February 2012

Friday, February 3rd, 2012	Back to top

Air France will be reducing its flight schedule February 6 - 9 as airline workers, including pilots, take strike action against the airline.  Air France states on its web site that it will do its best to adjust its flight schedule depending on how many air transport employees join the strike. However, as union members are not obliged to inform in advance of their intention to strike, some last minute delays and cancellations may arise.

Friday's long-haul flights are operating at 85%; however, it is too early to estimate operations for next week. Air France states it will give its flight forecast for the strike period on Monday.

Unions are striking in an attempt to block passage of a law which will place restrictions on the right to strike. The airlines says those travellers affected by the strike may rebook their flights without penalties.  If you need assistance with your itinerary, please contact an Azumano agent.

Source: Air France

Friday, February 3rd, 2012	Back to top

Friday, February 3rd, 2012	Back to top

Update – Winter Storm Advisory for Feb 2 - 4, 2012

Winter weather is expected to continue to impact the Denver area through February 4, 2012. Additional airports in Colorado and the central U.S. have also been added. Weather conditions may lead to the delay or cancellation of certain flights in and out of the following airports: 

• Aspen, CO (ASE)
• Colorado Springs, CO (COS)
• Denver, CO (DEN)
• Des Moines, IA (DSM)
• Eagle/Vail, CO (EGE)
• Hayden/Steamboat Springs, CO (HDN)
• Omaha, NE (OMA)  

Customers on United-Continental flights to, from or through these airports on February 2, 3 or 4 may reschedule their itineraries with a one-time date or time change, and the airlines will waive the change fees, when travel originates before February 11, 2012. Customers may request refunds in the original form of payment for canceled flights.

Other airlines may may also offer waivers of penalties for weather related changes or cancellations. If you need assistance to change your itinerary, please contact the airline or your Azumano agent.

Source: United - Continental

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012	Back to top

Bologna airport is currently open only for departing flights. The disruption is being caused by on-going snow and sub-zero temperatures which are hitting north and central regions of Italy. Over a hundred flights were grounded at the airport on Wednesday and heavy snowfall is also causing severe disruption to road and rail transport.

Source: Anvil

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012	Back to top

The U.S. House and Senate negotiators agreed on a $63 billion four-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration for the next four years, which includes funding of the NextGen air navigation modernization project. The bill includes compromises on several difficult issues: a decrease in air service subsidies for rural communities by $20 million; elimination of a provision limiting the shipments of lithium batteries on cargo planes; and rules governing the formation of airline and railroad unions. The committee also agreed to add eight daily long-distance flights into Ronald Regan Washington National Airport.

The FAA’s long-term operating authority expired in 2007 and has been funded under 23 short-term extensions. It experienced a partial shut-down late last year when Congress failed to fund an extension before its expiration.

Final passage of the bill by the House and Senate is expected sometime in the next two weeks.

Source: ASTA Smartbrief, Washington Post

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012	Back to top

American Airlines plans to lay off 13,000 employees as part of its five-year Chapter 11 reorganization plan. American’s mechanics and fleet service workers will be the hardest segment hit by the proposed payroll reduction with 8,600 positions eliminated, or about 65% of the total job losses. With these cuts comes the closure of American’s Fort Worth Alliance widebody maintenance facility as well as a reductin of 2,100 staff at its Kansas MRO base. Little detail on this move has been released except to say that these jobs will be outsourced, reducing the company’s maintenance costs. Another 2,300 job cuts will affect flight attendants. The Transport Union, representing mechanics and fleet service workers, and the  Association of Professional Flight Attendants representing in-flight staff, both have made statements that the financial justification for the job losses by American is inaccurate. American has promised more details will be released soon justifying their actions.

Source: Aviation Week

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012	Back to top

Winter weather is expected to impact the Denver area throughout the day February 2 and 3, 2012. Weather conditions may lead to the delay or cancellation of certain flights in and out of the following airports:

·         Aspen, CO (ASE)

·         Colorado Springs, CO (COS)

·         Denver, CO (DEN)

·         Eagle/Vail, CO (EGE)

United-Continental customers on flights to, from or through these airports on February 2 or 3 may reschedule their itineraries with a one-time date or time change, and the airlines will waive the change fees, when travel originates before February 10, 2012. Customers may request refunds in the original form of payment for canceled flights.  Other carriers may offer penalty waivers as time progresses. If you need assistance changing your flights, please contact your Azumano agent.

We strongly encourage travelers to verify their flight status at www.FlightStats.com before leaving for the airport.

Source: United Airlines

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012	Back to top

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced 25 airports which are set to receive recently purchased millimeter wave Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units. The machines will be deployed with new automated target recognition (ATR) software designed to enhance privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images while improving throughput capabilities and streamlining the checkpoint screening process.

AIT is designed to enhance security by safely screening passengers for metallic and non-metallic threats—including weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing. Imaging technology screening is safe for all travelers, and the technology meets all known national and international health and safety standards. In fact, the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 1000 times less than the international limits and guidelines.

Source: Transportation Security Administration