Delta reveals latest details in JFK expansion plans (

Delta, following through on previously announced plans to turn New York’s Kennedy Airport into a Delta hub this year, said it will add 25 daily Delta Connection nonstop flights to 14 domestic destinations between July and October.

With the additions, all using 50-seat regional jets or 37-seat turboprops, Delta will offer more than 140 peak-day daily domestic departures from Kennedy by October. That’s more than double the number it offers now.

Delta had disclosed in March its plans to turn Kennedy into a hub, primarily by adding dozens of flights from the Northeast to feed traffic to its growing international service at the airport.

Internationally from Kennedy, Delta will be adding service May 15 to Budapest, Hungary; Manchester, England; and Dublin and Shannon, Ireland; June 1 to Kiev, Ukraine; and June 16 to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Those additions will expand its international offerings from Kennedy to about 28 destinations.

2006 World Airport Awards are announced

Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World's Best Airport in the 2006 World Airport Awards. As the runner-up for this prestigious title in recent years, Changi Airport takes the top spot for 2006, ahead of nearby Asian rival, Hong Kong International Airport, ranked in 2nd place.

Top 10 Airports - 2006 Airport of the Year

1 Singapore Changi Airport
2 Hong Kong Int'l Airport
3 Munich Airport
4 Kansai International Airport
5 Seoul Incheon Airport
6 KLIA - Kuala Lumpur Airport
7 Helsinki Vantaa Airport
8 Zurich Airport
9 Dubai International Airport
10 Copenhagen Airport

Commenting on the 2006 Airport of the Year award, Mr Wong Woong Liong (Director-General of Singapore Civil Aviation, CAAS) said .... "We are delighted that Changi Airport is named the world's best airport in the 2006 Skytrax survey. Changi has won many best airport awards but the Skytrax award is one which we have not won before. We are therefore very pleased to count this endorsement by Skytrax as an important part of our track record. Changi Airport's constant upgrading in facilities and improvement in services, such as the complete renovation of our Terminal 2 and the launch of a dedicated Budget Terminal earlier this year, has been rewarded with this strong approval from Skytrax global users."

Discussing the 2006 results, Mr Edward Plaisted (Skytrax CEO) said ... "after another record-breaking level of customer response to this passenger survey, we have over recent months closely monitored the jostling for the winners accolade. This went down to the wire, with Singapore Changi securing top position in the final month of the survey. The total responses for this 2006 study grew by 1.7 million over year-earlier levels, with more than 7.2 million air travellers casting their votes in this survey, making it the world's largest and most extensive assessment of airport standards" . "Particular praise for the Singapore Changi title as World's Best Airport 2006 is underlined by the fact this is an airport celebrating its 25 year Silver Jubilee in July - and subsequently having to achieve product and service standards that match and exceed competitor airports, many of which are just 5 or 6 years old" said Plaisted.

Amongst survey respondents reasons for their Best Airport nominations, a comment that summarises a much echoed opinion for the 2006 Airport of the Year said .... "Singapore have made the airport experience something to look forward to .... rather than something one normally dreads". Hong Kong International Airport remained the key title challenger throughout the survey, and with a final voting differential of less than 1,000 nominations between these two airports, one realises the high levels of customer satisfaction that both of these leading global airports enjoy. Airports making it into the Top 10 league of world airports is quite similar to last year's results, although there has been a marked movement within this particular grouping. Munich Airport continues to impress passengers, being ranked Best in Europe and 3rd in the world for these 2006 results.

Particular themes that emerged for the success of Munich in the survey centred around general service efficiency, the ease of transit process, variety of facilities, and ground transportation options. Osaka Kansai International Airport moves up to 4th position worldwide in 2006, again being very highly rated for ease of communication, terminal cleanliness / presentation, and high standards of staff service across front-line customer service functions.

Seoul Incheon Airport slipped from 3rd (2005) into 5th place for the 2006 results. Whilst highly regarded as a transit airport, and particularly praised for quality of staff service, terminal facilities and cleanliness, it seems that poor ground transportation options and travel times between Seoul Incheon Airport and downtown Seoul were factors that contributed to the fall in ranking for ICN Airport.

