EIN Presswire: Airlines Press Releases

Airline Fee Practices Hit Families with Small Children Hard, Says Open Allies for Airfare Transparency

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:21:40 +0000

Airline Fee Practices Hit Families with Small Children Hard, Says Open Allies for Airfare Transparency

Action by Government Should Not Be Further Delayed

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As millions of Americans take to the skies for the opening weekend of summer, families are encountering unprecedented hurdles to air travel that could be eased if airlines truly focused on customer needs and kept fees for seating, boarding and the like transparent through and purchasable from travel agents. But since most airlines fail to do so, whether it's fees for seating that make it hard for parents to sit with their children, or barring pre-boarding for families with small children, families are particularly susceptible.

"What makes the behavior of the airlines even more exasperating for families is the failure to provide airfares on an 'all-in' (fares, taxes and fees) basis upfront," said Art Sackler, Executive Director of Open Allies for Airfare Transparency. "Because many airlines withhold that information, families can't figure out how much more it will cost them to sit together until after they purchase their basic tickets – and that could be hundreds of dollars round trip. And comparing prices among airlines including fees for seats or other add-ons before purchase? Forget about it."

By federal law, airlines are not supposed to engage in "unfair" or "deceptive" behavior. But withholding fees is certainly unfair, and may be deceptive. Such practices can result in surprised and unhappy consumers whose total trip costs turn out to be far steeper than envisioned, unexpectedly reducing budgets for destination activities. But when it impacts families with small children, the effects are more than just fair disclosure of prices.

Because airlines charge premium prices for "choice" or "preferred" seats, and reserve many for elite members of frequent flier programs, the time-honored methods of ensuring that families can sit together – a change at the gate, or flight attendants asking customers onboard to change seats – no longer work. If a customer has paid $45 extra for a specific seat, that customer is unlikely to want to change to a less desirable seat to accommodate someone else, including young members of a family. But with upfront disclosure of services, pricing and availability, and one-stop shopping with a travel agency or other travel services provider, families and other consumers could largely avoid such onerous circumstances.

Airlines have refused for nearly half a decade to restore comparison-shopping for consumers in this new unbundled services era. The U.S. Department of Transportation is responsible for consumer protection in air travel, and has taken important steps on disclosure. But much more needs to be done to restore true comparison-shopping. The agency is considering additional rules to ensure fees are transparent, up-to-date and purchasable through travel services providers with whom an airline chooses to do business. It is essential that new rules advance to implementation on an expedited basis. For families and other air travelers, justice delayed is justice denied.

Open Allies for Airfare Transparency is a coalition of individuals, companies, and organizations that believes that all airline fares and fees should be transparent and purchasable wherever the traveling public buys airlines' base airfares. Members include more than 380 of the world's leading travel management companies, corporate travel departments, consumer groups and travel agencies.

www.faretransparency.org

SOURCE Open Allies for Airfare Transparency

Aircastle Announces Authorization of Share Repurchase Program

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Aircastle Announces Authorization of Share Repurchase Program

PR Newswire

STAMFORD, Conn., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR) ("Aircastle") announced today that the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of the Company's common shares. Under the program, the Company may purchase its common shares from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The amount and timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors including the price and availability of the Company's common shares, trading volume and general market conditions. The Company may also from time to time establish a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to facilitate purchases of its common shares under this authorization.

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited is a global company that acquires, leases and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of March 31, 2012, Aircastle's aircraft portfolio consisted of 145 aircraft and had 65 lessees located in 34 countries.

Safe Harbor

Certain items in this press release and other information we provide from time to time, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle Limited can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could cause actual results to differ materially from Aircastle Limited's expectations include, but are not limited to, significant capital markets disruption and volatility, and the significant contraction in the availability of bank financing which may adversely affect our continued ability to obtain additional capital to finance our working capital needs; volatility in the value of our aircraft or in appraisals thereof, which may, among other things, result in increased principal payments under our term financings and reduce our cash flow available for investment or dividends; general economic conditions and business conditions affecting demand for aircraft and lease rates; our continued ability to obtain favorable tax treatment in Bermuda, Ireland and other jurisdictions; our ability to pay dividends; high or volatile fuel prices, lack of access to capital, reduced load factors and/or reduced yields, operational disruptions or unavailability of capital caused by political unrest in North Africa, the Middle East or elsewhere, uncertainties in the Eurozone arising from the sovereign debt crisis and other factors affecting the creditworthiness of our airline customers and their ability to continue to perform their obligations under our leases; termination payments on our interest rate hedges; and other risks detailed from time to time in Aircastle Limited's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including "Risk Factors" as previously disclosed in Aircastle's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC, press releases and other communications. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Aircastle Limited expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

For more information on Aircastle, please visit www.aircastle.com.

