Business Travel

GENEVA - Aviation groups in Europe announced a plan Tuesday to change the way commercial planes land in order to reduce their global-warming emissions of carbon dioxide.

MINNEAPOLIS - Continental Airlines Inc. said declining business travel is hurting a key measure of revenue, and that the drop-off has gotten worse since January.

LAS VEGAS - The White House is encouraging encouraged Americans to travel, soothing words for the tourism industry that had complained for weeks that a remark from the president about corporate junkets had a chilling effect on business travel.

HAVANA - Cubans say Washington's easing of travel and spending restrictions for Cuban-Americans visiting the communist island will be a boon to small business and a key step toward warmer relations with the United States.

U.S. automakers have been struggling to sell cars ever since the economy went south. Now it looks like a sharp drop in travel spending — specifically, on rental cars — has also caught up with the troubled industry.

MUMBAI, India - John Fesko came to Mumbai to talk with an Indian pharmaceutical company about manufacturing two high blood pressure drugs his Swiss biotech firm is developing. He went home with a bullet in his leg.

WASHINGTON - The number of passengers on U.S. airlines fell 8.4 percent in September, a decline of 5 million passengers from the year-earlier month, the Transportation Department said Thursday in the latest evidence of weakening travel demand.

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines said on Thursday it will adopt a popular feature of Northwest Airlines' frequent-flier program, as it aims to merge the two reward systems by the end of 2009.

DALLAS - Executives of major U.S. airlines, already seeing signs of slumping travel demand, said Tuesday they were ready to cut more flights, and Delta hinted at more job losses as the carriers jockey to survive the deepening recession.

DALLAS - The chief executive of Southwest Airlines Co. said Tuesday that travel demand slumped sharply in November and the growth-happy carrier won't expand its fleet next year.

Baggage policies differ by airlines. Read the rules on the carrier's Web site or ask an agent before you fly. Here are fees that some leading U.S. carriers charge for a first, second and third checked bag, plus special rules for ski equipment on domestic flights. Note that most airlines waive baggage fees for elite members of frequent-flier programs, first- and business-class travelers and full-fare coach passengers.

NEW YORK - Current economic conditions are likely to pressure business travelers and visitors coming to the U.S. in 2009, according to the latest outlook from the Travel Industry Association.

NEW YORK - Business travelers can expect to pay almost 3 percent more to get from "Point A" to "Point B" in the U.S. next year, according to a report from American Express Business Travel released Wednesday.

With fuel surcharges, baggage fees and rising ticket costs, flying employees around the globe is more expensive than ever. American Express Business Travel has cash-saving tips for companies and road warriors:

DALLAS - Airline customers are cashing in more frequent-flier awards this year, looking to avoid higher fares and believing that miles are worth less than in the past.

HOUSTON - In a partial reversal, Continental Airlines will let its best customers continue to earn a minimum of 500 frequent-flier miles even on shorter trips but will take the benefit away from other passengers.

WASHINGTON - Federal aviation officials said Friday they are investigating 17 cases in which 11 air carriers did not comply with government safety directives.

WASHINGTON - Federal aviation inspectors would have to wait two years before taking airline jobs where they deal with their old government boss under legislation passed by the House Tuesday.

MINNEAPOLIS - Northwest Airlines Corp. said on Wednesday it will cut 2,500 jobs because of high oil prices, and will soon begin charging $15 to check luggage and up to $100 to redeem a frequent-flier award ticket.

NEW ORLEANS - As the airline industry tries to deal with sky-high fuel prices by cutting back on capacity, six Louisiana airports and two in Mississippi are on a list of airports most likely to lose flights, a business travel advocacy group says.

WASHINGTON - The Senate is taking on what Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller calls "a national embarrassment," an antiquated air traffic control system that is making flying more unpleasant and possibly less safe.

Q: What can I do if I have frequent flier miles on an airline that ceases operation?

NEW YORK - As the economy cools, companies are starting to shrink their travel budgets — a move likely to put further strain on struggling airlines.

DALLAS - Airlines have frequent-flier programs, and Greyhound has one for repeat riders.

CHICAGO - United Airlines will begin charging passengers $25 to check in a second piece of luggage for domestic travel if they are not part of its most-frequent-flier programs, the airline said Monday.

Q: My frequent-flier accounts have been inactive for too long, and my miles are going to go down the drain. What's an inexpensive last-minute save?

ATLANTA - Melinda Irwin already travels plenty, so using the frequent flier miles piling up in her Delta Air Lines Inc. SkyMiles account for more airplane tickets didn't really appeal to her.

DALLAS - Southwest Airlines Co. said Wednesday it would offer elite business travelers the chance to pay higher fares to board sooner and get frequent-flier bonuses and a cocktail.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Leisure trips and travel spending are expected to continue modest growth through 2008, but travel preferences are changing, according to the Travel Industry Association's annual forecast.