American Airlines Now Offer Daily Nonstop Flights New York to Budapest

Perhaps one of the reasons why Budapest hasn’t been on terribly many American itineraries is that, of late, there has been no nonstop from this country to the Hungarian capital. That has changed.

American Airlines now offers daily nonstop New York flights to Budapest. American is flying a Boeing 767-300 on the 4,360-mile transatlantic route.

Eastbound, New York flights to Budapest push back from the gate at John. F. Kennedy International Airport at 6:40 p.m. daily, arriving Budapest at 9:30 a.m. the following morning.

Westbound Budapest flights to New York depart at 11:55 a.m., and get to the gate at JFK at 3:35 p.m.

American has teamed up with oneworld alliance partner Malev for easy connections at Budapest’s Ferihegy International Airport. Malev has an extensive route network in Eastern Europe.

Budapest itself is a gem. The most frequently-visited site in the city is Buda Castle. This World Heritage Site has the Royal Palace, a trio of churches, and five museums. Stop at and savor some extraordinary Hungarian cuisine. Make the main course halászlsé – hot fish soup. Finish up with a bowl of cold hideg meggyleves – sour cherry soup. The contrast, in terms of temperature and taste, is wonderful.

Cross over either the Margaret Bridge or the Arpad Bridge to Margaret Island, Budapest’s most beautiful park. See St. Michael’s Church. Be bewitched by a music fountain. Explore centuries-old ruins. The island is rife with good restaurants, and even houses a couple of hotels.

Continental Airlines Flight Service Change Due Tropical Storm Hermine

Tropical Storm Hermine has been attacked several towns in the American territory. The storm is expected early from northeastern Mexico and crossed into Texas. Hermine came ashore Monday night in northeast Mexico. By early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm was about 10 miles (15 km) south-southwest of Harlingen, Texas, and 20 miles (30 km) northwest of Brownsville.

Tropical Storm Hermine which hit several cities affect flight services at several airports and flight schedules of several airlines.

Continental Airlines has been announced, Tropical Storm Hermine to affect several flights schedule to and from Texas.

Several airports including those in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin may cancel and delay flights. Continental advised travelers to delay flights and will allow a one-time date or time change through Sept. 8 to customer’s flying from or through the affected airports without penalty.

Airlines Cancel Flights to Kolkata as Trade Unions Strike

A number of airlines to cancel flights to and from Kolkata because of the central trade unions strike to protest rising prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

Some airlines have canceled flights among others; Kingfisher Airlines has canceled 29 flights, including one international flight. One international flight services Kingfisher which was canceled flight to Bangkok. Jet Airways and JetLite have canceled about 70 flights to Kolkata.

Both the airlines have cancelled their flights to and from Mumbai, New Delhi, Silchar, Bagdogra, Aizwal, Ranchi, Agartala, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Patna, Chennai, Imphal, Vishakhapatnam, Bangalore and Port Blair.

Kingfisher has cancelled their Dhaka flight while Jet their flight to Bangkok.

Jet has preponed their Kolkata-Dhaka flight (9W-274) which would depart Kolkata at 5.30 am, while the Dhaka-Kolkata flight (9W-273) would remain postponed for tomorrow and will operate on Wednesday.

The flight would take-off from Dhaka at 0530 hrs and arrive in Kolkata at 0545 hrs (local time).

Apart from it, Jet has rescheduled their Delhi- Bagdogra-Guwahati-Delhi flight (9W-2285) which would depart Delhi at 11:15 am and arrive Guwahati at 01:45 pm.

Kingfisher has also rescheduled two of its flights, one from Bangalore and other to Hyderabad tomorrow.

The airlines has preponed the departure of its Kolkata-Hyderabad flight (IT 3434) which usually departs the West Bengal capital at 6:50 am would depart at 05:35 am.

Also its Bangalore-Kolkata flight (IT-3419), which originally departs Bangalore at 8.40 pm, will now take-off from there at 4.00 am on Wednesday and arrive Kolkata at 6:15 am.

“Guests are requested to note that there would be no transportation available to and from Kolkata airport while the bandh is in force,” a Kingfisher spokesperson said in a statement.

