BA increases fuel surcharge again

British Airways has announced its fuel surcharge will increase for the second time in three months, citing “the continuing substantial increase in the price of oil”.
BA last increased its fuel surcharge by £20 per return flight on long-haul routes in December, and the latest increase will take effect on February 8.
World Traveller and World Traveller Plus tickets will increase by £12 per sector (£24 return), while First and Club World tickets will increase by £17 per sector (£34 return). Full details of the new surcharges are detailed below.
The latest move means that World Traveller and World Traveller Plus return tickets will have increased by £44 since December, with First and Club tickets increasing by £54.
As was the case in December, there will be no increase in fuel surcharge on short-haul services.
In a statement BA said that the move “reflects the continuing substantial increase in the price of oil and a 14 per cent rise in the spot price of jet fuel since our last fuel surcharge increase in December 2010”.
Political unrest in Egypt has helped push oil prices back over the US$100 per barrel mark, although this is still some way off the US$150 per barrel seen in 2008.
For more information visit ba.com.


Fuel surcharge changes:

• For World Traveller flights over nine hours an increase from £76 a sector to £88. On flights of less than nine hours an increase from £63 a sector to £75
• For World Traveller Plus flights over nine hours an increase from £94.50 a sector to £106.50. On flights of less than nine hours an increase from £73 per sector to £85.
• For First and Club World flights over nine hours an increase from £108 per sector to £125. On flights of less than nine hours an increase from £88 per sector to £105

Source: businesstraveller.com

By: Progress On 03:11

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TSA Hopes to Enhance Privacy with New Scanning Software

Feb 2, 2011 — TSA Administrator John Pistole announced Tuesday that his agency is testing new software for its advanced imaging technology (AIT) machines that the TSA says "eliminates passenger-specific images and instead auto-detects potential threat items and indicates their location on a generic outline of a person." The software uses the same generic outline for all passengers, and if no potential threat items are detected, an "OK" will appear on the monitor with no outline.

Source: Planet Data

By: Progress On 01:49

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U.S. Travel Alert for United Kingdom and Gibraltar

 

Feb 1, 2011 — The U.S. Department of State has issued the following Travel Alert to inform U.S. citizens traveling to or resident in the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibralter; of the continuing high level of terrorist threat, including the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems, aviation and other travel infrastructure in the UK.

Travel Alert
U.S. Department of State -- Bureau of Consular Affairs
United Kingdom and Gibraltar (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)

January 31, 2011

The Department of State has issued this Travel Alert to inform U.S. citizens traveling to or resident in the United Kingdom (UK) of the continuing high level of terrorist threat, including the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems, aviation and other travel infrastructure in the UK. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. This Travel Alert expires on April 30, 2011.

Source: Planet Data

By: Progress On 01:38

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TSA Freezes Private Screener Program

Jan 31, 2011 — Last Friday TSA Administrator John Pistole announced he has decided not to expand a program that allows airports to use private security contractors in place of TSA airport screeners. Pistole said, "I examined the contractor screening program and decided not to expand the program beyond the current 16 airports as I do not see any clear or substantial advantage to do so at this time."

Source: Planet Data

By: Progress On 00:53

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Japanese Volcano Causing Flight Disruptions

Jan 31, 2011 — More than 1,000 people living near Japan's Mount Shinmoe were told to evacuate their homes and businesses on Monday following several days of volcanic eruptions, which began last Wednesday. This is the most active the volcano has been in nearly 300 years. Train service and air travel over the southern island of Kyushu have been disrupted.

Source: Planet Data

By: Progress On 00:39

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DHS Ditching Color Coded Threat Level Advisory System

Jan 27, 2011 — DHS Secretary Napolitano today (1/27) announced the end of the much maligned color code threat level advisory system former President George W. Bush put in place after the 9/11 attacks. The current HLS Advisory System will be phased out and replaced in April 2011 by the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS).

DHS says the new NTAS "will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector."

DHS also has established a NTAS Twitter page.

Source: Planet Data

By: Progress On 00:36

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Cyclone poses 'serious threat to life' in Queensland

A huge tropical cyclone taking aim at Australia's Queensland state has strengthened to a Category 5 -- the highest designation on Australia's cyclone classification system -- and its landfall is "likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations," forecasters said.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi has winds gusting up to 295 kph (183 mph) and is expected to maintain that intensity until making landfall in northeastern Queensland late Wednesday evening local time, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said.

The cyclone threatens more devastation for Queensland, which already has been hit by deadly flooding in recent weeks.

"Yasi ... poses an extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning area, especially between Port Douglas and Townsville. This impact is likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations," the bureau says on its website.

Hundreds of patients have been evacuated from hospitals in the far north Queensland town of Cairns, and residents are being told to leave their homes as Cyclone Yasi closes in.

The storm is forecast to make landfall between Cairns and Innisfail.

Experts say it will bring torrential rain and cause a storm surge of up to 2 meters above the usual high tide line, flooding low-lying areas along the coast.

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart warned the state faces "one of the most significant weather events" in its history.

"This is a life-threatening storm, and people need to understand that they have a final window of opportunity to self-evacuate," Stewart said.

"In the hours that are left, people need to make their final preparations to either shelter in place, or evacuate."

The state's premier, Anna Bligh, has urged residents in the threatened areas to take sensible precautions and to stay inside once the storm hits.

"These will be highly destructive winds... they will be life-threatening if people make it their business to go outside in them.

"Loss of life and serious injury ultimately depends on people being sensible, listening to the warnings, taking advice and not treating this as a tourist event.

"It will be a display of the awesome power of nature, but it's not something you want to go outside and watch."

More than 250 patients -- including premature babies, those in intensive care, and on dialysis -- are being airlifted to facilities in Brisbane for treatment after the storm forced the closure of two hospitals in Cairns.

"We understand this will cause some anxiety, but it is only being done to make sure that very ill, very vulnerable patients are in the safest place possible," said Bligh.

More than 20 people died and thousands of homes were wrecked when severe flooding hit Queensland in January, affecting 3.1 million people.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a one-off flood tax aimed at helping to pay for the estimated AUS $5.6 billion (US $5.58 billion) damage caused.

Source: edition.cnn.com

By: Progress On 21:56

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