New Delhi: Fake e-tickets cases have spiked in the last couple of year and according to recent CISF data, incidents of fake e-tickets to enter Indian airports illegally were highest this year. This has prompted security agencies to think about secure access system for passengers, reported PTI. The agencies are thinking of barcode-based or biometric access systems at the airports to prevent illegal entry.
Security officials told the news agency that while these incidents have not resulted in a terror threat or extreme security sabotage, it can be-be misused in the future to breach airport security. According to the report, a total of about 140 incidents were reported till early this December which is higher compared to 111 registered last year, the report added. The results are even scarier because, in 2016 and 2015, the numbers were even lower.
A senior airport security official was quoted in the report saying, While none of these incidents were serious from the point of view of a serious security breach, the possibility of someone using a fake or cancelled e-ticket to cause a serious breach to airport security in the future cannot be ruled out.”
It may be noted that most of these incidents were the result of either ignorance or the desire to see off a family member or friend. In order to combat this menace, security agencies have suggested barcode-based entry of passengers to prevent people with fake e-tickets from entering the airport. The government is already working on Digi Yatra which will provide a unique ID to each passenger. The passengers will be required to share this ID at the airport.
Under digi yatra, a passenger’s biometrics such as their facial or iris will be captured once they enter the airport. The person will be able to go through a full-lifecycle of travel barring security. It is believed that the use of technology and unique ID or biometric identification will help prevent people with fake tickets from entering the airport.
Holiday travel headaches continue for travelers at select airports across the country.
Cancellations and flight delays aren’t as severe or widespread as they were in the days before Christmas but trouble spots remain due to weather.
Flight tracker FlightAware says 307 U.S. flights have been canceled and an additional 863 have been delayed.
Travelers headed to, through or from Dallas will be affected the most. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have major operations in Dallas.
Dallas was hit with severe storms on Wednesday, with the weather bad enough to force the cancellation of a college bowl game, and airlines are still playing catch up.
Airlines have canceled 104 flights and delayed an additional 41 to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Friday, according to FlightAware. American, which has a huge hub at the airport, accounts for most of the cancellations and delays.
American had 85 flights diverted late Wednesday and early Thursday due to the weather. Flights to and from the airport were close from 3 p.m. Wednesday until early Thursday morning, according to American spokesman Ross Feinstein.
He said the airline’s operations in Dallas should return to normal Friday afternoon.
At smaller Dallas Love Field, home to Southwest Airlines, three flights to and from the airport have been canceled.
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, home to another American Airlines hub, 28 flights have been canceled and an additional 22 are delayed, according to FlightAware.
Atlanta and Charlotte are showing the most delays.
More:Holiday travel: 6 things to know if you haven’t flown in a year
Airlines waive fees ahead of winter storm
The holiday travel rush continues through Sunday, Jan. 6.
A new airport in Oman and a new concourse at LaGuardia lead this week’s air travel news.
This week Oman celebrated the official grand opening of the new Muscat International Airport, a development that Oman Aviation Group will play a major role in transforming the destination into an important traffic hub in the Middle East. The new airport has a capacity of 20 million passengers per year, with an expansion potential for 56 million. It can handle 40 flights per hour, and it has a new, wide runway that can accommodate widebody Airbus 380 and Boeing 747 aircraft. The Sultanate of Oman is also developing new airports in Salalah and Duqm, as well as building modern highways to connect interior destinations and modernizing its transportation and hospitality infrastructure.
In other airport news, this week American Airlines opened its new concourse at LaGuardia’s Terminal B in New York City, officially beginning to operate flights as of December 1. The construction of the new concourse is the first step in the reimagining of Terminal B, where American has exclusively operated since December 2017. The $5.1 billion transformation of the rest of Terminal B is scheduled for completion in 2022. The new concourse has a number of additional amenities, plus retailers such as FAO Schwarz, Shake Shack, and M∙A∙C. Over the next few years, two new concourses featuring 35 gates will be built at Terminal B. The two concourses will be connected to the main terminal by dual pedestrian bridges spanning an active taxiway, allowing customers and aircraft to move about seamlessly. The project includes a new 840,000-square-foot main terminal with soaring ceilings and corridors filled with natural light.
Luxury Travel Advisor’s ULTRA Summit
Also this week, American announced plans to introduce its premium A321T aircraft to transcontinental service between Los Angeles and Boston as of April 2, 2019. The twice-daily service will offer passengers a three-class aircraft, with fully lie-flat seats, a chef curated menu, premium wines and amenity kits in Flagship First and Flagship Business class, as well as power at every seat, high-speed Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment in the Main Cabin.