The airlines have requested the passengers to contact their call centres to know about the status of their flights.

Tropical Storm Hermine Crosses Into Texas

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Hermine (hur-MEEN’) has crossed into Texas.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the center of the storm has crossed the Rio Grande.

Hermine came ashore Monday night in northeast Mexico. By early Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm was about 10 miles (15 km) south-southwest of Harlingen, Texas, and 20 miles (30 km) northwest of Brownsville.

Hermine has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km). It’s moving north-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph).

A tropical storm warning is still in effect for Rio San Fernando, Mexico, north to Port O’Connor, Texas.

Airlines Waive Fees for Flights Affected by Hurricane Earl

Several major airlines are waiving change fees — and in some cases, price differences — for flights that are affected by Hurricane Earl, through Sept. 4. This morning, the Lede blog posted a graphic and a complete list, of the storm warnings and watches in effect on Friday morning. Here are the changes we’ve found. If you know of others, please let us know in the comments section below. As the weather progresses, check specific airline Web sites for changes.

AirTran
Airports affected: Asheville, Baltimore, Boston, New York La Guardia, Newport News, Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, San Juan or Washington, D.C.
New travel dates: One day prior to or up to three days following the originally scheduled date of travel.
How to rebook: Itinerary changes can be made online.

American Airlines
Airports affected: Boston, Hartford, New York City, Newark, Norfolk or Philadelphia.
New travel dates: Depart by Sept. 10.
How to rebook: Call 800-433-7300.

Continental Airlines
Airports affected: San Juan, Antigua, St. Maarten, Norfolk, Richmond, Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Asheville, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston or Providence.
New travel dates: Within one year from date of issue. For departures by Sept. 19, change fees and fare differences will be waived. For other dates, a difference in fare may apply.
How to rebook: Online or at an airport kiosk.

Delta
Airports affected: 21 destinations, from Bangor, Me., to Wilmington, N.C.
New travel dates: Depart by Sept. 11. If a flight is canceled or significantly delayed, Delta will issue a refund. The airline is not waiving price differences.
How to rebook: Online.

Frontier
Airports affected: Raleigh/Durham, Newport-News/Williamsburg, Philadelphia, New York La Guardia, Newark and Boston.
New travel dates: Reschedule by midnight on Sept. 4, travel by Sept. 18. If travel has not begun yet, the fare difference will not be waived.
How to rebook: 800-432-1359

JetBlue
Airports affected: Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, New York City, Newark, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, D.C., White Plains, Nantucket and Bermuda.
New travel dates: Depart by Sept. 14.
How to rebook: Online.

Southwest
Airports affected: Boston, Long Island, Norfolk or Providence.
New travel dates: Within 14 days of the original date of travel.
How to rebook: 800-435-9792 or online.

Spirit Airlines
Airports affected: Boston
New travel dates: Depart by Sept. 30.
How to rebook: 800-772-7117

United Airlines
Airports affected: 21 destinations, from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Greensboro, S.C.
New travel dates: Many customers have already been rebooked on another flight.
How to rebook: If your flight hasn’t already been rescheduled, you can do so online.

US Airways
Airports affected: Hartford, New Haven, Augusta, Bangor, Bar Harbor, Portland, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Manchester, and Providence.
New travel dates: Seven days before or after the scheduled origination date. The airline is not waiving price differences.
How to rebook: 800-428-4322

Virgin America
Airports affected: Boston and New York.
New travel dates: Depart by Sept. 14.
How to rebook: 877-359-8474

Source : blogs.nytimes.com

Frontier Airlines to Provide Travelers With Flexibility in Advance of Hurricane Earl

In response to the potential impact of Hurricane Earl along the East Coast of the United States, Frontier Airlines has put the following travel policy guidelines into place for customers scheduled to travel to/from or through Newport News, Va. or Raleigh/Durham, N.C. on Sept. 1-4, 2010, and who purchased tickets on or before Sept. 1, 2010.

Customers who have already started their travel may make one itinerary change. Rules and restrictions regarding standard change fees, advance purchase, day or time applications, blackouts, and minimum or maximum stay requirements have been waived. Origin and destination cities must remain the same. Changes must be made by midnight, Sept. 4, 2010, and travel completed by Sept. 18, 2010.

