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:: travel-hotel-24.com :: Most Popular Hotels

2006-12-14T00:21:00.000-08:00

:: travel-hotel-24.com :: Most Popular Hotels: "Sieteislas Hotel MadridSieteislas Hotel Madrid
Located in the city of Madrid, Sieteislas Hotel lies on a side street just 50 metres away from the Gran Via. The property offers comfortable guestrooms that are tastefully decorated and equipped with necessary in room amenities. You can dine at the onsite restaurant that offers local and international cuisine in a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. The hotel offers conference and banquet facilities for business and social needs. Sieteislas is an ideal hotel for any type of a traveller and offers a top class accommodation in the city centre.
Click here for last minute offers - Click here for more information and Booking Details"

Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918)

2006-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918)

Golf Hua Hin & Cha-Am: Information for Golfers

2006-08-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

Golf Hua Hin & Cha-Am: Information for Golfers

China Travel - China Provinces - Province Jiangsu

2006-07-18T03:05:00.000-07:00

China Travel - China Provinces - Province Jiangsu
Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel Nanjing
Centrally located, LakeView Xuanwu Hotel Nanjing is only 25 minutes from the airport and only 3 hours by highway to Shanghai. The Jiangsu Exhibition Hall and the railway station are just minutes away from here. Standing by the giant Xuanawu Lake, the hotel offers 408 rooms and suites that are elegantly decorated and all have modern facilities.
The hotel's 14 restaurants provide western and typical Chinese food with different cuisine from Sichuan to Canton to Huaiyang. Some of them offer breath-taking panoramic views of Nanjing. A well-equipped business centre and banquet rooms are also available onsite. The recreation centre is equipped with massage, bar, billiards, karaoke and a dancing hall.
Click here for more information and Booking Details » More Hotels Nanjing

Places of Interest in Morocco

2006-03-28T02:01:00.000-08:00

Places of Interest in Morocco
A pleasant culture shock awaits you as you arrive in Morocco. It is as culturally rich as it is geographically diverse and cannot fail to impress. Visiting some of its towns and villages and experiencing the generosity of its people will leave you hooked, as I was, by the Arabic experience.

Christchurch, New Zealand increases presence at AIME 2006

2006-01-12T17:06:00.000-08:00

Christchurch, New Zealand increases presence at AIME 2006
Christchurch, New Zealand is increasing its presence at AIME 2006 as delegate numbers from Australia increase and the city looks to attract more international business events.
Statistics released recently by Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB), show a 35% increase in the number of delegates from Australia, compared with the same quarter in 2004. Christchurch achieved a record 217 conferences and 16,941 delegates in the third quarter to September 2005.

Accor to open Three Ibis Hotels in Bangkok

2005-11-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

Accor to open Three Ibis Hotels in Bangkok

KL hotel goes organic

2005-10-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

KL hotel goes organic: "At the Federal Kuala Lumpur, you not only can feast on organic food but you can also stay in eco-friendly rooms, writes PUTRI ZANINA
CURIOUS about The Federal Kuala Lumpur offer of Eco Feast and Eco-friendly stay, I decide to find out how going "eco" is going to make a difference to the hotel guests.
The first stop is the Café 57, the first hotel restaurant in the city to offer an Eco Feast that urges patrons to ‘get real, go organic’.

What is organic food? It is food that is ecologically produced without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. To the health conscious, it means good wholesome food and for me, it’s a whole new eating experience.
"

Mandelblüten im Schnee

2005-02-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

Liebe Mallorca-Freunde, eisige Kälte mit bis zu minus sieben Grad, Schnee und Sturm haben der Mandelblüte in den vergangenen Tagen arg zugesetzt. Die Bauern in Porreres im Landesinneren, wo zehn Zentimeter Schnee fielen, berichteten, daß etwa die Hälfte der sieben Millionen Mandelbäume auf der Insel unter dem Kälteeinbruch Schaden nahm - ein Winter wie seit 100 Jahren nicht mehr. Dabei hatte die milde Januar-Sonne dafür gesorgt, daß der mallorquinische Schönheitswettbewerb in weiß und rosa drei Wochen früher als sonst begann. Das einmalige Naturschauspiel lockt alljährlich Tausende von Touristen im Januar und Februar nach Mallorca.
In dem 700-Einwohner-Dorf S'Arraco bei Andratx hat der Weltenbummler Kurt Müller (53) seine endgültige Heimat gefunden. Hier lernte er auf der Geburtstagsparty eines Freundes seine Gabriele kennen. Die beiden verliebten sich, heirateten und eröffneten ein Abendrestaurant. Heute gehört das "Puput" zu den besten im Südwesten der Insel. Puput nennen die Mallorquiner ihren bunten Inselvogel Wiedehopf.
Kurt Müller arbeitete als Koch in Australien, Thailand, Malaysia und 20 Jahre lang in Hamburg, u. a. in der Weinstube "Zur Traube" und im "Cafe Engel" in Teufelsbrück. Und was empfiehlt er seinen Gästen auf Mallorca jetzt im Februar? Geschmorte Kaninchenkeule mit Backpflaumen und Ingwer (Telefon: 971 674703).
Seit dieser Woche gibt es auf Mallorca einen neuen evangelischen Pfarrer. Klaus-Peter Weinhold (54) ist nicht nur Seelsorger, sondern auch ein großer Sportler. Seit 1992 betreut er als Sportpfarrer der Evangelischen Kirche die deutschen Mannschaften bei den Olympischen Spielen. Er selbst war Nationalspieler im Volleyball. Zu seiner Berufung nach Mallorca sagte er: "Ich sehe mich als Trainer. Es geht darum, ein bißchen zu coachen und selbst mitzumachen." Klaus-Peter Weinhold ist mit einer Lehrerin verheiratet und hat drei erwachsene Kinder. Helga Knies (63) von der Tierhilfe Mallorca kümmert sich um herrenlose und unterernährte Hunde und Katzen, vermittelt dabei oft Adoptivfamilien. Jährlich werden rund 3500 Tiere nach Deutschland ausgeflogen. Doch jetzt kommen die ersten wieder zurück auf die Insel. "Die Deutschen haben weniger Geld und können das angenommene Tier nicht ausreichend versorgen." Manchmal aber gibt's auch andere Gründe für eine Rückkehr. Kürzlich mußte ein mallorquinischer Hund seine Adoptivfamilie verlassen. "Der Ehemann war eifersüchtig geworden, das Tier hatte nur am Fußende im Bett von Frauchen gelegen", erzählte mir Helga Knies. Wer auf Mallorca ein Tier in Not entdeckt: Handy-Nummer 659 569 077 anrufen. An diesem Wochenende erwartet Isabel auf ihrer renovierten Finca im Herzen Mallorcas die ersten Feriengäste dieses Jahres. Sa Rota d'en Palerm liegt auf einem Hügel, knapp fünf Kilometer von Sineu entfernt. Auf dem Gelände mit vielen Feigen-, Mandel- und Johannisbrotbäumen wurde vor fünf Jahren noch Ackerbau und Viehzucht betrieben. Doch dann haben sich Isabel (63) und ihre Familie entschieden, den Bauernhof in ein kleines, aber komfortables Ferienhaus umzubauen. Es gibt Doppelzimmer und Appartements, alle mit eigener Terrasse - und einen Traumblick übers Tal bis hin zu den Bergen
http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2005/02/05/395187.html