Contact:
Frank Constantinople – SVP, Investor Relations
Tel: +1-203-504-1063
fconstantinople@aircastle.com

The IGB Group
Leon Berman
Tel: +1-212-477-8438
lberman@igbir.com

SOURCE Aircastle Limited

Military and Law Enforcement Agencies Create New Billion-Dollar Markets as They Focus On UAVs and Robots To Save Lives and Trim Costs

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:01:05 +0000

Military and Law Enforcement Agencies Create New Billion-Dollar Markets as They Focus On UAVs and Robots To Save Lives and Trim Costs

PR Newswire

FARMINGTON, Conn., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- As military, law enforcement, and first responder agencies around the globe seek to reduce the physical danger their personnel face, more research and development is being focused on UAV and robot design and training. Global Information Inc is pleased to announce the immediate availability of two new reports detailing this trend within Homeland Security and Law Enforcement, exploring the new billion-dollar markets this trend will create:

The UAV Flight Training & Simulation Market 2012-2022

The value of the global UAV flight training and simulation market in 2012 will reach $451.9m, according to a new Visiongain market research report on the UAV Flight Training & Simulation Market, 2012-2022. Training and simulation represents $13.73 Billion in spending by the US' Department of Defense budget in 2012, roughly 2 percent the DoD's total budget, and UAV training is a not-insignificant part of that budget.

The proliferation of UAVs, and their utility on the modern battlefield, will see demand for the vital services they offer continue into the next decade. This demand will be accompanied by a requirement for more skilled UAV pilots and sensor operators, and as UAV operator training becomes more formalized, governments will be looking to invest heavily in the creation of suitable UAV operator simulation and training systems.

The report explains developing trends within the UAV flight training and simulation market and provides forecasts for the global UAV flight training and simulation market between 2012 and 2022.

A summary for this report and a free sample of the full document are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/kt241547-uav-flight-training-simulation-market-2012-2022.html

First Responder, Border Patrol, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Security Robots: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2012 to 2018

Globally, first responder-type robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth as the next generation robots systems provide a way to improve law enforcement services delivery in the communities of the world, according to new a military, law enforcement, and first responder robots market research report from Wintergreen Research.

Homeland security and police need to target terrorists and protect civilians in order to get their job done effectively, but this needs to be balanced by putting as few of their own personnel in harms way as possible. Robots help in this task by sending machines instead of Homeland security and police into dangerous places.

First Responder Type Robot markets, valued at $440.4 million in 2011, are anticipated to reach $1.6 billion by 2018 as next generation robots are introduced to manage situational response to community threats.

An Executive Summary for this report and a free sample of the full document are available at http://www.giiresearch.com/report/wg241569-first-responder-border-patrol-homeland-security.html

About Global Information Inc. Global Information (GII) (http://www.giiresearch.com) is an information service company partnering with over 300 research companies around the world. Global Information has been in the business of distributing technical and market research for more than 25 years. Expanded from its original headquarters in Japan, Global Information now has offices in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Europe and the United States.

Media Contact: Jeremy Palaia of Global Information, Inc., 1-860-674-8796, Press@gii.co.jp

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Global Information, Inc.

US Airways Awards More Than $250,000 In College Scholarships

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

US Airways Awards More Than $250,000 In College Scholarships

Recipients include daughters and sons of mechanics, flight attendants, pilots, ramp agents, customer service agents, engineers and corporate staff

PR Newswire

TEMPE, Ariz., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, 101 students were notified that they were recipients of more than $250,000 in scholarships from the US Airways (NYSE: LCC) Education Foundation. The foundation awards college scholarships to children of US Airways employees. More than 400 students applied for the $2,500 US Airways Education Foundation scholarships and a committee comprised of educators and community leaders carefully reviewed each application. Applicants were scored on academic achievement, leadership, awards and honors, community service and volunteerism, work commitment, financial need and memberships or affiliations. The committee also reviewed applicants' essays and letters of recommendation.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120103/LA28814LOGO)

"One of the best ways we can serve our employees and our communities is to support the continuing education of tomorrow's leaders. Like their parents who work as US Airways' crewmembers, mechanics, customer service representatives and fleet representatives, to name a few of the workgroups who have dependents receiving scholarships for the upcoming school year, we, too, are extremely proud of this year's recipients," said Elise Eberwein, executive vice president of People, Communications and Public Affairs for US Airways.

Recipients of the 2012 US Airways Education Foundation scholarship will be attending universities all across the country, and include:

39 students from the Charlotte, N.C. area,
30 recipients from Phoenix,
Seven students from Philadelphia and
Four recipients from Washington, D.C.

These four cities serve as the airline's hubs and focus city, where the majority of employees live and work. Another 21 students who reside in 18 different cities across US Airways' network also received scholarships. In addition, 38 of the 2012 recipients are repeat recipients.

