| Mayor: NYC had record number of tourists in 2011 and TSA: Daggers hidden in book at Reagan Airport |
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NEW YORK — A record number of tourists visited New York City this year, spending about $32 billion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday.Some new and classic theaters are luring customers with advanced technology, cool events and such gourmet treats as bacon-fat popcorn.By the end of 2011, about 50.2 million people will have visited the city, generating an economic impact of around $48 billion, the city said in a news release."Five and half years ago, we set an ambitious goal to reach 50 million visitors by 2015 and in 2008, we accelerated that goal to be the end of 2012," Bloomberg said in a statement. "Today, we know that we will exceed this significant milestone by year's end."New York also kept its ranking in 2011 as the No. 1 city destination and overseas destination in the United States. [Read the full article] LUXEMBOURG — Europe's highest court has upheld the right of the European Union to impose a carbon cap-and-trade scheme on international airlines using European airports, rejecting an appeal from U.S. airlines.The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg dismissed the argument Wednesday that the program infringes on national sovereignty or violates international aviation treaties.The carbon trading program, which would force airlines to pay for the carbon they emit, is due to go into effect Jan. 1.The Emissions Trading System (ETS) " used to charge industries such as oil refineries, power stations and steel works for CO2 emissions as part of Europe's efforts against climate change " is one of the widest reaching measures adopted by any country or regional bloc to regulate the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.The suit was brought by U.S. [Read the full article] Turns out you may need less courage than you might think. Contrary to accepted wisdom, the idea that the holidays represent the busiest days in air travel may be more myth than reality.With few exceptions, the Christmas travel season is off to a smooth start. According to the Associated Press:“The days around the holidays are still among the busiest periods,” said Steve Lott, spokesman for Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade group formerly known as the Air Transport Association. “But on a random Friday in July you can often see travel numbers that top, say, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.”Some people will get a white Christmas in Arizona and New Mexico, and Texas is in the path of the winter storm. The Weather Channel's Kelly Cass reports.“Our busiest day was Sunday following Thanksgiving with about 89,000 passengers,” said Perry Cooper, spokesman for Sea-Tac International Airport. [Read the full article] 
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