In an apparently preemptive move, British Airways has outlined its plans to continue operations during a cabin-crew walkout before strike dates have been announced.

In other words, they’re letting cabin crew know how they’re going to beat them before the game officially begins.

It’s a move that could work out well for the airline, as the ultimate injury isn’t work stoppage —  it’s a lack of traveler confidence, resulting in a long-term drop in sales.

In a March 3 press-release, British Airways CEO Willie Walsh wrote the airline plans to operate all flights from London City Airport, all long-haul flights and about half of the short-haul flights at Gatwick, and a “substantial proportion” of long- and short-haul flights at Heathrow.

Walsh also said the airline has trained nearly 1,000 volunteer employees as cabin crew and has arranged to secure seats from other carriers. Unite has until March 15 to announce any strike dates, and must give seven days advance notice before walkouts.

British Airways might not be calling for strike action, but it’s definitely calling the union’s bluff.

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The union representing British Airways’ (BA) cabin-crews could have its scone and eat it too, as it perpetually pursues the threat of a strike rather than just walking off the job. News reports indicated that Unite, the union representing BA’s cabin crews, would announce the dates of a rolling strike Feb. 25, but instead the union said it would continue talks with the airline.

Cabin-crew members voted for a strike Feb. 22, but in this case the union might be able to very gently tighten the screws without throwing punches. After all, uncertainty alone has to be hurting British Airways, with some passengers choosing to fly on alternate airlines until the strike talks are resolved. Successful negotiations would also mean the airline doesn’t have to roll-out potentially-embarrassing plan B—cross-training workers to replace experienced cabin crew.

We can only imagine that this is an empty threat, and one that has cabin-crew members scratching their heads and wondering who would volunteer for their jobs—baggage handlers? Office employees? Executive leadership? And is seven days, the required time between strike notice and industrial action, enough time to train on safety procedures, mediations regarding overhead bin space and the myriad of other issues the cabin crews handle each flight?

While the results might be reality-TV worthy, it’s not a scenario most travelers would welcome.  

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If you think the safety-check fiasco that suddenly grounded nearly 3,000 flights in early April is a distant memory, you might want to think again. With increasingly vigilant inspections planned into the summer, travelers should expect the unexpected.
FAA audits will continue through June 30, and spokeswoman for the organization said that further cancellations can’t be ruled out. The crack-down has been a long time coming, but in many ways it seems to have caught airlines off guard, resulting in massive numbers of stranded travellers.
The stricter safety inspections and the airline industry’s collective surprise stems from a previously cozy relationship that went south following accusations that the FAA has been too lenient.
Flightglobal.com quotes Transportation Department inspector general Calvin Scovel who said: "What we have seen from the FAA on too many occasions is, you just put in a wink and nod instead of a demonstration of true will."
That’s a serious smack-down for a federal agency in charge of ensuring compliance with safety standards, and it left the FAA with something to prove. The airlines have been put on alert, but they seem to be waiting for things to chill out, all the while complaining that the FAA is inconsistent, unreasonable and mean.
In the struggle between the FAA and the airlines, business travellers will surely be the ones grounded.

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Air France officially ran away from the Alitalia altar this week after months of union opposition and verbal jabs from Italy’s prime-minister-elect, Silvio Berlusconi, who called the bid “humiliating.”

What’s a spurned airline to do? Italy can’t bankroll the flailing airline forever, but it did recently approve a $475 million emergency loan, providing short-term stability until the next lucky suitor comes along. But even the loan is precarious, as Italy might have broken a few European Union state aid rules.

That means Berlusconi is forced to play matchmaker, and has reportedly lined up an unnamed Italian business group that will be making bids on the airline, a move that’s sure to spark the interest of other airlines. We’ll believe it when we see it, as the story sounds suspiciously like the imaginary girlfriend abroad.

It’s more likely that Alitalia is getting the eye from Aeroflot, with Forbes.com reporting that the Russian Airline was "waiting to have an offer to get back to talks."  Aeroflot is interested, but has made it clear that Alitalia must do the courting.

