Business Travel News - November 19, 2007 - (Page 4)

NEWS Inside Track BUSH AIMS AT AIR CONGESTION, PASSENGER PROTECTION President George W. Bush late last week outlined proposals to curb airline delays and offer further protections to passengers, which include congestion pricing at airports, the availability of better airline on-time performance data and increased denied boarding compensation for air travelers. In addition to a plan to allocate some military airspace to commercial operators to create a “Thanksgiving Express Lane” along the East Coast for five days beginning Nov. 21, Bush proposed to raise denied boarding compensation to $800 from $400 when passengers have to wait more than two hours to be re-accommodated and to $400 from $200 when they are accommodated within two hours. Bush also is seeking to require airlines to provide better data to the U.S. Department of Transportation on the source of delays. Bush enlisted DOT to work with airlines on a proposal to create “contingency plans to aid stranded passengers and penalties for chronically delayed flights.” Meanwhile, Bush recommended “market-based incentives” to further curb delays and cancellations, namely congestion pricing, through which “fees could be higher at peak hours and at crowded airports or takeoff, and landing rights could be auctioned to the highest-value flights.” ACTE Sees Red From Green Taxes The Association of Corporate Travel Ex- try. IATA has embarked on a plan to invest ecutives last month during its global con- in new technology, build efficient airport ference in Munich announced opposition infrastructure and operate aircraft more efto new green taxes not used for investing ficiently to head off “other economic measin infrastructure improvements or reduc- ures by the government.” ACTE said under tions in carbon emissions. ACTE president Bisignani’s leadership, “IATA has pushed Richard Crum voiced its opposition to such governments for shorter routes to save fuel, taxes at the opening of ACTE’s conference. reduce emissions, and reduce the current 12 “It is very difficult to justify the logic that percent industrywide operating inefficienimplementing green taxes will minimize cy. The air transport group is striving to the impact that travel has on the environ- lower aviation industry carbon emissions, ment, particularly when you look at the while boosting fuel efficiency by 25 pertaxes put in place so far,” said Crum, also cent by the year 2025.” IATA director of AirPlus president and CEO. “None of the aviation environment Philippe Rochat acmoney has been put into cepted the award on improving infrastructure Bisignani’s behalf. that is going to have an ◆◆◆ impact on reducing airThe association line fuel burn.” Crum cited estimates named as its presidentthat an efficient worldelect travel buyer and wide air traffic control former travel managesystem would reduce ment consultant Douglas Weeks, who is globfuel burn by 10 percent to 15 percent. He also al sourcing manager for said the business travel Herndon, Va.-based conindustry, including hosulting firm Booz Allen tels, airlines and aircraft Hamilton. He will succeed Crum, who just bemanufacturers, has stepped up voluntarily. gan his two-year term as ACTE PRESIDENT-ELECT WEEKS “History shows us ACTE president. green taxes will not min◆◆◆ imize demand,” Crum said. “There won’t HRG global industry affairs director be any reduction in travel as a result. ForeMike Platt, during a session entitled “IATA casts show that travel will increase.” He said taxes deplete resources individ- and Travel Management,” said the airline uals or companies might put into other cor- organization is gearing up to change the porate social responsibility initiatives and settlement period for air tickets from create other industry cost pressures. “If monthly to weekly, which he said would governments want to make a dent in what deprive agencies of important cash flow. the United Nations has estimated is 2 per- Platt called IATA “an airline club, by and cent of the world’s carbon emissions that for airlines,” noting that the organization are generated from air travel, the real op- does not allow for meaningful travel manportunity is to fund air traffic management agement input on rule changes that affect buyers and agencies. British Airways genimprovements,” he said. He suggested that rather than creating eral manager for global corporate sales taxes that create revenue and constrain in- Richard Tams said, “If you collect our mondustry growth, governments should pro- ey on our behalf and then sit on it for a vide incentives for change, including emis- month, it’s not your money.” Platt replied, sions-trading programs. Therefore, Crum “It’s the customers’ money. We’re acting said ACTE is “adamantly opposed to any on behalf of our clients.” type of green tax that is not going to be part Platt also warned against IATA selling of the process to make a difference in trav- corporate information through its Passenger Intelligence Services, which collects el’s impact on the environment.” ACTE presented International Air data from its billing and settlement plan. Transport Association director general and “Now IATA has discovered how much CEO Giovanni Bisignani with its 2007 Cor- money the GDSs make selling corporate porate Social Responsibility Award for data,” Platt said, adding, “There’s a strong IATA’s role in fuel conservation and car- likelihood of an appeal to the EU on some bon emissions control in the airline indus- of the things IATA is doing.” VISA SETTLEMENT TO FUEL AMERICAN EXPRESS REWARDS American Express will receive $2.25 billion from Visa to settle a conspiracy lawsuit this month, and the card vendor said it intends to use the first $1.13 billion payment of that settlement this quarter, to invest in business-building initiatives, including its rewards program. Specifically, American Express is considering enhancements to methods of estimating its liability for Membership Rewards, including a new statistical approach to estimating redemption rates. Other investments will include marketing, promotion and cardmember services, and American Express will decide on whether to invest future settlement payments on a quarter-to-quarter basis, according to the company. The lawsuit, pending since 2004, stems from American Express’ claims that Visa, MasterCard and their member banks blocked American Express from having bank-issued cards in the United States (BTNonline, Nov. 15, 2004). All banks in the lawsuit also have been dropped as defendants as a result of the settlement, leaving MasterCard as the sole remaining defendant. ORBITZ FOR BUSINESS TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM Orbitz for Business today announced the launch of Orbitz for Business International, which enables local fulfillment and support in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Canada will go live by year-end, and Australia and the United Kingdom will follow in the first quarter of 2008, according to Orbitz for Business COO and general manager Dean Sivley. The online travel management company already has a presence in Canada with local fulfillment for clients using Travelport Classic, which will be converted to the new platform. Service centers in the United Kingdom and Lithuania will handle fulfillment for the United Kingdom. The international platform is powered by the Galileo Traversa system, which Orbitz for Business licenses. Meanwhile, the company also announced today that Travelport for Business has consolidated into Orbitz for Business. They will merge functionality through a common code base, as well as share a common sales force and management team in the first quarter of 2008, according to Sivley. DELTA DENIES UNITED MERGER RUMOR News reports that claimed Delta Air Lines has been discussing a merger with United Airlines prompted Delta CEO Richard Anderson last week to say, “There have been no talks with United regarding any type of consolidation transaction and there are no such ongoing discussions.” The speculation stemmed in part from a letter sent by Pardus Capital Management—which holds a small stake in both Delta and United—that urged Delta to lead industry consolidation. Delta in a statement said its board prior to the Pardus letter had established a committee headed by chairman Daniel Carp to “review and analyze strategic options.” Stop wasting time in airport security lines. Clear airport security in 4 minutes or less with the Clear® Card. This is the card that says you’re pre-cleared at our express lanes at airports across the nation. Speed past crowded security lines at SFO, JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, Orlando, and more. What’s your time worth? 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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Business Travel News - November 19, 2007

Business Travel News - November 19, 2007
Contents
Avis Ups Its Bet With Carey Investment
Notebook: ACTE Assails Green Taxes
EC Adopts Revised CRS Code Of Conduct
Dynamic Discovery: General Dynamics’ Loper Mines Data
American First: AA Wins BRN's 2007 Air Survey
Perfecting Attendance: CA’s Brust Deploys Event Reg. Tech.
Mtg. Buyers Grapple With Price Hikes
Business Travel News - 2007 Resource Guide
Table of Contents
Airline Benchmarks
Siemens: Global Balance
Hotel Benchmarks
Syngenta: Selective Sourcing
Online Booking Benchmarks
Pfizer: Cross-Border Mtgs. Consolidation
Meetings Benchmarks
Planes, Trains and Striking Good Deals

Business Travel News - November 19, 2007

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