New customs welcome package for travellers to USA

Miami International Airport, Orlando and Orlando Sanford Airports and Fort Lauderdale Airport are among 20 airports across the country where US Customs and Border Protection will improve the process of clearing and welcoming overseas travellers to the United States.

The programme includes a new video, currently available in Spanish, French, German and English, that helps travellers through the customs and immigration process; a "Welcome to the US" brochure and a variety of new bilingual directional signs. In the future, these airports will also be equipped with more video monitors.


Customs said it selected airports with the largest number of foreign visitors annually for the new programme. They include Honolulu, New York, Miami International, Los Angeles, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Orlando, Detroit, Boston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Juan, Fort Lauderdale and Sanford Florida.

FUNDING GRANTED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SARASOTA AIPORT

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a total of nearly $3 million for construction and planning at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida and Wauchula Municipal Airport.

The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority has been awarded $2,711,379 for construction of a service road and taxiway, runway lighting and works to improve drainage.

TIGHTENING OF LICENCING RULES FOR PALM BEACH TAXI DRIVERS

A new law is about to be launched in Palm Beach County that drivers of taxicabs and limousines have to pass tests of English proficiency and local geography as part of a revised ordinance that also imposes restrictions on who can drive and what condition the vehicles must be kept.

County officials say the aim is to make rides safer and to cut fraud in the taxi business. The measure was tentatively approved by commissioners on Tuesday and is expected to be finalized next month.

No one convicted of a crime within the past five years or ever convicted of violent sex attacks could be eligible for a vehicle-for-hire identification badge, which is a requirement to own or drive taxicabs and limos.

Only driver's who have held a licence for at least three years will be allowed to get behind the wheel of a cab or limo.

There will also be new criteria for the condition and age of the vehicles, with most taxis required to be no older than seven years. Taxis operating at Palm Beach International Airport can be no older than five years. The vehicle-age requirement will not come into force until until 2010, but most of the other new rules will be enforced by this summer.

Passenger travel increase at Orlando Airport

Passenger traffic at Orlando International Airport rose again in February despite worries that the slumping economy will reduce travel.

The number of passengers at OIA jumped nearly 11% in February from the same month a year ago to almost 3.1 million travelers.

This is due largely to the air services started last autumn by Lufthansa and Aer Lingus. The airport could also be benefitting from the falling US dollar, which makes American holidays more affordable for international travellers.

American Airlines parent company lose $328 million so far this year

The parent company of American Airlines lost $328 million in the first quarter of 2008 as they paid $665 million more for fuel than in the first quarter of 2007. They plan to cut flying by 1.5% this year to save on flights that are not profitable at current fuel costs.

Previously they had expected to increase flying by 0.2% this year. American controls more than 60% of the passenger traffic at Miami International Airport and has also announced a hiring freeze for management and support workers.

Delta Airlines merger at Panama City to create world's biggest airline

Two of Panama City’s three air carriers are part of a merger that will create the world's biggest airline. Delta are to buy Northwest Airlines, and it is estimated that the new company will be valued at more than $17 billion dollars.

If the deal receives government approval the company will go under Delta's name and will be headquartered in Atlanta.

Learjet incident halts flights to Southwest Fort Myers Airport

The runway at Southwest Fort Myers Florida International Airport has reopened after a private Learjet landed and its nose gear collapsed. No flights came in or out for about two hours after the jet's nose gear collapsed on landing late Tuesday morning.


The plane was heading to Fort Myers from Canada, and Airport officials say none of the seven people aboard the aircraft were injured in the accident.

Incoming planes that were diverted to other airports around the southern half of the state on Florida.

New routes from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in Miami

Zoom Airlines are expanding their current routes from Gatwick Airport in London with new services operating twice weekly from May and June this year to Fort Lauderdale Airport in Miami and San Diego in California.

The new routes will mean jobs for cabin crew, pilots and engineers which will be an excellent boost for employment figures in the region.

