Wednesday 31 December 2008 - msnbc.com

The year’s top 10 travel stories

msnbc.com

By Alexander Zaitchik, FORBES TRAVELER

It was another tumultuous year in travel. The dollar appeared to be bottoming out. The price of jet fuel returned to earth. But financial turmoil triggered a global slowdown that left an industry uncertain. To top it off, a cheetah was found running loose in the cargo belly of a Delta flight to Atlanta in October.

The longest shadow looming over the coming year is the fate of the global airline industry, which analysts agree is on track to continue 2008’s spurt of consolidation and restructuring. Some predict up to 30 European carriers could go under by early 2009.

In another clear trend, travel and tourism became a deeper shade of green in 2008. The number of hotels seeking official “eco-friendly” certification exploded, led by mega-chains like Marriot.

But for now, let’s take a quick look back at the year that was. In January, a Dutch firm called EUclaim launched to help passengers claim compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, which is allowed under a little-known 2005 piece of European Union legislation. No word yet on when Americans can expect an equivalent law.

In February, a Virgin Airlines Boeing 747 flew London-Amsterdam to become the first commercial flight fueled by bio-diesel. At least in part: One of the plane’s four engines was powered in part by a mix of coconut and babassu oil. The International Air Transportation Association, meanwhile, published a report soon after stating as its goal a “zero carbon future.”

A group of British Airways staffers based at London Gatwick Airport...