Erstmals mehr als eine Million Besucher in Kambodscha

2005-02-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

Kambodscha wird als Reiseziel offenbar immer beliebter. Nach offiziellen Angaben wurden im vergangenen Jahr 1.055.000 Einreisen ausländischer Reisender gezählt, wie es im «go asia newsletter» heißt. Wichtigste Attraktion des Königreichs sind die weltberühmten Tempelanlagen von Angkor in der Provinz Siem Reap, die zwischen den Jahren 879 und 1191 entstanden sind.
Branchenexperten gehen davon aus, dass sich die Zahl der dort in den 80 größten Hotels gezählten Zimmer bis zum Jahresende auf 8.000 verdoppeln könnte. Denn für dieses Jahr erwarteten die örtlichen Tourismus-Behörden weitere Hotel-Investitionen von rund 300 Millionen US-Dollar, die vor allem aus Thailand und Singapur stammen sollten. Bereits begonnen haben die Bauarbeiten für den neuen, internationalen Flughafen, der - in sicherer Entfernung von den Heiligtümern - bis zu einer Million Passagiere pro Jahr abfertigen soll.
http://www.goasia.de

Japan opens travel visa to all Chinese for expo

2005-01-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

A visiting Japanese minister said Tuesday that the Japanese government plans to give all Chinese citizens the ability to apply for a travel Visa to attend an upcoming exhibition.
Kitagawa Kazuo, minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said this is an interim measure, which will only be valid during the upcoming Aichi Exposition. Japan said that it hopes this measure may enhance the communications between the two countries, and attract more people to visit the exposition.
Until now, only Chinese citizens in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong Province, Shandong Province, Zhejiang Province, Liaoning Province and Jiangsu Province could apply for travel visas to Japan.
He said the Japanese side has informed the Chinese side about this policy, and hopes concrete measures would be implemented as soon as possible.
Kitagawa Kazuo is invited by the Chinese National Tourism Administration.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/

Peak travel period starts in Shanghai

2005-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Passengers in Shanghai Railway Station wait in queues to check in Saturday afternoon, January 15, 2005. The peak travel period prior to the Spring Festival started early this year in Shanghai, railway officials said. More than 90,000 passengers swarmed into Shanghai Railway Station to travel home on the single day.

New Luxury Resort to Open in Knysna - South Africa

2005-01-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

The Pezula Resort Hotel, a member of Great Hotels of the World, located on the eastern head of Knysna, a town in the Western Cape of South Africa is to open 1 February 2005.
The luxury property is home to a championship golf course, world-class spa and fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and an equestrian centre.
The resort comprises 76 beautifully appointed suites, designed by African interior designer, Keith Mehner. Throughout the hotel, natural materials such as rough stone and natural woods sit alongside earthy colours, aquas, greens, warm reds and gold to reflect the surrounding landscape. Much of the hotel’s furniture has been made by local craftsmen.
The hotel’s restaurant, Zachary’s, will be headed up by executive chef Geoffrey Murray. Murray’s previous experience includes opening the restaurant Boom in Soho, New York and as executive chef at the exclusive island resort, North Island. The menu will offer a variety of ‘modern ethnic’ dishes, using the best local organic products and inspired by Murray’s worldwide experiences.
The resort’s spa caters for a variety of guests’ needs, whether they are medicinal treatments for ailments such as skin sun damage, acne, scar tissue, hair removal or wrinkles, as well as offering an extensive spa menu of treatments designed purely to aid relaxation. Other facilities include a 25-metre heated pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor Jacuzzi and post-treatment room with heated massage water beds.
Pezula is set amongst dramatic scenery, with rugged cliffs, emerald forests and rolling hills protecting a vast array of wildlife, such as Zebra, bushbuck and the odd leopard.
The resort is equipped with its own helicopter and private eight-seater jet to transport guests to nearby attractions, golf courses and destinations further a-field in South Africa.