While the wheeling and dealing of the airline industry might be scintillating, business travelers should know that there is a very real chance that Alitalia could declare bankruptcy and abruptly cease operations. Avoid the drama and book elsewhere.

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Earlier this week Aloha travelers were left in the cold when the airline announced it had ceased operations, and today ATA announced that it has shut its doors, leaving ticket holders scrambling to find alternate carriers.

Even worse, both airlines are going through bankruptcy proceedings, forcing travelers and their travel managers to dispute the charges with their credit card companies.  That’s truly an insult to injury—especially for those already rescheduling flights to Hawaii, or worse yet, trying to get home from a business trip.

It’s an unstable time for airlines, particularly for the smaller carriers and those already facing financial difficulties. Forbes is predicting “A Bumpy Ride for Airlines in 2008,”  and Reuters  reports that airlines are looking to slash costs and push fees. As the smaller airlines go under, the big players will be better able to raise ticket prices. That’s better for the airline business, but sure to hit business travelers in the pocketbook.

While travelers wait for more fee increases, they can also ponder which airline will fold next.

It’s a hard call to make, but it's wise to check out the New York Times piece on Alitalia before making any bets—or purchasing any tickets.

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The grand opening of London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 has created chaos for travelers, and it’s likely that technical problems and various other issues will plague the airport for weeks.
On Saturday, March 28, British Airways plans to cancel about 15% of its flights, but at least these passengers will be able to check in luggage—unlike Thursday's passengers who were told to travel light or stay home.

Forbes called the terminal’s opening a “fiasco”,  Reuters reported that travelers lost snooker cues and the BBC politely pointed out that the debacle was “not BA’s finest hour.”  While facing an international PR disaster, the airline also managed to insult Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, who felt slighted by the high number of cancellations involving Airports in Scotland. We have a feeling this isn't the first time Scotland has felt slighted by London, but that's another matter entirely.

In a grand understatement, British Airways has admitted to a few "minor problems", but added “this is not is not unexpected following one of the most complex and largest airport moves in history."

The state-of-the-art terminal features a Tiffany boutique, two travel spas, a 20-seat cinema and a Swarvovski crystal chandelier in its Gold Bar, but that’s little consolation to those who visit the airport to travel. It might take a few weeks, but BA is working to iron out the travel wrinkles. Until then, travelers should be prepared for stalls, delays and general mayhem.

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March 12, 14,000 members of the Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) walked off the job, but so far impacts have been minimal.  Some of those striking workers—ground controllers, for example— sound pretty essential to flight operations. Others, such as baggage crew, seem like people you’d really like to see after a 20-hour flight from LA through Frankfurt,  but apparently in India they aren’t that big of a deal.

The Economic Times quotes a happy traveler, who says “There is no problem. Everything is normal. I got my baggage in time. We expected chaos here but I was surprised to find everything normal on a strike day.”

These are the same employees who went on a hunger strike in February, a move that’s much more Mahatma Ghandi  than it is rabble-rouser. Their peaceful protest could go on quite a while, and it's bound to be full of non-cooperation. Travelers are advised to keep an eye on the strike and continue to confirm reservations.

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As airports in Germany recover from the rolling strikes March 5, the country’s train drivers are making noise about work stoppage as early as Monday, March 10.

Members of the GDL union have said they’ll stay home if negotiations aren’t signed by Sunday, leaving trains at the station and passengers looking for taxis.

And there’s always the chance that the public sector employees will strike again soon, which would put a serious crimp in public transportation and airline operations.

The Ver.di union is expected to ballot its members for an unlimited strike Thursday, March 6, which could leave the nation without buses, planes or trains. This looks likely, with Spiegel Online reporting that the union chief has called the last wage offer "provocative, insulting and shameless, ” which we think is a rather colorful way to call “strike!” Travelers should confirm rental cars and head for the autobahn.