The students receiving college scholarships have an average cumulative G.P.A. of 3.8 and their varied accomplishments include award-winning musicians, class valedictorians, All-State athletes and community volunteers. Many non-profit organizations benefitted from the talents of these recipients. Among them were Big Brothers and Big Sisters helping mentor at-risk youth in their communities, Special Olympics assisting disabled athletes and numerous efforts to raise awareness of various cancers through fundraising for the American Cancer Society.

Since 1992, the US Airways Education Foundation has awarded nearly $3.3 million in scholarships to dependents of US Airways employees as well as grants to nonprofit organizations that support children's educational programs. The Foundation is funded entirely by fundraising events and donations.

About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 20,500 daily flights to 1,293 airports in 190 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report for 2010 and 2011. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

-Fly with US-

SOURCE US Airways

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

PR Newswire

MUMBAI, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Prashant Sukul, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation will share his perspective on the future of Indian MRO and also on the recent FDI policy at the UBM Aviation's Airline E&M: India Conference, 29 May - 1 June in Mumbai. This four-day event will consist of a two-day conference, one exclusive site visit to the Jet Airways MRO Hangar and one interactive workshop on MRO selection and price negotiation.

India's leading airline engineering and maintenance heads will come together for this conference to provide practical cost-reduction techniques to minimise engineering and maintenance and maintenance costs. Some of the eminent speakers are RK Khanna, Deputy Director General, Civil Aviation Department, Government of India, Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, CAPA, BS Baliga, Executive Director Engineering, Air India, Babu Peter, Executive Vice President Engineering, GoAir, Sitham Nadarajah, Executive Vice President Technical, Jet Airways and CS Tomar, Vice President Engineering and Maintenance, Jet Airways, among many more.

This two-day interactive conference will address business critical challenges surrounding MRO set up, complex regulatory and tax hurdles, ambiguous leasing trends and inefficient supply chain. Over 150 people from the airline, MRO, spare parts and other ancillary units have registered for the 4-day event. The event is sponsored by Gold Partner myTECHNIC, and Conference Supporters include Willis Lease, REGIO LEASE and AeroDEC. Visit http://www.airlineengineering-india.com for more information.

About UBM Aviation: Formerly known as Aviation Industry Group, UBM Aviation became part of UBM in 2008 and operates from a global network of offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia. UBM Aviation Conferences provide the global aviation community with essential market intelligence and unrivalled networking opportunities through regional and international conferences. For further details, please email conferences-india@ubm.com( mailto:conferences-india@ubm.com ) or call +91(022)4046-1466.

SOURCE　UBM Aviation

Monarch Airlines Launch Winter 12/13 & Summer 2013 Flight Programme from East Midlands Airport

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline, recently announced it was to launch a new UK base and flights from East Midlands Airport from 31 August 2012, with the introduction of four new routes. The airline is delighted to now be expanding its scheduled services for Winter 2012/13 and Summer 2013, with the addition of further new flights to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Ibiza.

Flights for Winter 2012/2013 from East Midlands Airport start from 28^thOctober 2012 and will include the following services; all available to book via www.monarch.co.uk:

**NEW ROUTE** Lanzarote - 2 x new weekly flights
**NEW ROUTE** Tenerife - 2 x new weekly flights
Malaga - 3 x flights per week
Alicante - 2x flights per week
Faro - 2 x flights per week

New flights to Ibiza have also been added to the flight programme for Summer 2013.

Commenting on the new flights for Winter 2012/2013 and Summer 2013, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, "We have been delighted by the response to the announcement that we will be opening a new base and new flights from East Midlands Airport this summer. Demand for flights has been already been strong and it is great that hot on the heels of the launch, we are able to expand our network and add new routes to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Ibiza. "The rapid expansion of our network from East Midlands Airport is testament to our commitment to provide choice, value and superior customer service to more and more customers in the Midlands."

Notes to Editors:

Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline, has to date operated flights to Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Portugal Spain and Turkey from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports. In addition to year-round low fares, Monarch also offers a bespoke "build your own class of travel" range of products and services both on the ground and inflight. Monarch has always aimed at offering high quality service - all customers are allocated a seat at check-in, but for those wishing to select where in the cabin they sit to ensure that families and groups are seated together, seats can be pre-booked from Â£5.99 per one-way flight. For customers looking for added comfort, extra legroom seats are also available offering up to six inches of extra space from only Â£9.99.

Monarch recently launched 'Air Packs' enabling customers to build their own flights through transparent and pre-packaged optional extras, starting from just Â£20 per person per flight. The two new Air Packs are offered alongside the airline's traditional "build your own class" product and are designed to give customers full visibility on price from the beginning of the booking process. Customers are able to choose between two Monarch Air Packs: an Essentials Pack and a Premium Pack, combining extras such as allocated seating, hold baggage and access to online check-in.

