A drop in airline capacity caused by the recession is the main factor in the dip in delays, a GAO study says.

Washington — Flight delays decreased 6 percent from 2007 to 2009, largely because airlines put fewer planes in the sky because of the recession, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office.

But even with the decrease, at least one in four U.S. passenger flights arrived late — typically an hour late — at five major airports: Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy in the New York area, Atlanta Hartsfield in Georgia and San Francisco International in California, according to the report.

Those five airports — along with Chicago O’Hare International in Illinois and Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania — accounted for almost 80 percent of departure delays at all major airports in the United States.

Flight delays have been a fact of life for air travelers for almost two decades. The only reprieve came after the 2001 terrorist attacks led to a decline in the number of flights.

Air travel was slowly returning to its pre-2001 levels when the industry was hit by the country’s economic woes.

Most of the delays are attributable to old and familiar problems: inclement weather, heavy air traffic volumes and airline issues, such as baggage loading, crew issues or maintenance.

The GAO said NextGen, the FAA’s modernization of air traffic control systems, could help reduce delays in the next two to three years. “However, the extent to which these actions will reduce delays at individual airports … is unclear,” it said.

Meanwhile, the number of flights experiencing tarmac delays of more than three hours has decreased. Some 903 flights had delays of more than three hours in 2009, compared to 1,654 flights in 2007. In March, the Department of Transportation imposed a rule that requires airlines to allow passengers stuck on planes to get off the plane after three hours.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/05/26/flight.delay.report/index.html

SINGAPORE – Passengers have voted South Korea’s Asiana Airlines airline of the year in an annual survey by British-based consultancy Skytrax, edging out Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways which ranked second and third.

More than 17.9 million air travelers from over 100 countries took part in the 10-month survey between July 2009 and April 2010 to choose their favorite airline.

“The award slogan of ‘The Passenger’s Choice’ underlines the fact that Asiana Airlines are succeeding in satisfying the hardest critics — their users,” said Skytrax chairman Edward Plaisted.

Qatar Airways was rated third while Cathay Pacific came fourth.

The final top 10 ranking in the awards were:

1. Asiana Airlines

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Qatar Airways

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Air New Zealand

6. Etihad Airways

7. Qantas Airways

8. Emirates

9. Thai Airways

10. Malaysia Airlines

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37273179/ns/travel-luxury/

The Icelandic volcano that has been disrupting thousands of flights with its ash plume has significantly reduced in activity, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

No ash was detected from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano on Sunday in a flight over the crater by Icelandic scientists.

Jonsson Thorsteinn, an Icelandic Met Office forecaster, told CNN: “The volcano appears to be dormant, the activity has been going down for the last two days and at the moment there is nothing coming out… no magma.”

Measurements with a heat camera from the test flight indicated that the temperature at the crater was just under 100°C, confirming that the volcano was now spouting steam instead of ash, Thorsteinn said.

Steinunn Jakobsdottir, a geophysicist with the Icelandic Met Office, told CNN: “Seismic activity is down, there is still some background rumbling but it is much calmer.”

Jakobsdottir said the Sunday test flight data found that the “volcanic tremor is still decreasing and is approaching the level it had before the eruption.”

However, scientists warn that the volcano could erupt again and that it was impossible to predict when.

“There is still something going on inside, some tremors, it is possible it could erupt again, but when is a question nobody can answer,” said Jonsson Thorsteinn.

The slow down in volcanic activity is good news for commercial airlines and millions of passengers planning to fly in the near future.

The volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland erupted in mid-April, sending a dense cloud of ash into the atmosphere, disrupting international travel for several days.

Volcanic ash can be a serious hazard to aircraft, reducing visibility, damaging flight controls and ultimately causing jet engines to fail.

Guests Who Book a Stay at the New Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas Receive Free, Round-Trip Airfare for Two From Nassau to Georgetown

From now through June 4, 2010, guests who book a minimum four-night stay at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas – the newest and most luxurious addition to the Sandals Resorts’ portfolio – will receive complimentary airfare courtesy of Sandals Resorts’ Two Fly Free promotion. This limited-time offer provides free, round-trip airfare to Sandals Emerald Bay, arriving and departing from Nassau International Airport, for two guests on the same flight and itinerary. To receive this offer, guests must book a stay at Sandals Emerald Bay between April 30 and June 4, 2010 for travel dates through December 22, 2010.

Sandals Emerald Bay, a 500-acre beachfront resort set on Great Exuma, one of the Bahamas’ most beautiful Out Islands, is the fourteenth Sandals Resort and, expanding on the company’s Luxury Included® concept, the first to offer a championship, Greg Norman-designed golf course, world-class marina and professionally-trained butlers in all 183 plush rooms and suites. The new Sandals Emerald Bay also features gourmet dining in a choice of five à la carte restaurants, premium brand wine and spirits, land and watersports, including scuba diving for certified divers, gratuities and airport transfers. Additionally, the resort boasts an exclusive Red Lane® Spa, featuring 17 treatment rooms, offering premier services that embrace the best of the Caribbean region.

To book your Luxury Included® vacation to Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, call your Wilcox World Travel and Tours, 1-800-438-5828, or log on to www.wilcoxtravel.com and reference promotional code CBH10. *Certain restrictions apply.

Beaches Resorts’ Largest Property is Located in the ‘Best Destination in the World for Beach & Sun’

TripAdvisor®, the largest travel community in the world, recently announced the winners of its 2010 Travelers’ Choice® Destinations Awards, with Providenciales, home to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, garnering the top spot for ‘Best Destination in the World for Beach & Sun.’ The awards are based on millions of unbiased reviews onTripAdvisor.com® and were determined on a combination of user comments.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, the world’s leading family resort, sits on the exotic 13-mile long Grace Bay in Providenciales. The 615-room resort boasts eight freshwater pools, four distinct villages, sixteen specialty restaurants, Pirate’s Island Waterpark, the largest and most comprehensive aqua playground in the Caribbean, and the recent $125 million Italian Village that features its own 14,000-square-foot pool, an expanded Kids Camp, a teen lounge, 7,000 square feet of retail space, and five specialty restaurants.

Families can now also spend a fun-filled summer in the sun for less with savings of up to 65 percent off rack rates throughout select dates in 2010 and 2011 when they book a minimum three night stay, plus up to one night free for those that extend their vacation to seven nights. As with all Luxury Included® vacations, a trip to Beaches Turks & Caicos includes luxurious  accommodations; gourmet dining; unlimited premium brand wine and spirits; nightly entertainment; and a wide array of water sports, including snorkeling and scuba diving.

For more information or to book a stay at Beaches Turks & Caicos, visit www.funcaribbeanvacations.com or call 1-800-BEACHES.

Jamaican Resorts are Recognized for Excellent Guest Services and Devoted Staff

Horace Peterkin, General Manager of Sandals Negril; Khadine Daley, Regional Public Relations Manager; Dr. Howard Spittle, General Manager of Beaches Boscobel

Sandals Resorts International is pleased to announce that two of its Jamaican properties—Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club and Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa—have received high honors at the Tourism Service Excellence Awards held in Jamaica. Beaches Boscobel was presented with the National Tourism Service Excellence Award, which commends the resort with providing the highest level of quality customer care and service in Jamaica. Sandals Negril was also recognized with the Regional Award for Service Excellence—an honor that recognizes the resort as a leading property for commitment to customer care in the competitive Negril market.

Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club caters to couples and families, introducing guests of all ages to Sandals Resorts’ Luxury Included® vacation experience. Beaches Boscobel appeals to visitors of every age with a Pirate’s Island Waterpark, an Xbox 360® Game Garage, Beaches Resorts’ Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street, world-class cuisine, several freshwater pools and a variety of watersports.

Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa also provides an unforgettable Luxury Included® vacation experience, but caters to couples in a romantic, tropical setting in Negril, Jamaica. Perched on the longest, most pristine stretch of Negril’s famed seven-mile beach, Sandals Negril features an array of luxurious services and amenities, including five gourmet restaurants, two expansive pools each with oversized whirlpools, a professional sports complex, exclusive Butler Service in a selection of beachfront Swim-Up RiverSuites, and a ­­­comprehensive wedding experience through Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart^TM.

For more information or to book a stay at Beaches Boscobel, visit www.beaches.com or call 1-800-BEACHES. For more information or to book a stay at Sandals Negril, visit www.sandals.com or call 1-800-SANDALS.

If you are transiting in London’s Gatwick or Heathrow Airports, or Amersterdam’s Schiphol Airport, a layover could be a real luxury. Yotels offer minimalistic, Japenese style sleeping, working, and showering accommodations for transiting travelers inside the airport. No taxi needed.

“YOTEL is the antithesis to the manic and often stressful airport environment offering guests a haven of calm and quiet with luxury bedding, rejuvenating monsoon rain showers, relaxing mood lighting, practical work station and free WiFi. Bookable by the hour, YOTEL’s cabin’s start from as little as £25 (€35 at Schiphol) online at www.yotel.com”

For weary travelers or those who want to spend the night before an early flight, a place to escape and escape has enormous appeal. According to Yotel Founder, Simon Woodroofe, they have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support. “The most common customer response today is ‘why hasn’t it been done before?’”

The range of windowless cabins includes

• Twin cabin with upper and lower twin beds
• Handicap Accessible with an upper bunk for traveling companion
• Standard cabins with one bed, either and upper or a lower–matching up with the next room like a puzzle piece
• Premium cabin, which has a double bed

All rooms have flat screen TV’s, WiFi, and private bathrooms in a single, soundproofed, albeit tiny, space with 24 hour room service. Everything you need, including towels, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are provided, helping you avoid the TSA liquid limitations. Rooms contain a work desk and a monsoon shower, a favorite among guests.

Bookings range from four hours to overnight. While as small as a train cabin, and in some cases smaller, the rooms are infinitely larger than an airline seat. Whether you’re transiting between continents or arriving the night before a long flight to avoid rush hour traffic, most customers agree that Yotel is a much needed luxury for air travelers at affordable prices.