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Public sector workers in Germany could cause flight havoc March 5 with a planned strike at Cologne (CGN), Duesseldorf (DUS) and Munester/Osnabrueck (FMO). The strike will likely be for a few hours, but with work stoppage possibly including police officers, fire and runway crew, airports will have to be shutdown and  delays and cancellations will snowball.

March 4, hospital public transportation, garbage collection and museum services were interrupted by striking workers, who say they’re underpaid and want an 8% raise. Germany requires exhaustive negotiations before an all-out unlimited strike can be declared, but with about  2.3 million workers represented by the Ver.di union, the nation could face a number of small but powerful strikes at nearly every sector.  Travelers will want to keep a close eye on negotiations and prepare for cancellations.

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Business travelers understand that third-world countries don’t have the same health issues as the US – for instance polio outbreaks have recently been reported in some areas of Africa – but for most travelers, the biggest concern is avoiding the sniffles.

With a number of countries such as Switzerland and Japan facing an alarming number of measles  travelers can’t be complacent.

In both Japan and Switzerland, immunization levels are surprisingly low by US standards, as they are in Italy, Germany and Austria. As a side note, German doctors often blame the Swiss for any outbreaks in Germany, saying the disease is being imported. The Swiss, of course, remain neutral.

But back to business travel, the good news is that most US residents don’t have to worry about infection, as they were either born before 1957 or were vaccinated in childhood.  For anyone else, we say bring home Swiss chocolates and Swiss contracts, but review immunization records prior to travel to avoid Swiss measles.

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In a turn of good luck for business travelers, strikes planned for BAA, the U.K.'s largest airport operator, and Virgin Atlantic have been cancelled. The strikes, which would have launched Jan. 7 and 9 respectively, would have nearly shut down air travel for a large chunk of the month. With union agreements underway, travelers to the U.K. should see smooth flights in January.

That can't be said for Australia, where Qantas engineers have threatened to begin a series of four-hour walkouts at midnight Jan. 9. The engineers are needed to inspect planes pre-flight, and without those inspections passengers won't be leaving the ground. It could be complete chaos or intermittent troubles, but either way business travelers can expect delays and cancellations.

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With the New Year ringing in, BAA and Virgin Atlantic Airline workers plan to check out with a series of strikes that could stall flights and ground planes throughout January. In a maddening on-again off-again, today-you-fly-but-tomorrow-you-don’t sort of way, UK business travelers will face shutdowns at BAA’s seven airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton, with strikes planned for 24 hours on January 7 and January 14, and 48 hours on January 17.

We’ve heard reports that BAA has begun training hundreds of senior management to screen passengers if Unite Union’s fire crews, maintenance workers and clerical and security staff strike as expected. While we relish the idea of everyone rolling up their sleeves, security and trained fire crews sound terribly important.

At the same time, Virgin Atlantic faces industrial action, with its cabin crews expected to strike on Jan. 9, 10, 16 and 17. The airline says it will be just fine, but has already cancelled a number of flights to and from London, and more cancellations are expected.

At the very least, queues will be slow, but it’s more likely that travelers will be stranded— in dirty airports. Suddenly, business premier through the Chunnel and under the sea sounds completely reasonable.

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SAS unions have not been happy with proposals to sell the airline’s Ground Services, Technical Services and cargo handling units, and will likely call for a strike as soon as the decision is officially made.  Swedish media report the formal announcement will be made in January, with SAS holding out until after the close of holiday travel.

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December 13 will be the day of reckoning for Alitalia, with the Italian government expected to decide whether the troubled national airline should go to AP Holding or Air France/KLM.

Unions are already angry about both companies' reorganization proposals and they’ve planned a series of strikes for Dec. 14th that will cause flight delays and cancellations throughout the country. If the airline bid goes to Air France, which has been clear about the need for cutbacks, Fridays’ strike will be the first in a long line of protests.

Alitalia Chairman Maurizio Prato supports selling the country’s 49.9% stake to Air France, calling the decision good for the airline and good for the country. Good for business, but we say bad for business travelers.

