Airports Receive $15.7 Million for Baggage Screening Systems

The Transportation Security Administration on September 25 announced that two airports have been awarded a total of $15.7 million for new in-line checked baggage screening systems. John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA received $8.8 million, while Kansas' Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) gets $6.9 million.From TSA:"Inline baggage handling...

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TSA Awards Two Airports $11 Million for Surveillance Cameras

Last Friday, TSA announced that it had awarded a total of $11 million to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for the purchase of additional equipment for closed circuit television (CCTV) systems. The money, $6 million for DFW and $5 million for SFO, comes...

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Iran Test Fires Warhead-Capable Missile

Iranian media is reporting that the Republican Guard on Monday (9/28) successfully test fired a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Shahab-3 has a range of about 1,200 miles - making it able to hit targets inside Israel.Also, on Sunday Iran tested a number of other...

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Italian Aviation in Mental Meltdown

Greetings from Rome Fiumicino FCO, where I was officially informed today by an Alitalia Customer Service Operator that, and I quote... "In this airport the minimum wait for baggage is 45 minutes". It appears the average is even more, like 1 hour and in my case 1 hour, 20...

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Lufthansa Flight Makes Mid-Atlantic U-Turn Back to Germany

A Frankfurt to New York Lufthansa flight turned around over Greenland on Saturday because of a suspected oil leak in one of the plane's engines. The plane landed safely back in Frankfurt.Read moreBy Planet Data...

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NASA Names Final Shuttle Flight Crew

The last scheduled flight for NASA's space shuttles is in September 2010. In preparation for this historic flight NASA on Friday (9/18) announced the crew assignment. The entire crew is comprised of very experienced astronauts.From NASA:"Veteran shuttle commander and retired Air Force Col. Steven W. Lindsey will command the...

By: Progress On 02:26

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Hungary

SummaryThe Hungarian Authorities have removed the epidemic alert at the airport on the grounds that they consider new cases are no longer predominantly caused by foreign travel. The rising number of confirmed cases is caused by domestic, in-country transmission. TerrorismThere is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be...

By: Progress On 02:29

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How to make a professional travel Complaint

For the past 25 years I have been training people working for Companies in the Tourism Industry and Service Sector how to "Handle Complaints" professionally. Now it is high time I shared this knowledge directly with the consumer and proceed further to create a revolutionary code of conduct for...

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How to handle a Complaint

Below is a fascinating summary of the standard process that is rarely mentioned in the public domain of how to handle a complaint...1. LISTENBy rights front line staff should listen to your complete complaint without interrupting and simultaneously demonstrating positive Body Language, including eye contact, the mirroring skills technique...

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Greece

SummarySkyEurope Airlines announced on 1 September the cancellation of all its European flights for the foreseeable future due to bankruptcy. Travellers who booked directly with the airline are unlikely to get a refund and should make enquiries with alternative carriers. Travellers who booked with a credit card may be...

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Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory)

SummaryGibraltar is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British consular representation in Gibraltar and the local authorities deal with all requests for consular assistance.There is an underlying threat from terrorism in Gibraltar. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.Local laws and...

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$35 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Airport Security Projects

On Thursday, DHS Secretary Napolitano announced another $35.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds would be used to pay for three airport security projects around the country. The projects include:$30 million for reduced-size Explosive Detection Systems (EDS). These are checked baggage screening units designed for airports with...

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Obama Makes TSA Chief Choice

President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Erroll G. Southers to be the Department of Homeland Security's next Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).About the Southers' nomination, DHS Secretary Napolitano says, "[His] expertise in counterterrorism and airport security will be a great asset to the Department...

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Secret Service Announces Security Details for G-20 Summit

The G-20 Summit takes place September 24 and 25 in Pittsburgh, and because DHS has designated the Summit as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) the Secret Service is the lead federal agency responsible for designing and implementing the operational security plan.Read moreBy Planet Data...

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Shuttle Makes Safe Landing in California

The space shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California Friday night. Rain showers and high winds in Florida forced the shuttle to put down at the backup site.Read moreBy Planet Data...

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SkyEurope go belly under!

Slovakian Budget airline SkyEurope is the latest carrier to go belly under, after canceling their flights from airports throughout Europe, many of which with no notice given. This reality left literally thousands of passengers (many on vacation) stranded at European airports.Airlines in Austria however did offer to return passengers...

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Worldwide September Events

The end of summer is nigh in the Northern Hemisphere and September brings a civilized end to the proceedings before those rather depressing early dark nights start to kick in.As the leaves start to fall, September brings great variety across the globe and with Historic events in the UK...

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Waste audit on wheels

We live in the 21st Century, an age whereby the modern day traveller is somewhat prone to accumulate Airmiles in abundance, whilst leaving a trail of carbon and disposable products in the wake, otherwise known as plain rubbish! Few can truly deny, unless they bury their heads in the...

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Boeing Plans First Dreamliner Flight This Year

Boeing today announced that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner is expected to make its inaugural flight by the end of 2009, with the first aircraft delivered in the fourth quarter of 2010. Originally the first Dreamliner flight was to have taken place in September 2007.Read moreBy Planet Data...

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Yemenia Flight 626 Black Boxes Recovered

Both data recorders from the wreckage of Yemenia Flight 626 were recovered in the last few days from the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Search teams recovered the flight data recorder Friday, and the cockpit voice recorder Saturday.The Yemenia Airbus 310-300 went down off the coast of Comoros on...

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New York Metro Airspace Restrictions in September

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared the upcoming session of United Nations General Assembly a National Special Security Event and issued a Flight Advisory (168 KB PDF) for the New York Metro from Sept. 15 through Oct. 2. Read moreBy Planet Data...

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