Customers can also take advantage of MFlex, which provides improved flexibility for customers when booking flights on Monarch's scheduled network of flights. Charged at only Â£2.50 per person, per flight, the new MFlex product must be added at the time of booking. Once added, the customer is free to make one change to their booking up to 15 days prior to departure, which includes a date change or a route change, without incurring an administration fee*. What's more, if a customer selects MFlex when booking, but makes no subsequent changes to their booking, Monarch will refund them the value of MFlex in the form of a credit voucher, which can be used as part payment towards a future scheduled flight with Monarch.

For further information or to book Monarch flights please visit www.monarch.co.uk.

Monarch Airlines
Charlotte Hawley
01582 398 241
charlotte.hawley@monarch.co.uk
www.monarch.co.uk

Experience Spectacular Majorca This Spring

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Lying off the South East coast of Spain in the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, Majorca offers an irresistible blend of long stretches of golden sand, secluded coves, majestic mountain ranges and Gothic architecture. Although the Balearic Islands are particularly popular in the summer months, travelling to Majorca in spring has many advantages. Not only is the countryside fresh, green and carpeted with flowers, but the temperatures in May are already in the 20's. Majorca holidays with Cosmos are the ideal choice for holidaymakers looking for a relaxing escape from everyday life - book now to find a fantastic deal.

Majorca offers the perfect holiday, whatever your needs. If you're looking to let off some steam, head to the golden sands and boisterous nightlife of one of the island's giant resorts, such as Magaluf or Palma Nova, to dance the night away. If you're looking to get away from it all, head to the North of the island for stunning quiet beaches and tranquil coves where fishing is the biggest excitement.

Famed for some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, Majorca has a spectacular coastline. S'Amarador was recently voted 'Best Beach in Europe,' and is one of two beautiful beaches in Mondrago Natural Park. Many beaches in Majorca are unspoilt and well preserved, and all three at Calas de Mallorca boast beautiful fine sand and enticing turquoise waters.

Aside from beach resorts and stunning scenery, Majorca's capital, Palma, is a major attraction for visitors to the island. Palma is a big, bustling, modern city with good shops and plenty going on - night and day. The museums and monuments could occupy an entire day or more, but ambling around the backstreets, exploring markets and seeing a bit of everyday Majorcan life can be every bit as rewarding. The cathedral is Palma's prominent landmark, and heralds a host of other fine buildings. Take a stroll amongst churches, monuments, mansions and a picturesque maze of winding streets and sunlit squares.

Majorca is ideal if you're looking to avoid extreme weather, as temperatures stay comfortable, even in the height of summer. With over 300 days of sunshine throughout the year and warm crystal clear waters, holidays to Majorca are perfect for relaxing on beaches, exploring the glittering Mediterranean or hiking through breathtaking landscape.

Operating for over 50 years, Cosmos Holidays is one of the oldest and best established brands in UK tour operating, and provides holidays to over 780,000 customers in 65 destinations annually. Visit www.cosmos.co.uk now to book a holiday to Majorca from Â£211.

Robert Foulkes
01582 398122
Robert.Foulkes@Monarch.co.uk

Being Green While Traveling Important for Most Travelers

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:16:07 +0000

Being Green While Traveling Important for Most Travelers

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Travelers are an eco-conscious group according to a joint survey conducted by The GO Group, LLC, an international ground transportation provider and GO Airport Express, a GO Group member company based in Chicago. Seventy-one percent of the survey respondents say it is either important or very important to try and reduce their carbon footprint while traveling.

The companies, which provide door-to-door airport shuttle services, asked travelers: "How important is it to you to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling?" More than 2000 people responded.

Just 13 percent of participants responded that it was not important, while 15 percent said they hadn't thought about it at all.

"These results indicate that travelers are environmentally aware, and we will continue to explore ways we can help them reduce their carbon footprint," says John McCarthy, president, The GO Group, LLC. "By nature, shared rides are green rides. With six people on board, a van uses only 30 percent of the fuel that six cars would use and creates 54 percent fewer carbon emissions."

Many of the GO Group companies, including those serving San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Milwaukee's General Mitchell International, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International are converting all or part of their fleets to alternative fuels – either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane. While GO companies in Los Angeles (serving all southern California airports) and Chicago (serving Midway and O'Hare) also are in the process of doing so.

The GO Group, LLC is a one-stop source for door-to-door airport shuttle services. Each year, its members transport some 13 million passengers to and from airports in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. Travelers can book ground transportation to and from both departure and destination airports through GO's website, www.goairportshuttle.com. GO Airport Express serves Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.

SOURCE The GO Group, LLC

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

PR Newswire

MUMBAI, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Prashant Sukul, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation will share his perspective on the future of Indian MRO and also on the recent FDI policy at the UBM Aviation's Airline E&M: India Conference, 29 May - 1 June in Mumbai. This four-day event will consist of a two-day conference, one exclusive site visit to the Jet Airways MRO Hangar and one interactive workshop on MRO selection and price negotiation.

