0 Delta Adds In-Flight WiFi to All Shuttle Flights

You know what they say about technology on airplanes, "Don't use it because you will cause the plane to crash and burn!" Well, if that's true then Delta Air Lines didn't get the message, as the company recently revealed that it has officially installed WiFi on all of its Delta Shuttle aircraft that fly between New York LaGuardia and both Boston and Washington Reagan National. In addition to that, Delta brands its frequent service between LaGuardia and Chicago O'Hare as Delta Shuttle as well.

According to a statement released by Delta's Senior Vice President in New York Gail Grimmett, "We are thrilled that WiFi is now available to our Delta Shuttle customers as it's a perfect complement to other Shuttle amenities including free morning coffee and newspapers."

Delta is also claiming that they are the first carrier to install WiFi across its entire mainline and two-class regional fleet. Delta said that "when WiFi installations on regional jets are complete, more than 400,000 Delta customers on more than 3,000 daily flights will have the in-flight connectivity on a fleet that already makes up nearly half of the world's WiFi equipped aircraft."

WiFi will definitely be a big business generator for Delta as many traveling businessmen will relish the opportunity to check email and make business transactions and decisions mid-flight. Heck, people will just love to be able to Tweet and update Facebook with something like "30,000 feet in the air right now on my way to the Big Apple!".

Source: USA Today - Delta: All Shuttle flights now have in-flight Wi-Fi

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Detail: Delta Adds In-Flight WiFi to All Shuttle Flights

0 Vision Airlines Offers $2 Round-Trip Flights to the Bahamas, Stings Attached

When you see a headline that says "$2 Flight to the Bahamas", a few things probably cross your mind: Can this be safe? and What strings are attached? Well if you are thinking an offer like this is too good to be true, then you are most likely right. The offer comes from a Georgia-based low-fare airline that is launching nonstop service to Freeport from five different U.S. cities, with a few strings attached.

Vision Airlines, an air carrier that started off offering Grand Canyon charter flights back in 1994, just started twice-weekly flights to Grand Bahama Island earlier this week from Baltimore/Washington, Louisville, Raleigh/Durham and Richmond with flights five days a week from Ft. Lauderdale. The $2 promotion, which is good through March 4 if purchased by December 11, requires the customer to put in for a three-night minimum stay for at least two people at one of nine Grand Bahama resorts. However, that price does not reflect the $120 tax (per person) round-trip. So in essence you are looking at about $934.45 per couple minimum.

Regular one-way fares to Freeport will cost anywhere from $39 to $189 with an average of $99, plus a $60 tax each way. C.A. Smith, the Bahamian ambassador to the United States, was quoted saying that he hopes the Vision Airlines service will rekindle interest in Freeport, which just so happens to be the main city on Grand Bahama Island as well as the second-largest in the country. According to Smith, "The plan basically allows us to redevelop the tourism sector of the economy, and in order to do that you have to be able to have inexpensive airline seats. You have to make it convenient for people to travel."

Smith also added that Freeport was devastated by a hurricane in 2004 and 2005 and has since been eclipsed by Nassau in the recent years, especially after the opening of the Atlantis mega-resort helped initiate a hotel building influx on New Providence Island. New Providence, where Nassau is located, is also linked to New Paradise Island (the site of the Atlantis) by a causeway.

Another red flag is that it has been reported that Vision Airlines owes nearly $260,000 in unpaid passenger facility charges to the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, the location where the airliner began service in December of 2010. In addition to that, the company is also said to owe passenger facility charges and other fees to the Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas. Just a few things to keep in mind if you actually decide to cash in on this "deal".

Source: USA Today - The Bahamas for a buck? Vision Airlines offers $2 round-trip flights

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Detail: Vision Airlines Offers $2 Round-Trip Flights to the Bahamas, Stings Attached

0 No flights to Himachal: Manali may see fall in foreign tourists’ arrival

MANALI/SHIMLA: Manali may witness a big drop in arrival of foreign tourists this year as no flight connectivity is forcing them to change their destinations, travel agents in Manali claim.

A plane at Kullu-Manali airport in Bhuntar (file photo)

Problems of high end tourism industry of Manali does not seem ending as the hill town continues suffering losses worth over Rs 15 lakh every day only due to unavailability of flights. As there is no flight operating to Kullu airport since September, the industry has already suffered losses worth over 15 crore and now dark clouds are hovering over summer season which is starting from April 15.

Travel agents say foreign clients are cancelling their tour plans to Manali for coming days. Manali travel agent association president Anil Sharma said, “Our regular clients from abroad who are in contact with us only ask for the status of flight on Delhi-Kullu route. As nobody is sure about the flight connectivity status in summer season and tourists want to be sure about their advance booking, most of the cream tourists are cancelling their plans. Very few tourists would reach here this year.”

The star category hotels in Manali are also suffering the brunt of indefinite cancellation of flights. Hoteliers claim only budgeted tourists are reaching here and many of their clients cancelled their bookings in winter season. “Nobody wants to suffer the hectic surface journey of 14 hours from Delhi. Booking in most of the luxury hotels to a far extent depends on flight connectivity,” an hotelier Rajesh Thakur said.

Tourism entrepreneurs in Manali say cancellation of only one available flight would continue causing losses worth Rs 15 lakh every day to tourism industry of Manali. As most of the high end tourists from abroad are planning their tour to Himachal for trekking and various adventure activities, the negative reply from tour operators regarding flight booking is diverting them to other destinations.

“It is amazing that the 48-seater plane that used to operate sorties to Manali never landed with empty seats. Even Kullu airport is capable of handling multi-sorties between April and July. But, nobody is interested in this sector,” Anil Sharma said.

Detail: No flights to Himachal: Manali may see fall in foreign tourists’ arrival