Airlines’ July On-Time Performance Improves
No End in Sight for Airline Struggles
Beijing Counts on Olympic Exposure to Boost Tourism
Luxury Rail Tour Operator Chugs for the Last Time
Record Number of Climbers Conquer Mount Fuji
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AIRLINES’ JULY ON-TIME PERFORMANCE IMPROVES – Houston Chronicle
U.S. airlines had their best July in four years, meeting on-time targets 75 percent of the time. The figure compares favorably with July of 2007, when only 69.8 percent of flights arrived on time. Despite the improvements, which can be attributed to carriers offering 2.7 percent fewer flights this year, the industry still has a fairly bad on-time record. 2008 is the third-worst year for delays since records started being kept 14 years ago. Delta’s Comair ranked lowest in the ratings with a 64.6 percent rate, and Pinnacle was the best at 85.6 percent.
Link: Houston Chronicle
NO END IN SIGHT FOR AIRLINE STRUGGLES – The New York Times
Airlines are cutting back on flights, adding fuel surcharges and making customers pay for meals and pillows in an attempt to counter high gas prices, but they are still getting financially hammered. The recent hurricanes, which caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and the sluggish economy, which is leading fewer people to fly, have both further contributed to airlines’ woes. Some analysts predict that even if gas prices decline, airlines will continue to maintain the extra fees in order to remain profitable and stave off the ever-present threat of bankruptcy.
Link: The New York Times
BEIJING COUNTS ON OLYMPIC EXPOSURE TO BOOST TOURISM – The Wall Street Journal
China is taking advantage of the international attention it garnered during the Olympic Games to boost tourism and attract more Western visitors. The government is also trying to revive interest in the country that was dampened by the unrest in Tibet earlier this year and the earthquake in Sichuan province last May. China has traditionally attracted more tourists from Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, but Americans are fast becoming a larger part of the overall tourism picture.
Link: The Wall Street Journal
LUXURY RAIL TOUR OPERATOR CHUGS ONE LAST TIME – Los Angeles Times
Colorado-based GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, a luxury U.S. train tour company, announced this week that it will cease operations on Friday due to financial problems. Dozens of customers who had pre-booked trips into 2009 are being left in the lurch, though the company said they could possibly get refunds through their credit card companies. GrandLuxe offered four to 12-day rail journeys through the western and southern parts of the country, and in 2008 was named one of the top 25 best trains by the Society of International Railway Travelers.
Link: Los Angeles Times
RECORD NUMBER OF CLIMBERS CONQUER MT. FUJI – USA Today
More people climbed Japan’s Mt. Fuji this summer than during any other summer for the last 20 years, according to city officials. The record 247,066 climbers was accompanied by a record number of deaths, however, with four people losing their lives in accidents on the mountain. The deaths, which were the first since 2005, were most likely due to climbers underestimating the difficulty of the trek.
Link: USA Today
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