{"id":378,"date":"2008-05-27T12:11:54","date_gmt":"2008-05-27T17:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/05\/brancatelli-new-airline-routes-airport-security-changes\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T19:45:46","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T01:45:46","slug":"brancatelli-new-airline-routes-airport-security-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/05\/brancatelli-new-airline-routes-airport-security-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Brancatelli: New airline routes, airport security changes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ontheroad\"<\/a>
\nJoe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com<\/a><\/strong>, a
\nnon-commercial Web site for business travelers.<\/em><\/p>\n

INTERNATIONAL AGENDA<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Alitalia fades, competitors move into Milan<\/strong>: Eternally troubled Alitalia<\/strong> has slashed service at its once-imposing
\nhub at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. That has opened a window for a
\nwell-run private Italian airline, Air One, to bulk up there. Among Air
\nOne’s first new routes: nonstop flights<\/strong><\/a> to Boston Logan and
\nChicago O’Hare. The Boston flights<\/strong><\/a> launch June 14; Chicago servicebegins a week later. Air One will use two-class Airbus A330s on the
\nroutes, but other details haven’t been announced.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Lufthansa<\/strong>
\nwill open a small hub at Malpensa next year. Flights<\/strong><\/a> will be operated
\non intra-Europe routes with regional jets owned by Lufthansa’s Air
\nDolomiti subsidiary. … United Airlines<\/strong><\/a> continues to delay the launch of
\nits San Francisco-Guangzhou flights and now we know why. The Boeing 777
\nit was going to use on the China route is being diverted to launch
\nflights between its Washington Dulles<\/strong> hub and Dubai<\/strong>. The same day it
\nwants to begin flights between Dulles<\/strong> and Moscow<\/strong>. Aircraft for that
\nroute will come from seasonal cuts on other routes.<\/p>\n

Northwest
\nAirlines<\/strong><\/a> says that it will begin daily flights<\/a><\/strong> between Seattle<\/strong><\/a> and
\nBeijing<\/a> <\/strong>on March 1 using Airbus A330s. Hainan Airlines will launch on
\nthat route next month. <\/p>\n


\nNEW AND NOTABLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

A better way to do security checkpoints<\/strong>: The <\/strong>Transportation Security Administration<\/a><\/strong> has expanded its Self-Select
\nLanes<\/strong> to a dozen airports. The program allows travelers to chose the
\n"black diamond" expert line, a blue line for casual fliers who are less
\nexperienced or a green line for families. The lanes recently began
\noperation in Pittsburgh<\/strong> and Milwaukee<\/strong>. They also are functioning at
\nBoston Logan<\/strong>, Chicago O’Hare<\/strong>, Spokane<\/strong>, Cincinnati<\/strong>, Raleigh<\/strong>,
\nHouston Hobby<\/strong>, Dallas Love Field<\/strong> and Oakland<\/strong>. The program was launched
\nearlier this year in Denver<\/strong> and Salt Lake City<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Add Japan Airlines<\/strong> to
\nthe list of carriers rolling out a "fourth" class — the so-called
\npremium economy sections located between coach and business class.
\nSeats are arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration and are 19 inches wide with
\n38 inches of legroom. The cabin, first installed last December on
\nTokyo-London flights, began popping up on Paris flights last month. JAL
\nwill add the cabin on flights to New York Kennedy<\/strong> beginning August 1
\nand on flights to San Francisco<\/strong> on September 1. <\/p>\n


\nNEED TO KNOW<\/strong><\/p>\n

On-the-road intelligence to help you travel smarter<\/strong>: Bankrupt and reorganizing Frontier Airlines<\/strong> will face even more
\npressure from Southwest Airlines at its home base of Denver<\/strong><\/a>. Beginning
\nAugust 4, Southwest will launch two daily flights<\/strong><\/a> to Sacramento and a
\ndaily nonstop to Fort Lauderdale. Southwest will also add a flight to
\nNew Orleans.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Federal Aviation Administration has failed to
\nperform more than 100 safety reviews at eight airlines<\/a><\/strong> in recent years.
\nAccording to information provided to a Senate committee by the FAA, 30
\nfive-year reviews were skipped at US Airways and 26 at American
\nAirlines. The reviews were also skipped at United (15); Alaska (13);
\nSouthwest (9); Delta (6); Continental (2); and Northwest (2).<\/p>\n

Headed
\nto the Olympics this summer? Planning a business trip to China<\/strong><\/a> soon?
\nYou’ve got troubles. After months of denials, Chinese officials admit
\nthey have tightened visa rules in the run-up to the Olympic Games. It
\nhas also sharply reduced the number of multiple-entry visas it will
\nissue and virtually ended the practice of allowing overseas visitors to
\napply for Chinese entry visas in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

Virgin Atlantic<\/strong> no longer
\noffers massages and in-flight beauty treatments to its business-class
\ntravelers.<\/p>\n

Read more "On the Road with Joe Brancatelli" at
\nroadwarrior.orbitz.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n