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

March 25, 2004

Southwest is 'Coming to Kill Us'
US Airways' chief executive declared war on Southwest Airlines Wednesday - the day before the discount carrier was expected to announce it would be making an even bigger splash in Philadelphia this summer than it had previously said it would. Southwest Chairman Herbert D. Kelleher, scheduled to deliver a speech here Thursday, was expected to reveal that his airline planned to double its Philadelphia service over the summer. US Airways President and Chief Executive Officer David N. Siegel, speaking to employees at a meeting in Washington that was broadcast over the Internet, vowed to use lower fares and a different way of operating its hub at Philadelphia International Airport to keep Southwest from driving his company out of business. "They're coming to kill us," Siegel said. Philadelphia Inquirer | Posted 6 a.m.
-- Post: US Airways "call to arms" to defend itself
-- Times: Airline demands pay cuts in order to survive

• Siegel is wrong about one thing. Southwest isn't coming to kill his airline. US Airways is already dead. Send us your comments.

Cruise Disclosure Request Denied
A federal judge quashed subpoenas yesterday for two reporters who wrote about offers by Norwegian Cruise Line to settle lawsuits by victims of a deadly cruise ship boiler explosion. Reporters for The Associated Press and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale were subpoenaed last week for a hearing on NCL's request for sanctions against the victims' attorney. The company claimed attorney William Huggett violated the confidentiality of mediation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ted Bandstra ruled NCL had not shown how the reporters' testimony would be relevant to the sanctions request. Eight crew members died and 18 were injured when NCL's Norway was docked in Miami on May 25. Most of the victims were Filipino. Freedom Forum | Posted 6:20 a.m.
-- BostonChannel: Search suspended for man overboard

Tour Operator Settles $14 Million Suit
A group of bus-tour escorts will receive more than $14 million in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged that the escorts should have been paid overtime and retirement benefits by their Littleton-based employer. Group Voyagers Inc., one of the world's largest tour operators, will pay about $12.7 million to 200 tour escorts for alleged unpaid overtime and more than $1.3 million to 370 escorts who were not included in its retirement plans. Advertisement The settlement of the 4 ½-year-old case was approved by a judge in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Monday. Rocky Mountain News | Posted 6:30 a.m.

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• And finally ... the ATSB loan scandal, higher gas prices and unreasonable taxes on travelers in the news this week. Put it all together and what have you got? I feel a commentary coming on. Posted 6:40 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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