KLIA Kuala Lumpur ranked 6th position worldwide, moving up one place on their 2005 ranking. With an efficient ground transportation system in place, the airport was highlighted for ease of transfer process, and also for the more general feeling of space around terminal areas

One of the smallest airports in the Top 10 ranking is Helsinki Vantaa Airport, placed 7th overall and up from 13th position in 2005. Stylish, efficient, clean and pleasing architecture were some of the most popular terms used to describe the airport experience at Helsinki. Zurich Airport takes 8th place this year, moving from 15th in 2005. With the past few years having been a time of considerable change across the Zurich Airport terminal facilities, it seems that the end result is continuing to achieve increased levels of passenger satisfaction. Efficiency, speed of processing and a good, balanced range of facilities were frequent reasons supporting the nominations for this airport.

Dubai International Airport is another undergoing considerable change, and whilst maintaining a Top 10 customer satisfaction ranking, it has slipped from 6th in 2005 to take 9th place in the 2006 results. Whilst all airports experience peaks and troughs in terms of passenger traffic through a 24 hour period, Dubai is one airport where standards of passenger experience seem to closely mirror consequent congestion levels through the terminal areas.

Continuing its presence in the worlds Top 10, Copenhagen Airport is ranked 10th, slipping from 9th position in the 2005 results. Praised for staff service efficiency, terminal facilities and general ambience, there was some discontent with changes to transit processes at CPH, that have resulted in slower and more arduous procedures when contrasted to a few years ago.

Looking at regional results, San Francisco (Global rating = 12th) is the top ranked airport in North America, Cape Town (Global rating = 16th) is the Best Airport in Africa, Buenos Aires (Global rating = 86th) is Best Airport in South America, Dubai (Global rating = 10th) is Best Airport Middle East, Sydney (Global rating = 13th) is Best Airport Australia/Pacific, Singapore (Global rating = 1st) is Best Airport in Asia, and Munich (Global rating = 3rd) is Best Airport in Europe. Peter Miller (Skytrax, Marketing Director) added ...."in a global survey of this scale, it is heartening to see the considerable breadth of passenger opinions, and ratings applied that relate to very different individual requirements of the airport experience. With a substantial business traveller response, it is quite clear that their priorities and demands are often based upon the speed, efficiency and reliability of airport services - be this fast track services, priority service processing, wifi access etc.

In contrast, it is often the leisure passengers that expect more from the airport experience - finding oneself with a 5-6 hour transit layover, no access to an airline lounge, and this is when the standard of airport amenities comes under the most scrupulous analysis. Leisure options ... seating availability, general terminal comfort, finding a clean washroom, plus ancillary amenities to enjoy or pass away the time all play an important role in the general travel enjoyment.

We congratulate Singapore Changi for being crowned the 2006 victor in satisfying these expectations, and all those airports in the Top 10 world ranking that have clearly achieved the highest standards of customer service during the past year".

http://www.airlinequality.com/news/230506-bestairport.htm

Cruisers getting younger and bolder

A cruise holiday is increasingly becoming the choice of younger travellers, according to a new survey of current trends in the industry. Cruise Holidays' 2006 Travel Trends Survey found that customers aged 55 or over now account for less than half of passengers for 63 per cent of the cruise companies asked. Families with children, meanwhile, can make up as much as 70 per cent of the total number of passengers aboard, confirming there is a focus on making ships and itineraries more open and family-friendly.

The results show people also seem to be taking longer cruises, while price is no longer considered as important as the itinerary offered by the particular cruise line. The survey was carried out in the US, where the Caribbean and Alaska continue to prove the most popular destinations, with St. Thomas considered the top Caribbean port of call. However, the Mediterranean has overtaken the Mexican Riviera as the third most popular destination, where Rome, Venice and the Greek Islands are the favourite places to visit.

Finally, the survey showed that holidaymakers are increasingly looking "for something new and different", said Cruise Holidays vice president, Peter Thomson. The top emerging destinations were Asia and South America, with the Galapagos Islands specifically singled out by some respondents. West of Ecuador, there are 13 main islands in the Galapagos archipelago, renowned for their wide variety of wildlife, from penguins and sea lions to the intriguingly-named blue-footed booby.




© Adfero Ltd

Europe on the Cheap(er)

THE PEAK TRAVEL SEASON is almost upon us, but the weak dollar, down about 8% against the euro this year, means visiting Europe will be a pricey endeavor. Yet not even $5 gelatos and $8 beers will keep Americans away from the Continent this summer. Indeed, Europe is expected to receive more travelers from the U.S. in 2006 than the record 13.2 million who visited in 2000, according to the European Travel Commission.
For travelers reluctant to sacrifice braces for their kids for a trip to France, there are ways to finesse the slumping greenback, according to Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations". For one thing, if you're planning to hit Paris or Madrid, consider traveling to the countryside as well. Lodging and food outside major cities are usually less expensive. Now might also be the perfect time to try an alternative destination like Turkey, he says, that offers a more favorable exchange rate. Thanks to Europe's network of low-cost airlines, it's easy and affordable to hopscotch from one destination to the next.

"I say still try to look for destinations in Europe that are not as expensive," Leffel says. "Even going into the countryside instead of the city can save you money. If you go into the rural parts of France, for example, instead of Paris, will save a lot of money."

Also, the simple act of locking in rates before departure by prebooking certain arrangements — like day trips or even package deals that include hotel stays — will protect you from a falling dollar while on the road, says Leffel, whose new book, "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler's Guide to Getting More for Less," comes out in July. Some overseas lodging operators will guarantee rates in U.S. dollars rather than local currency. Ask when you reserve.

Are there any hotel breaks to be found in the big cities?

TL: Things pop up all the time. For deals to Europe, a lot of times you see a hotel trying to unload its leftover inventory to lock in rooms before it gets too close. Anybody who isn't positive on where they're going yet, keep an eye out for these deals.

With hotel deals, they're all over the map. It depends a lot on destination. With hotels and restaurants, I tend to tell people if they can avoid well-known tourist trap places, they'll be better off. A lot of times they're in a better location as well. With restaurants that's incredibly true. If you go to a place filled with tourists, it's going to be more expensive. And I suggest you ask locals for recommendations — you usually get better food that way.

Does having a good plan always mean arranging every part of a trip before you leave? Some things are cheaper when you book in advance, others not.?

A big piece of advice I give is to pay for big excursions at the source, rather than ahead of time with an adventure tour company. If you're going to do a four-day hike, or even a city tour, it's almost always cheaper to book it when you're there than through a tour company or travel agent. I did a trek in Nepal and it cost next to nothing. But if you'd have booked everything in the U.S., it would have cost thousands. There were little lodges along the way for $2 a night. We just carried light packs. You don't need a guide. If you don't do research and sign up with an adventure company, you slept in tents, not even in a lodge. And they spend 10 times or more for the same experience. It's the same with cruise ships. Some people book excursions on the cruise ship rather than just winging it when they get off the ship. And the same with guides; you can always find a guide at the hotel, rather than booking in advance. We tend to approach our vacations the same way we approach our jobs: too much enthusiasm. If you save the decisions for when you actually get there, you spend less.

Adventure in Venezuela's jungle

Friday, May 19, 2006

By Welker E. Hagenlocher

Where did you go? I flew from Miami to Caracas, Venezuela, then to the Amazon Rainforest, Canaima National Park, and Los Roques National Park in the southern Caribbean Sea. Highlights were prospecting for gold at the bast of Yutaje Falls (yes!!), fishing for piranha in a Reo Negro tributary in Piedra de Cocuy (yes!!), and climbing to the 1,600-foot level of Auyantepui to view Angel Falls, the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall at 3,212 feet. We then returned to the base for more prospecting.

Lodging? Food? Fun? Huts in the jungle camps. Villa suite on Los Roques. Suite in Caracas five-star Hilton.
Eating delicious agouti (a rodent) broiled or in a veggie stew, river fish that tasted as good as yellow perch, broiled wild duck, rice, a chicken-plantain yum-yum, and a variety of tropical fruits picked in the jungle.
Explaining the outside world to inquisitive toucans and macaws!

What did you pack that came in handy? An 8-oz. bottle of Clorox to sterilize the foot section of a hut shower against toxic fungi. "Off!" insect deterrent. Pint of Calvados apple schnapps. Matchbox toy vehicles which I presented to Piari and Pemon, Indian children of the Yanomami Nation, while their parents busied themselves with processing sugarcane hootch!

Did you feel safe? Yes, at all times.

I do not lead a life of quiet desperation and I do not look over my shoulder. We flew over vast stretches of jungle, mountains, and tepuis much of it unexplored. If an aircraft develops engine trouble, the pilot may have to land on top of the dense jungle canopy that lays 70, 80 or 90 feet above the ground. If the aircraft crashes through, the wreck disappears. C'est la vive!

What's a "must" do? It takes three hours to climb halfway up Auyantepui. From this vantage point, I experienced nirvanic exhilaration. I looked down at the bottom, where somewhat later I increased my yield of the yellow metal gold.

Anything special? Within the Los Roques archipelago, some 30 nautical miles southeast of the main island, our catamaran dropped anchor at a small atoll on which lived an elderly fisherman in a dilapidated boarded hut. He caught and bartered his fresh catch for canned food, beer and schnapps with German Wolfpack U-boat crews some 61 years ago during WWII. He is a Venezuelan folk hero. As a fellow fisherman, I wished to shake his hand for good luck, but he was not there. He had "gone fishin."

Cruising further east, we came upon an island on which there were two Allied freighters, which during the war were shot up and forced to beach. On one of the wrecks, a 40-mm cannon at the stern was pointing to the sky!
While having a beachside dinner on Los Roques, I took a picture of a Venezuelan army beach patrol as they walked by. They halted, and a young officer came up to me, excused himself in Spanish, grabbed my camera, extracted the film (Fuji 800), then waved his index finger in my face and exclaimed: "No! No!"

Luckily, the film had only three prior exposures. At the Hilton, for dinner by room service I ordered a Tropical Fruit Salad from the menu. It was served in an iced 12-inch diameter circular silverware bowl and contained 12 various cuts of the most colorful collogued fruit design. I should have taken it home with me and hung it on the living room wall. Oops!

© 2006 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.

TRAVEL HEALTH ADVISORY TO VENEZUELA

The following requirements are detailed in the Venezuelan government's official decree, which came into force on April 27, 2006:

All Venezuelan nationals and foreign residents living in Venezuela, over the age of six months, who leave Venezuela and travel outside the Americas through international airports or ports, must be in possession of a certificate of vaccination documenting that they have been vaccinated against measles and rubella. Persons without a certificate will be vaccinated on-site.

Vaccination posts shall be set up at all international airports and ports in Venezuela to ensure that all travelers who require it are vaccinated.
Domestic and international airlines and shipping lines are responsible for ensuring that their passengers over six months of age, who intend to travel outside the Americas, present a certificate of vaccination prior to check-in.
Anyone failing to show such certification shall be vaccinated.

For the official decree (in Spanish), see: Gaceta Oficial de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

TRAVEL BRIEFS

Caribbean Star expands service with Trinidad-Curacao flights

Caribbean Star Airlines will launch a daily nonstop roundtrip flight between Trinidad and Curacao on July 13, bringing to 20 the number of Caribbean destinations served by Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun, its sister airline.

Flight 868 will depart Trinidad at 10:30 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. arrival in Curacao. On the return leg, flight 869 departs Curacao at 1:30 p.m. and arrives in Trinidad at 3:30 p.m.

William “Skip” Barnett, president and CEO of both carriers, hinted at further expansion beyond Trinidad when he said that “we see the potential for broadening our presence in Trinidad in the near future to serve a larger portion of the southern Caribbean and perhaps beyond.”