India's leading airline engineering and maintenance heads will come together for this conference to provide practical cost-reduction techniques to minimise engineering and maintenance and maintenance costs. Some of the eminent speakers are RK Khanna, Deputy Director General, Civil Aviation Department, Government of India, Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, CAPA, BS Baliga, Executive Director Engineering, Air India, Babu Peter, Executive Vice President Engineering, GoAir, Sitham Nadarajah, Executive Vice President Technical, Jet Airways and CS Tomar, Vice President Engineering and Maintenance, Jet Airways, among many more.

About UBM Aviation: Formerly known as Aviation Industry Group, UBM Aviation became part of UBM in 2008 and operates from a global network of offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia. UBM Aviation Conferences provide the global aviation community with essential market intelligence and unrivalled networking opportunities through regional and international conferences. For further details, please email conferences-india@ubm.com or call +91(022)4046-1466.

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Ministry of Civil Aviation to Share Perspective on the Future of Indian MRO at Airline Engineering and Maintenance Conference

PR Newswire

MUMBAI, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

India's leading airline engineering and maintenance heads will come together for this conference to provide practical cost-reduction techniques to minimise engineering and maintenance and maintenance costs. Some of the eminent speakers are RK Khanna, Deputy Director General, Civil Aviation Department, Government of India, Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, CAPA, BS Baliga, Executive Director Engineering, Air India, Babu Peter, Executive Vice President Engineering, GoAir, Sitham Nadarajah, Executive Vice President Technical, Jet Airways and CS Tomar, Vice President Engineering and Maintenance, Jet Airways, among many more.

SOURCE UBM Aviation

US Airways Named Top Employer For Veterans In 2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:58:38 +0000

US Airways Named Top Employer For Veterans In 2012

Only Airline Named in Top 40 Rankings

US Airways Flying WWII Heroes to Washington, DC for Memorial Day Weekend Visit

PR Newswire

TEMPE, Ariz., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Military Times Edge magazine has named US Airways (NYSE: LCC) among the 40 Best for Vets employers for 2012 among 1,000 major corporations surveyed. For the second year in a row, the magazine recognized US Airways for its policies and programs to recruit and retain military veterans and to accommodate and support deployments by US Airways employees who serve in the National Guard and on reserve duty.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120103/LA28814LOGO)

US Airways is the only airline named in the top 40 in the survey and the "Best for Vets" award is presented to companies who excel in three categories; Recruiting, with a budget and staff dedicated to military hiring, venues where jobs are marketed to veterans, and percentage of new hires who are military veterans; Reserve Policies, which offer pay and benefits for National Guard and Reservists to accommodate and support deployments, and Corporate Culture, where veterans are represented on the executive team.

"US Airways is honored and proud to be named a 'Best for Vets' employer in 2011 and 2012," said David Seymour, US Airways' senior vice president of technical operations. Seymour, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and a veteran Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, advises a US Airways employee group called ServeUS. ServeUS works to foster a culture at the airline to recruit, transition, develop and retain military veterans. ServeUS members represent US Airways at veteran recruitment events nationwide.

Seymour said, "US Airways believes that our outreach to military veterans advances our goals of becoming an airline our customers choose to fly and a great place to work for all employees. We are pleased that the Military Times Edge publication and the military and veteran community have recognized US Airways as an employer of choice for our nation's veterans."

US Airways partners with Hire Heroes USA, an organization that creates job opportunities for veterans, to recruit military veterans at job fairs nationwide. In addition, the airline works with Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to bringing veterans free of charge to Washington, D.C. to visit their respective war memorials dedicated in their honor. Last year, US Airways conducted its 200th Honor Flight. Video is available on US Airways' YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usairways. On Saturday, May 26, 2012 US Airways will fly a group of World War II veterans from Hartford, CT to Washington, DC to visit the World War II memorial. More information is available at http://honorflightdca.wordpress.com/.

The airline also supports active duty military members by giving them priority boarding on all US Airways flights and discount fares when traveling on official business. Additionally, US Airways' partnership with the Fisher House Foundation allows members of the airline's frequent flyer program, Dividend Miles, to donate miles to provide complimentary travel to military men and women, and their families, who are undergoing medical treatment.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 20,500 daily flights to 1,293 airports in 190 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazine presented US Airways with the 2012 Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation in the area of technical operations. Military Times Edge magazine named US Airways as a Best for Vets employer in 2011 and 2012. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report for 2010 and 2011. The airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index for six consecutive years. The Corporate Equality index is a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information visit usairways.com, follow on Twitter @USAirways or at Facebook.com/USAirways. (LCCG)

-Fly with US-

SOURCE US Airways

Results of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Move to Tier II Issuer Status

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:28:18 +0000

iLOOKABOUT Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ILA) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the Annual Meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders held in London, Ontario on May 24, 2012. The shareholders approved all motions put forth at the meeting, including the re-appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's auditor and the re-approval of the Company's 2008 Stock Option Plan, as amended, in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange requirements.