New places to eat and drink at Miami Airport

Autogrill Group has extended its contract for retail concessions and food and beverage outlets at Miami International Airport now covering 10 points of sale.

New brands include two Bacardi Mojito bars, a Starbucks Coffee and a Ciao Gourmet Market which offers an assortment of Mediterranean foods.

New shops and cafes at Tampa Airport

The Autogrill Group has secured a contract for the renewal for its concessions at Tampa International Airport two years in advance of the expiration date. The Group now has dining and retail locations in seven of Florida’s 14 airports.

The renewed contract involves food and beverage and retail services in 58 points of sale at Tampa Airport. They will renovate and re-brand some of the existing locations - 28 food and beverage and 21 retail - and add nine new retail stores. They will introduce international brands including Starbucks Coffee, Burger King, Brioche Dorée, Chili’s Too and Carrabba’s Italian Grill - as well as local labels such as Sam Snead’s Tavern (named after the golfer).

New retail concepts include Harley Davidson, United Colors of Benetton and Fossil.

Workers laid off at Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport

Veolia Transportation is laying off 153 people after losing its shuttle contract at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But it is hoped that many of the jobs will be picked up by the operator taking over the bus service at the end of the month. Limousines of South Florida, awaits final approval from the Broward County Commission.

Flights from Daytona Beach Airport to Europe

Travellers on both sides of the Atlantic now have more options when booking nonstop flights between the USA and Europe.


Flights out of Daytona Beach International Airport now give faster connections to Europe through Delta Air Lines flights to Atlanta and Continental Airlines flights to Newark, New Jersey. Both airlines now have flights from their US hubs to London.

British Airways is also launching a new trans-Atlantic airline named OpenSkies which will offer 30 economy-class seats on each 82-seat plane, with the rest evenly split between first and business class.

Faster security checks at Tampa Airport

Getting through security at Tampa International Airport should become faster and less stressful in the coming months with airport officials working to streamline how passengers move through checkpoints at the four airsides.

It could mean moving scanning equipment, changing how passengers queue and positioning more officers where they can direct travellers to move quickly through checkpoints.


Also X-ray machines that give faster, sharper images and identify explosives will be in some Florida airports by July

Sinatra's Villa Maggio near Palm Springs Airport for sale

Frank Sinatra's desert hideaway Villa Maggio (which he named after the character, Private Angelo Maggio he played in the movie "From Here to Eternity") is on the market at close to $5 million.

The compound sleeps 16-22 people and was built in 1970 stands on on 9 acres above El Paseo in Palm Desert. Fran Sinatra would bring his guests, via his private jet, into Palm Springs airport, and they were then flown up to the villa in his helicopter.

The property has a helicopter pad and a lodge of stone and wood with an attached two-bedroom guesthouse, a detached guesthouse and a pool house with a kitchen.

Other features include nine fireplaces, a movie theatre, refrigerated wine closet, a swimming pool, spa, a tennis/basketball court, his-and-hers saunas, an outside dance floor and parking for 24 cars.

New route from Wilmington to Orlando Sanford Airport

Wilmington's newest airline took off for the first time last Friday afternoon.

The flight was sold out and the new route offers direct flights from ILM to Orlando Sanford airport twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. There has been demand for such a service for years it should make travelling to Florida a lot easier.

Passengers flying to Orlando from Wilmington will still have to do some driving as Orlando Sanford airport is thirty miles from the city and 50 miles from Disneyworld. It will cost you around $100 for a taxi.

Skybus service stops from Fort Lauderdale Airport

The low cost airliner Skybus has stopped operating from Fort Lauderdale Airport with the final flight to Columbus Ohio leaving a few days ago.

Skybus began operations last year and offered fares starting at only $10, but high fuel prices and a worsening economy made it impossible for the airline to continue. This makes it the third airline going out of business already this month with Aloha Airlines and ATA airlines also shutting down.

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