For fares and schedules, visit Caribbean Star at www.flycaribbeanstar.com and Caribbean Sun at www.flycsa.com.


Delta signs deals with Cendant's Galileo, CheapTickets units


Delta and Galileo signed a seven-year "full content agreement" that makes all of Delta's published fares and inventory available to travel agencies, corporations and online agencies connected to Galileo, the companies said.

In other news, Delta and another Cendant unit CheapTickets also reached a new marketing agreement.



Continental inks deals with Expedia Inc., Sabre

Expedia Inc. and Continental entered into a five-year “strategic partnership” that may go beyond standard online agency-airline deals.

The agreement expands the content that Expedia was getting, giving Expedia.com and its affiliated Web sites “Continental’s full range of products and services, including all fares and inventory,” the companies stated.

Similar to a model that Expedia initiated with Marriott, the Expedia Inc.-Continental agreement contains flexible economics, with Expedia earning greater compensation when it delivers business to Continental at times and in markets where the airline needs it most.

NOAA hurricane prediction sees 'very active' '06 season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a “very active” Atlantic hurricane season in 2006, according to a report issued May 22, just eight days before the official start of the season June 1.

Navy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, said NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, including eight to 10 that rise to the level of hurricanes, and four to six that could become “major hurricanes” of Category 3 or higher.

That number is higher than the prevailing average in of 11 named storms, six of which become hurricanes and two that reach Category 3. In 2005, Lautenbacher said, the Atlantic saw a record 28 named storms, or which 15 became hurricanes and seven that hit Category 3 or higher, including a record of four major hurricanes that hit the U.S.

“The potential of storms striking the U.S. is high [in 2006],” he added.

Factors contributing to the prediction include warmer ocean temperatures, lower wind shear, weaker easterly trade winds and mid-level atmospheric conditions that are “more favorable” to the development of storms.

“Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare,” said Max Mayfield, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season.”

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center Web address is www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Despite renewed volcano activity, Montserrat is 'open for business'

The dome atop Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills Volcano collapsed on May 20, sending volcanic debris cascading down its eastern flanks into the Caribbean. Billowing clouds of ash shot more than 10 miles into the sky, according to reports.

There were no injuries on Montserrat, but the decreased visibility from the ash cloud cancelled numerous flights on May 21 between islands in the region and also to and from the Caribbean and Miami, New York, San Juan and Toronto.

According to a statement on the Montserrat Tourist Board’s Web site [www.visitmontserrat.com], the island is “open for business.”

“We would like the traveling public to know that Montserrat remains open for visitors and is still safe to visit,” according to Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism for the Montserrat Tourist Board. “Tourism businesses in the north are fully operational and most establishments in the affected areas should be back to normal in the next week.”

The dome had been building since last August and formed the highest part of the 3,000-foot volcano.

The Soufriere Hills Volcano sprang to life in 1995. A second eruption in 1997 buried much of the island’s southern half, including the capital of Plymouth.

Southern Montserrat remains an exclusion zone, and the 5,000 people who now live in Montserrat reside in the north.

For further information, visit the Montserrat Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitmontserrat.com; for updates on volcanic activity, visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory Web site at www.mvo.ms.

Update: Recent Measles and Mumps Outbreaks

Updated: April 28 and March 31, 2006
Released: November 16, 2005

Measles and mumps remain common diseases in most parts of the world, including some developed countries. For travelers, the risk for exposure to measles and mumps outside the United States can be high, and both diseases can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Ongoing outbreaks of measles and mumps in several countries highlight the importance of ensuring that all travelers (regardless of destination) are protected before departure.

In March 2006, a measles outbreak in Venezuela was reported for the first time in 4 years. Recent measles outbreaks have also been reported from several European countries: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. Imported cases from the Ukraine outbreak have been reported in the United States (3), the Russian Federation (9), Belarus (2), and Spain (1). In addition, the measles outbreak that began in November 2005 in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya is ongoing. Measles cases have also been reported outside of Eastleigh. Recent outbreaks of mumps have been reported among adolescents and young adults in the United States and United Kingdom.

Recommendations for travelers

All travelers should be fully immunized

Children

12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days, with the first dose administered on or after the first birthday.

6–11 months, if they must travel outside the US, should receive single-antigen measles vaccine before departure if it is available, or MMR if single-antigen measles vaccine is not available. (Note: MMR given before 12 months of age should not be counted as part of the series. Children who receive MMR before age 12 months will need two more doses of MMR, the first of which should be administered at 12 months of age)

Adolescents and Adults

People who have received 2 doses of live measles vaccine are generally considered immune to measles, while 1 or two 2 doses of mumps vaccine generally provides protection.
Persons may be considered immune to measles and mumps if they have documented diagnosis by a physician, laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957.
MMR may be administered to anyone (over the age of 6 months) if there is reason to believe they may be susceptible to infection.

Information about Measles and Mumps

Measles is a serious disease: 6%-20% of the people who become sick with measles will also get an ear infection, diarrhea, or a serious lung infection, such as pneumonia. One of 1,000 people with measles develops inflammation of the brain. In the United States, of every 1,000 people with measles, 2 or 3 die from complications. Measles can cause especially severe disease in people who are malnourished or immunosuppressed (i.e., HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, or generalized malignancy or persons receiving certain drug or radiation therapies).

Mumps is an infection of the salivary glands caused by a virus. It occurs through airborne transmission (coughing and sneezing) or direct contact with nasopharyngeal secretions of an infected person, such as saliva. Early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle ache; less than half of infected people may have the characteristic swelling of the glands close to the jaw. Mumps infection can lead to meningitis, and inflammation of the testicles or ovaries, inflammation of the pancreas and deafness (usually permanent).

The MMR vaccine also provides protection against rubella (German Measles). Rubella is caused by a virus that is spread through airborne transmission (coughing and sneezing). It can cause a rash, mild fever, and arthritis(mostly in women). If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects, such as deafness, cataracts, or mental retardation.

Although the risk of acquiring measles and mumps infections is generally considered low in the United States, routine surveillance and vaccination remain necessary because of the continuing possibility of importations, low vaccination coverage in a few communities, and infrequently outbreaks. Since vaccines containing measles, rubella, and mumps—and later combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine—were licensed for use in the United States, the numbers of reported cases of measles, mumps, rubella, and birth defects caused by rubella infection (congenital rubella syndrome) have decreased by more than 99%.

For information about MMR vaccine, see http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00053391.htm
For information about measles, mumps, and rubella, see http://www.cdc.gov/nip/

American Airlines resume flights to US & Caribbean

American Airlines General director, Omar Nottaro, informed that flights from Caracas to the Unites States and the Caribbean are gradually resumed, after two clouds of volcanic ash near Venezuelan west coasts forced their suspension.

The collapse of a dome atop Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat island also caused the suspension of flights operated by Venezuelan airline Aeropostal, leaving thousand passengers grounded.

Flights from Venezuela resume after stoppage by volcano

CARACAS, Venezuela Airline officials in Venezuela said today that flights to the United States have resumed.That's after a cloud of volcanic ash in the Caribbean suspended some international flights over the weekend.

Officials for Fort Worth-based American Airlines tell Venezuelan radio that its flights are starting to operate normally again today. Venezuela's largest carrier, Aeropostal, said it also hopes to restore full operations between Caracas and Miami today.

A dome atop a volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat collapsed Saturday, sending volcanic debris cascading down the mountain and shooting ashes ten miles into the sky. A huge cloud of ash billowing from the volcano forced the suspension of flights to Miami, Aruba, Cuba, Curacao and other destinations yesterday.

Air transport fund has sky-high 35 percent return in 1 year

Chet CurrierMarket Watch columnist
May 22, 2006

You think you've got troubles? Try operating an airline.Flying large numbers of people from one place to another requires big, expensive capital equipment -- not to mention a vast work force.All the while you must deal with wildly volatile fuel costs that put you at the mercy of the world oil markets. Good luck passing on your rising costs to customers in a marketplace of fierce fare competition.Those customers carry with them a long list of complaints and dissatisfactions -- quite a few of them justified.So when investors go looking for promising growth businesses on which to risk their money, air transport makes an easy throw-out.

