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 Thu, Mar 19 1992 Date: Thu, 19 Mar 92 05:57:39 EST Message-ID: 03-19 0000 DECISIONLINE: Travel USA TODAY Update March 19, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CONTINENTAL STOCK TO BE DROPPED: Continental Airlines finally will be able to get off the American Stock Exchange. The company, trying to reorganize under bankruptcy protection, asked Amex six weeks ago to drop the stock, The New York Times said Wednesday. The stock is worthless, listing at 5:8 after heavy trading Wednesday. The Amex disagreed that investors would get hurt but will suspend the stock after Friday. TOURISM GETS A BOOST: Conditions have "improved modestly" from the sluggish pace of 1991, according to a federal report out Wednesday. In the district including Washington, D.C., Virginia and most of West Virginia, a strong ski season and convention business have boosted tourism. Convention bureaus in New Orleans, Orlando and Atlanta say advance bookings are up from last year. MALFUNCTION CAUSED DOOR TO FALL: The cargo door of United Airlines Flight 811 flew off the jet, killing nine, because of an electrical malfunction, the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday. That reverses its conclusion the door wasn't properly closed because the badly designed locking system was easily damaged by ground crews. FAA BACKS CALUMET SITE: The Federal Aviation Administration says it will support a Lake Calumet, Ill., site for a third Chicago-area airport. Indiana officials had been pushing for a Gary regional airport. FAA officials say they'll support improvements at the Gary airport but will go along with a bi-state panel that recently selected the Lake Calumet site. WARNING DEVICE TO BE REQUIRED: The Federal Aviation Administration has set a deadline of April 1994 for commuter airlines to install on aircraft with 10 seats or more a device warning pilots to "pull up!" if they're too close to the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board had sought such devices after a 1985 crash killed peace envoy-schoolgirl Samantha Smith, who had visited the Soviet Union. HELMSLEY COULD LOSE HOTELS: Self-styled hotel queen Leona Helmsley could lose her five New York City hotels, because state law says convicted felons can't hold liquor licenses. A judge Wednesday refused to set aside a four-year jail term for tax evasion. Helmsley's options include putting the hotels in a trust, selling them or getting a certificate of relief that allows her to maintain ownership. AIRPORT COULD BE CUT BACK: Denver Mayor Wellington Webb has unveiled a plan to cut back construction of the new Denver International Airport by up to $91.1 million if Continental Airlines doesn't commit in the next two weeks to a hub at the airport. Continental has until April 1 to commit to at least 18 gates. DEVICE TO HELP THE INJURED: Japan Airlines subsidiary AGS in Sapporo has created assistance for skiers who break their legs on vacation. The device placed across an airline seat to provide extra support for a leg in a cast has a sponge pillow for under the knee. JAL is looking into providing the device for use at other airports in Japan. CAMPERS LOOK AHEAD TO BOOK SITE: Travelers planning a vacation to a national park should remember that reservations open in 11 of the most popular national parks eight weeks ahead of the date. For example, April 3 is the first day to book Memorial Day weekend, which begins May 29. Call Mistix ticketing, 800-365-2267. Some parks on the reservation system include Ozark Riverways, Mo.; Yosemite, Calif.; and Acadia, Maine. PARK SEEKS CONTROL OF NENDELS: Park Inns International said Wednesday it is seeking a merger with Nendels. Aspinone Ventures Ltd., John P. Matlick and John Rothman said Wednesday they had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to seek control of Nendels, a Seattle-based hotel franchising company. Aspinone is the controlling shareholder of Park Inns and Matlick and Rothman represent Nendels. NENDELS IS MID-PRICE FRANCHISER: Park Inns International, seeking a merger with Nendels Corp., has 70 licensed locations in its U.S. system and has franchised hotel products similar to Nendels'. Nendels is a franchiser of mid-priced and economy hotels, suites, inns and resorts with 70 licensed locations. Park Inns is 56% owner of Park Inn International Worldwide Hotel Group. SOUTHWEST TO BEGIN DAILY FLIGHT: Southwest Airlines announced Wednesday that it will begin daily service from Port Columbus International Airport, Columbus, Ohio, June 4. The airline will offer five daily nonstop roundtrip flights between Columbus and Chicago Midway and three nonstop flights between Columbus and St. Louis, beginning June 4. The airline will have $49 one-way unrestricted fares to both cities through Sept. 9. 24-HOUR TELEPHONE INFORMATION: USA TODAY Weather Hot Line. 95 cents a minute. 1-900-555-5555. Travel Editor: Beth Mann. (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