong.com/nyla. El Al (800/223-6700; www.elal.com) has a spring sale on coach fares to Israel. Good for travel from April 1-June 15, the fares require ticketing within 72 hours of booking, and a 6/21-day stay. Roundtrip coach sale fares are $649 from JFK and Newark for Monday/Tuesday departures and Tuesday/Wednesday returns, or $749 other days. The sale fare is $799 from Chicago, $824 from Miami and $849 from Los Angeles. Through June 25, Avis will offer a free weekend rental coupon, valid through December 16, to persons who complete a qualified weekly rental of at least five days. Renters can earn a maximum of three free weekend vouchers in the company's Weekender promotion. To register, go to www.avis.com or call 800-722-5909. America West Airlines now offers its FlightFund frequent flyer members the possibility of award travel (800-247-5691) to Sydney, Australia in cooperation with Hawaiian Airlines, via connections in Honolulu. For links to other websites where you can search for bargains, click here: www.executivetravelonline.com/reference/deals.html By Jim Glab To sign up for the e-Alert, click here.