EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT 02/13/06 Welcome to EXECUTIVE TRAVEL SKYGUIDE E-ALERT for the week of February 13, the weekly e-mail of essential business travel news! To sign up for the e-Alert, click here. Delta pilots open strike center; Northwest pilots vote on walkout Former American CEO will oversee Virgin America American adding more coach seats to MD-80s International News Briefs: Delta will fly to Johannesburg New York-area airports worst for on-time arrivals in 2005 LAX gets a new US Airways Club Changes coming to AmericanConnection service at St. Louis THIS WEEK'S QUESTION FOR READERS: Virgin America, a new low-cost domestic carrier affiliated with Richard Branson, hopes to start flying this year from San Francisco. Do you think there's room for one more low-cost airline? Send your comments to skyguide@aexp.com. Last week, we asked if readers were concerned about a possible pilots strike at Northwest if the bankruptcy court voids their contract. They are. Reader Jerry Pond is ticketed on Northwest in May and June. "They have my money and now I have to sweat for months to see if I actually get to go on the vacations," he said. Paul Biggers, a WorldPerks Platinum Elite, said the Northwest employees he's seen lately have been "in better spirits, more accommodating and more professional" but he's worried about the status of his upcoming international trips on NW. An unsigned reader email said if the pilots do walk, "the airline should...liquidate. Airline pilots have to come to their senses that the age of greed is over." AIRLINES Delta pilots open strike center; Northwest pilots vote on walkout Delta's pilots have opened a strike headquarters near Atlanta's airport, according to USA Today. The newspaper said it was told by the head of Delta's pilots union, Lee Moak, that ongoing discussions between management and union leaders are making no significant progress. He told the newspaper he believes Delta is laying the groundwork for the ultimate rejection of the pilots' contract if negotiations and arbitration fail - something that could trigger a walkout. The two sides face a March 1 deadline to come to terms on a new deal; otherwise the matter goes into binding arbitration, and the arbitration panel could decide to void the existing pilots' contract. The newspaper also reported that Delta has suffered a significant loss of senior management executives in recent months - including the senior vice president in charge of its restructuring. Both Delta and Northwest are operating in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Northwest's pilots said last week they will begin voting today (February 13) on whether to authorize a strike; votes will be counted February 28. Northwest and its pilots are waiting for a court ruling this week on what will happen to the latter's contract while management tries to wring new wage concessions from the union. If the court allows Northwest to void the contract and impose a new one unilaterally, pilots have threatened to walk off the job - something that could put the airline out of business. Former American CEO will oversee Virgin America Virgin America Inc., the San Francisco-based start-up airline partly owned by Virgin Atlantic chief Sir Richard Branson, has hired Don Carty as its chairman. Carty served as chairman and CEO of American Airlines parent company AMR from 1998 to 2003, succeeding Bob Crandall. Fred Reid, a former president of Delta, remains CEO of the low-cost carrier. Carty stepped down from the top job at AMR in a flap over a generous pension and bonus plan for top executives at American just after rank-and-file employees had agreed to substantial wage reductions, in an effort to keep the company out of bankruptcy court. Virgin America has applied for operating authority and expects to start flying later this year. American adding coach seats to MD-80s American Airlines reportedly plans to add four more coach seats to each of its MD80s starting later this year, using space that will be freed up by the removal of galleys from the back of the coach sections. American said it expects a $34 million benefit from the change, saving on fuel due to the removal of the galley equipment's weight and adding more revenue from the extra seats. American has 327 MD80s in its fleet. Observers noted that the removal of the economy class galleys is a reminder that hot meals in coach have become part of aviation history. ADVERTISEMENT Fare Sale – Book Low Fares Now. Travel through September 30. Make your travel plans right now and save on airfares at midwestairlines.com. Each way fares begin at $79 from many cities. Book no later than February 21. Travel Monday through Saturday (Florida - Tuesday and Wednesday only) through September 30, 2006. Roundtrip reservations and a Friday- or Saturday-night stay are required. Get this fare and details only at midwestairlines.com. INTERNATIONAL International News Briefs: Delta will fly to Johannesburg • Delta plans to begin the first African service by a U.S. carrier in December, flying from Atlanta to Johannesburg via Dakar. Delta also said it will begin service from ATL to Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador June 8. • US Airways will introduce Philadelphia-Milan 767 service May 30, and will begin seasonal service from PHL to Stockholm and Lisbon from early June into October. • Air China is the latest customer for Connexion by Boeing in-flight Internet service; installations on its 747-400s will start in October. • The newest airline partner in Continental's OnePass frequent flyer program is AeroRepublica Airlines of Colombia. AIRPORTS New York-area airports worst for on-time arrivals in 2005 Flying into New York? You might not want to