But in the always mysterious world of investing, the actual story isn't so simple.Wonder of wonders, the Russell 3000 Air Transport Industry Index, comprising 21 stocks, climbed 35 percent in the last year through the end of April. That showing more than doubled the 15 percent gain posted by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.Over the last five years through April, the air transport index boasts a gain of 5.1 percent per year, compared with the S&P 500's rise of 2.7 percent annualized.Very few mutual funds specialize in this sector of the market, and the ones that do are small. So it's interesting to see how well the best known of these, the $156 million Fidelity Select Air Transportation Portfolio, has performed. It has gained 47 percent over the last 12 calendar months, and a 7.1 percent-a-year return since the end of April 2001.

The fund has evidently helped itself by downplaying conventional passenger carriers. The latest reports show only one of these, Southwest Airlines Co., among the fund's 10 largest holdings, and airline stocks as a group make up just 23 percent of the total portfolio.The emphasis goes instead to aerospace manufacturers such as Rockwell Collins Inc., Boeing Co. and United Technologies Corp. A producer of components, Precision Castparts Corp., has climbed 72 percent in the last 12 calendar months.At last report, Select Air Transport's biggest holding was Expeditors International of Washington Inc., a freight forwarder whose shares sport a gain of 75 percent for the last 12 calendar months and a five-year return of 28 percent annualized.FedEx Corp., another Top 10 holding that ships parcels rather than people, has gained 23 percent a year since April 2001.

Like all specialized sector funds, Select Air Transport is low on multi-industry diversification to cushion it from risk.So it may be best suited for activist investors who have the time and inclination to keep a close eye on risk in their individual holdings. Those investors, of course, have the choice of many other ways to play the worldwide economic boom.That may help to explain why air-transport sector funds aren't a bigger presence on the global investment scene.In its own modest way, however, Select Air Transport is well worth the time we have just spent scrutinizing it. In a business like air transport where yesterday's titan can be today's bankruptcy filer, the package-of-stocks approach provided by a fund can make a lot of sense.The stock market nowadays is full of impressive beneath- the-headlines stories like this one. If nothing else, they make a strong anecdotal case for not giving up on the idea of active fund management just yet.

Chet Currier is a Bloomberg News columnist. He can be reached at ccurrier@bloomberg.net.

Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

TRAVEL BRIEFS


Gushing Over Atlanta's New Runway Officials at Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport christened the airport's new fifth runway this week with a fire hose salute of arching geysers. Delta said it anticipates the fifth runway will immediately improve arrival and departure rates by 25-35 percent and significantly reduce delays for customers flying to, from or through Atlanta during severe weather and peak travel periods.

American Airlines Makes Change Onboard

Flight attendants scurrying to make change for passengers' onboard purchases will be wielding a new ally in the fight against breaking big bills onboard. American Airlines is the first major U.S. airline to offer credit card or debit card payment for food, alcoholic beverages and headsets. Of course, cash is still accepted as well. The flight attendants are using wireless handheld devices to swipe the card and provide a receipt for your transaction. The rollout will take place during a six-week period, and the devices will be available on all American Airlines flights by mid-June.

Continental Airlines Plans to Reign in Spain

This week, Continental Airlines inaugurated daily nonstop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Barcelona. What's not to love about a city that's home to extraordinary cuisine, socially-ingrained afternoon naps and a vibrant culture? (And then there's Barcelona.) Barcelona is the second city in Spain to be served by Continental, as the carrier has flown to Madrid from Newark since 1992.

Star Alliance Shines on Shanghai

Star Alliance announced it has invited Shanghai Airlines Co., Limited of Shanghai, China to join the alliance. Shanghai Airlines Chairman Zhou Chi said the invitation to join Star Alliance would only further enhance Shanghai Airlines' position as a leader in the Chinese aviation market.