The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is on track to launch its next-generation airline passenger-prescreening program, Secure Flight, on Jan. 1, 2009. The new program shifts the responsibility of watchlist matching from airlines to the government. A TSA official during a House subcommittee hearing this month noted that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff certified that the program has met 10 criteria required by Congress as conditions to proceed for a January rollout. Assistant administrator of TSA's Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing Greg Wellen said during the hearing, "The rule is now in the final stages of administrative review."
Air Canada, WestJet Drop Fuel-Based FeesThe two dominant Canadian carriers—Air Canada and WestJet—this month reversed fees as the cost of oil declined. Air Canada dropped its $25 second-checked-bag charge "in response to decreasing fuel prices," while WestJet stopped assessing fuel surcharges on North American flights, which ranged between $20 and $45 per way, depending on length of haul. Air Canada on Oct. 14 also plans to "simplify" its excess baggage policy by charging $75 for overweight and/or oversize luggage for travel within North America, and $100 for other travel. The carrier previously would levy a $100 charge for excess baggage on North American flights, and could charge several excess-baggage fees on the same bag. For example, the $100 baggage fee previously was counted twice for an oversize and overweight bag.
Rearden Buys Ground Transport Booking SystemRearden Commerce this month announced the acquisition of automated ground transportation reservation provider Ground Global Automation—formerly Ground Travel Technology Team—for an undisclosed amount. GGA will operate as a stand-alone subsidiary within the growing Rearden Commerce portfolio that now includes expense management software provider ExpenseWire
(BTNonline, July 21). GGA president and CEO Gregg Tuccillo remains head of the Hackensack, N.J.-based company. GGA now is available as an opt-in service through Rearden's online procurement platform.
Visa Europe Launches Carbon-Neutral Corp. CardVisa Europe is launching a new corporate card that automatically will measure the carbon emission effect of each purchase and offset it through such projects as forestry or renewable energy through a partnership announced this month with RePay International, a PricewaterhouseCoopers-controlled company. The card can be issued through Visa's 4,600 member banks throughout Europe. The program expands on Visa's carbon-neutral GreenCard, which it launched in the Netherlands in 2004.
Enterprise, Europcar Expand AllianceEnterprise Rent-A-Car and Europcar are expanding their strategic alliance and will approach corporate accounts together. The alliance expands on the partnership previously in place with National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. Enterprise will refer clients to Europcar for rentals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific, and Europcar will refer clients to Enterprise, National and Alamo for rentals in North America.