American also announced a plan to strengthen its partnership with China Southern Airlines by expanding codeshare cooperation and launching reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access. American will place its AA code on flights to a number of additional cities from Beijing and Shanghai, bringing its total to 20 cities in China beyond those two points of entry, while China Southern Airlines will place its CZ code on additional flights beyond Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York – JFK.
In low-cost carrier news, this week Norwegian announced the launch of two more nonstop routes to Europe out of Boston Logan starting net summer, as well as a move of its existing London service from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and from Oakland to San Francisco. The airline will launch new, four times weekly service from Boston to Rome on March 31, 2019, and three times weekly service to Madrid on May 2, 2019. The move of the two London routes will take place starting March 31, 2019.
Finally, in aircraft news, this week Cayman Airways took formal delivery of its new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, marking the first such aircraft in the Caribbean. As part of its fleet modernization plan, Cayman Airways is replacing its four 737-300 aircraft with the MAX 8, offering 30 percent more seating capacity while achieving up to 30 percent savings in fuel costs.
Christmas went by at a dizzying pace as I am sure it did for most of you. We had a great day with our youngest son and his family, plus our daughter, my sister and her son, and a couple of other friends. One tradition was carried on – that is, The Blonde in the house’s famous biscuits. She baked them here and we took them down. Now half way across the country in Colorado our oldest son made them for his family. To top that our youngest grandson can make them too (although he didn’t need to since Grandma brought them). Thus the tradition is now into a third generation (actually fourth as my mother also made them). It is somewhat different now as it is the male side of the family who are carrying on.
One of the aspects of the Christmas Season is that it involves travel. There is a significant amount which involves the glorious airplane. Flying would be great if there weren’t airports and you could be picked up at your house. I would have to guess that is unfortunately sometime down the road. I thought of this several times when I went to pick up our daughter and found all the lanes south of I-4 on the Turnpike closed. On top of that I had just found a September 1997 issue of Time that we had been saving for some unknown reason. What intrigued me was that the issue contained a large four page ad from one of the biggest airlines in the U.S.
In reading this ad, I was informed that they were taking all kinds of steps to make flights more enjoyable. For example, they had hired a renowned chef who was creating a new menu in coach. In addition, in every class new seats were being redesigned for optimal comfort. Finally, their employees were being trained to help minimize the hassles of travel. Perhaps, someone out there can explain to me what has happened between 1997 and now. I suppose that it is possible that they are trying to work out the bugs and that someday in the future we will see the results of their fine work. On the other hand they may be blaming the problems on this administration or the one before – or both!
Now all is not problem ridden in this world. For example, Husbands United (a secret society) just had an exemplary year. We had a year-end social (still secret of course) wherein we discussed and applauded our many successes. It is a difficult and sometime dangerous operation that has been guided by Husbands United. However, the benefit to mankind makes it all worthwhile. As is tradition we do not practice business at the year-end social with one exception. We hold a lottery and the winner can bring in one sorely besot husband and we will solve his problem for him. This year husband’s problem was an easily solvable one. When we removed the applicant’s blindfold (it’s a secret meeting), he explained in a halting voice that his member of the opposite sex was displeased with him because he had bought her an Instant Pot as a Christmas gift. She said that not only did she expect something more, but it was also an insult to her cooking powers.
Normally, the problem and the solution cannot be made public until the statute of limitations expire. This can have varying expiration dates depending mostly on how long the opposite sex person decides to recall the offense even after the solution. In this case, everything meshed completely and all is happy and loving in the threatened household mention above. What we simply told him was that he should head straight to a jewelry store, pick out something very nice, head home and bury it in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Then he should tell her that he was just “funning” and that she should look in the bottom of the Instant Pot. All is now well!
Ah, if all the problems of the world could be so easily corrected. But then there is only one Husbands United (a secret society)!
Barry Evans writes about Life in The Villages for Villages-News.com
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Airlines have canceled 104 flights and delayed an additional 41 to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Friday, according to FlightAware. American, which has a huge hub at the airport, accounts for most of the cancellations and delays.
American had 85 flights diverted late Wednesday and early Thursday due to the weather. Flights to and from the airport were close from 3 p.m. Wednesday until early Thursday morning, according to American spokesman Ross Feinstein.
He said the airline’s operations in Dallas should return to normal Friday afternoon.
At smaller Dallas Love Field, home to Southwest Airlines, three flights to and from the airport have been canceled.
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, home to another American Airlines hub, 28 flights have been canceled and an additional 22 are delayed, according to FlightAware.
Atlanta and Charlotte are showing the most delays.
Following a decrease in the amount of spending on airport infrastructure between 2013-2017, Simple Flying has learnt that fares could increase. Reports suggest that over the next 5 years, US airports will spend some $100bn on infrastructure over the next 5 years. Of course, these costs would likely be passed down to the passenger through increased airfares. This would follow the airport handing to costs down to to the airlines.
US$100bn is expected to be spent on airport infrastructure over the next 5 years.
What Is Infrastructure Spending?
Infrastructure spending involves a range of spending on the usability of the airport. Examples could include resurfacing ramps, building new terminals, or even buying snowploughs. Each enables the airport to operate. An example of a recent large infrastructure project in the US is the refurbishment of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International (LAX).
Why Is Spending Needed?
There are two main reasons why it is necessary to spend on infrastructure. The first is that nothing lasts forever. A great example of this point is the new Berlin airport. Built to open in 2012, the airport has become a rather large white Elephant. While a year ago Reuters reported that the airport will finally open in 2020, it has yet to be seen if this will actually happen. As all of the screens were installed into the airport ready for the 2012 opening, they have already reached the end of their useful life. Despite never being used, it was necessary to replace them. Now imagine how their life would be even shorter with daily use.
Airport Infrastructure can include things from New terminals to repaved taxiways and even snowploughs!
The second reason for infrastructure spending is the handle the ever-growing number of passengers travelling. In 2008, Heathrow airport opened its 5th Terminal to further increase its capacity, while Istanbul is getting ready to open a brand new airport in March 2019.
How Do The Costs affect Me?
As the passenger, you will be the end user paying a large cut of the additional spending. Each carrier will pay a certain infrastructure fee when using an airport. As the airline makes their money from selling tickets, if the cost of operating the flight goes up, the ticket cost will go up. A report by Cowen analysts estimates that the fee paid to airports for each passenger will increase by 19% by 2020.
By 2020, airport costs per passenger will increase by 19%.
Seeking Alpha suggests that 4% of the total costs for ultra-low-cost carriers amounts to airport fees. As such, they are the most likely to have to raise ticket prices, as they have the lowest operating margins. Additionally, only 63% of the $100bn infrastructure fees will be spent on expanding airport capacity.
Are you prepared to pay more to use airports? Let us know in the comments down below!
Airlines have canceled 104 flights and delayed an additional 41 to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Friday, according to FlightAware. American, which has a huge hub at the airport, accounts for most of the cancellations and delays.
American had 85 flights diverted late Wednesday and early Thursday due to the weather. Flights to and from the airport were close from 3 p.m. Wednesday until early Thursday morning, according to American spokesman Ross Feinstein.
He said the airline’s operations in Dallas should return to normal Friday afternoon.
At smaller Dallas Love Field, home to Southwest Airlines, three flights to and from the airport have been canceled.
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, home to another American Airlines hub, 28 flights have been canceled and an additional 22 are delayed, according to FlightAware.
Atlanta and Charlotte are showing the most delays.
The same storm that diverted dozens of flights and cancelled hundreds more between Texas and Minnesota Wednesday was moving east, bringing severe rain storms to the Southeast and snow to the northern Great Lakes.
On Thursday, more than 300 flights were cancelled in Dallas, planes were parked on the tarmac in Chicago for more than an hour and nearly a quarter of all flights in Houston were delayed.
ABC NewsSevere storms will move through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama by 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The storm stretched from the Canadian border all the way down to the Mexican border, ABC News meteorologist Max Golembo reported. There were blizzard-like conditions from Kansas to Minnesota and strong storms with heavy rain from Texas to Illinois.
Heavy rainfall will create the possibility of flash flooding between New Orleans and Atlanta with damaging winds possible through the Southeast.
ABC NewsThe rain, and snow to the north, will move into the Ohio Valley and reach north to New England overnight Thursday into Friday morning.
Rain isn’t always problematic, but lightning and wind can snarl airport traffic for extended periods of time.
Dallas Love Field suspended operations for a brief period on Wednesday when lightning was striking near the airport.
ABC NewsAs much as 5 inches of rain are possible along the central Gulf Coast, while as much as 1 foot of snow could fall in the northern U.S. over the next three days.
Heavy rain is likely along the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston down to Washington on Friday, with snow further to the north.
None of the major U.S. carriers anticipated widespread cancellations, but officials said delays could plague the Southeast and some of the East Coast on Thursday and Friday.
