Travel Roundup: Dangerous Mumbai, Akron-Canton Gets D.C., Cirrus Cuts Production and More
State Department issues travel alert for Mumbai after more than 140 killed – With more than 140 dead and 325 injured in terrorist attacks in the past two days, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Americans traveling or already in India, asking them to defer travel a few days or “maintain a high level of vigilance.” The terrorist attacks targeted areas around Mumbai where foreign tourists congregated. While a significant number of the dead and injured were Western tourists, the majority of those killed and injured were Indian. [Source: LA Times Travel Blog]
US Airways to begin new daily flight between Akron-Canton and D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation gave US Airways the go-ahead to start a new daily roundtrip flight between Akron-Canton Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The new, nonstop service could start as early as January. A local congresswoman said the new flights would not only help the people of her district but also give ”our local economy an important boost.” [Source: Akron Beacon Journal]
Cirrus cuts production, furloughs workers – Cirrus Design Corp. decided to stop production in December, temporarily laying off almost half of its 1,100 workers in its Duluth, Minn. and Grand Forks, N.D. plants. Workers are expected to return to work Jan. 5. President and chief operating officer Brent Wouters said the company had to make “difficult tactical decisions” and still intends on “retooling the production line.” [Source: Aviation Week]
Morgans gets loan extensions for Miami hotel — Morgans Hotel Group Co. announced this week it received extensions on $112 million of financing for its Miami-based Mondrian hotel, where Morgans owns 50 percent. The hotel, which opens Dec. 1, will have new loan due dates moved from Aug. 1, 2009 to July 29, 2013. The extensions are subject to conditions, including a $17.5 million payment that must be made by Aug. 1, 2009. The company previously announced a $10 million loan extension in November. [Source: Hotels Magazine]
Bay Area resident and award-winning business journalist Barbara E. Hernandez has covered tourism, real estate and personal finance. Her clients include the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Washington Post.




BNET User Analysis