April 1st, 2011

WASHINGTON — More than one in five of air traffic controllers hired by the Federal Aviation Administration in recent years washed out before finishing their training, said a report released Friday by a government watchdog.

The FAA has been underestimating the number of new hires who didn’t finish their training because of flaws in the methodology the agency was using, the Transportation Department’s inspector general said in a report posted online.

Using a different methodology, the inspector general said 22 percent of new controllers who should have completed their training last year didn’t. I

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March 27th, 2011

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, has started flights from Bristol to its third Irish destination.

The carrier now operates 20 weekly flights – three return flights Sunday to Friday, and two return flights on a Saturday.

Stephen Kavanagh, Aer Lingus’ chief commercial officer, said passengers flying from Bristol will be able to connect onto the airline’s transatlantic flights to New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando from Dublin.

The south-west airport currently has no direct services to the US.

Passengers will also be able to clear US customs and immigrations at Dublin airport, allowing them to arrive into the US as domestic passengers.

Aer Lingus Regional already operates flights from Bristol to Shannon and Cork.

Paul Schutz, Aer Arann’s CEO, said: “The launch of this service demonstrates the ongoing success of our franchise agreement with Aer Lingus and we look forward to welcoming both business and leisure passengers onboard our flights to Dublin.”

Aer Arann has also started operations, under its own brand, from London’s Southend airport.

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Tags: Aer Lingus, Flights | Posted in Travel Tips |
March 27th, 2011

Airport operator BAA will still have to sell two of its UK airports following a provisional ruling today by the Competition Commission (CC).

The commission had ruled in 2009 that BAA would have to sell Gatwick and Stansted airports as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport.

Since then there have been legal challenges by BAA to the ruling, which ended with the CC findings being upheld.

BAA has already sold Gatwick and today the CC provisionally concluded that the sale of the other airports should go ahead.

The CC said today it remained convinced the original sale decision was “the right one for passengers and airlines”.

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Tags: Airports, Sell Two, Uk Airports | Posted in Travel Tips |
March 26th, 2011

Swimmers begin the competition on beautiful Kapapaki Beach, Kauai.

Tens of thousands elite athletes compete for a coveted position in Hawaii’s Ford Ironman World Championship every year, only 1800 will qualify. Hawaii is certainly a destination that draws all kinds of visitors. If you are not one of the elite athletes to qualify for the pinnacle of triathlons in Kona, and you want healthy activity on Hawaii, there are plenty of options.

On March 12 and 13, Kauai hosted the first 2011 International Garden Isle Tri Fest. A

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Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii Vacation | Posted in Travel Deals |
March 22nd, 2011


Travellers visiting Taiwan will be offered a range of experiences that combine history and tradition with the excitement of the modern world, according to the local tourist board.

Josephine Huang, marketing manager at the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said the island ‘perfectly combines’ traditional culture and arts with modern life.

She encouraged visitors to see the destination’s natural scenery and wildlife and also sample its cuisine.

‘Full of variety, the unspoiled scenery and rare wildlife are a stark contrast to the vibrant cities, but both are breathtaking and full of exciting discoveries,’ said Ms Huang.

‘Likewise, Taiwan’s culinary offerings are diverse but delicious – there are few places where you can find more authentic Chinese food.’

She also said that holidaymakers visiting the island can look forward to discovering the ‘warm and welcoming’ nature of the Taiwanese people.

International travellers can reach the destination by catching flights to Taipei, which are available with Cathay Pacific, EVA Air and British Airways, among other carriers.

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Tags: Taiwan, Taiwan Combines | Posted in Travel Tips |