TRAVEL NEWS RECAP FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19

Austrian Airlines Adds First Route to West Coast of United States – Austrian Airlines continues its US expansion with its first route to the West Coast. Los Angeles is the newest destination for Austrian Airlines. Flights between Los Angeles and Vienna begin next year in April. Depending on demand, Austrian Airlines will offer up to 6 flights per week. Aboard a Boeing 777 aircraft, the Los Angeles-bound flight is scheduled for 12 hours and 30 minutes, while the return to Vienna is scheduled for 11 hours and 55 minutes. Initially, the Los Angeles-Vienna route will be available seasonally in the summer only. Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa group.

Air Rage Incidents Increase On UK Flights – Over the past 3 years, the number of air rage incidents aboard UK airlines has quadrupled. There were 386 dangerous incidents in 2015, compared to 114 in 2014, and 85 in 2013, according to statistics compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Recently, budget airline Jet2.com became the first airline in Europe to ban the sale of alcohol before 8am on its flights in an effort to prevent disruptive behavior. This year alone, the airline has issued lifelong bans to more than 20 passengers and believes the aviation industry should adopt a “banned by one, banned by all” policy to deter bad behavior. Problems are often caused by passengers drinking alcohol before their flights in airport bars. Supported by airlines, airports, the police, and retailers, the British Air Transport Association’s Code of Practice intends to create a consistent approach to reduce disruptive passenger behavior.

Concession Catering Expansion at Copenhagen Airport - Areas, a global concession catering brand, recently won a concession catering contract for Copenhagen Airport. Beginning in March 2017, Areas will offer catering solutions, in conjunction with Danish brand RETREAT, to approximately 26 million travelers passing through Copenhagen Airport annually. At the RETREAT point of sale in the reserved zone of Terminal 3, the options will include fresh bio health-food products, plus gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian food. Areas is a leader in the travel catering sector in France and Spain, as well as a key player in this space in 13 countries in Europe, the US, and Latin America.

Man Imprisoned for Living in Singapore Airport Lounges – After missing his flight, 33-year-old Raejali Buntut lived in Singapore Changi Airport lounges for 3 weeks by forging boarding passes. Reports say he downloaded images of Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines passes; then used software on his laptop to insert his name, a phony flight number, and destination; and then sent the fake passes to his smartphone. Additional reports reveal that he forged 31 passes and used them at 9 lounges. Eventually, staff in one of the lounges noticed his suspicious behavior, and he was arrested, charged with forgery, and sent to prison for 2 weeks.

American Airlines Unveils New Uniforms - Starting this week, all American Airlines employees will begin wearing new uniforms that will present a unifying look among all workers. After merging with US Airways, American’s pilots, flight attendants, and ticket and gate agents all wore a variety of uniforms inherited from the two carriers. The new color palette combines colors from both brands to show the airline as one brand. American Airlines consulted employees during the design process led by corporate apparel company Twin Hill. The airline also partnered with Cole Haan to create accessories.

If you missed last week’s news recap, catch up with Travel News Recap Week of September 12.

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