Customers who have not begun travel may make one change to their travel plans by Sept. 4, 2010, without a change fee. All rescheduled travel may be subject to higher fares if it does not meet the original rule or booking class.

For more information regarding this weather policy or to check the status of your flight, please visit the weather updates page on FrontierAirlines.com.

Delta Airlines Filed Permit Application for Additional Flight Service Between Heathrow London Airport and Boston

Delta Air Lines today filed applications with the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting permission to operate twice-daily year-round service between London’s Heathrow Airport and Boston, and daily year-round service between Heathrow and Miami.

Delta’s new service would benefit consumers by increasing competition among airlines and airline alliances between the U.S. and Heathrow, which is tightly restricted by airport slot restraints. The oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines and British Airways, holds 47 percent of Heathrow’s takeoff and landing slots, while the Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines, US Airways, BMI and Lufthansa, accounts for 25 percent of Heathrow’s slots.

SkyTeam, whose members include Delta, Air France-KLM and Alitalia, holds only 5 percent of Heathrow’s slots.

“Delta’s new service would provide more choices and competition for customers traveling between these important U.S. cities and London, one of the most popular destinations in Europe for both business and leisure travelers,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president – Network Planning and Revenue Management. “Awarding these slots to Delta and SkyTeam would significantly enhance competition among the major alliances across the Atlantic.”

The slots for the new service are available following the U.S. and E.U. governments’ approval of an immunized trans-Atlantic alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. The government required the airlines to divest some Heathrow slots in order to enhance competition in the most tightly restricted markets.

If approved, Delta’s Heathrow service from Boston and Miami would begin March 27, 2011, and would be offered in cooperation with its trans-Atlantic joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia.

Boston – Heathrow

Boston is one of the largest markets between the U.S. and Heathrow, with more than 270,000 passengers annually. The route is popular with business travelers in the financial services and technology industries.

Delta, the second-largest carrier in Boston with 75 peak-day departures to 17 cities, would operate two flights daily to Heathrow, using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft equipped with 36 seats in BusinessElite and 180 in Economy.

Delta’s proposed Boston-Heathrow summer 2011 schedule:

Flight Departs Arrives Frequency
270 Boston at 7 p.m. Heathrow at 6:45 a.m. (next day) Daily
144 Boston at 9:50 p.m. Heathrow at 9:35 a.m. (next day) Daily
271 Heathrow at 10:30 a.m. Boston at 1:25 p.m. Daily
145 Heathrow at 1:30 p.m. Boston at 4:25 p.m. Daily

New Delta service between Heathrow and Boston would complement existing trans-Atlantic service offered by the SkyTeam alliance from Boston, including year-round flights to Paris operated by Air France, Rome operated by Alitalia and Amsterdam operated by Delta.

Miami – Heathrow

As Florida’s largest carrier offering international service, and the second-largest carrier in Miami, Delta and its SkyTeam partners are well-positioned to enhance competition between Miami and Heathrow. If approved, Delta would operate one daily flight on the route using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Delta’s proposed Miami-Heathrow summer 2011 schedule:

Flight Departs Arrives Frequency
260 Miami at 5:30 p.m. Heathrow at 7:30 a.m. (next day) Daily
261 Heathrow at 10:20 a.m. Miami at 3:25 p.m. Daily

New Delta service between Heathrow and Miami would complement existing trans-Atlantic service offered by the SkyTeam alliance from Miami including year-round flights to Paris operated by Air France and Rome operated by Alitalia.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 367 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 45 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

source : Delta Air Lines

New Partnership Launched Between British Airways and American Airlines

Bloomberg News reported that American Airlines, the second largest carrier in U. S., and British Airways, the third largest in Europe, announced their partnership on Tuesday, after the approval of the U. S. Government on the deal.

The deal, reports claimed, will not reduce competition or limit other transactions or partnerships between the newly-merged firms and other airlines in the world.

Instead, it will definitely end up with the two carriers having a Oneworld trans-Atlantic alliance, joining America and Europe, and allowing both airlines to, , “jointly set prices, sell tickets and schedule international flights” according to the United States Transportation Department.
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