http://www.asiatraveltips.com

Please come to Thailand, at locals' request

2005-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Parking is a breeze Tuesday afternoon on Bang La Road. This crazy-quilt avenue of tourist shops, restaurants and bars is usually clogged with motor scooters, tourists and street vendors. But two weeks after a tsunami washed over the resort towns of Phuket (poo-KET) Island, it's hard to tell it is high season at Patong Beach.
"Usually the street is full of laughter, and there are so many people it's hard to walk," says Sareena Sethi, who owns Creative Fashion Gallery, a tailor shop that is popular with tour groups in search of custom-made clothing. Her clients have seen the physical destruction in the news. They have e-mailed from Europe and elsewhere to ask how they can help.
"I tell them the best way to contribute to Phuket is to book your holiday here," Sethi says. "We've still not lost hope. We think the tourists will come back again."
One recent visitor was pop star Ricky Martin, who toured the island on Thursday to meet with survivors and decide how his charity foundation can help them.
From the news coverage, it would appear that all of southern Thailand has been swept out to sea. But hundreds of restaurants, hotels and shops survived unscathed and are fully operational — and largely empty. Reservations aren't necessary at the best restaurants. Taxis and "tuk tuk" buses are idle. Stacks of tourist T-shirts remain neatly folded late into the evening.
From the smallest vendors to the luxury hotel managers, the message is the same: Don't send clothes. Don't send food. Just, please, come for a visit.
"We need the word to get out that not all of Phuket was destroyed," says Craig Smith, general manager of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa on Mai Khao Beach. "If you want to help Thailand, go on vacation."
The tsunami did hit the Marriott, but there is little sign of damage now. The wave washed over the pool area of the beachfront hotel, pushing chaise longues, umbrellas and boulders into the pool and ripping out flower beds. The chaise longues have been righted and the flowers replanted. A few hotel guests relax at the pool.
The hotel has had 3,000 room night cancellations since the tsunami. It is half full, mainly because of a large contingent of German police who are providing relief. People are beginning to make reservations for April and May, Smith says.
'Panicky,' but ready for business
Smith, who has met regularly with other resort managers since the tsunami, says 90% of the hotels are up and running, but with 20% occupancy at a time when they usually would be full. "Everyone is feeling a little panicky," he says.
Although business is bad, Marriott and most of the other luxury hotels are big enough to absorb the loss. Marriott won't lay off its 650 workers, Smith says. But he and his fellow hotel managers are worried for the smaller vendors.
"If tourism doesn't come back to Phuket, people will be hurt," says Dominique Lapointe, general manager of Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club on Nai Harn Beach. The Meridien's beach restaurant was slightly damaged and is closed for repairs, but the rest of the hotel is operating.
"Some of the smaller hotels and privately owned businesses cannot afford it," Lapointe says. "We are screaming and shouting for everyone to come back."
Before the tsunami, Jongkolwan "Koy" Saekua, 37, sold 30 to 50 tours each day to Phi Phi and James Bond Island from her kiosk on the beach. This week, relocated downtown outside an Internet cafe, she's lucky if she sells 10 tours a day. If business doesn't pick up, she'll have to close at the end of the month. "Tell the tourists it's not dangerous here. Patong is better than before. The water is cleaner than before the tsunami," Saekua says.
Anucha Srikitraporm sells Polaroid photos of tourists posing with his sea hawks and eagles from the Kata Beach viewing point. Usually he snaps 20 photos a day. On Tuesday, he sold two.
"It's very bad, very sad and very quiet," Srikitraporm says.
'Cleansing effect' on beaches
The Thai tourism authority is encouraging tourism to all resort areas except the Phi Phi Islands and Khao Lak. It even touts the "cleansing effect" of the tsunami on the beaches. According to the authority, Surin Beach suffered almost no damage and "looks stunning."
"Today, Laem Sing Beach was decked out with loungers and umbrellas. Business as usual — but cleaner," said a statement from the tourism authority. "Patong Beach along the beach road and small roads leading off were badly affected. ... However, behind the beach road, and in the main entertainment area, things are either back to normal or very close. ... And Patong Beach looks pristine in a way most cannot remember!"
Despite the optimistic pitch from tourism officials, visiting Phuket and the more heavily hit Khao Lak resort area north of Phuket can be disconcerting. Khao Lak, in particular, is decimated. The newly built hotels, shopping centers and restaurants in Thailand's newest resort area are rubble. The surviving hotels are surrounded by tableaux of destruction — the contents of a tourist suitcase scattered across a field, lakes clogged with lumber and smashed cars, and landscaping swept away.
The quaint shops along the main road have been replaced by reminders of tragedy. Coffins are stacked high at the picturesque temples; locals wear surgical masks as they ride their motor scooters into town. There also is the chance that workers clearing debris will unearth corpses.
In Phuket, too, there is ample evidence of the tsunami's destruction. The sidewalks at Patong Beach are collapsing, and many of the beachfront stores have been gutted. Each day, workers make remarkable progress, sweeping away the wreckage, restocking stores and opening for business. Officials say Phuket can handle tourists now, and Khao Lak will be ready soon. There have been no reports of communicable diseases. Phones, electricity, water and hospitals are operating fully.
Kamala Beach in Phuket will be ready for tourists in a few weeks and will have rebuilt the damage in two or three months, says Satchaphol Thongsom, chief administrator for the Kamala sub-district.
"Tourists think it'll be two or three years, but it won't," Thongsom says. "We have to be quick to rebuild. We are going to promote outside the country to show we are ready to receive tourists."
The more expensive hotels, sheltered in the cove, survived without a scratch. But the tsunami leveled one of the more affordable hotels and killed three monks at the Geron Tom Wat, a Buddhist temple on Kamala Beach. Tailor shops, money exchanges and souvenir shops were gutted.
"People got a little bit worried that they'll be coming to a disaster area, but things have been put back together quite rapidly," Lapointe says. "If you look at the beach in Patong, you wouldn't know what happened. They would see what Patong looked like 20 years ago, with a clear beach and a clear sea."

http://www.usatoday.com

United Airlines opens second representative office in Vietnam

2005-01-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

US carrier, United Airlines, has opened a ticket office in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, the second one in the country.The American airline returned to Vietnam in December, the first time since the fall of the former South Vietnam in 1975, after its first office was opened in Ho Chi Minh City in November.With the new service, the carrier hopes to cash in on the growing number of Vietnamese-Americans visiting relatives in Vietnam as well as expanding business travel in both directions.More than 1.3 million Vietnamese live in the United States.

http://www.abc.net.au

Lufthansa Traffic Rises 8.5% on Travel Growth to Asia

2005-01-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe's third- biggest airline, said December passenger traffic rose 8.5 percent, boosted by higher demand on flights to Asia.
Passenger numbers last month rose 8.1 percent from a year earlier to 3.58 million travelers, the Cologne, Germany-based airline said in an e-mailed statement today. Lufthansa filled 70.6 percent of its seats, an increase of 1 percentage point and a December record, as the carrier increased capacity by 7 percent.
European airlines are flying more passengers as economic growth outside the region encourages corporate travel and tourism. Air France-KLM Group, Europe's biggest carrier, said last week that December traffic rose 6.9 percent. British Airways Plc, the region's second-biggest airline, posted a 3.2 percent increase. Lufthansa has gained the most from recovery on Asian routes, where it offers more flights than competitors.
``On the volume side, it looks excellent,'' said Uwe Weinreich, an analyst with HVB Bank in Munich with an ``outperform'' rating on the stock. ``They learned a little bit from the November traffic figures,'' when seat occupancy dropped, ``and managed to have capacity match demand in December.''
Lufthansa in November posted the biggest decline in load factor, or the proportion of seating filled, since September 2003 after adding more capacity than it could sell on North Atlantic and Asian routes. The load factor last month rose to all regions, led by 1.4 percentage-point growth to North and South America.

