Travel Roundup: Southwest Unloads Gates, LAX Reports Declines, Travelers Take Amtrak and More

Southwest trying to give up boarding gates at BWI — Southwest Airlines, which is trying to buy spots from AirTran Airways at La Guardia Airport, is also attempting to give up some of its boarding gates at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.  A spokeswoman for the company said the decision to downsize was to “optimize operations,” rather than trying to pull out of the airport. Southwest manages 24 gates at BWI. [Source: AP].

LA airports expect 14 to 30 percent declines in Thanksgiving travel — Los Angeles International Airport expects a 14. 3 percent drop in travelers this Thanksgiving holiday.  “It follows the trend that was already reported for the fall and winter schedules,” an airport spokeswoman said. At LA/Ontario International Airport, officials are projecting a 30 percent drop in passengers, or 210,000 people, primarily because ExpressJet and Jet Blue Airways have left the airport. [Source: Los Angeles Times]

Airsick travelers boost bus and train travel for Thanksgiving — AAA reports that while air travel will be down this Thanksgiving holiday, buses and passenger trains can expect to enjoy a 6 percent rise in business. The American Bus Association is projecting 2008 will report passenger bus schedules expanded about 15 percent year-over-year. While no statistics are available from Amtrak yet, the company reported an increase of 2.8 million passengers for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 — a 11 percent rise in demand. It’s not only the hassles of air travel keeping passengers away, but also discount bus services that offer perks like wireless Internet and comfortable legroom. [Source: SmartMoney]

Mokulele Airlines debuts service — Mokulele Airlines had its first jet flight from Honolulu to Lihue this week. The jet is one of the first 70-seat Embraer 170 planes that arrived as part of a service agreement with Indianapolis-based Republic Airways. The partnership breathes new life into the interisland market after Aloha Airlines folded last March. The four jets will have daily flights from Honolulu to Lihue and Kona. [Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin]