Amtrak Acela service is back – kind of — Amtrak’s Acela Express resumed limited service yesterday between Washington and New York with new brake discs replacing faulty parts that had forced the high-speed trains out of service in April. Some passengers expecting to board Amtrak’s slower Metroliner trains yesterday were put aboard Acelas instead. (CNN)
Editor’s Note: The Daily is delayed today because gremlins found their way into our server. What a drag! We’re sorry for the inconvenience.
Cell phone drivers are more dangerous, study says — Drivers using cellular phones are four times as likely to get into a crash that can cause injuries serious enough to send them to the hospital, said an insurance study released Tuesday. Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that using a hands-free device instead of a hand-held phone while behind the wheel will not necessarily improve safety. (AP)
Survey: Hotels overcharge business travelers — The average corporate traveler is overcharged $11.35 a night, according to a new analysis of more than one million hotel room rates by Corporate Lodging Consultants, a provider of lodging-management services based in Wichita, Kan. The survey, which measured hotel stays during 2004, concluded that American businesses overpay by more than $1.8 million every day. (The New York Times)
After Dennis, travel returning to normal — Commercial aircraft started flying into Tallahassee, Fla., this morning and slowly the airlines are trying to get back to their normal schedules said Jim Durwin, assistant superintendent of airport operations. After the cancellation of all airline flights Sunday, today is a welcome change. “We haven’t had any major issues,” Durwin said. “Things have gone very smoothly.” (Democrat)
A chaotic July for Nova Scotia — The carefree commercials depicting delighted tourists frolicking on a leisurely Nova Scotia vacation bear little resemblance to the turmoil real tourists are enduring these days at Halifax International Airport. Runway repairs to instruments that guide aircraft in poor visibility seemed like a good idea for July, usually Nova Scotia’s best month for weather and the start of a busy tourism season. (Globe and Mail)
Forget legroom, our backs are killing us — So just how uncomfortable is the average seat in economy class? Ask a business traveler like Richard Wong, who endures countless hours in steerage class, and it is clear that conditions in the back of the plane have never been worse. “Economy class is now an unbearably painful experience,” said Mr. Wong, a government lawyer based in Washington. (The New York Times)
Could the airlines be … profitable? — A couple of major U.S. airlines may return to the black in the second quarter after years of losses, catching up to their low-cost competitors. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect Continental Airlines Inc. and Alaska Air Group Inc. to report a profit for the second quarter, ended June 30. (AP)
Will new plane rock JetBlue rivals? — JetBlue Airways Corp., which rocked its competitors by offering cut-rate flights out of New York City, is gearing up to introduce a jet that may again shake up the airline industry. The 100-seat Embraer 190 regional jet will begin commercial flights in November, allowing JetBlue to expand into new, mid-sized markets from its New York hub and pair comfort with low ticket prices, analysts say. (Reuters)
Tide is high, surf is up, for America West — With Hawaii already enjoying nearly a fifth more air capacity than it had last year, yet another carrier intends to serve the state: America West. “The tide is high, the surf’s up; come on everybody, we’re going to Hawaii!” exclaimed Scott Kirby, executive vice president, sales and marketing. (Biz Journal)
Travel agent vs. Internet: who does better? — It’s the height of the summer travel season. So which is cheaper- booking trips over the Internet or using a travel agent? (KSDK)
Dennis continues to menace gas prices — Although Dennis missed the Gulf Coast’s oil rigs and refineries, an earlier spike in crude oil prices caused by the hurricane – and its predecessor, Tropical Storm Cindy – have turned into pocketbook pain for area motorists. (Enquirer)
Correspondents: Skip Bowman, Richard Wong, Carrie Charney, Leslie Friedman, John Frenaye, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra.
