Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.travel From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: travel Fri, Feb 28 1992 Date: Fri, 28 Feb 92 05:50:42 EST Message-ID: 02-28 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update Feb. 28-March 1, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FAA EXPECTS MODEST UPTURN: A report out Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration predicts a modest recovery from the aviation industry's current sluggishness. "There is going to be an upturn," says chief FAA forecaster Gene Mercer. It also predicts Dallas-Ft. Worth airport will handle more airline traffic than Chicago's O'Hare by the end of the decade. (For more, see special Volume package below.) TWA OFFERS SPECIAL MOSCOW DEAL: To celebrate its new service from New York to Moscow, TWA is offering $598 round-trip air fare between the cities starting March 17, about half the coach fare other airlines charge. Tickets must be bought by March 31 for travel completed by May 31. TWA is offering two flights a week intially but said it expects to add more flights later this year. DUTCH, BRITISH TALKS END; Talks between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and British Airways have been called off. A merger would have produced one of the world's largest airline organizations. KLM said they couldn't agree on how to split their stakes in a proposed holding company and also blamed prohibitive national and international regulations for the talks' failure. HOTEL HAS $30 MILLION IN ART: The Grand Hyatt Wailea on Hawaii's Maui Island features a health spa, a fake volcano, five golf courses, a $30 million art collection and a pool equipped with waterfalls, artificial rapids and a sand beach. But there's a problem. To make money, it would have to charge $700 a night per room and maintain at least a 75% occupancy rate, says Anthony Downs of Brookings Institution. HOTEL AIMS AT CONVENTIONS: Takeshi Sekiguchi, who owns the Grand Hyatt Wailea on Hawaii's Maui Island, reportedly has hopes of cornering the local convention business, despite Maui's ferociously competitive hotel market. "This has been his dream," says Kim Marshall, a spokeswoman for the hotel. "He says he is in it for the long run. Sometimes, people do things for more than just the money." `FIRST BUSINESS' TO AIR: The syndicated show "First Business" premieres on the USA Network April 6. The show will cover world, domestic, political and business news. It will feature world market summaries, as well as travel tips. Barton Eckert will anchor the newscasts. SERVICE IN ILLINOIS MAY BE CUT: Amtrak service between Carbondale, Ill., and St. Louis could be halted, the company's board of directors said Thursday. The move would save Amtrak $1.4 million in operating costs, it says. Public comments on the proposal will be taken through April 30. RAFTING BILL PASSES IN COLO.: A bill that would limit the liability of rafting companies to $400,000 for each individual involved in any commercial accident passed the Colorado House Thursday. It now moves to the Senate. The bill is aimed at helping to strengthen the tourist industry. Foes say the limit may not be enough for some injuries. EXCHANGE PROGRAM OFFERED: As part of a week-long exchange program being put together by the Friendship Force, Americans will get a chance to travel to Russia. Friendship force is a private, non-profit group based in Atlanta. Americans who participate will, among other things, march alongside Russians in Moscow's Red Square on May Day. For more information, call 800-688-6777. FAMILY CAMPS POPULAR: Family camps are becoming more popular, says USA TODAY weekend. The number of camps have grown from 42 in 1982 to 228 today. The camps give busy two-career couples a chance to devote time to their kids. Most places offer a choice of activities, so campers can play as families, with their own age group, or spend time by themselves. Costs range from $150 to $300 per child and $300 to $600 per adult. EURO DISNEYLAND OPENS IN APRIL: When Euro Disneyland opens in France on April 12, it will be missing some of the attractions other Disney theme park visitors have come to cherish like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. But it will be the first of the firm's resorts - Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo and Paris - to get thrill rides based on Disney's animated hits "The Little Mermaid," and "Beauty and the Beast." SPECIAL PACKAGE ON VOLUME: DALLAS TO HANDLE MOST FLIGHTS: The Federal Aviation Administration's annual report predicts a modest annual increases of 6.5% for international travel while domestic flights will increase 3.7%. It says Dallas-Ft. Worth will handle the most flights but Chicago's O`Hare - currently the nation's busiest airport - will still handle the most passengers. O'HARE TO TUMBLE TO THIRD: Chicago's O'Hare is likely to fall to being third in the number of flights handled. Atlanta's Hartsfield is expected to remain in second in the year 2000. Airports in San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles International, Phoenix and Las Vegas will see a dramatic increase in flights, according to an FAA report. NEW YORK AIRPORTS WON'T GROW: Dave Swierenga of the Air Transport Association says the growth in airport volume is due to reduced fares which, he predicts, "are going to attract a lot of people." But not all airports are expected to see growth. The FCC predicts volume will be nearly stagnant at New York's Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. (End of Package.) 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM