BRUSSELS – The EU banned most of Iran Air"s jets from flying to Europe because of safety concerns, emphasizing Tuesday that the move was not related to U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

The 27-nation bloc also relaxed restrictions on two airlines from Indonesia and put a Suriname airline on its blacklist of carriers the EU believes do not meet international safety standards.

The list of 278 airlines — mostly small operations from Africa and Asia — was established in 2006 and is updated regularly.

Iran Air"s Boeing 727s and 747s, along with its Airbus 320s, have been placed on the EU blacklist following a safety audit, Transport Commission spokeswoman Helen Kearns said.

But Kearns denied that the move, which affects two-thirds of Iran Air"s fleet, had anything to do with international sanctions.

"We deal purely with safety requirements," she said. "Our controls focus entirely on safety, nothing else."

Iran Air has had trouble properly maintaining its aging Boeing 747 and 727 jets purchased in the 1970s because of a 30-year-old U.S. ban on spare parts.

The airline — together with a cargo and a low-cost subsidiary — has more than 60 planes in its inventory. Plans call for many of its older airliners still in service to be replaced by Russian-built Tu-204 medium-range jets starting in 2011.

Iran Air flies to about 60 destinations, mainly in Asia and Europe. Its extensive domestic network covers nearly two dozen airports.

In Tehran, Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Nooshabadi called the EU decision "unfair," saying his company will continue contacts with the EU to remove the ban, the official Irna news agency said Tuesday.

Nooshabadi said Iran Air had answered all EU questions about the safety of its fleet "precisely."

He assured Iran Air passengers there would be no disruption in flights to Europe, since the company would fly the EU-approved Airbus fleet there.

Kearns said two more Indonesian carriers, Metro Batavia and Indonesia Air Asia, have been removed from the latest list of banned airlines, bringing to six the number of Indonesian airlines allowed to operate in Europe.

Three years ago, after a spate of deadly crashes, all Indonesian airlines were excluded from European airspace.

Kearns said Suriname"s Blue Wings Airlines has also been placed on the revised blacklist. Although the airline does not fly to Europe, it has routes to the Dutch Antilles and French Guiana.

Critics of the list say most of the notorious African fly-by-night cargo outfits still on the EU list have long since been shut down. Many of the others involve air taxi services or small, specialized charter firms that work for mining, oil and gas and other natural resources companies, usually to transport employees to remote work sites.

The crash last month in Cameroon of a chartered plane carrying the entire board of an Australian mining company highlighted the lack of uniform safety standards among the multitude of small aviation operators serving the industry.

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it is launching service to South Korea as part of its ambitious expansion into Asia and to cash in on the fast-growing number of Korean visitors to the islands.

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it is launching service to South Korea as part of its ambitious expansion into Asia and to cash in on the fast-growing number of Korean visitors to the islands.

Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said service between Honolulu and Korea"s main airport of Incheon will start in January 2011 with flights four times a week. Tickets will go on sale later this summer.

"This is for us the next step in our strategic endeavor to make Asia an important source of traffic for Hawaiian Airlines," Dunkerley said in an interview before the company made its formal annoucement.

He said Incheon will a key hub for Hawaiian because of its accessibility and proximity to other nations including China.

Hawaii"s largest carrier could soon be serving both Japan and Korea for the first time as it evolves from an interisland and West Coast carrier to an international player.

Last month, Hawaiian received tentative approval from the Department of Transportation to receive one of four new routes to Tokyo Haneda airport, which has been off-limits to U.S. carriers since 1978. Hawaiian beat out much-larger competitors for the prized route, including Continental Airlines Inc. and UAL Corp."s United Airlines.

"We are at the point now where we"re getting a footprint in the most important countries for travel between Asia and Hawaii. So this represents far more than another route announcement," Dunkerley said. "This is the moment at which we are adding another leg to what we do."

Dunkerley wouldn"t disclose what other routes Hawaiian is considering, but the state has been making a strong marketing push for the Chinese.

Korean Airlines, which has a code-share agreement with Hawaiian, is the only carrier that currently provides direct service between Honolulu and Incheon. Due to strong demand, Korean Air on June 12 added three weekly flights, or 780 seats, giving it a total of 10 flights a week.