http://www.bloomberg.com

Travel market heated up for Spring Festival

2005-01-11T15:54:00.000-08:00

As the traditional Chinese Spring Festival approaches, the travel market is showing definite signs of heating up. Many travel agencies have introduced new packages to entice visitors. New images and price quotations for vacation packages are being posted in the reception hall of many travel agencies around the capital city Beijing.
A travel consultant says streams of potential tourists have come to ask for her advice.
"We receive numerous calls asking for information every day. There is a great demand for inbound and outbound travel, and many tourists have registered at our agency and some travel routes have been completely booked out."
The Spring Festival is the perfect time for travel. And there are many choices--China has so far opened over 60 outbound travel destinations across the globe.
However, the cost for a trip to Japan, Australia or Europe during the Lunar New Year period has risen slightly, with an average increase of about one thousand yuan, or 120 US dollars.
Marketing manager of the China Comfort Travel Service, Jia Yiyuan, says routes to Australia and New Zealand are exceptionally hot. Although the cost of some long routes is quite high.
"The rise in price has occurred for several reasons. Firstly, it is the best time to travel to these two countries. Secondly, the price of jet fuel has increased. Moreover, the exchange rate has also risen."
Meanwhile, domestic travel is also heating up, with many people intent on visiting spots in the north and south of the country.
People who want to appreciate the frosty beauty of winter are zipping up their parkas and heading off to the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning as well as Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang autonomous regions further west.
But a perennial favorite is Hainan's gorgeous beaches and Yunnan in southwest China for a burst of sunshine during the chilly winter.
To ensure tourists have a safe and comfortable journey during the Festival, China is organizing an inspection of large venues and related equipment, including entrainment facilities, lifts and cable cars all over the country.
Yang Huaisheng, the general manager of Mutianyu Great Wall Cablecar Company, said: "our cable car has worked for 17 years; it is time we conduct a through inspection and make repairs where necessary. We can offer a much more safe and comfortable cable car to tourists during the Festival."
And it's not just operators that are concerned about safety: tourists are also showing growing concern.
In many big cities, many travelers are volunteering to buy accident insurance. This is a dramatic departure from previous years when fewer than 50 percent of tourists applied for insurance.
Tourists can buy traveler's accident insurance through travel agencies when booking trips.
Accident insurance for three days inside the country costs twenty yuan and 25 yuan for additional days. Compensation could be as high as one hundred thousand yuan.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/

Tsunami: plea not to cancel

2005-01-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Gemma Bowes and Beverley Fearis
Sunday January 9, 2005
The Observer

Travel companies and tourist boards are pleading with travellers not to cancel their holidays to the countries hit by the tsunami unless absolutely necessary. Although some resorts are off limits, they say others nearby remain open for business and will suffer if tourists don't come.
'People are feeling guilty and uncomfortable going to lie on the beach in front of people who have gone through such difficult times, but the reality is that these people want and need tourists to come,' said a Thomson spokesman.
He said despite reassurances that resorts met health and safety standards, some customers were choosing to switch to other destinations, such as the Caribbean and Red Sea.
In Thailand, Thomson has cancelled packages to Krabi and the islands of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Khao Lak until at least 31 January and is encouraging customers to switch to other parts of Thailand that were unaffected, such as Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui.
Kuoni and Trailfinders are redirecting people due to travel in January to other parts of the country such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Gulf of Thailand. Those due to travel in February may also be moved.
'We won't send people if the infrastructure isn't up to scratch, including local bars and restaurants, as well as roads and supply chains. These may take longer than hotels to reopen, but the resorts rely on different businesses supporting each other,' said a spokesman from Trailfinders.
In the Maldives, Kuoni, Thomas Cook Signature, Tropical Breeze and My Travel are offering refunds or alternative trips for those due to travel in January. The tour operators said around half of their customers were choosing to postpone or rebook their holiday in other destinations such as the Caribbean or East Africa.
The majority of Maldives resorts used by Thomson remain open for business but still customers are reluctant to go.
'It's very hard to explain the situation to people over the telephone, particularly with the Maldives. It's so vast that the islands in the North Atoll were totally unaffected,' said a spokesman.
Some specialist operators reported a more positive reaction from their customers. A spokesman from Cox and Kings said none of its clients had cancelled trips to the Maldives in January, though they may have been redirected to different hotels.
Cox and Kings said most customers due to visit Sri Lanka before 31 January were refusing refunds and alternatives and going ahead with their travel plans. 'The majority wanted to travel inland anyway so are still going to do so. They will just avoid the south.'
Young independent travellers still want to go to Thailand, said a spokeswoman from STA Travel. 'They want to help by spending money to help the local economy all over Thailand. The majority are still going to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, even if they can't go to the affected areas.'

Europe tightens travel checks

2005-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

Britons to face fingerprint tests for France
Nicholas Watt in Brussels
Saturday January 8, 2005
The Guardian

British holidaymakers travelling to France and several other European countries will be required to undergo fingerprint checks under new rules announced yesterday.
French passport officials stationed at Eurostar stations in London and Kent will be free to demand checks from British cross-Channel rail passengers. Couples arriving by air for a weekend city break in Paris will also face the tests.
The tougher controls, announced yesterday by the European commission in Brussels, will come into effect in 2007 and will apply to holders of new biometric passports.
Travellers will be subject to identity checks to prove that the document belongs to them. Biometric passports, which are designed to improve security, have two key features: a digital record of the holder's fingerprint and a digital photograph. Passport officials will be entitled to ask travellers to pose before a camera or to have their fingers scanned to prove they are the named holder.
"This is all about the security of documents," said a British official. "There will be no database of fingerprints and there will be no ink involved."
The new rules are likely to irritate thousands of Britons who are accustomed to relatively cursory checks when they cross the channel to Britain's favourite tourist destination. At some French regional airports, tourists are currently waved through without any checks at all.
There may be a political bonus for the government - as it tries to win round Eurosceptics ahead of the forthcoming referendum on the EU constitution - because the new rules highlight Britain's distinct, detached relationship with much of the EU.
French, Germans, Italians, Belgians, Dutch and many other European citizens will face no tests when they cross each other's borders because they are members of the "Schengen" area where passport controls have been lifted.
Britain decided not to join this common area, which was established in 1985. This now means that anyone travelling from Britain to a Schengen country - with France the most popular destination - will be subject to the fingerprint test if they carry a biometric passport.
The 15 Schengen members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
British travellers to Europe may find the controls reminiscent of the tougher restrictions imposed on holidaymakers going to the United States, which require many Britons to undergo photographs and fingerprint tests on arrival.
But British officials said last night that the new European rules were different and would be far less irritating for tourists.
· Europe plans to launch a centralised visa database by the end of next year to help curtail illegal immigration, EU officials said yesterday.
The Visa Information System (VIS) will store data on people who apply for a visa at any of the 3,500 consulates run by countries that have signed up to the Schengen agreement.
The aim of the database is to prevent an applicant who has been denied a visa by one country from obtaining a visa to another country with a false passport, said officials.
"VIS has two main goals: contributing to the internal security of the member states and the fight against illegal immigration by supporting the common visa policy and the checks on the visa applicants," said Franco Frattini, the EU commissioner for justice, freedom and security.