The shareholders also approved the reappointment of Mr. Geoff Davies and Mr. Mark McArdle to the Board of Directors, each for a three year term. However, immediately following the Meeting, the Board approved amendments to the Company's Board Governance Manual that provides that, although Directors will continue to be appointed for a term of three years, each Director will be required to seek re-election annually throughout such term, in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange requirements. The Board believes that securing a Director's commitment to serve for a three year term (subject to being reelected each year by the shareholders) is highly beneficial to the Company, as it ensures that the Board always has some Directors with public-company experience and knowledge of the Company's operations, and provides new Directors with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Company during their first year, and to use this understanding for the benefit of the Company over the balance of their term in office.

At their meeting held following the Annual Meeting, the newly constituted Board reappointed Mr. Geoff Davies as the Chair of the Board. Given Mr. Davies' recent appointment as the Company's Executive Chair, making him a part time member of Management, the Board also reappointed Ronald Breen as Lead Director in accordance with applicable securities regulations.

Finally, the Company has accepted the TSX Venture Exchange's recommendation that the Company be classified as a Tier 2 Issuer, effective May 24, 2012.

About iLOOKABOUT

iLOOKABOUT is a visual and data intelligence company serving commercial enterprise in the real estate, insurance, municipal, utility, assessment and appraisal sectors in North America and Europe. iLOOKABOUT is a pioneer in visual and data intelligence with its StreetScapeâ¢ and Virtual Tour products. StreetScape is a visual and data intelligence product for the geo-spatial market, providing panoramic, comprehensive, street level perspective visual data, geo-coded with latitude and longitude coordinates for accuracy and supported by patented software processes and proprietary security and storage systems. Recently, the Company launched GeoViewPortâ¢, a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) application that enables the federation of additional value added data such as validated addresses, aerial imagery, property values, property attributes, etc. with StreetScape imagery. Headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, iLOOKABOUT's shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ILA.

iLOOKABOUT Corp.
Robin Dyson
CFO
1.866.963.2015
robin.dyson@ilookabout.com
www.ilookabout.com

PAID Inc. Merchandising Fulfillment Services "Delivers" Peace of Mind for Brands, Entertainment Artists

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:10:00 +0000

New State-of-the-Art Facility, Fulfillment Director, Technology Fueling Improved Productivity, Efficiency, Customer Service

When a brand puts its name on merchandise, the order taking, pick, pack and ship fulfillment process can make the critical difference between happy or irate customers, and that's why more artists and major brands are trusting PAID Inc. (OTCBB: PAYD) to "deliver" for them.

"Expanded business development efforts over the past nine months and an uptick in client referrals from multiple partners have doubled PAID's client roster in 2012 to more than 150 clients ranging from some of the world's best known names in entertainment to up and coming brands," stated Rich Rotman, PAID Inc. Chief Operating Officer. "The majority of our clients utilize PAID's fulfillment services in some capacity. In 2011, we began accepting clients who solely wanted fulfillment services. We've since won the business of more than 50 new fulfillment-only clients. Once clients experience the excellence of our fulfillment program and learn about our full range of services, with increasing frequency they engage us for our other brand management services."

PAID Inc. continually enhances its fulfillment processes and recently has recently implemented major upgrades. The result is dramatically improved efficiency and productivity across the entirety of its merchandising and fulfillment services, while enhancing accuracy and customer service complete with consistently competitive pricing.

Alan Breault Named Director of Fulfillment
Alan Breault joined PAID in December 2011 as the Director of Fulfillment. He brings over 20 years of experience in warehousing and distribution operations, working for both domestic and international distributors and third party logistics companies. He has earned a Lean Six Sigma green belt, designating him as an expert in quality management methods that identify and remove errors and minimize variability in manufacturing and business processes.

While at SP Richards, Breault was on the project team that implemented new pick ticket and warehouse management systems across distribution centers in their Northeast division and identified and implemented best practices across the centers. As a supervisor and project manager at Kenco Logistics Services, he redesigned the receiving process, which reduced product damage in house and in transit, resulting in hundreds of thousand of dollars in savings.

"In PAID's new facility, we're now able to establish processes that take advantage of the principles of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement to better serve our clients and their customers," Breault stated.

New High-Tech Facility in Westborough, Mass.
PAID Inc. consolidated its Boston and Worcester facilities into a newly constructed facility in Westborough and upgraded its shipping, warehouse and inventory management system to streamline picking and packing, shipping and product control. Advantages of the new facility include:

The larger space and improved racking system create a more streamlined picking process for bulk merchandise and shipments
The new high bay area enables staff to access stored and reserved inventory faster and with more accuracy and care
The added space, with new systems and processes have already increased PAID's pick, pack and shipping efficiency, effectively reducing inventory management labor by more than 50%
PAID now has the ability to fulfill a broader range of products, including electronics, shoes, books, media, and even home goods.

