On November 1, Colombia-based Avianca plans to start flights between Bogot� and Guatemala City,
with four weekly flights.
Beginning November 8, Avianca will start nonstop service between San Salvador, El Salvador and Newark, New Jersey (U.S.). The flights will initially run four times a week, but will likely drop to fewer days by December.
U.S.-based American Airlines will begin flying between Miami and the Brazilian cities of Curitiba (Paran� state) and Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sol state) on November 21.
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Curitiba
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Also beginning November 21, American will drop two round-trip flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Sao Paulo, Brazil, bringing the total weekly flights on that route down to 12. The airline is also moving to nighttime departures for both legs.
U.S.-based JetBlue Airways plans to launch new daily nonstop service between Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 20.
Germany-based TUIfly will begin flying between Hamburg, Germany and several Caribbean cities in November: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (beginning November 1); Cancun, Mexico (beginning November 2); Barbados (beginning November 22); and La Romana, Dominican Republic (beginning November 29).
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TUIfly
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Bahamas-based airline Bahamasair will begin flying nonstop between Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida (U.S.) and Nassau, Bahamas on November 11.
Airline Alliance News
U.S.-based Silver Airways and United Airlines reaffirmed their codeshare relationship for service throughout Florida and The Bahamas, with single-source booking and ticketing for more than 370 destinations.
U.S.-based airline JetBlue and Russian carrier Transaero signed an interline deal, set to begin this month, that will allow the two airlines to accommodate passengers and their luggage via a single itinerary that involves flights on both partners.
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William P. Hobby Airport
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Airport News
William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas (U.S.) broke ground on what will be its first international terminal. U.S.-based Southwest Airlines plans to use the new terminal to offer international flights for the first time in its existence. The US$156 million project will have five gates and customs and immigration facilities.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas (U.S.) is the latest U.S. airport to purchase self-service kiosks for passengers clearing international customs. The airport plans to buy and install 32 kiosks.
Other Air Travel News
Gogo Inflight Internet and Magnolia Pictures signed a deal that will allow some airlines to offer first-run films for viewing over in-flight WiFi before they hit the local cinemas. Movies will be rented for 24 hours to a single device for US$10.
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Southwest Airlines
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Ground Transportation
Car rental company Silvercar, which leases only Audi A4s, will expand to Los Angeles International Airport on November 4.
Loyalty Program Updates
Southwest Airlines is offering double Rapid Rewards frequent-flier points on all new tickets booked between October 21 and November 21, with registration required for the promotion.
Hotel News
The Hilton Cabana Miami Beach will open December 16. The hotel will have 231 guestrooms and suites spread over Cabana-style buildings, as well as three small meeting rooms, two pools, a restaurant, a fitness center and a business center.
The Couples Barbados in St. Lawrence has been acquired by Sandals Resorts International and will reopen as the Sandals Barbados on November 6. Sandals plans to immediately begin renovating the 280-room property. Developed by Auteles Kalionchiz, rooms at the InterContinental Hotels Group property all include a sitting area with a lounge chair and a micro fridge. The hotel has fitness center, business center, pool and two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 500 people.
Hotel Pipeline
InterContinental Hotels Group broke ground on a 20-story, 225-room Real InterContinental in the Piantini neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Scheduled to open in 2015, the $70 million dollar property will be located next to the Acropolis shopping mall and will include restaurants, a fitness center, spa, an outdoor pool and meeting rooms.