schedule a meeting for a time soon after your scheduled arrival. According to federal statistics released last week for the nation's 33 largest airports, the three New York-area facilities had the worst on-time arrival rates. Ranking dead last was Newark, where just 64.1 percent of 2005 flights arrived within 15 minutes of their schedule times. Second from the bottom was LaGuardia (66.7 percent) and above that was JFK (70.3 percent). The best on-time arrival rates last year were posted at a pair of Delta hubs: Salt Lake City ranked number one, with 83.5 percent of its flights landing on time; Cincinnati was second, at 82.6 percent, followed by Denver (82.5 percent) and Chicago Midway (82.3 percent). Chicago O'Hare, which had ranked last in 2004, climbed from 33rd to 24th place, with an on-time arrivals rate of 74.9 percent. LAX gets a new US Airways Club At Los Angeles International, US Airways has opened a new US Airways Club in Terminal One. The club offers members reservations and upgrade assistance, workstations with dataports, fax machines, copiers, paper shredders, cable TV, newspapers and magazines, and free beverages and snacks. The club will soon add T-Mobile wireless Internet access as well. Changes coming to AmericanConnection service at St. Louis Trans States Airlines, which operates as AmericanConnection at St. Louis, will exit several markets as it switches to an all-jet fleet, the company said. Trans States said that by this fall, it will eliminate the six British Aerospace J-41 turboprop aircraft in its fleet, which it uses on nine routes from St. Louis. The company will switch to regional jet service this spring between St. Louis and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Madison, Wis.; Memphis, Tenn. and Fayetteville, Ark., a spokesman said. But it will end its flights to Columbia, Mo.; Decatur, Ill.; Joplin, Mo.; Springfield, Ill. And Springfield, Mo. "Trans States and American are working with AmericanConnection partner Regions Air to continue service to those cities," the spokesman said. ADVERTISEMENT ARE YOU A PLAYER? If you're a competitive golfer you'll want to join us on the beautiful island of Bermuda this spring for an exclusive event created for passionate golf travelers. Designed to ignite your senses and challenge your game, this all inclusive* tournament will be played across three of Bermuda's top courses including Tucker's Point Club, Port Royal Golf Club and the Mid Ocean Club. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! Travel + Leisure GOLF Players Championship Presented by Bermuda March 31 – April 4, 2006 Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda For more information call 866.203.9467 or visit www.tlgolf.com/players * Does not include airfare. AIR ROUTES ATLANTA (ATL). Delta Connection/Atlantic Southeast Airlines begins twice-daily service February 16 between Atlanta and McAllen, Tex. BOSTON (BOS). February 15 is the launch date for new AirTran Airways service between Boston Logan and Washington Dulles. AirTran will offer four daily roundtrips, using 737 and 717 aircraft. The carrier already operates BOS-BWI flights. DETROIT (DTW). New AirTran Airways non-stop service begins February 15 between Detroit and Florida's Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, with one daily 717 roundtrip. FT. LAUDERDALE (FLL). On February 16, Spirit Airlines kicks off new daily non-stops between Ft. Lauderdale and Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos; on February 19, it will begin twice-weekly flights from FLL to Grand Turk, in the same island group. NEW YORK LAGUARDIA (LGA). Delta plans a February 16 start for new twice-daily service between LaGuardia and Miami, and one daily roundtrip between LaGuardia and New Orleans. RICHMOND (RIC). AirTran Airways on February 15 will begin new service between Richmond and Ft. Myers, with one daily 717 roundtrip. DEALS AND SPECIALS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlinesusa.com) has online-only spring special fares available for travel through May as long as you book and purchase tickets by February 28. Go to the "destinations" tab and click on "packages/promotions." Sample starting roundtrip economy fares: Newark to Stockholm, $549; Los Angeles-Taipei, $569; LAX-Jakarta, $699. Sample roundtrip business class fares: Newark-Bangkok from $3,199; LAX-India, from $3,299. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is now offering free high-speed Internet access to members of its Fairmont Presidents Club loyalty program. To join, visit www.fairmont.com or call 800-663-7575. Fairmont has 44 properties worldwide. Marriott has revived its MegaBonus promotion, which allows Marriott Rewards members to earn up to 10,000 points after completing five stays between February 15 and May 15. Participants must register at www.marriottrewards.com or by calling 888-627-7468. The qualifying stays can be at any of Marriott's brands, including Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites or Marriott Vacation Club. For links to other websites where you can search for bargains, click here: www.executivetravelonline.com/reference/deals.html For in-depth analysis, news, features and opinions about the current business travel scene, check out Joe Sent Me (www.joesentme.com), produced by veteran traveler advocate/journalist Joe Brancatelli and a team of contributors. WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST? Many execs are most productive and creative first thing in the morning - the perfect excuse for an early meeting. Look for a rundown of preferred breakfast meeting venues in the March issue of Executive Travel. By Jim Glab Have a question or comment? Send it to skyguide@aexp.com. To sign up for the e-Alert, click here.