As Rotman explains, "Our new facility has taken our fulfillment capabilities and efficiencies to the next level. With client managers, customer service and warehouse staff all under one roof, strategic planning and information sharing happens face-to-face in real time. Reporting, order and processing data are disseminated digitally increasing accuracy and efficiency. The larger space will accommodate significant growth of our client roster. Increased efficiencies ensure that we continue to provide the highest level of care and precision for every client -- all the while maintaining competitive pricing."

Superior Shipping Technology and Improved Processes
PAID's automated efficiencies and real-time monitoring offer clients substantial benefits that translate to increased sales and profits.

PAID's AuctionInc™ patented shipping calculation technology enables each client to have customized shipping preferences based on that client's particular products. AuctionInc automatically calculates shipping charges based on the size, weight, shape and other factors of each package and optimizes the shipping costs. This translates to customers being able to buy more product with the same shipping costs, resulting in higher sales for PAID clients.
PAID has the capability to run batches in multiple ways -- by client, product type, and with combinations of multiple products and quantities.
PAID's flexibility enables immediate batch processing for clients needing product shipped immediately, including same day shipping and thousands of orders per day
PAID's manufacturing, sourcing, assembly and fulfillment services provide clients with a turnkey operation to create special limited edition bundles. PAID was a key collaborator on the design, sourcing and fulfillment of a 2011 Grammy-nominated limited edition boxed set

Keith Garde, President of PAID Inc. celebrity services, noted, "Every client has a unique customer base, and we cater to each client's customer base uniquely, adjusting our system to fit their needs. It is customization unmatched in our industry, designed and dedicated to meet the needs of a discerning, high profile client base."

PAID offers a full range of turnkey brand management services including ecommerce website design and management, merchandise design, product development and sourcing, tour merchandise, promotional items, video & film production, VIP ticketing and licensing opportunities. Ultimately, fulfillment is a critical element common to almost all of these services. From start to finish, PAID delivers -- products, superior service and peace of mind.

About PAID Inc.:
PAID Inc. is a one-stop brand management and marketing resource to music, entertainment and sports personalities and organizations, and offers AuctionInc™ online shipping calculation and shopping cart software employing its patented technology to streamline ecommerce. Known for quality and customer service, PAID offers turnkey online, mobile, social media and traditional marketing campaigns, as well as award-winning video & film production, VIP ticketing, web site design, merchandising, ecommerce and fan community management programs. More details are available at www.paid.com.

Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Statements in this news release looking forward in time involve risks and uncertainties, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the markets, variations in the company's cash flow, competition, celebrity programs, business development efforts, technology availability and cost of materials and other risk factors. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACTS:
For PAID Inc.:
Julie Shepherd
Accentuate PR
+1.815.479.1833
Email Contact

Boot Campaign and Southwest Airlines Celebrate Military Families with Country Throwdown Tour Contest

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Boot Campaign and Southwest Airlines Celebrate Military Families with Country Throwdown Tour Contest

Contest Gives Military Families Opportunity to Live Like a Rock Star for a Day

PR Newswire

TYLER, Texas, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Boot Campaign, a military non-profit that donates to soldiers healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, announces their "Country Throwdown Tour Contest" with Southwest Airlines. Anyone in the United States can nominate an eligible military family to win a pack of four VIP tickets to one of five stops on the Country Throwdown Tour (http://www.countrythrowdown.com), featuring country artists Gary Allan, Justin Moore, Rodney Atkins, Josh Thompson, Sunny Sweeney, Eric Paslay, Florida Georgia Line, and more. The public can nominate a military family whose family member is active duty military or received an honorable discharge within the last two years, resides in the continental United States, and served or is serving any branch of service, including the Guard and Reserve. The nominations must include a 100-word essay on why the family is deserving. Nominations will be received from May 24 through June 25. Check contest rules for specific entry periods.

Concert locations include Glen Allen, VA (June 13), Pittsburgh (June 16), Milwaukee, WI (June 28), Chicago (June 30), and Nashville (July 8). Winners selected for each city will be flown courtesy of Southwest Airlines, receive hotel accommodations, four tickets to the concert, a chance to stand side stage and watch some of the artists perform, a meet and greet with Gary Allan, and a pair of the Boot Campaign's "Give Back Boots."

"The opportunity to provide a few service members and their families a day of fun and time with each other is the very least we can do," said Larry Murray, Director of Operations for the Boot Campaign. "This contest gives us the opportunity to take a few families that desperately need a break and offer them an experience that they will never forget amongst some of the best talent country music has to offer. I am so very thankful that Southwest Airlines and The Country Throwdown Tour have strapped on their boots to make this a special trip and a summer highlight for these military families."

