Airport Check-in: Added NYC, Vegas links; new way to board

— -- NEW YORK: Virgin America flies non-stops to Las Vegas

Last week, Virgin America launched new non-stop service from New York John F. Kennedy to Las Vegas McCarran. The airline will fly one flight daily on its Airbus A320 aircraft, subject to seasonal demand.

AMSTERDAM: Cellphones used as boarding passes

Air France has launched electronic boarding passes on mobile phones for passengers on the Paris Charles de Gaulle-Amsterdam Schiphol route. Passengers who check in via its mobile Internet site — mobile.airfrance.com — can elect to receive their boarding-pass barcode as a text message or e-mail on their smartphones. Passengers then display their boarding pass to agents to check in baggage, proceed through security checkpoints and board the flight.

WORCESTER, Mass.: Direct Air to launch commercial service

Worcester Regional Airport, about 50 miles west of Boston, will resume commercial service this fall.

Starting Nov. 22, Direct Air will run six flights a week to Orlando Sanford International and Charlotte County Airport near Fort Myers, Fla. It will use Airbus A320 aircraft leased from Virgin America.

The airport, which currently serves only charter flights, hasn't had scheduled passenger airline service since 2006, when Allegiant Air ended operations there.

Direct Air, based in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is a charter operator specializing in all-inclusive vacation and golf packages.

OAKLAND: Coming later this month: Free Wi-Fi

Oakland International will begin offering free Wi-Fi in its terminals later this month. The starting date hasn't been determined. The airport will generate revenue by selling online ads. Its current service costs $7.95 a day.

ORLANDO: Brazilian airline plans non-stops to São Paulo

Brazil's largest airline, TAM, will begin non-stop, daily flights to and from Orlando International in early November. The Orlando-São Paulo route is the airport's first non-stop service to South America in more than seven years. It will be served by Airbus A330 jets with 223 seats in three cabin classes.

SEATTLE: Goats and sheep chow down on weeds

Seattle-Tacoma has unleashed a herd of goats and sheep to graze on its property as an environmentally friendly way to eliminate weeds. The goats are being tested specifically to see if they can assist in grooming steep slopes and other hard-to-reach areas.

The goats are contracted through local company Goat Trimmers, which uses rescued sheep and goats. "Hate blackberry bushes? You may not love them, but our goats do! They're also hungry for thistle, weeds and other invasive plants," Goat Trimmers' website says.

ST. LOUIS: Rocking chairs rock, so Lambert to add more

A year after introducing 70 rocking chairs throughout its gate seating areas, St. Louis Lambert says it will add 60 more. Rocking chairs are becoming more common at airports throughout the country, as terminals are trying to add more passenger-friendly amenities. St. Louis says the chairs have been so popular that it's often difficult for fliers to find a vacant one.

Every Monday, we report on the latest news in airports across the USA. See something noteworthy in your travels? E-mail your suggestions to ryu@usatoday.com.