WORLDWIDE TRANSPORTATION NEWS - JULY 2011
Posted June 30th, 2011
AIRLINES
USA
Seaplane Adventure Flights from Miami to Key West: Seaplane charter company Tropic Ocean Airways offers a flight shuttle service between Miami and Key West and seaplane adventure excursions out of Key West using Cessna 206 Amphibian seaplanes.
The drive from Miami to Key West on the Overseas Highway is spectacular but takes three to four hours. The same journey by seaplane takes just one hour and offers bird’s-eye views of the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, the 120-mile island chain, numerous coral reefs and even sea creatures such as dolphins and turtles. Fares for seaplane charter flights between Key West and Miami start from US$199 each way.
The seaplane adventure excursions can be tailor-made to clients’ requirements. They range from half-hour aerial tours of Key West to half-day adventure charters. Charters can feature activities such as lunch on a private island catered by a local restaurant, flying to reefs or wrecks for diving or snorkeling, and spear-fishing from the plane.
The company flies between the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island and the Key West International Airport. In addition, passengers can be transported to and from any waterfront resort in the Keys. Visit www.flytropic.com .
INDIA
Jet Airways creates history by flying 2 million passengers in 1 month:
Capitalizing on the improvement in the global business environment and the holiday season, Jet Airways Group created history in the Indian aviation industry by flying a record 2 million passengers in May 2011. This marks the highest number of passengers carried by any airline of Indian origin on its domestic and international network.
GoAir ranked the Best Performing Airline by Airbus:
GoAir, India's low-fare domestic airline has been ranked by Airbus as the "Best Performing Airline" in the Airbus A320 category operator in Asia Pacific / Middle East/ Africa. The award is presented every two years by Airbus based on both fleet utilization and performance achievements in each region and worldwide and for two categories of fleet size. Also taken into account are On-time performance as well as severity of the operational interruptions (based on the Airbus Severity Index calculation).
Airport Metro check-in takes off In New Delhi:
The Airport Express metro line's baggage check-in facility started functioning recently. Four months after the launch, the Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium finally got its check-in facility started at two stations on the IGI metro link - New Delhi Railway Station (NDRS) and Shivaji Stadium.
Targeted at the airport-bound passengers, R-Infra's Airport Express metro has been seeing comparatively lower turnout of commuters as it awaited the check-in facility. Three airlines - Air India, Kingfisher and Jet airways have now opened counters. While Air India and Jet have two counters each at NDRS and Shivaji, Kingfisher has only opened counters at the NDRS metro station.
Our transportation news from India is provided by Trail Blazers India (TBi). For more information please visit www.trailblazertours.com/DiscoverIndia.asp
FERRIES
USA
New East River Ferry Service: NY Waterway has launched a new ferry service on the East River, connecting Manhattan with destinations in Queens, Brooklyn and Governors Island. The East River Ferry gives locals and visitors an alternative mode of commuter and sight-seeing transportation. The route runs from East 34th Street to Wall Street in Manhattan, with popular stops along the route including Long Island City, North Williamsburg and South Williamsburg in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). At weekends, the ferry will also service Governors Island. Visit www.nywaterway.com
UK
Brittany Ferries is offering wildlife lovers the opportunity to take a wildlife cruise to Spain this summer, travelling through some of the best waters for spotting whales and dolphins. The ferry company has teamed up with marine conservation experts School Of Whales who will help passengers look out for all kinds of marine life from the best vantage points on board Pont Aven, Brittany Ferries’ flagship.
After leaving Portsmouth, passengers will cruise through the English Channel before sailing through the Bay of Biscay, one of the world’s most important habitats for whales and dolphins. During the trip the expert guides from School of Whales will carry out whale and dolphin spotting watches on deck helping passengers spot these amazing animals in their natural habitat. There will also be a range of colourful wildlife presentations and activities. Visit www.brittanyferries.com/whale
Irish Ferries offers free on-board Electric Car charge points: Irish Ferries and Irish-based ESB ecars have launched on-board charging points on the Holyhead-Dublin route on Ulysses Irish Ferries’ flagship. On-board charging points are also offered on Irish Ferries’ routes between Ireland and France, and will be extended to the rest of the fleet in due course. Visit www.irishferries.com
LD Lines’ Summer Getaway Fares to France and Spain are now available across its network of three ferry routes to the Normandy region of Northern France and from North West France to Gijón in Northern Spain.
Portsmouth – Le Havre route summer fares start from £48.50 eachway by conventional ferry and from £68.75 each way by high speed ferry, based on a five-day return for a car and two passengers.
Newhaven – Dieppe early summer offer fare starts from £39 each wayfor a car and two passengers, based on a five-day return, available until 31 July 2011.
LD Lines’ France – Spain service operating between Nantes-Saint Nazaire in North West Brittany and Gijón in Northern Spain, has summer offer fares available for a car and two passengers from £163 singleincluding on board seats and £218 single including standard two berth cabin.
Visit: www.ldlines.com
SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferry customers are offered a complimentary two course meal at the Hardelot Golf restaurant as well as buggy hire, when booking a SeaFrance crossing and a round of golf at Hardelot Golf Club. With SeaFrance day return crossings starting at just £22 and green fees from £59 per person, four golfers can enjoy a round of golf, Channel crossing, free meal and buggy hire all from just £64.50 each.
To claim this offer which is valid until 31 August 2011, customers should quote the SeaFrance ‘two for one’ deal when booking a round of golf, then hand in their SeaFrance lane hanger upon arrival. Customers are requested to book their tee time in advance by calling 00 33 3 21 83 73 10. Visit the offers section of www.seafrance.com