Aviation continues to baffle me – this year, why any sane person would ever want to invest in, or run, an airline, given the artillery of misfortune ranged against carriers who simply want to get people from A to B and make a bit of money along the way.
From the Beast from the East to the drone that stole Christmas, aviation has had to contend with a ridiculous spectrum of challenges in 2018 – and has also managed to annoy a lot of people with poor behaviour. But the UK continues to benefit from the most flourishing and best-value air travel opportunities in the world. Let’s see if it continues after Brexit. Meanwhile, here are some highs and lows.
Best response to an aviation crisis
The train operators London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and Thameslink, which offered complimentary transport to passengers caught up in the drone nonsense at Gatwick.
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LNER tweeted: “Has your flight between London #GatwickAirport and Edinburgh been cancelled today? If so, you can use your flight tickets to travel on our trains today for FREE.”
Thameslink followed up by saying: “If you are travelling to Edinburgh and you have an airline ticket you can travel on our services to London King’s Cross/London St Pancras, Stevenage or Peterborough to connect with @LNER services, for free.”
Passengers who availed themselves of the deal ended up in profit, since easyJet or British Airways will refund the fares for the lost journey.
Best missed connection
Avianca, from the Galapagos via Guayaquil to Bogota and Heathrow. When it was clear that the inbound flight to the Galapagos was going to be three hours late, staff in one of the most remote “out-stations” handled the rearrangments brilliantly – organising a hotel, transfers, meals and new flights without fuss. Or fee.
Cheapest flight (domestic)
Stansted-Belfast International, Ryanair, £9.99 (3.2p per mile). This is less than the amount Ryanair was obliged to pay in Air Passenger Duty, let alone all the other costs involved in running an airline and flying someone 320 miles.
Most expensive flight (domestic)
Manchester-Edinburgh, Flybe, £102 (55p per mile). No complaints, it was a “distress purchase” two hours before departure and I am glad it was available.
Cheapest flight (international)
Stansted-Luxembourg, Ryanair, £9.99 (3.3p per mile). What are they smoking at Ryanair HQ in Dublin?
Most expensive flight (international)
Palma-Gatwick, £242 (26p per mile). Notable for easyJet selling me a ticket one moment and then telling me the next that I could not check in because the flight was potentially oversold.
Lowest number of fellow passengers
Seven, on Thomas Cook from Gatwick to Palma and Flybe from Manchester to Southend, but Thomas Cook wins because it was a plane with a capacity of nearly 300. That flight, by the way, cost £28, and was almost a candidate for cheapest at 3.6p per mile.
Most surprisingly cheap flight
British Airways from Venice to Gatwick, booked the night before travel for €46.
Shortest flight
Belfast City-Manchester, 171 miles.
Longest flight
Perth-Heathrow, 9,009 miles. Qantas demonstrated with its new nonstop from the Western Australian capital to London that ultra-long-haul flight is tolerable in economy if the product – from entertainment to meals – is well thought-out and executed. The London-Sydney run has no fears for me, just a quiet yearning to see the places seven miles below.
Oddest flight
UTAir from Volgograd to Sochi. I took this Russian domestic link shortly before Christmas, and was surprised by three things.
First, it was a candidate for best-value non-UK flight, at just £46 for a two-hour-plus hop. Next, it boarded, taxied and took off in the sort of snowstorm that would halt British airports for a week. Finally, there was exactly no service at all on board – nothing given away or sold, just a strange, Russian sense of calm.
May all your departures in 2019 be calm, punctual, comfortable and safe.
The same storm that diverted dozens of flights and cancelled hundreds more between Texas and Minnesota Wednesday was moving east, bringing severe rain storms to the Southeast and snow to the northern Great Lakes.
On Thursday, more than 300 flights were cancelled in Dallas, planes were parked on the tarmac in Chicago for more than an hour and nearly a quarter of all flights in Houston were delayed.
The storm stretched from the Canadian border all the way down to the Mexican border, ABC News meteorologist Max Golembo reported. There were blizzard-like conditions from Kansas to Minnesota and strong storms with heavy rain from Texas to Illinois.
Heavy rainfall will create the possibility of flash flooding between New Orleans and Atlanta with damaging winds possible through the Southeast.
Rain isn’t always problematic, but lightning and wind can snarl airport traffic for extended periods of time.
Dallas Love Field suspended operations for a brief period on Wednesday when lightning was striking near the airport.
Heavy rain is likely along the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston down to Washington on Friday, with snow further to the north.
None of the major U.S. carriers anticipated widespread cancellations, but officials said delays could plague the Southeast and some of the East Coast on Thursday and Friday.
