Dec
30
Three New Runways Opened This Year
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Three of the nations busiest airports have each opened new runways this past year.
The runway locations are: Washing Dulles IAD, Chicago O’Hare ORD, and Seattle-Tacoma SEA.
The Department Of Transportation estimates the new capacity will allow for an additional 330,000 takeoffs and landings each year.
Dec
27
Saturday’s Quotable Traveler
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“After nine days . . . I’d gotten used to the horizon, to the orderly rhythm of the ship, and all of a sudden the world came flooding back. I found myself looking at Nova Scotia and thinking about my mortgage.”
- Sarah Ballard / Sports Illustrated
Dec
24
The Photo Escape
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Decorated for Christmas a snow covered street in Quebec City Canada.
Dec
22
A US Bankruptcy court has approved Southwest Airlines $7.5 million purchase of assets of now defunct ATA Airlines. This included 14 very valuable takeoff and landing slots at NY’s LaGuardia Airport.
Southwest has announced they will operate 7 round trip flights daily, but hasn’t stated the cities to be served. This now makes them a player in the nation’s largest air travel market. Southwest is the nation’s largest carrier by number of domestic passengers and currently only serves the NYC area via Islip Airport on Long Island.
These slots now open up Southwest to future business relationships with foreign air carriers. This will allow them to offer their loyal low-fare Southwest customers a convent connection to European airlines.
Dec
20
Saturday’s Quotable Traveler
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“We’ve learned not to hesitate to take the unpaved roads if the route looks appealing.”
- Frances Mayes / Under The Tuscan Sun
Dec
17
The Photo Escape
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A frosty tree along Wyoming’s Shoshone River
Dec
15
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel Opens
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Hilton Hotels has opened their 1,190 room Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Hilton Hotels has opened their 1,190 room Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel just at the edge of San Diego bay. Not only is this 40 story hotel adjacent to the Convention Center, but it is just across the street from PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
It is walking distance from downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, and its many entertainment and recreational amenities as well as excellent shopping and dining. It’s also not far from the Amtrak station, allowing anyone along the Pacific Surfliner train route easy access to a fun baseball getaway.
TIP: Walk over to the harbor area. Catch the ferry over to Coronado Island. Walk south to the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa. Have lunch outside overlooking the bay and the City Of San Diego. I especially enjoy the crab cakes at the Marriott. Photo By Murray.
Dec
13
Saturday’s Quotable Traveler
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“In a world rapidly becoming homogenized through the proliferation of luxury hotels, mass tourism, and satellite communications fewer and fewer unsimulated adventures remain.”
- Rober D. Kaplan / Balkan Ghosts
Dec
10
The Photo Escape
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Huge christmas tree of lights in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Dec
8
Carnival Cruise Lines claims in a lawsuit that Rolls-Royce sold them a defective propulsion azipod system they installed on the Queen Mary 2. Carnival states that they are having continuing problems with the Mermaid pods. In addition to other issues they claim that a primary thrust bearing failed after less than a year causing repeated interruptions of their cruise schedule.
It appears that the primary problem is that Carnival was told these bearings had a 15-20 year lifespan, but QM2’s pod’s need changing every 3 years. These repairs result insignificant down time. Carnival is seeking over $100 million in damages from Rolls-Royce. Details Here.
The Queen Mary 2 is powered by four Mermaid azipods that mount underneath the hull of the ship. These pods are self contained units that take electrical power from the ship and drive massive propellers. Pods such as these allow for smaller engine rooms within the ship, less vibration, and because the pod can rotate, offers better maneuverability. The pods also remove the need for a rudder.
Royal Caribbean Cruises took similar legal action for issues with Mermaid pods on Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium-class vessels. Carnival says they were “misled” into thinking that they were buying a new and improved version of the defective pods installed on the Celebrity ships. For more info on azipods click here. Photo By Murray.