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In an attempt to provide more daylight for school children and thumb their noses at most of the world’s hourly schedule, Venezuelans roll their clocks back 30 minutes the morning of Dec. 9th.

Travelers flying to, from or through Venezuela should be alerted that the country now will have its own time zone, VET, -4:30 GMT. Airlines will undoubtedly make the necessary changes, but we advise any travelers to confirm all reservation times, with an emphasis on making connections.

Left-wing President Hugo Chavez, who has changed the name of the country, the flag and its coat of arms, and recently made an unsuccessful bid to be president-elect-forever-more, says the time-zone change provides  "more fair distribution of the sunrise."  

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Naughty or nice is beside the point— unions know that strikes during the holiday season hit the travel industry’s life blood. Rumbles of industrial actions have increased from all corners of the world, with most of the buzz likely little more than leverage prior to negotiations.

Having said that, we’re keeping a close eye on the UK and its major airport operator, BAA. Employees of   the mammoth BAA, which owns seven UK airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton, could strike as soon as Dec. 27th.

Mix in a likely strike by Virgin Atlantic cabin crew members in early January, and UK business travelers could face weeks of flight chaos.

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Transportation strikes have become a way of life in Italy, but that doesn’t make them any easier for business travelers. We’ve been advised that a planned strike for Nov. 30th will shut down flights, trains, busses and ferries for much of the day, leaving passengers stranded on a Friday. Cancellations aren’t expected until 11 AM, so if at all possible book the earliest flight of the day. If that’s not an option, consider saying “ciao” to weekend plans, learn a few more Italian phrases and make a reservation for Saturday.

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Holiday business travelers have at least one thing to be thankful for —the Pentagon will open unused airspace to commercial airplanes Wednesday Nov. 21 through Sunday Nov. 25, providing air traffic controllers an option for routing flights if there’s bad weather. This “Thanksgiving express lane” should ease congestion at New York airports and increases the chance that many more travelers make it home for dinner.

We can imagine a collective sigh of relief from the airlines, which have been scrambling to prepare for a busier then usual holiday travel season. The Air Transport Association has forecast planes to be 90% full between Nov. 16 and November 27, with a four percent travel increase over the same time last year.

The airlines have struggled with weather-related delays this year, and with the Transportation Department proposing doubling bump fees for denying ticketed passengers a seat, there’s a lot of pressure to get things right.  Even with that, travelers should prepare for significant crowds, get to the airport early and whenever possible fly nonstop.

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It’s tough to count on a train in Europe these days, with French rail workers walking off the job Nov. 13, German rail workers striking Nov. 14, and the UK’s Midland Mainline and Silverlink rail workers continuing their intermittent work stoppage. This is the second string of strikes for France and Germany, and we’ve been advised strikes could continue indefinitely.

Whether by plan or coincidence, the rail unions have aligned strike dates and while workers might have different concerns—in France it’s pension changes, in the UK and Germany it’s pay — the end result derails commuters. In Germany and the UK, train disruptions won’t shut down mass transit, but travelers can expect increased traffic congestion and are advised to confirm all rental-car reservations.

French commuters won’t be so lucky, with public transportation expected to grind to a halt. Utility workers have threatened the country will see power outages, civil servants and students are up in arms and there’s even talk of the Paris Opera canceling the Nov. 14th premiere of the Nutcracker.
It’s possible the entire country will stay home and wait out the strikes.
Business travelers should wear good walking shoes, bring a flashlight and be prepared to hop on a bicycle.

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French Strike Again... updated

French rail and mass transit workers plan another traffic-crippling response to President Sarkozy’s plans to change pensions with an unlimited transport strike beginning the night of Nov. 13.

November 8, the largest union representing Paris transit workers decided to join the strike, and five other unions at the Paris metro, bus and RER express lines will likely join. It’s also possible that a number of workers, including Air France employees, will strike in sympathy.

Previous strikes in October sent the French scouting for bicycles and left business travelers stuck in traffic congestion. Two major energy unions expect to strike for 24-hours beginning Nov. 14. It’s difficult to say what impacts the energy strike will have, but we have been advised it won’t be good.