Hawaii has benefited from a program that began in November 2008 that allows Koreans to enter the United States without visas. Hawaii welcomed 20,211 Koreans in the first three months of this year, a 91 percent increase over the same period last year. On average, Koreans spent about $238 a day per person, about $100 more than a visitor from the West Coast.

The state predicts 74,000 Koreans will visit this year, nearly double the 38,110 visitors in 2008, before the visa waiver program.

Hawaii tourism liaison Marsha Wienert said the new route and additional airlift from Korea is "huge" for the visitor industry and economy.

"The potential is just ready to explode," she said. "The visa waiver was the first thing, the additional air seats is the second thing and an improving economy is the third. All the ducks are in a row."

Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Mike McCartney estimates the new route will generate $19.4 million annually in visitor spending.

In April, Hawaiian took delivery of the first of as many as 27 new 294-seat Airbus widebody aircraft to replace its fleet of Boeing jets to make the longer Asian routes possible. It also has recently added routes between Hawaii and California.

The company"s expansion comes just five years after it emerged from bankruptcy protection and while the rest of the industry has been shaken by mergers, restructuring and heavy cuts to staff and routes. It also comes amid a tourism slump caused by global economic problems.

But Hawaiian is bullish on Asia and is putting a huge bet on Hawaii as a world-class destination.

"We calibrated our expansion at a rate where we balance our enthusiasm for the opportunity with the common sense of not expanding so quickly as to create insurmountable problems later on," Dunkerley said.

He said because Hawaiian has been profitable the past two years, it allowed the company to focus on its long-term goals and investment instead of survival.

While the carrier has consistently been rated among the nation"s top airlines for service and on-time performance, it will soon be facing stiff competition from its Asian counterparts whose customer service is widely known.

"As we come to compete head-to-head with Asian carriers, we"re going to have to focus our product offering on the expectations of our customer that originate in parts of Asia and are used to traveling on Asian airlines," Dunkerley said. "That of course is a challenge, and I"m looking forward to it because I think our employees and airline is up to the task."

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Online:

FORT WORTH, Texas – The Transport Workers Union is telling ground workers at American Airlines to take strike votes this month.

FORT WORTH, Texas – The Transport Workers Union is telling ground workers at American Airlines to take strike votes this month.

The union said Thursday it asked local leaders to mobilize strike committees and get picketing permits at airports.

Union leaders had planned a membership vote on the company"s last contract offer to about 11,000 bag handlers and other workers, then declared the proposal dead.

The workers can"t legally strike unless the National Mediation Board declares a stalemate in negotiations. Union official Robert Gless says the board might do that in September if workers approve a strike.

Company spokeswoman Missy Latham says the two sides have always settled contract talks and, "no job action is imminent." AMR Corp."s American is the nation"s second-largest airline.

NEW YORK – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for stiffer fines against companies that prepare airline food in unsanitary conditions.

NEW YORK – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for stiffer fines against companies that prepare airline food in unsanitary conditions.

Pointing to repeated health code violations by three major airline caterers, Schumer wants to fine airline kitchens up to $50,000 per violation. Currently, fines are $1,000 per violation

Schumer also wants to prohibit the caterers from operating at any U.S. airport if there is a pattern of offenses.

The FDA has cited LSG Sky Chefs, Gate Gourmet and Flying Food Group for having poor sanitary conditions in their kitchens, including reported sightings of mice, roaches and listeria.

Last year, these three caterers provided meals to 675 million airline passengers.

WASHINGTON – United Airlines spent $660,000 in the first quarter lobbying on high-profile aviation regulation issues like rules for dealing with stranded passengers, rest for airline pilots, and restrictions on using personal electronics in the cockpit.

WASHINGTON – United Airlines spent $660,000 in the first quarter lobbying on high-profile aviation regulation issues like rules for dealing with stranded passengers, rest for airline pilots, and restrictions on using personal electronics in the cockpit.

The lobbying disclosure by United covers the first three months of this year. During the first quarter of 2009 it spent $600,000 on lobbying.

New Transportation Department rules took effect April 29, and impose steep fines on airlines who leave passengers on the tarmac for more than three hours. Airlines had opposed the rule, and similar proposed legislation, because they said it would lead to more cancellations.

Aviation regulators have been studying what to do about fatigued pilots and requirements for pilots of regional jets. Those issues got more attention after the February 2009 crash of a Colgan Air flight. United lobbied on bills that deal with those topics.

