A fresh attempt is being made by Caribbean governments and hoteliers to iron out differences with cruise lines, which ply the Caribbean route. The Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Obie Wilchcombe, made the disclosure following a meeting of Caribbean tourism ministers in New York last week.
Speaking at a news conference in New York, the Bahamas Tourism Minister told reporters that ministers have endorsed the stablishment of a tripartite committee that has been set up to review the relationship.
The skyrocketing price of oil is posing a threat to the recovery of air transportation and to its plans to start reaping benefits all over again following a recent deep crisis, the Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported this week.
Under normal circumstances, fuel accounts for 16 percent of operational costs for airlines. Yet the 55 percent increase in oil prices from 2003 could make fuel expenditures shoot up from $8 billion to $12 billion overall.
Mexican airlines will add an $8 extra charge on all plane tickets in an effort to offset a 20 percent hike in fuel costs, the National Chamber of Air Transportation (CANAERO) informed.
"We´ll be bound to increase the price of plane tickets. It´s an overcharged fare on fuel that will vary from 50 to 100 pesos ($4.3 to $8.7) per ticket, depending on the kind of flight," CANAERO President Jorge Luis Moya explained.
The board of directors of Colombian airline Avianca has just picked the offer made by Brazilian group Synergy -owned by impresario German Efromovich- to buy out the company, local news outlets informed today.
"The proposal made by Synergy/Ocean Air adequately complies will all necessary requirements to help the company step out of Chapter 11. After thorough sessions conducted by the Board of Directors in the light of established assessment criteria, the offer proved to be convenient for the company and for all the parties involved," the group stated in a press release.
The Honduras Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) asked the National Congress to override the enforcement of the Foreign Act that mandates a $3 fee charged to all foreign travelers on the basis of immigration service monies when they leave the country.
CANATUR Chairman Ricardo Martinez pointed out the removal of such an illegal and discriminatory duty takes an overhaul of the Foreign Act Regulations published in the nation’s Official Gazette.
Argentine Airlines (AA) said today it´s earmarking $557.8 million over the next five years to renew its own fleet of jetliners, thanks to a recent contract inked with U.S. giant Boeing Co.
The plan was unveiled by AA Vice President Jose Maria Llodra who informed the air carrier´s intention to buy 49 new airliners in a five-year term stretching from now through 2009.
Argentina´s number-one state-run airline, run by Spain-based Marsans Group, will cope with this investment endeavor relying on money from its own coffers.