Hapags Riesen, Menschlich gesehen

2005-01-08T04:04:00.000-08:00

Er gehört zu denen, die sich mit den größten Containerschiffen der Welt auskennen. "Mehr als hundertmal war ich in Korea", sagt Klaus M a r e k (64), Chef-Inspektor von Hapag-Lloyd, der mit seiner Abteilung von zwölf Kollegen für die Technik der Flotte von Hamburgs Traditionsreederei sorgt und sich um die Neubauten kümmert. Zuletzt war er im November bei der Hyundai-Werft, um die 93 000-PS-Maschine der bis dahin fünf georderten mehr als 300 Meter langen Riesen zu begutachten. "Dabei haben wir mitgeholfen, daß nun drei weitere Schiffe bestellt werden können", freut sich Marek. Bis auf seine Lehre bei der Werft HDW in Hamburg hat der Schiffsingenieur sein Berufsleben bei Hapag-Lloyd verbracht. Seine Karriere begann 1959 mit 19 Jahren als Ingenieurs-Assistent, neun Jahre später war er Chief und damit erster Mann für die Technik an Bord. Als sich ihm die Chance bot, Inspektor zu werden, wechselte er 1987 an Land. "Das lag aber nicht an meiner Frau Margot und den Zwillingen Simone und Michaela", versichert der Hamburger. Die waren in den Sommerferien oft mit an Bord, fuhren viermal mit nach Asien und würden "jederzeit wieder einsteigen". Doch der Vater wird von Ende April an im Ruhestand allein mit Ehefrau und per Flugzeug reisen. Nach Hongkong und Singapur, wo Freunde warten.

http://www.abendblatt.de

Travel Insurance and Natural Disasters

2005-01-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

A guide to travel insurance and coverage for natural disasters.

Recently there have been many questions about travel insurance and natural disasters and whether or not coverage exists for these “acts of God.” John Cook, President of QuoteWright.com a division of the BC Group, LLC., explained recently that there are many travel insurance policies and that most of them will respond to these types of emergencies. Perhaps the most popular type of travel insurance are the “Package” plans that are pre-bundled by insurance companies and sold as a Package of coverages. Coverages contained in these packages will vary from policy to policy even within the same insurance company. Some of the coverages will pay for losses due to a natural disaster. Here are some of the more popular coverages found in Package Policies and how they may respond:Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Usually not covered. Trip Cancellation/Interruption is named “peril” coverage and most policies do not include the “peril” of natural disaster. Those that do will require that the disaster causes your home or destination to be uninhabitable. Natural disasters that are caused by weather are also covered by some policies as long as your common carrier is delayed or cancelled as a direct result.Travel Delay: Most policies will cover travel delays (additional living expense) due to a natural disaster. This coverage is also named “peril” coverage and most policies include natural disasters as a “peril”.Medical Expense: Most travel medical coverages are broad coverages and will cover medical expenses due to injuries sustained as a result of a natural disaster.Emergency Medical Evacuation: Same as medical expense. Generally this a broad form of coverage that will pay for Emergency Medical Evacuations caused by either injuries or sicknesses as a result of a natural disaster. This coverage usually also provides for the shipment of mortal remains and sometimes will pay for a family member to join an injured client.Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Most policies that offer this coverage do so as a broad form that will provide benefits as a result of Death or Dismemberment caused by injuries received as a result of a natural disaster. Some Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage are restricted to accidents that occur while riding on a common carrier or on a scheduled airline. These types would not respond unless the accident occurred while as passenger.Baggage: Usually broad coverage that would provide coverage for lost or damaged baggage and personal effects that were the result of the natural disaster.“It is important that consumers understand the travel insurance that is available and that they make an informed decision when they choose a policy for their trip” explained Mr. Cook.
http://www.emediawire.com

Tiger Airways adds Flights to Bangkok

2005-01-06T01:40:00.000-08:00

Tiger Airways, a low fare airline based in Singapore, is adding a fourth daily flight to Thailand’s ‘City of Angels’, Bangkok from 15 January 2005.
Low cost fares on the Singapore - Bangkok route with Tiger Airways start from just S$ 49.98 one way plus taxes and charges.
Tony Davis, President and CEO of Tiger Airways said “We are delighted that Tiger Airways services between Singapore and Bangkok have proved so popular that we are able to offer even more low fares between the two cities. This is fantastic news for our many regular business travellers and will further strengthen tourism opportunities between the two countries.”

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news05/61-Bangkok.shtml

Welche Gebiete sind sicher?

2005-01-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Indien:
Von Reisen auf die Andamanen rät das Auswärtige Amt (AA) dringend ab. Im Bundesstaat Tamil Nadu seien viele Hotels zerstört. Auch Teile der Küste in Kerala und Andhra Pradesh seien betroffen. Das gilt nicht für den Norden Indiens, die Westküste und das Landesinnere.
Indonesien:
Der betroffene Landesteil im Norden Sumatras wird nach AA-Angaben „kaum von Touristen besucht“. Populäre Reiseziele wie Bali, Lombok und Java seien sicher.
Malediven:
Das genaue Ausmaß der Schäden sei „nicht exakt feststellbar“. Touristen sollten Kontakt zum Reiseveranstalter oder ihrer Fluggesellschaft aufnehmen. Das gilt auch für die Seychellen.
Sri Lanka:
Schwere Schäden gibt es im gesamten Küstenbereich. Diese Gebiete sind tabu. Auch vor Reisen ins Landesinnere sollten Erkundigungen eingeholt werden.
Thailand:
Das Ministerium rät davon ab, die unmittelbar betroffenen Gebiete aufzusuchen. Das Binnenland (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Ayuttaya) sowie die populären Reiseorte im Osten (Hua Hin, Pattaya, Ko Samui, Ko Chang, Ko Samet, Ko Si Chang)“ sind sicher. (dpa)
http://www.rundschau-online.de

Casa del Mar - Langkawi operating as normal

2005-01-05T05:52:00.000-08:00

The Casa del Mar, Langkawi, managed by Singapore-based hospitality management company HPL Hotels & Resorts, has reported that it is operating as normal following the devastating Tsunamis that hit the region.
The structure at the Casa del Mar was left unscathed and is still intact and sound, the electricity and water supply were not affected.
The resort was spared the full force of the tsunamis, as it is protected by islands in front of and to the north of the resort. The areas where the tsunami waves reached were the resort’s swimming pool, lower patio and front lawn fringing the beach. After a clean up the swimming pool has resumed operation 30th December.
Casa del Mar is a Mediterranean-styled resort situated along Pantai Cenang beach, Langkawi. This two-storey beachfront resort has 29 rooms and suites, and its facilities include a spa, dining room, bar and swimming pool.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news05/41-Langkawi.shtml

AWAIR to launch flights to Singapore, Bali and Surabaya

2005-01-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

AirAsia's sister airline, AWAIR, is to commence service between Singapore and Jakarta beginning 19th January 2005.
AirAsia has a 49% stake in AWAIR, a privately owned airline in Indonesia, which was relaunched as a low fare, no frills airline, to serve domestic and international routes out of its hub at Terminal 1A, Soekarno – Hatta International Airport, Jakarta.
AWAIR presently operates flights to Medan and Balikpapan from Jakarta and the airline expects to receive its 2nd Boeing 737-300 on 7th January 2005. Besides Singapore, which is the airline’s first international destination since its launch in December 2004, AWAIR will also be introducing 2 new domestic services – Bali, and Surabaya. All flights will depart from/to Jakarta.
Seats for the new flights are available for sale from 5th January 2005.
Sendjaja Widjaja, President Director, AWAIR, said, “We are thrilled to receive our 2nd Boeing 737-300. The new addition allows us to expand operations to meet the strong demands from the market for low fare travel.....
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news05/51-Flights.shtml

