Travel Roundup: Polluting Cruise Ships, Punctual Hawaiian Airlines and More

Cruise ships cited for pollution — Alaska issued six more notices for cruise ship wastewater pollution in Juneau, bringing the total to 15 for the year.  Ships in port exceeded limits on zinc, copper and ammonia. [Source: Fort Mill Times]

Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. pulls out of Chicago project — Strategic Hotels & Resorts pulled out of their agreement to purchase space adjacent to the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, citing rising costs, and company officials expect to lose $36 million from the disrupted deal. Strategic Hotels entered into the agreement in 2006. [Source: Chicago Tribune]

Hawaiian Airlines is the most punctual –  Although most of the nation’s top 19 airlines showed improvement in August, Hawaiian Airlines reached the top spot by scoring a 92.3 percent on-time record, according to the Department of Transportation. JetBlue had the lowest on-time arrival rate. [Source: Bizjournals]

Maybe it was the jump in ridership? – Although the Bush administration has publicly argued over subsidizing Amtrak, President Bush is expected to sign a bill giving $13 billion to the passenger rail service over the next five years.  The Senate approved the legislation, which also improves industrial safety, Wednesday. [Source: Wired, Reuters]