Andrew Compart:
‘Consumers are, in part, to blame
for poor airline performance.’
P. 61
Special Section:
How to sell Hawaii
golf vacations
P. 25
Arnie Weissmann:
‘ The industry, I think, is not yet
ready to speak with one voice.’
P. 12
www.travelweekly.com
THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY
AUGUST 13, 2007
Airlines hot
to challenge
new N.Y. law
On the origin of tourists
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS’ RICHLY VARIED SPECIES INSPIRED CHARLES DARWIN’S THEORIES AND ATTRACTED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS . BUT ARE THE SPECIES FIT TO SURVIVE THE TOURISTS?
BY JOHANNA JAINCHILL PAGE 20
By Andrew Compart
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed a stat e
airline passenger rights bill on Aug. 2 that is
likely to be challenged in court by the nation’s
airlines, but the bill is another indication of
customers’ level of frustration with airline
service.
As of Jan. 1, all airlines operating out of
New York airports must provide passengers
with food, water, fresh air, lighting and working rest rooms on any flight that has left the
gate and been on the tarmac for more than
three hours.
The airlines risk a $1,000 fine per violation
per passenger if they don’t comply.
The law establishes an Office of the Airline
Consumer Advocate within the state’s Consumer Protection Board to oversee compliance with the new law by taking complaints
and referring them to the state attorney general if necessary. The office also will accept
other complaints about service.
Continued on Page 62
Number of years since Darwin’s visit: 172
Number of species found nowhere else: 109 endemic and native
Distance from Ecuador: 965 KM (about 600 miles)
Number of tourists last year: just over 140,000
[ MULTI-GDS SERVICE PLANNED ]
Sabre, Amadeus
partner to service
nonair payments
G
l
a
a
p
a
g
o
s
Culpepper
Wenman
I
Pinta
s
Marchena Genovesa
l
Equator
a
n
By Dennis Schaal and Nadine Godwin
Santiago
d
Baltra
s
In an unprecedented move, Amadeus and
Sabre have taken steps to establish a joint
venture that would launch an industry clear-inghouse to perform automated payment-processing and reconciliation services for
nonair travel suppliers worldwide.
The companies said the service, including
reconciliation of agency commissions, would
be available to hotel, cruise, tour, car and rail
suppliers for all distribution channels and
for multiple GDSs.
Continued on Page 63
T W ILLUS TRATION B Y THOMAS R. LECHLEI TER
Rabida
Fernandina
Pinzon
Santa Cruz
Santa Fe
San Cristobal
Isabela
Espanola
Florena