Euro weiter auf Rekordjagd

2004-12-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

Frankfurt (Reuters) - Bei ruhigem Jahresendgeschäft hat der Euro am Mittwoch seine Rekordjagd fortgesetzt.
Mit 1,3646 Dollar übertraf die Gemeinschaftswährung im Vormittagshandel zeitweise das erst am Vortag aufgestellte Rekordhoch um zwei weitere Ticks. "Der Euro schleicht sich derzeit auf leisen Füßen von einem Rekord zum anderen", fasste ein Händler die Kursentwicklung zusammen. An den vergangenen fünf Handelstagen hat der Euro damit etwa 1-1/2 US-Cent dazugewonnen. Neue fundamentale Erkenntnisse gebe es nicht. Überraschend gute US-Konjunkturdaten vom Vortag hatten den Euro nur kurz etwas gebremst. Wegen der hohen Defizite der USA im Staatshaushalt und in der Leistungsbilanz ist der Dollar in diesem Jahr stark unter Druck geraten. Seit Jahresbeginn ist der Euro somit um rund zehn Cent gestiegen.
Nach einem Vortagesschlusskurs von knapp über 1,36 Dollar in New York rutschte der Euro in Fernost bis auf 1,3570 Dollar ab. "Kurzfristige Rückschläge wie heute Nacht im asiatischen Handel werden sofort für Rückkäufe genutzt", stellte die Landesbank Bremen in ihrem Tageskommentar lapidar fest. "Der Markt hat kein Interesse daran, Dollar zu kaufen", fügte Paul Mackel, Währungsstratege bei ABN Amro in London, hinzu.
Einige Händler halten einen Anstieg des Euro bis auf 1,37 Dollar noch in diesem Jahr für möglich. Allerdings seien die Umsätze sehr gering, so dass auch größere Ausschläge möglich seien. Zum Yen stieg der Dollar leicht auf 103,30 (New Yorker Vortagesschluss 103,04) Yen. Zum Schweizer Franken verharrte die US-Währung um 1,1330 Franken.
BdB: EURO-KURSANSTIEG NICHT GERECHTFERTIGT
Das zu Ende gehende Jahr hat dem Euro einen kräftigen Wertzuwachs gebracht, der von einigen Analysten aber für übertrieben gehalten wird. Der Bundesverband deutscher Banken (BdB) hält den Euro beispielsweise für deutlich überbewertet. "Fundamental gerechtfertigt wäre ein Euro-Kurs in der Größenordnung von rund 1,10 US-Dollar", sagte BdB-Volkswirt Karl Knappe der "Berliner Zeitung" (Mittwochausgabe). Von Reuters Anfang Dezember befragte Analysten erwarten im Schnitt für Ende 2005 einen Euro-Kurs von 1,33 Dollar. Nur vereinzelt wird auch ein Anstieg bis auf 1,50 Dollar für möglich gehalten.
Der Rückgang des Euro-Kurses birgt für die europäische Wirtschaft Risiken und Chancen. So drückt der hohe Euro auf die Gewinnmargen jener Unternehmen, die in den Dollarraum exportieren. Wer aber Schulden in Dollar angehäuft hat, wie die Deutsche Telekom, kann dem Wertverfall sicher etwas positives abgewinnen. Für die europäischen Touristen ist der hohe Euro vor allem bei Reisen in die USA positiv. Ein Dollar kostet derzeit nur noch 73,40 Euro-Cent. Damit ist der Greenback für Deutsche etwa so günstig wie zuletzt Anfang Januar 1996, als für einen Dollar etwa 1,4345 DM bezahlt wurden. Sein niedrigstes Niveau zur Mark hatte der Dollar im März 1995 mit rund 1,3450 DM erreicht, was etwa 68,80 Euro-Cent je Dollar oder umgekehrt rund 1,46 Dollar je Euro entspricht.
http://www.reuters.de

Tunisia to ease travel restrictions on Israelis

2004-12-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent
Tunisia recently decided to ease travel restrictions on Israelis entering the north African nation, France's chief rabbi Joseph Sitruk and businessman Pierre Besnainou said after meeting with Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last week.
Besnainou said the Tunisian president told him that Israelis would no longer be required to deposit their passports upon entering the country.There are at present no diplomatic relations between Israel and Tunisia, and no direct air links between the two countries. Therefore, Israelis interested in travel to Tunisia must apply for a visa in an embassy in a third country.Following the meeting, the Tunisian president ordered the renovation of the old Jewish cemetery in the capital Tunis. Ben Ali also said he hoped to invite Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Labor leader Shimon Peres for visits in Tunisia.Both Sitruk and Besnainou are Tunisian natives, now living in France.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com

Most Of ASIA Unaffected By Tsunami

2004-12-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

BANGKOK, Thailand, Dec 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Following the tsunami which struck Indian Ocean rim areas on the morning of December 26, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is reminding consumers in source markets that most of Asia has not been affected by the tidal surges.

The disaster only directly impacted the following destinations:
- India (Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Andhra Pradesh)
- Indonesia (Sumatra only; no reports of damage to Java, Bali or other major islands)
- Malaysia (north west peninsula Malaysia - not the east coast or Sabah or Sarawak)
- Thailand (Andaman Sea coast only - not resorts in the Gulf of Siam such as Samui, Hua Hin or Pattaya)
- Sri Lanka (coastal areas)
- Maldives (coastal areas)
- Myanmar (southern archipelago only; minimal/no impact reported at Ngapali, Chauntha, and Ngwe Saung beaches)
- Bangladesh (minimal impact reported)
PATA President and CEO Mr Peter de Jong said: "Fortunately, the majority of Asia was unaffected by this tragedy. Outside the Indian Ocean rim areas, the travel industry continues its normal business. There is no need to cancel trips to non-affected areas. And even some affected areas have some coastal hotels that escaped serious impact and are open for business.
"If you have bookings in areas affected by the tidal surges, please contact your local travel agent for the latest news."
PATA head office has sent PATA Executive Mr Stephen Yong to Phuket to assess the impact on PATA members in southern Thailand. Mr Yong will draw up a priority list of assistance required by PATA members.
PATA is also carefully monitoring the situation in other impacted tourism destinations. Information flows have been hindered by loss of power and phone lines in some areas.
On the PATA Web site (http://www.PATA.org), PATA has hosted the following important information:
* Emergency contact numbers (tour operators, hotels, embassies etc)
* Latest news updates affecting the travel sector on a country-by-country basis
* PATA media releases on the Indian Ocean crisis
For updated information on the Indian Ocean crisis, visit http://www.PATA.org , or e-mail communications@PATA.org .
ABOUT PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is the recognised authority on Asia Pacific travel and tourism. PATA provides leadership and advocacy to the collective efforts of nearly 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, more than 55 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies.
In addition, thousands of travel professionals belong to dozens of PATA chapters worldwide.
PATA's mission is to enhance the growth, value and quality of Asia Pacific travel and tourism for the benefit of its membership. PATA is a not-for-profit organisation.
Find out more about PATA at http://www.PATA.org .
For more information, please contact:
Ken Scott/Paveena Olansuksakul/David Gillbanks
Tel: +66-2-658-2000
Email: communications@PATA.org

30% Discount on 1st Class One-Way Thalys Tickets for Summer Travel Between France-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany

2004-12-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

First-class one-way tickets on the high-speed Thalys train connecting Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Cologne are now on sale at 30% off the full fare price for summertime travel from Rail Europe. Tickets must be booked before August 15 and travel must take place between June 14-August 31.

