Tempe, U.S.A. — US Airways continues to enhance its customers’ in-flight experience with the introduction of DineFresh, a premium meal option in Economy that allows customers to treat themselves when flying internationally to Europe, the Middle East and South America starting this week. The new premium choice enhances the airline’s current complimentary meal offerings. In addition, the airline is also introducing several new items to US Airways MarketPlace, its selection of snacks, meals and beverages available for purchase on domestic and international flights.

“The new DineFresh meal option, which is paired with complimentary wine, gives our customers more choices when traveling internationally in Economy,” said Hector Adler, vice president, InFlight Services. “With this new option, US Airways becomes the first U.S.-based carrier to offer a premium meal experience for customers in the main cabin.”

US Airways’ new DineFresh program allows customers to choose from either a vegetarian meal consisting of a Caprese salad with balsamic dressing, Portobello mushroom tortellini, Mediterranean-style appetizer and turtle cheesecake for dessert or a protein meal consisting of citrus-marinated chicken skewers, seasonal grilled vegetables, classic shrimp cocktail and creme brulee cheesecake for dessert.

The premium entree, which is priced at $19.99, must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the flight. Customers traveling on flights where DineFresh meals are offered will be notified in advance via email as to their availability.

As part of a refresh of its MarketPlace offerings, US Airways is adding Shock Top, a Belgian-style wheat ale with a hint of orange, to its list of beers, which already includes Beck’s, Budweiser and Bud Light. A sparkling wine option is also being added on select trans-Atlantic flights. Beer, wine and spirits are available for $7 each, Stirrings premium cocktail mixers are available for $8 each and sparkling wine is available for $9 each.

Also new to the airline’s MarketPlace Menu are three tasty snacks: Brent and Sam’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, made with all natural ingredients and no preservatives for $3 each, Emerald Whole Cashews, featuring no trans fats and zero cholesterol for $3 each and The Original Chex Mix, a party favorite for over 50 years, for $3.49 each. Food options range from $3 for snacks to $8 for fresh meals. Based on customer input, the airline is also adding the popular spicy cherry soda, Pibb Xtra, to its complimentary line-up of sparkling Coca-Cola beverages.

Starting August 1, all international flights operated by US Airways will only accept credit and debit cards for onboard purchases. This change is consistent with domestic US Airways flights that went to a convenient cashless system in 2010. US Airways Express flights will remain cash only.

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Fort Erie, Canada  – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced the installation of new technology at the Peace and Queenston-Lewiston Bridges to help people cross the border faster.

“Canada and the United States are taking action to promote the safe, secure and efficient movement of people and goods across the border,” said Minister Nicholson. “This technology will make cross-border travel easier and facilitate trade by providing reliable, up-to-date information to help drivers plan and choose the fastest crossing.”

New and advanced sensor technology near customs plazas and approach roads will measure and report delays, and relay this information to travellers. People will be able to plan their routes better, time their crossing, and select the bridge with the best wait-times.

“While driving to the border, we naturally wonder whether it will be faster to cross at Fort Erie orQueenston,” said Minister Nicholson. “With this new technology, accurate, up-to-the-minute crossing times will be posted well before you reach the border.”

This new system is expected to reduce border wait times for the travelling public and commercial carriers by up to one million hours per year. Up-to-date information on the Peace Bridge and Queenston-Lewiston Bridge websites will help drivers to plan and save money on fuel by avoiding congestion.

“This technology demonstrates significant progress on behalf of the Beyond the Border Action Plan by updating critical infrastructure at our ports and enhancement of the border-crossing experience for travelers,” said Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner David Aguilar. “This latest example of US-Canadian collaboration demonstrates our nations’ partnership to ensure continued economic competitiveness.”

“Freight movement is essential to commerce and a healthy economy,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “This technology will help U.S. businesses move their goods and products more efficiently across the border to help grow our national economy and create jobs.”

This project supports commitments under the Beyond the Border Action Plan announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama on December 7, 2011. Under this Plan,Canada and the U.S. committed to reduce, eliminate and prevent barriers to cross-border trade and travel and install border wait time measurement technology at the top 20 land crossings.

The border wait time technology will also:

• Help border agencies better manage traffic volume by providing reliable information for planning purposes.
• Ensure more efficient border operations by allowing border agencies to focus resources on security.
• Reduce environmental impacts by decreasing vehicle emissions from border congestion and delays.

“Border wait time measurement technology will improve accessibility across the border, increase efficiency at ports and enhance service levels,” said the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety. “By implementing border wait time technology at these ports of entry, travellers and commercial drivers will receive information to help them decide when and where to cross the border”.

This project was completed in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada.

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Southwest Airlines has introduced a new sleek cabin experience to enhance Customer comfort, improve fleet efficiency, and give back to the environment. Dubbed ‘Evolve: The New Southwest Interior’ , the cabin update utilizes durable and environmentally responsible products to reduce waste and create weight savings onboard the aircraft, while enhancing comfort for Customers.

Inspired by Southwest’s past with a nod to the airline’s future, the cabin refresh features recyclable carpet, a brighter color-scheme, and a more durable, eco-friendly, and comfortable low-profile seat that weighs less than the current seat.

The new interior design also provides the unique opportunity of greater revenue potential by increasing the number of seats onboard from 137 to 143, without sacrificing Customer comfort and personal space but, at the same time, increasing under-seat room for carryon luggage.

“We are preparing now for our next 40 years with a fleet modernization plan that includes the new interior, the Boeing 737-800 which is scheduled to come online beginning in March this year, and the 737 MAX, which is expected to join the Southwest fleet in 2017,” said Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

“The evolutionary changes we’re making with the new interior uphold our low-cost roots and historic focus on Customer Service. The cabin upgrade also allows us to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees.”

Beginning with a partnership between Southwest’s Maintenance and Engineering and Marketing Teams, Southwest set out to improve the inflight Customer Experience while increasing the durability of onboard materials, but without adding costs. In 2009, Southwest launched the “Green Plane” to test the market’s latest sustainable products onboard an aircraft in an effort to forge a new path in onboard eco-friendly products.

Based on the inflight test results and feedback from Customers onboard the Green Plane, Southwest’s new Evolve interior features the E-Leather seat cover and many of the other products tested on the Green Plane including the carpet, life vest pouch, foam fill, and passenger seat rub strips. To view a time lapse video of a Boeing 737-700 transforming into the Evolve: The New Southwest Interior.

Southwest will begin retrofitting its current fleet of 372 Boeing -700s with the Evolve interior in March 2012, anticipating completion in 2013, for a total estimated cost of approximately $60 million.

As integration of AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest, moves forward, Southwest anticipates that AirTran’s Boeing -700s and 717s will also be retrofitted with the new cabin interior as those aircraft are converted into the Southwest brand over the next several years. Other Southwest fleet types are still being evaluated for a possible retrofit.

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