United also lobbied on climate issues and bills that would regulate trading of commodities such as oil. Airlines have opposed cap-and-trade proposals, saying they"re essentially a tax on energy consumption. And they"ve pushed Congress to adopt tighter rules on commodities trading, because they claim that speculators have driven up the price of oil. Jet fuel is one of the largest expenses for the industry.

United also lobbied on funding for the Federal Aviation Administration.

In addition to Congress, United lobbied the Transportation Department, the FAA and the White House, according to the April 19 filing with the House clerk"s Office.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines parent company said Friday the personal information of about 79,000 retirees, former and current employees has been compromised after a hard drive was stolen from its Fort Worth headquarters.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines parent company said Friday the personal information of about 79,000 retirees, former and current employees has been compromised after a hard drive was stolen from its Fort Worth headquarters.

No customer data was affected. The data was held by the company"s pension department.

The drive contained images of microfilm files, which included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and a "limited amount" of bank account information. Some health insurance information may have also been included — mostly enrollment forms, but also details about coverage, treatment, and other administrative information.

The data spans a period from 1960 to 1995.

AMR also believes some of the employee files also contained information on beneficiaries, dependents and other employees from 1960 to 1995.

The company has sent letters to the people that were impacted by the breach. AMR is offering one year of free credit monitoring for those affected.

It has already stepped up protective measures at its headquarters, including increasing security and testing the vulnerability of its computers.

AMR said it"s still investigating the incident.

NEW YORK – JetBlue is joining other carriers offering onboard food for sale. Five new snack boxes will go for $6 each.

NEW YORK – JetBlue is joining other carriers offering onboard food for sale. Five new snack boxes will go for $6 each.

The snack boxes will be available on flights longer than 3 hours and 45 minutes. They range from a "Wake Up" box that includes a croissant, jam, almond butter, crackers, fruit and milk to a "Cheer Up" box that features three cheeses, dried fruit and crackers.

There will still be free snacks on every flight. JetBlue began selling the boxes June 16 and officially announced the move Tuesday on Twitter and its blog.

As with any airline, making money beyond the ticket price is key to boosting JetBlue"s revenue. The company, based in Forest Hills, N.Y., made about $18 per passenger in extra fees during the first three months of this year. That includes things like change fees, charges for the second checked bag and pillows and blankets.

Several other domestic airlines offer snack packs or meals for sale on longer flights, including United, US Airways and Delta.

JetBlue shares fell 25 cents, or 4 percent, to close at $5.99.

(This version CORRECTS JetBlue charges for second bag, not for first. Updates stock quote.)

Delta Air Lines and US Airways say they"ll drop their proposed swap of takeoff and landing rights in Washington and New York rather than accept government restrictions on the deal.

Delta Air Lines and US Airways say they"ll drop their proposed swap of takeoff and landing rights in Washington and New York rather than accept government restrictions on the deal.

They"ll go to court instead. A Delta spokesman says an appeal would be filed Friday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The airlines have claimed previously that the government lacked the authority to deny the transaction.

Delta had wanted some of US Airways" takeoff and landing rights at LaGuardia airport in New York. In exchange, Delta was going to give US Airways some of its rights at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

But the Transportation Department said it would require that some slots be sold to other carriers.

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it is launching service to South Korea as part of its ambitious expansion into Asia and to cash in on the fast-growing number of Korean visitors to the islands.

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines Inc. said Wednesday it is launching service to South Korea as part of its ambitious expansion into Asia and to cash in on the fast-growing number of Korean visitors to the islands.

Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said service between Honolulu and Korea"s main airport of Incheon will start in January 2011 with flights four times a week. Tickets will go on sale later this summer.

"This is for us the next step in our strategic endeavor to make Asia an important source of traffic for Hawaiian Airlines," Dunkerley said in an interview before the company made its formal annoucement.

He said Incheon will a key hub for Hawaiian because of its accessibility and proximity to other nations including China.

Hawaii"s largest carrier could soon be serving both Japan and Korea for the first time as it evolves from an interisland and West Coast carrier to an international player.

Last month, Hawaiian received tentative approval from the Department of Transportation to receive one of four new routes to Tokyo Haneda airport, which has been off-limits to U.S. carriers since 1978. Hawaiian beat out much-larger competitors for the prized route, including Continental Airlines Inc. and UAL Corp."s United Airlines.

