Airport Check-in: China adjusts routes for Olympics
In time for Olympics, new routes offer shorter flights from Europe into China
— -- In time for the Summer Olympics, flights from Europe now have more direct paths as they fly into some of China's biggest cities.
European flights to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong previously had to fly on routes that went over or near Beijing. New routes to those airports have been shifted farther south, which results in a shorter flight path. In addition, European flights to Beijing now also take a more southern route, which shaves the total distance.
As a result, flights from Europe to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong will be on average about 60 nautical miles shorter, says the International Air Transport Association, which worked with the Chinese government to establish the new routes. With 475 European flights arriving in China a week, the airlines will save about 26,000 tons of jet fuel a year, IATA says.
"We call this route the Olympic Bypass. It will alleviate air traffic delays and congestion," says Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general, in a statement. "The experience of previous Olympics host cities tells us that there will be significantly more air traffic in China's skies during the Olympics."
DALLAS
Ads to land at baggage carousels
To boost non-aviation revenue, Dallas/Fort Worth will start running ads on its baggage carousels in August or September. The airport says there are 30 carousels that can support ads, with two ads per carousel.
Ads are printed in full color on an adhesive material and applied to the surface of the conveyor belt. Each ad will be changed every eight weeks. The baggage carousel provides advertisers a captive audience of travelers who "wait 15-plus minutes for their luggage to arrive," says Tracy Zwahlen of DoubleTake Marketing, which is selling and producing the ads.
DoubleTake plans to introduce the concept at other airports later this year.
PHILADELPHIA
US Airways delays Beijing service
US Airways, which planned on launching a daily flight between Philadelphia and Beijing in spring 2009, will delay the service by a year.
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