Online giant Google has signed an agreement to buy ITA Software, one of the leading providers of airline travel software.  The deal, for $700 million, is expected to raise more antitrust issues for competitors and the US regulators that have been scrutinizing Google’s every move lately.  Google CEO Eric Schmidt said on a conference call yesterday that he expects “that it would be a significant review” and because of that, could not estimate when the deal would finalize.
ITA Software provides software that organizes and compiles varying airline travel data such …

Alan Joyce, CEO of Australian carrier Qantas Airways, spoke positively of the future at the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting earlier this week.  Despite the problems with service interruptions in European countries from the ash clouds a few weeks ago, Joyce says that the company’s business class travel was showing definite signs of an upswing.
While number of business class passengers for the first five months of the year were down 7% since before the tanking of the global economy, it is a signicant improvement over the previous six month …

With a recent US travel advisory that warns Americans not to travel to parts of Nigeria, particularly the Niger Delta area, the authorities in River State are stepping up security.  A Voice of America reporter in Port Harcourt, Nigeria said that the governor met with both the police commissioner for the region and top officials from the armed forces.
Reporter Chinedu Offor said, “There are armed policemen and soldiers guarding strategic areas of the state.  They are guarding government buildings.  They are guarding approaches to the state at the borders.”
The American …

Delta has eliminated the fees that it was charging for reward mile customers who didn’t redeem their miles for tickets far enough in advance.  Prior to June 3, when a customer redeemed their SkyMiles for a ticket within three days of date of travel, they were charged $150.  Booking within 7 days incurred a charge of $100 and within 20 days it was $50.
There has been some speculation that doing away with the late-booking fees was to counteract the bad press from a recent award availability study.  Released May 3, …

Volunteering away from home in a different country that can really need your help sound very good to alot of people nowadays. The problem is that you can’t change everything in just a few days or weeks.
Many people get disappointed when they realize that but it is just not possible. “You’re not going to change the world in a week or two. You’re not going to eradicate poverty in a village. You’re not going to teach a kid how to read,” said Doug Cutchins, a former Peace Corps …

Since thursday the Pacaya has been spitting ash and stones and leaves one person dead. Three children are still missing. over 1,600 people had to leave their homes to save their lives. With the ash in the air the main airport had to be closed.
The TV reporter Anibal Archila was the person that had been killed by falling rocks from the volcano that also had completely damaged at least 100 homes.
The volcano’s activity decreased on Friday but another major eruption is predicted in the following days.  The last eruption …

According to audio tapes released by the FAA, when US Airways Flight 1549 crash-landed into the Hudson River last year, the aircraft suffered a “double bird strike.” A formation of birds had approached the aircraft while it passed through an altitude of about 3,200 feet. When the aircraft collided with the birds, the windscreen quickly turned dark brown and both engines ingested birds, causing an immediate loss of virtually all thrust. Passengers and crew later reported hearing “very loud bangs” in both engines, then noticed flaming exhaust followed by silence …

The loss is considered as the worst in living memory. The Iceland Volcano, from time to time since its first eruption in April 2010 has been pumping ash and plume in the air causing all Europe flights to be grounded. But factually speaking, its not only the Europe alone that’s effected since people from all over the world are facing extreme difficulty in reaching their destination timely for business, medical, educational or other reasons.
On the other hand, it has created a huge back log of passengers who are yet to …

Investments from Spanish companies and cooperation from the Government of Spain will increase this year in Nicaragua and could exceed US$100 million. Spain’s Ambassador in Nicaragua, Antonio Perez-Hernandez, explained that the sectors into which investments are expected to flow are tourism, energy, potable water projects, health and education.
One of these investments will be the construction of an international airport in Barcelo Montelimar Beach Resort and Casino, located in Managua’s Pacific coast. The project, which will be financed by the prestigious Spanish hotel chain and the Government of Nicaragua, will contribute …

There was a great deal of prideful celebrating going on in New Orleans as the Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers (C.A.R.E.) reached a significant milestone in its 25-year history by welcoming members to its 50th semi-annual conference, held in late April. The Silver and Gold Conference celebrated not only C.A.R.E.’s quarter of a century as an organization, but also recognized special members who have helped their group succeed over the years.
Held at the landmark Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue, the historical spring conference attracted over 160 member representatives in …