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E L L I O T T ' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

December 15, 2004

Greek Tour Bus in Hijacking Drama
Two foreign gunmen hijacked a Greek bus carrying 26 passengers on Wednesday and demanded to go to Athens airport to leave the country. The gunmen freed five hostages, two men and three women. The first hostage released, about five hours after the bus was seized, was a middle-aged man whose son said his father had heart problems. The bus was seized about 11 p.m. EST Tuesday along a highway from the Athens suburb of Marathon, used during the Olympic race of the same name this summer, police said. Confusion surrounded the identities and aims of the gunmen carrying out the hijack, the first such incident since a spate of bus hijackings in Greece in 1999-2000. (Reuters) Posted 5:35 a.m.
• Gunmen 'Strapped With Explosives' (CNN)
• Previous Hijackings Had Tragic End (BBC)

At least it didn't happen during the Olympic games. Here's hoping for a peaceful resolution.

Legislator Asks For LSG Investigation
A multibillion-dollar airline caterer came under fire yesterday from some of its former workers and a Queens assemblyman, who charged it with labor violations including sexual harassment and unsanitary work conditions that they said threaten airline passengers. Conditions were so bad, Assemb. Jose Peralta (D-Corona) said, he has asked U.S. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to launch an investigation into LSG Sky Chefs, a global concern that says that it prepares food for 270 of the world's 300 international airlines. (Newsday) Posted 5:45 a.m.

Unions Petition For Federal Intervention
Attempting to move their struggle beyond bankruptcy court, hundreds of airline workers gathered outside the White House Tuesday night to demand a federal rescue of their financially battered industry. "The time has come to clamp down on airline executives with failed business plans who have run the airline industry into the ground and stuck employees and customers with the tab," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. The crowd responded by chanting, "Get to work! Get to work!" referring to Sweeney's call for congressional intervention. (Post Gazette) Posted 5:50 a.m.

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A Guy's Gotta Travel
Several American tour companies have sprung up catering to women-only travel. Japan's railways operate trains with women-only cars and may add women-only trains. Skymark Airlines designates women-only seats on some of its flights. A hotel in Zurich accommodates only women. And the trend seems to be growing. Some people may see this as clear cases of discrimination - especially guys who see travel as an opportunity to hit on women. (Travelcomment.com) Posted 5:55 a.m.

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Despite Rebound, Fuel Costs Wipe Out Airline Profits
The airline industry is experiencing huge growth worldwide, in a recovery from several rough years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and regional problems like severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. But the escalation in fuel prices produced another massive loss for the industry this year, the International Air Traffic Association said Tuesday. (IHT) Posted 6:05 a.m.

LAX is Poised to Expand - Finally
More than 10 years of studies and debate over the future of Los Angeles International Airport reached a milestone Tuesday as the City Council approved an $11 billion modernization and expansion plan despite the threat of a lawsuit. "This is an historic day," Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski said after the 12-3 council vote that sends the plan on to the Federal Aviation Administration for review and expected approval of one of the largest public works projects in the nation. (Daily News) Posted 6:10 a.m.

Holland America Apologizes For Sewage Spill
A Holland America corporate officer apologized Monday in Juneau's federal courtroom for the cruise ship Ryndam's negligent dumping of about 20,000 gallons of untreated sewage in Gastineau Channel two years ago. US Magistrate Judge Philip Pallenberg said the apology was good enough for him to accept a plea agreement that will cost the company more than $2 million. (Juneau Empire) Posted 6:15 a.m.

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