5/07/2008 at 5:15 PM
Tags: Earthquakes, Japan Travel, Travel News, Breaking News (all tags)
A series of fairly powerful earthquakes hit Japan today, rocking Ibaraki Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. There were no fatalities and no fear of a tsunami, though tremors could continue in the coming hours. The last earthquake of this magnitude hit the island nation last year; it killed 11 people.
Even though damage this time was light, it must've been an interesting experience for the most high-profile tourist in Tokyo right now: Chinese President Hu Jintao. The leader is meeting with his Japanese counterparts in an effort to smooth relations between the two countries, which have been frosty for the past decade.
Related Stories:
· Strong Earthquake Rocks Tokyo Region [AFP, via Google]
· 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Tokyo [AP, via Google]
· Hu Jintao and Yasuo Fukuda Make Friends [UK Times]
· China, Japan Sign Joint Statement on Ties [Xinhua]
· Japan Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: randomidea]
by pbb
4/04/2008 at 9:12 PM
Tags: Skybus, Airlines, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, Bill Diffenderffer, Breaking News, Airline Bankruptcy (all tags)
Turns out that selling $10 tickets can't make you money. Skybus, which would've celebrated a year of service on May 22, has ceased operations. While the carrier's website is still up and running, a source tells us--and the Columbus Dispatch confirms--that the ultra LCC is finished as of tonight.
That makes it the fourth airline to shutter this week, another victim of high costs and a brutal industry. Skybus isn't offering any sort of alternate arrangements, so wherever you're stranded, you'll have to find your own way home.
One has to wonder if ex-CEO Bill Diffenderffer saw the writing on the wall and made an early exit. One hopes not, as that's not exactly a samuri move.
Related Stories:
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
4/03/2008 at 4:40 PM
Tags: Southwest Airlines, Airlines, Planegate, Breaking News, James Oberstar (all tags)
OMG, they finally stopped talking about FAA oversights and supposedly unsafe planes on Capitol Hill. Now the airline reps can skip out and enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival instead of the inside of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Leading the charge today was Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair Rep. James Oberstar who thinks the airlines and the FAA have gotten a little too cozy. That's led to, he thinks,
The most egregious lapses of safety I've seen in 23 years.
FAA whistleblowers also spoke, saying Southwest Airlines neglected to remove from service planes that needed further safety inspections. The carrier's chairman, who was also in DC today, disagreed that his airline did anything wrong:
Regulatory non-compliance and being unsafe are two different things.
As always, we'll toss in our boilerplate footnote that commercial flight is one of the safest modes of transportation ever created.
Related Stories:
· Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing on FAA Safety Oversight [Official Site]
· Inspectors for F.A.A. Say Violations Were Ignored [NYT]
· FAA Inspectors Testify on Safety Lapses at Southwest [WSJ]
· Southwest Could Face Another Big Fine over Inspections [DMN]
[Photo: ChicagoEye]
by pbb
3/12/2008 at 6:09 PM
Tags: Southwest Airlines, Airlines, Breaking News (all tags)
Nevermind that the plane-gate story is still playing out, with Southwest's own internal audit still underway and journalists actually, you know, trying to figure out what happened. On the Internet, speculation is the name of the game!
In honor of the commenter, here's some of the best chatter echoing around the web right this second!
From Southwest's own blog:
I know that we unfortunately live in a hypersensitive and self-righteous society, but I personally would love to see SWA organize another hilarious sale slogan like with the mini-skirt sale. Perhaps "SWA is Cracking Prices" or something like that.
MORE...
by pbb
3/12/2008 at 1:53 PM
Tags: Southwest Airlines, Airlines, Breaking News, Gary Kelly, James Oberstar (all tags)
Early this week Southwest Airlines went on a PR offensive to assure everyone that the carrier's 737s were--and are--safe. But since CEO Gary Kelly made the media rounds, Southwest has grounded 42 38 planes and place three employees on leave in connection with safety oversights.
Meanwhile, the FAA is looking to nail the carrier with a $10.2 million fine because Southwest didn't comply with so-called airworthiness directives. Two FAA employees that claim to have documents proving the airline messed up have been subpoenaed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Committee chair (and Jaunted frienemy) Rep. James Oberstar has vowed to get to the bottom of this. He's scheduled a hearing for April 3.
Btw, 42 38 planes is almost 10 percent of the Southwest fleet. Better reconfirm those reservations!
Related Stories:
· Southwest Grounds Dozens of Jets After Safety Probe [DMN]
· Southwest Puts Three on Leave [CNN]
· Southwest Responds to Preliminary Findings [Official Site]
· CNN Says Southwest Flew Unsafe Planes [Jaunted]
by pbb
3/06/2008 at 1:28 PM
Tags: Southwest Airlines, Airlines, Breaking News (all tags)
And you thought the PR department at Southwest was working overtime after the Nisreen Swedberg kerfuffle. CNN is reporting that the airline flew thousands of passengers on at least 117 planes that federal inspectors said were "not airworthy."
Congressman James Oberstar--the guy who doesn't want a Delta-NWA merger--plans to call a hearing to ask Southwest what the hell it was thinking. He might want to call in the FAA, too, which CNN says ignored the carrier's failure to inspect its own aircraft.
Southwest has next-to-no comment on the report, except to say that its people are preparing for the hearings. They might mention that in its 37-year history the airline has *never* had a crash.
Related Stories:
· Southwest Airlines Flew "Unsafe" Planes [CNN]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Wikipedia]
by pbb
8/30/2007 at 4:45 PM
Tags: Breaking News, Travel News, World Heritage Sites (all tags)
It's not a good time to be a World Heritage Site, at least one in Asia. Rioting near the Taj Mahal rendered it unaccessible, as mobs burned vehicles and battled police in Agra, India. The police enacted a curfew, which was just recently lifted, though tensions--stemming from violence during a religious festival--are still high.
And India isn't the only country with WHSites under fire: Sections of the Great Wall of China are literally crumbling as sandstorms whip across the northwestern part of the country.
The latest on Asian treasures in danger:
· Taj Mahal Briefly Closed [Reuters]
· Foreign Tourists Told to Avoid the Area... [VOA]
· Even Though the Curfew Has Been Lifted [BBC]
· In China, the Great Wall Not Doing Well [NYT]
· Endangered World Heritage Sites in Asia and Beyond [UNESCO]
[Photo: photoAtlas]
by pbb
8/10/2007 at 3:11 PM
Tags: TSA, Airports, Security, Airport Security, Breaking News (all tags)
Apparently the rocket scientists at the TSA were too busy getting sued to notice a man slip through security at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport this morning. Spokesman Jon Allen told MSNBC:
It's too soon to say whether there was malicious intent or whether it was someone who was confused and passed the security screening.
Confused by the security rules? Perish the thought. We're hoping we can have a chuckle about this when all of the 12 flights that the man could have hopped on land safely.
Update: Looks like this guy might have just left the airport on foot.
Related Stories:
· Man Slips Through NC Airport Security [MSNBC]
· TSA coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: kcjc009]
by pbb