This special offer is for 1st class tickets between any pair of cities on all Thalys international routes. The normal 1st class price of a one-way ticket between Paris and Brussels is $137 US/$188 CAD, compared to the summer promotion fare of $96 US/$132 CAD. Between Paris and Amsterdam the usual 1st class fare of a one-way ticket is $184 US/$253 CAD; with the promotion, the price is $129 US/$177 CAD. These specially priced tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Thalys carries 34% more North Americans in first quarter

The number of North Americans buying tickets on Thalys is up 34% for the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period last year, reports Rail Europe. The sleek red Thalys train has given the airlines so much competition since it began operation in 1996 that almost all flights between Paris and Brussels were discontinued, and the airlines instead book their passengers on the train. Thalys takes just 1 hour 25 minutes to go from downtown Paris to Brussels, much of the journey made at 186 mph. Up to 27 trains travel between Paris and Brussels in each direction daily, making the service convenient as well as fast.

Rail Europe is the leading North American distributor of rail travel throughout Europe, with the most comprehensive selection of affordable railpasses and tickets.

For more information or to book, contact a travel agent or Rail Europe at 1-888-382-7245 in the U.S. or 1-800-361-7245 in Canada, or log onto www.raileurope.com

Thai Airways unterstützt die erste „Voxtours DVD Südostasien"

2004-12-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

von Volker Klinkmüller

Bis zu 1,3 Millionen Reiselustige schalten jeden Sonntag um 18.15 Uhr das Reisemagazin „Voxtours“ ein, um spannende Berichte und traumhafte Filmaufnahmen aus aller Welt zu genießen. Das ermöglicht den Zuschauern nun schon seit fast elf Jahren, in fremde Kulturen einzutauchen und etwas über Urlaubsziele zu erfahren, die fernab von ausgetretenen Touristenpfaden liegen.

Nun wurde mit Unterstützung der staatlichen, thailändischen Fluggesellschaft „Thai Airways International“ (THAI) erstmalig eine „Voxtours DVD Südostasien“ herausgebracht, die ihre Betrachter über insgesamt drei Stunden nach Thailand, Myanmar, Laos und Vietnam entführt. Faszinierende Berichte aus verschiedensten Regionen lassen den Alltag vergessen, zeigen die Vielfalt und Vielseitigkeit dieser exotischen Länder - ob es nun um schwimmende Märkte, religiöse Traditionen, das Leben der Bergstämme, die Tierwelt oder traumhafte Landschaften geht. Zudem befindet sich auf der Scheibe ein Film-Porträt über die THAI und ein ausführliches Booklet mit weiteren Informationen.

Neuer Himmelsstürmer Etihad Airways

2004-12-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

Fluglinie will in fünf Jahren in die erste Reihe der Top-Airlines aufsteigen

Es klingt wie ein Märchen aus Tausendundeiner Nacht: Eine erst ein gutes Jahr alte Airline aus den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten (VAE) stürmt aus dem Nichts in die erste Reihe, wird von deutschen Piloten gesteuert und bekommt schon im Jahr 2007 ihren ersten Super-Airbus A380. Ein Name ist zum Symbol des neuen Höhenflugs der Luftfahrt in Asien geworden: Etihad Airways, die im Juli 2003 gegründete staatliche Fluggesellschaft der sieben Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE), will binnen fünf Jahren in die erste Reihe unter den Top-Airlines aufsteigen.

Eine arabische Fata Morgana? Werner Borchert (48), mit 29 Jahren schon TriStar-Kapitän beim deutschen Ferienflieger LTU, inzwischen als Etihad-Vizepräsident für den Flugbetrieb verantwortlich, formuliert es selbstbewusst: "Wir werden genau das werden, was die Konkurrenz fürchtet: Eine erstklassige Airline. Wir haben schon in den ersten acht Monaten erreicht, was andere in 20 Jahren nicht geschafft haben: Wir spielen in der Premier Liga mit."

So schnell wie Etihad (deutsch: vereint) ist noch nie eine Airline auf den Weltmarkt gestürmt. Dafür bürgt natürlich das schwarze Gold, dass vor allem in Abu Dhabi noch lange sprudeln dürfte. Nicht einmal mit der renommierten Gulf Air aus Bahrain oder der Nobel-Airline Emirates aus dem Nachbar-Emirat Dubai lässt sich Etihad Airways vergleichen. Diese Fluggesellschaft wurde von den VAE gegründet, um mit einem eigenen nationalen Carrier auftreten zu können. Präsident ist Scheich Ahmed Bin Saif el-Nahyan, ein gestandener Verkehrspilot.

Gleichzeitig muss die Airline aber auch vor dem Hintergrund gesehen werden, dass weit blickende Politiker und Wirtschaftsführer am Golf an die noch ferne Zeit nach dem Öl denken und deshalb bemüht sind, schon heute dauerhafte Wirtschaftsstrukturen aufzubauen. Bereits wenige Monate nach der Gründung fand am 5. November 2003 der Eröffnungsflug über die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate statt. Das farbenprächtige Symbol der Airline sind ein mächtiger Falke und eine arabische Segel-Dhau am Heck. Zu den Flugzielen gehören inzwischen Städte in Nahost, Thailand, Sri Lanka und in Europa. Andere Ziele, darunter auch Frankfurt und Hamburg, sollen folgen. Geflogen wird, sobald die neuen Jets kommen.

Im vergangenen Sommer flog Etihad erst einmal mit geleasten Flugzeugen: fünf Airbusse und eine Boeing. Das wird sich schnell ändern: Etihad hat einen Vertrag über 24 Airbus-Flugzeuge unterzeichnet - vier doppelstöckige A380, die bereits im Jahre 2007 ausgeliefert werden sollen, vier A340-500, vier A340-660 und zwölf A330-200 - und orderte gleichzeitig fünf zweistrahlige Boeing 777, die bis Ende 2005 die Flotte entscheidend verstärken sollen. Etihad will am Ende des jetzigen Fünf-Jahres-Plans 50 Flugzeuge haben und 65 Destinationen anfliegen.

