August 2013

USA: DOT fines ticket agents for code-share disclosure violations

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) fined three ticket agents for violating the Department’s rules on disclosure of code-share flights. DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office made telephone calls to a number of agents during January and February of 2013 and inquired about booking certain flights. During these calls, the reservations agents for all three companies failed […]

USA: DOT fines ticket agents for code-share disclosure violations Read More »

Egypt: tourism minister sends message to travel industry via YouTube

The Egypt Tourist Authority released a YouTube video of Egyptian Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou asking the travel industry to help lobby their governments to ease travel advisories and to assist Egypt’s tourism recovery, which has been crippled by the country’s ongoing political violence and unrest.Source: Travel Weekly; find article here>>.

Egypt: tourism minister sends message to travel industry via YouTube Read More »

U.S. travel industry worried about anti-gay law in Russia

According to a report published in “Travel Weekly”, the travel industry in the U.S. struggled to decide how to handle Russia’s recently enacted anti-gay law, which could potentially put clients traveling to Russia at risk of arrest. The law prohibits the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors” but is widely seen as a government-backed

U.S. travel industry worried about anti-gay law in Russia Read More »

USA: DOT releases guidance for Internet flight-search tools

According to an article published in “Travel Pulse”, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a guidance document for travel agencies that operate Internet flight-search tools on how these agencies should disclose the carriers they do not market in their search results. In particular, DOT will consider it an unfair practice to simply report

USA: DOT releases guidance for Internet flight-search tools Read More »

German court requests ECJ preliminary ruling with regard to passport data

The German Verwaltungsgerichtshof Baden-Württemberg has filed a reference for preliminary ruling to the ECJ regarding interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States. The reference includes the following questions:In accordance with the annex to Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004, must the personal

German court requests ECJ preliminary ruling with regard to passport data Read More »

UK: OFT consults on proposed hotel booking commitments

The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) opened a consultation on commitmentsproposed by Booking.com B.V. (Booking.com), Expedia Inc (Expedia) and InterContinental Hotels Group plc (IHG), designed to address its competition concerns in relation to the online offering of room only hotel accommodation bookings by Online Travel Agents (OTAs).The three businesses under investigation are proposing to

UK: OFT consults on proposed hotel booking commitments Read More »

Canada: Federal Court of Appeal decides on exclusivity of Montreal Convention liabiliy rules

Pursusant to the Official Languages Act, Canadians have the right to communicate with federal institutions in either of the two official languages English and French. Air Canada is subject to this act and therefore must provide services in both official languages.Mr and Mrs Thibodeau – passengers on round-trip flights leaving from Canada and travelling out

Canada: Federal Court of Appeal decides on exclusivity of Montreal Convention liabiliy rules Read More »

USA: equal rights for same-sex spouses in visa applications

The U.S. State Department has announced that it will treat visa applications of same-sex spouses in the same way that it treats applications of heterosexual spouses, effective immediately. Under the new rules, any marriage that has been performed in a jurisdiction that recognizes it as legal, will be treated as valid under U.S. immigration laws,

USA: equal rights for same-sex spouses in visa applications Read More »

German Supreme Court asks ECJ for interpretation of article 12 of Reg. 261/2004

In a recent reference for ECJ preliminary ruling, the German Supreme Court (BGH) has asked for an interpreation of article 12 of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation 261/2004. This article provides that the Regulation shall apply without prejudice to a passenger’s rights to further compensation but that the compensation granted under this Regulation may be

German Supreme Court asks ECJ for interpretation of article 12 of Reg. 261/2004 Read More »