USA: Delta's Dog Troubles Continue After Pomeranian's Death

Delta's difficulties with transporting animals continued, following the death of a dog traveling in the cargo hold of one of its planes during a cross-country flight.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said its investigating the death of a Pomeranian named Alejandro, who was found dead after traveling from Phoenix to Newark via Detroit.

The Atlanta-based airline issued a statement saying: We know pets are an important member of the family and we are focused on the well-being of all animals we transport.

Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation and have been working directly with Alejandro's family to support them however we can.

As part of that review, we want to find out more about why this may have occurred to ensure it doesn't happen again and we have offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian to learn more.

Delta and other airlines have struggled with the surging number of animals being transported in their cabins. The company altered its service animal policy on March 1, saying a lack of regulation that has led to serious safety risks involving untrained animals in flight.

The airline then drew the ire of two Boise, Idaho families later that month, when their puppies were allegedly inadvertently flown thousands of miles around the country.

Chicago-based United Airlines has also faced scrutiny for its publicized mishandling of animals, including the death of a French bulldog puppy that died after being placed in an overhead bin.

The airline, which is a unit of United Continental Holdings Inc., said last month it would no longer accept animals other than cats and dogs, and banned dozens of dog breeds from its cargo hold.


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Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Jet Airways To Expand Codeshare Cooperation

Delta Air Lines and joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic will expand the airlines’ existing cooperation agreement with India’s Jet Airways, the carriers announced Oct. 31.

Beginning Nov. 2, Delta and Virgin Atlantic passengers flying from the US into London Heathrow (LHR) will be able to make connecting flights to Mumbai and Delhi on Jet Airways.

Simultaneously, Jet Airways passengers will be able to connect through London Heathrow onto Delta routes to nine US cities: Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

The new London-Mumbai/Delhi connections complement Delta and Jet Airways codeshare agreements already offered out of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport.

“With up to 11,000 people flying daily between India and North America, and with trade and tourism flows increasing between the US, UK and India, we are giving our customers more … options between North America and India,” Delta SVP-Europe, Middle East, Africa and India Nat Pieper said. “Customers will be able to hold a single Delta ticket from North America through London to India.”

Virgin Atlantic already has a codeshare agreement with Jet Airways on flights between five Indian cities and London Heathrow via Delhi. In 2017, subject to government approval, the airlines plan to expand their codeshare agreement when Virgin Atlantic places Jet Airways’ marketing code on flights from London Heathrow to 10 North American cities.

USA: Frontier Airlines Takes Delivery Of Its First A321

Frontier Airlines, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, USA has taken delivery of the first Airbus A321 to join its fleet. In the last year, the airline has placed firm orders for 19 A321s, reflecting its market strength and the need for the largest Airbus A320 Family member. All 19 A321s are the current engine option (ceo) and will be equipped with Sharklets. Each will seat 230 people in a single class, and be powered by CFM56-5B engines from CFM International. Frontier’s current in-service fleet consists of 57 A320 Family aircraft (35 A319s and 22 A320s). In addition to the remaining 18 A321s on backlog, the airline has 18 A319neo (new engine option), 62 A320neo, and two A320 ceo aircraft on order, for a total backlog of 100 Airbus single-aisles.

All of Frontiers A321s will feature lightweight composite Sharklets, 2.4-meter/94-inch tall wing-tip devices that provide a fuel consumption reduction of up to 4 percent, plus either a range extension of 100 nautical miles or increased payload of up to 450 kilograms/992 pounds.

Frontier’s new A321s will initially be used on their routes from Orlando to Philadelphia, Denver, Cleveland and Detroit. The airline just this fall opened up a new crew base in Orlando to support the A321.

“All of us at Team Frontier are excited to welcome our first A321 into our family of Airbus aircraft,” said Barry Biffle, President – Frontier Airlines. “The A321 is the perfect complement to our fleet as we continue to seek areas of growth and offer our customers Low Fares Done Right.”

“Frontier took delivery of its very first Airbus aircraft in 2001, starting its transition to an all-Airbus fleet and its realization of the merit and flexibility of the A320 Family,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “The airline understands the value of continuing to upgrade its fleet with new aircraft and our ever-evolving fuel-saving technologies. In addition to saving money, Frontier is keeping its passengers happy with the most comfortable single-aisle cabin in the sky.”

The A320 Family, both CEO and NEO derivatives, seat from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covering the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density configurations on domestic to longer-range routes. To date, Airbus has sold more than 12,200 single-aisle CEO and NEO aircraft and delivered over 6,700 CEO to more than 300 operators worldwide.

Airport Hotels Enter a New Era

Airport hotels are certainly not a new phenomenon. People need a place to stay during a long layover, or perhaps they are only flying in for a single meeting or event and want to stay as close to the airport as possible. And then there are those outstate fliers who have already had to undertake a long drive or bus trip just to get to the airport. These travelers need to recharge before the airborne leg of their journey.

Airport hotels have always served a specific set of needs, but this niche industry seems to be entering a new era. Recently-built terminal-side properties are not just places to flop down for a few hours in between flights, they have become resort-like venues with very specific perks that all airport users will appreciate.

A renaissance for airport hotels

The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport is built right into the terminal. This luxury hotel even has its own security checkpoint. Non-flying guests are issued special passes so that they can get through security and enjoy the airside restaurants and shops during their stay.

One of the best perks at the DTW Westin is a fitness center and pool that overlooks the main runway. The Hyatt Hotel at Orlando International has a similar pool that offers swimmers the chance to watch the action on the tarmac while they take a dip. The Orlando inn also has a service that picks up your luggage at baggage claim and delivers it to your room.

Dallas/Fort Worth International has doubled down on the upscale airport hotel idea. It has two huge terminal-side hotels. Atlanta, Minneapolis Saint Paul and New Orleans are three major hubs that are planning similar hotel projects in the coming years.

Lots of comfort, but not lots of space

What if you get stranded at the airport by bad weather? One of these new luxury properties might provide a nice alternative to sleeping on the floor with your carry-on case as a pillow. However, even the largest of these hotels has a limited amount of space. The planned TWA Flight Center Hotel, in a newly designed terminal at JFK, is slated to have just over 500 rooms. If a major East Coast snowstorm blows into the Big Apple, those will fill up quite quickly, leaving most people with the usual suitcase-pillow setup.

A second airport hotel niche

Airport hotels might be entering a new era of luxury and flier-specific services, but there is another facet to this renaissance that could being comfort to the masses. Some people just want (or need) a place to park for a few hours in-between trans-ocean flights or during a weather-induced layover. Capsule hotels, first made famous in Japan, are tiny rooms that don’t provide much luxury or any special perks, but they do give guests privacy and a place to shower, lay on a bed and watch TV.

This concept is well established in Japan, and a new capsule hotel has just opened at Tokyo Narita. British brand Yotel has adopted the tiny-hotel theme with capsule rooms at Gatwick and Heathrow, as well as in Amsterdam. Munich’s NapCab, meanwhile, actually charges guests by the minute.

Are these airports or resorts?

Most airports have upgraded their shopping, dining and service options in recent years. You can even get a massage or facial at an airside spa and have a Michelin-star-worthy meal without having to pass back through security afterwards.

Luxury airport hotels put all these new features at guests' fingertips. More modest options, which lack luxury but not privacy and comfort, are also becoming more common. What this means is that layovers and cancelations will be more comfortable in the future (whether or not you have a lot of extra money to spend).