"We are at the point now where we"re getting a footprint in the most important countries for travel between Asia and Hawaii. So this represents far more than another route announcement," Dunkerley said. "This is the moment at which we are adding another leg to what we do."

Dunkerley wouldn"t disclose what other routes Hawaiian is considering, but the state has been making a strong marketing push for the Chinese.

Korean Airlines, which has a code-share agreement with Hawaiian, is the only carrier that currently provides direct service between Honolulu and Incheon. Due to strong demand, Korean Air on June 12 added three weekly flights, or 780 seats, giving it a total of 10 flights a week.

Hawaii has benefited from a program that began in November 2008 that allows Koreans to enter the United States without visas. Hawaii welcomed 20,211 Koreans in the first three months of this year, a 91 percent increase over the same period last year. On average, Koreans spent about $238 a day per person, about $100 more than a visitor from the West Coast.

The state predicts 74,000 Koreans will visit this year, nearly double the 38,110 visitors in 2008, before the visa waiver program.

Hawaii tourism liaison Marsha Wienert said the new route and additional airlift from Korea is "huge" for the visitor industry and economy.

"The potential is just ready to explode," she said. "The visa waiver was the first thing, the additional air seats is the second thing and an improving economy is the third. All the ducks are in a row."

Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Mike McCartney estimates the new route will generate $19.4 million annually in visitor spending.

In April, Hawaiian took delivery of the first of as many as 27 new 294-seat Airbus widebody aircraft to replace its fleet of Boeing jets to make the longer Asian routes possible. It also has recently added routes between Hawaii and California.

The company"s expansion comes just five years after it emerged from bankruptcy protection and while the rest of the industry has been shaken by mergers, restructuring and heavy cuts to staff and routes. It also comes amid a tourism slump caused by global economic problems.

But Hawaiian is bullish on Asia and is putting a huge bet on Hawaii as a world-class destination.

"We calibrated our expansion at a rate where we balance our enthusiasm for the opportunity with the common sense of not expanding so quickly as to create insurmountable problems later on," Dunkerley said.

He said because Hawaiian has been profitable the past two years, it allowed the company to focus on its long-term goals and investment instead of survival.

While the carrier has consistently been rated among the nation"s top airlines for service and on-time performance, it will soon be facing stiff competition from its Asian counterparts whose customer service is widely known.

"As we come to compete head-to-head with Asian carriers, we"re going to have to focus our product offering on the expectations of our customer that originate in parts of Asia and are used to traveling on Asian airlines," Dunkerley said. "That of course is a challenge, and I"m looking forward to it because I think our employees and airline is up to the task."

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Online:

Ha Long Bay (literally - "Descending Dragon Bay) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters. Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553km2, including 1,960 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species. 

Halong Bay is the capital of Quang Ninh, Vietnam. A number of attractions have made this place a famous tourist destination. Bai Tho Mountain is a famous spot here, where you will unveil the breathtaking view of nature. Cua Van Fishing Village is also very popular to the tourist. On the other hand, the places like Hoang Gia Park, Ha Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quang Ninh Museum, Vietnam- Japan Cultural House hold a special importance in the travel map of Halong. A wide range of hotels in Halong provide accommodation to all types of travelers. With an extensive database, Halong Vietnam Hotel will help you to get more information on the hotels in Halong. You will also get here online hotel reservation facility for the hotels in Halong and other hotels in Vietnam. This process is safe, secure and simple and will enable you to avail special discount on various hotels.

Ha Long Bay (literally - "Descending Dragon Bay) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters. Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553km2, including 1,960 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species. 

Halong Bay is the capital of Quang Ninh, Vietnam. A number of attractions have made this place a famous tourist destination. Bai Tho Mountain is a famous spot here, where you will unveil the breathtaking view of nature. Cua Van Fishing Village is also very popular to the tourist. On the other hand, the places like Hoang Gia Park, Ha Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quang Ninh Museum, Vietnam- Japan Cultural House hold a special importance in the travel map of Halong. A wide range of hotels in Halong provide accommodation to all types of travelers. With an extensive database, Halong Vietnam Hotel will help you to get more information on the hotels in Halong. You will also get here online hotel reservation facility for the hotels in Halong and other hotels in Vietnam. This process is safe, secure and simple and will enable you to avail special discount on various hotels.