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

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October 14, 2004

Delta Air Lines Faces Debt Problems
As Delta Air Lines Inc. struggles to turn itself around, much of the focus has been on its call for concessions from pilots. But some analysts say Delta's massive debt is a bigger challenge -- and one that's more difficult to resolve outside of bankruptcy. The nation's third-largest carrier paid $757 million in interest on debt last year, up more than 50 percent since 2001, regulatory filings show. At that rate, the $1 billion in annual savings Delta hopes to achieve by 2006 from pilot wage and other concessions would be eclipsed by yearly interest payments. The airline's effort to restructure debt could soon become clearer. Today is the deadline for a recent debt-exchange offer. AP | Posted 6:35 a.m.
• Delta Amends $680 Million Debt Offer (Reuters)
• Earlier: Who's Next? Delta? (Travelcomment.com)

Everyone is paying attention to US Airways, but it looks as if Delta is in serious trouble. It's worse than we thought.

TSA Spends $81,000 On Plaques
The government agency in charge of airport security spent nearly a half-million dollars on an awards ceremony at a lavish hotel, including $81,000 for plaques and $500 for cheese displays, according to an internal report. Awards were presented to 543 Transportation Security Administration employees and 30 organizations, including a "lifetime achievement award" for one worker with the 2-year-old agency. Almost $200,000 was spent on travel and lodging for attendees. The investigation by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general, Clark Kent Ervin, also found the TSA gave its senior executives bonuses averaging $16,000, higher than at any other federal government agency, and failed to provide adequate justification in more than a third of the 88 cases examined. AP | Posted 6:45 a.m.

Northwest Hires Bankruptcy Expert
As Northwest Airlines approaches a critical juncture in concession talks with pilots, it is bringing on board a veteran industry executive who has had leadership roles in bankruptcy filings at Continental and Eastern airlines. Barry Simon is expected to join Northwest Oct. 20 as executive vice president and general counsel, assuming responsibility for the airline's airport facilities and legal affairs. Simon has more than 30 years of senior executive experience with major air carriers. Simon was most recently a managing director for the global aviation practice of the Seabury Group, a New York consulting firm. Its restructuring clients have included Air Canada, US Airways, America West Airlines and Continental. Free Press | Posted 6:50 a.m.

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Salvaging My Lost Cruise - What if you can't make it to your cruise ship because your airline overbooked the flight you were supposed to be on? What if your luggage is lost? What if the cruise line says you're a "no-show" and refuses to rebook you on a future sailing - or refund any of the money you spent? That's a lot of "what ifs." Now throw in a travel agent who can't help, an attorney and a collection agency, and you have an idea of what one traveler is up against. Featured all-new story from Triprights.com | Posted 7 a.m.

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NTSB: Bus Unfit For The Road - The tour bus that crashed on an Arkansas interstate, killing 14 people, was unfit for the road, according to investigators who stopped short of saying the bus "defect" caused the violent pre-dawn accident. National Transportation Safety Board officials Wednesday determined pre-existing cracks in part of the bus undercarriage that held the engine in place would have been serious enough to take the bus out of service. "If it was discovered during a roadside inspection, the bus would not have been permitted to continue," NTSB lead investigator Gary Van Etten said. Sun-Times | Posted 7 a.m.

Florida Will Feel Hurricanes For Years To Come - The wide, flat beach that once adorned New Smyrna Beach, Fla., has melted away like a sugar cube in hot tea. Half the motels, hotels and rental condos have closed because of damage from raging surf, wind and rain, and some may have to be torn down. "If I owned a hotel or restaurant on the beach, I'd be in tears," said Deborah Boyd, director of the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau. Damage to the local tourism industry in Florida's year of four hurricanes is depressing, she said. Los Angeles Times| Posted 7:05 a.m.

No WMN In My Crotch - Ted Kennedy and I have something in common. We are both on airline lists as potential terror suspects. Kennedy was recently denied access to a US Airways flight out of Washington, one he has taken for 40 years. I am on a US Airways list of some type that apparently requires airline employees to take my driver's license behind closed doors, have a conference and then stamp my ticket with a code that mandates my person and my carry-on bag be searched. Every time I fly, which is sometimes several times a week. I especially appreciate the crotch grab to make sure I'm not hiding any weapons of mass destruction. Tribune Media | Posted 7:10 a.m.

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