Selbst Werner Borchert, der bei LTU als Operations-Chef einschlägige Erfahrungen gesammelt hat, kommt manchmal ins Grübeln, wenn er an das atemberaubende Tempo denkt, mit dem Etihad aus dem Boden gestampft worden ist. Am 12. August 2003 stand Borchert zur Diskussion als Operations-Vizepräsident, am 14. August wurde er verbindlich gefragt, ob er sich die Mammutaufgabe zutraue, in gut drei Monaten einen Flugbetrieb aufzubauen. "Ich schaff's", erklärte er "und da haben sie mich gleich da behalten." Geführt wird das Piloten-Korps - derzeit 84 Piloten aus 17 Nationen - vor allem von erfahrenen deutschen Kapitänen. Die meisten Deutschen flogen vorher vor allem bei dba und LTU.

by news.tirol.com

Sommer 2004: 11% mehr Passagiere flogen ins Ausland

2004-12-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

Wie das Statistische Bundesamt mitteilt, flogen während des Sommerflugplans von April bis Oktober 2004 von deutschen Flughäfen 38,4 Mill. Passagiere in das Ausland. Das sind 11,3% mehr als im entsprechenden Vorjahreszeitraum, während der innerdeutsche Luftverkehr mit 12,2 Mill. Fluggästen (+ 0,9%) nahezu stagnierte. In europäische Länder flogen in der Sommerflugplan-Periode 2004 mit 30,0 Mill. Personen 9,3% mehr als im entsprechenden Vorjahreszeitraum. Hier stand Spanien, als traditionell aufkommensstärkstes Zielland mit hohem Tourismusanteil mit 6,6 Mill. Passagieren (+ 4,2%) an erster Stelle; die Balearen (3,0 Mill. Fluggäste) erreichten dabei ein Plus von 9,8%, während die Kanaren (1,3 Mill.) ihr Vorjahresergebnis um 11,3% verfehlten. Die Türkei hatten 3,9 Mill. Flugpassagiere zum Ziel (+ 11,1%); insbesondere der für den Tourismusverkehr bedeutende Flughafen Antalya (2,1 Mill.) erzielte dabei ein Plus von 18,4%. Griechenland (2,0 Mill.; – 1,3%) konnte auf Grund der Entwicklung bei den griechischen Inseln (1,2 Mill.; – 10,5%) die Vorjahreswerte nicht erreichen, während nach Zypern (0,1 Mill.) 26,5% mehr Personen flogen. Zuwächse erreichten ebenfalls die aufkommensstarken europäischen Zielländer, die neben dem Flugtourismus auch einen hohen Anteil an Geschäftsreisenden aufweisen: Vereinigtes Königreich (3,1 Mill.; + 6,5%), Italien (2,7 Mill.; + 9,2%), Frankreich (1,8 Mill.; + 9,0%), Österreich (1,2 Mill.; + 19,1%), die Schweiz ( (1,1 Mill.; + 21,3%) und Portugal (0,8 Mill.; + 6,1%). Nach Afrika flogen 1,6 Mill. Passagiere (+ 22,2%). Herausragendes Ziel war hier Ägypten, das mit 0,7 Mill. Passagieren – meist Touristen – um annähernd die Hälfte (+ 48,8%) zulegte. Mehr Touristen flogen in diesem Sommer auch nach Tunesien (0,5 Mill; + 14,1%). Zum amerikanischen Kontinent flogen 3,8 Mill. Personen (+ 12,3%). Die USA (2,6 Mill.) erzielten ein Plus von 11,4%, Kanada (0,5 Mill.) hatten 13,8% mehr Fluggäste als Ziel, während das vom Tourismus bestimmte Passagieraufkommen in die Dominikanische Republik (0,1 Mill; + 0,1%) stagnierte. Nach Asien (3,0 Mill.) reisten mit dem Flugzeug 26,1% mehr Personen. Die hohen Zuwächse insbesondere für ost- und südostasiatische Ziele – China (0,3 Mill; + 77,4%), Hongkong (0,2 Mill.; + 73,6%), Thailand (0,3 Mill; + 27,0%) und Japan (0,3 Mill; + 22,9%) – sind teilweise auf durch die Lungenkrankheit SARS bedingte Einbrüche im Vorjahr zurückzuführen. Weitere Ergebnisse zeigt die Tabelle: Reiseverkehr von deutschen Flughäfen Weitere Auskünfte gibt: Lothar Fiege, Tel. 0611-75-2391, E-Mail: luftverkehr@destatis.de

aus: www.innovations-report.de

SAS: Internet auf allen Langstrecken

2004-12-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

Ab März 2005 bietet SAS Internet-Zugang in der gesamten Langstreckenflotte
SAS Scandinavian Airlines wird ab März 2005 die erste Fluggesellschaft sein, deren gesamte Langstreckenflotte den Fluggästen kabellosen Internet-Zugang (WLAN) bietet. Zwei Airbus A340 sind bereits mit SAS Net Access ausgestattet, die restlichen fünf A340 und vier A330 folgen bis spätestens Ende Februar.Für 2004 erwartet SAS auf dem Langstreckennetz nach Asien und in die USA insgesamt rund 1,6 Millionen Passagiere. New York, Chicago, Seattle und Washington sind die amerikanischen Ziele, während in Asien die Metropolen Peking, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapur und Tokio angeflogen werden.SAS Net Access basiert auf dem System Connexion by Boeing. Es eröffnet allen Fluggästen, die einen mit WLAN-Technik ausgestatten Laptop* nutzen, während des Fluges eine Fülle von Möglichkeiten: High-Speed-Internet, firewall-gesicherter Intranet-Zugang, E-Mail-Empfang und -Versand in Echtzeit, E-Commerce, Unterhaltung und Shopping sowie aktuelle Reise- und Zielgebietsinformationen. Wichtigster Teil des Systems ist eine Spezialantenne mit elektronischer Strahlsteuerung auf dem Rücken des Flugzeuges. Da die Antenne somit nicht mechanisch gesteuert wird, reagiert sie verzögerungsfrei auf Lageänderungen des Flugzeugs und sorgt so für eine perma-nente Verbindung zum Satelliten, die Voraussetzung für den funktionierenden Internet-Zugang während des Fluges. Kosten: Für die Dauer eines Fluges werden 29,95 Dollar berechnet. Man kann sich auch für 30 Minuten Nutzung entscheiden, die 9,95 Dollar kosten, plus 25 Cent für jede weitere Minute.
*) = (Vorausgesetzt der Computer erfüllt den Mindeststandard 802.11 a, b oder g)
SAS im Internet: www.flysas.com