Southwest Airlines is providing roundtrip travel and hotel accommodations to the winning families of the Country Throwdown Tour Contest and has supported Boot Campaign through ticket donations and participated in the Boot Campaign's photo project with a photo of its Chairman, President, and CEO wearing a pair of "Give Back Boots."

"We are excited to celebrate military families by giving back to those who have given so much for our freedom and our country," said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communication and Strategic Outreach. "We are looking forward to reading the nominations of all these very deserving families, and helping the winners enjoy this fun and musical experience."

Southwest has a long history of supporting men and women in uniform; the carrier has been recognized numerous times by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline's Employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve; been named a Top Military Employer by GI Jobs Magazine; and received recognition for naming November Military Heroes month and celebrating its partnerships with nonprofits focused on active duty military, veterans, and families of military members.

Nominate a military family for the Boot Campaign "Country Throwdown Tour Contest" at Facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/bootcampaign/app_373036489404722.

For more information on the Country Throwdown Tour, visit: http://www.countrythrowdown.com

The Boot Campaign
The Boot Campaign is a grassroots military appreciation and veteran awareness campaign started by five women from Texas, known as the Boot Girls. The Boot Girls launched the Boot Campaign in 2009 to spread awareness of the needs of military personnel returning home from combat and express gratitude to current military. Through the sale of military combat boots, the Boot Campaign donates proceeds to a group of partner charities that work with soldiers healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, embodying the campaign motto that, "When They Come Back, We Give Back." www.BootCampaign.com

About Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide.

About 4Fini Inc. and Kevin Lyman:
4Fini Inc.'s Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer are the creators and producers of the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour Fired Up by Kingsford. The annual Country Throwdown Tour, the only one of its kind in the world of country music, brings together top-selling artists with talented, emerging singer-songwriters in a festival environment where fans enjoy a day-long stream of music on multiple stages.

Lyman and Baer also are co-producers of the highly successful annual Rockstar Mayhem Festival, a summer metal festival now in its fifth year. In addition, Lyman is the producer and creator of the successful Vans Warped Tour, the longest running traveling music and extreme sports festival in the world today. With the Vans Warped Tour, Lyman pioneered the successful integration of corporate sponsors with the extreme lifestyle, creating a blueprint for sponsorship integration widely duplicated in the marketplace today. In 2005, Kevin teamed up with John Reese to form Taste of Chaos, LLC (TOC, LLC) and produced the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour. In 2007, TOC, LLC presented the first annual Rockstar Mayhem Festival, a summer metal festival featuring 15 metal bands including headliners Slipknot and Disturbed.

A success by all standards, Rockstar Mayhem Festival perhaps most notably integrated the camaraderie Lyman had created on the Vans Warped Tour into a metal festival. Kevin and his company 4Fini Inc. have produced numerous other successful tour productions. Kevin is a music industry authority on multiple corporate branding projects, helping companies maintain the valuable street level credibility that endears their products to the youth market.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

Boot Campaign and Southwest Airlines Celebrate Military Families with Country Throwdown Tour Contest

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

Boot Campaign and Southwest Airlines Celebrate Military Families with Country Throwdown Tour Contest

Contest Gives Military Families Opportunity to Live Like a Rock Star for a Day

PR Newswire

Nominate a military family for the Boot Campaign "Country Throwdown Tour Contest" at Facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/bootcampaign/app_373036489404722.

For more information on the Country Throwdown Tour, visit: http://www.countrythrowdown.com

The Boot Campaign

The Boot Campaign is a grassroots military appreciation and veteran awareness campaign started by five women from Texas, known as the Boot Girls. The Boot Girls launched the Boot Campaign in 2009 to spread awareness of the needs of military personnel returning home from combat and express gratitude to current military. Through the sale of military combat boots, the Boot Campaign donates proceeds to a group of partner charities that work with soldiers healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, embodying the campaign motto that, "When They Come Back, We Give Back". www.BootCampaign.com

About Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide.

About 4 FINI, Inc. and Kevin Lyman:

4Fini Inc.'s Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer are the creators and producers of the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour Fired Up by Kingsford. The annual Country Throwdown Tour, the only one of its kind in the world of country music, brings together top-selling artists with talented, emerging singer-songwriters in a festival environment where fans enjoy a day-long stream of music on multiple stages.

A success by all standards, Rockstar Mayhem Festival perhaps most notably integrated the camaraderie Lyman had created on the Vans Warped Tour into a metal festival. Kevin and his company 4 Fini, Inc. have produced numerous other successful tour productions. Kevin is a music industry authority on multiple corporate branding projects, helping companies maintain the valuable street level credibility that endears their products to the youth market.

SOURCE Boot Campaign