November 20th, rail workers will be joined by striking civil servants, teachers and postal workers, angered by proposed job cuts, and the UNEF student union. With Sarkozy vowing to hold the course, travelers should prepare for slow downs and shut downs.

Read more on the strikes:

Brazilian Airline Calls it Quits For Now

Beleaguered Brazilian Airline BRA Transportes Aereos has rolled up the tarmac, temporarily suspending flights amidst speculation of financial woes. The airline reportedly sent lay off notices to its 1,100 employees, and is attempting to connect ticketed passengers with other airlines. With two major crashes, radar outages and labor strikes within the past few years, BRA Transportes has seen its share of troubles. Business travelers in Brazil will most likely feel the pain as other airlines overbook and delay to cover cancelled flights.

More on cancellations:

American Airlines Talks Hit Turbulence

American Airlines faces some tough times ahead, with Pilot Association negotiations heading south fast, bargaining with the Transport Union Workers just begun, and talks with flight attendants slated for early 2008. Any of those unions could put a major crimp in American Airlines flights, but collectively they could do some serious damage.

Some key points have been determined for pilots, including how furloughs will be handled, but per usual pay remains a hot topic. Several talks are scheduled for November, but neither party appears to be playing nice.

Airport business.com, which covers the aviation industry, reports that union officials have sent American’s parent company a strongly worded letter containing this particularly colorful quote: "enjoy your blood money and your union-busting meetings. We'll see you in court, in the newspapers and on the picket line.”

Sticks and stone break bones, but business travelers know that strikes can also hurt you.

More on the strikes: 

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Planes Pulled After at least 3 Mechanical Malfunctions

After a series of crash landings involving the Bombardier-built Q400, Scandinavian Airlines has permanently grounded the turboprop aircrafts. With three major mechanical malfunctions in two months, we think it’s better safe than sorry.
"Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft. Accordingly, with the Board of Directors' approval, I have decided to immediately remove Dash 8 Q400 aircraft from service," Mats Jansson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SAS, said in a company press release.
Other airlines could follow suit— after SAS reported problems with landing gear in September, Bombardier recommended all Q400s with 10,000 or
more flight segments receive immediate safety inspections, spurring hundreds of domestic and international cancellations.
This time around, Bombardier asks airlines to continue flights as usual, and says it stands by its landing gear.
SAS will be replacing its 27 grounded aircraft with leased planes, but in the meantime, travelers should be prepared for delays.

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Striking Softly, and Right on Schedule

In what is either an extremely polite or frustratingly passive-aggressive industrial action, unions representing UK’s Midland Mainline and Silverlink rail companies have scheduled a long-line of alternating 24-hour strikes starting Oct. 25th. The two companies appear to be taking turns at work stoppage, with Midland striking Oct. 25th, Silverlink striking Oct. 26th, and then a back-and-forth train schedule until Nov. 30th.  There’s one day of strike overlap, Nov. 1, which likely resulted from an unfortunate scheduling conflict — or so we imagine.

We’re not sure if this is an attempt to ease the pain for travelers, who will be able to catch the train home some of the time in November, or a diabolical plot to drive everyone crazy.

Unlike France, where legions of workers walked off the job with train employees, the Brits haven’t had any reports of planned sympathy strikes. In fact, several other rail companies have promised to assist, and will accept tickets that were purchased for Midland Mainline and Silverlink during the strikes. In the UK, it looks like it will be business as usual.

For updates, see UK train strikes.

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Travels in France? Perhaps Not

The French appear to be doing just about everything they can to disrupt business travel, from continuing an ongoing rail strike to planning a five-day Air France strike Oct. 25-29. The Air France Strike would include approximately 60% of the company’s stewards, and even if the airline flies lean, travelers should expect flight cancellations.

At the same time, commuters continue to face transit woes, with ongoing rail disruptions between Charles de Gaulle airport and central Paris. It’s been reported that there was 124 miles of traffic jams in Paris during Tuesday morning’s rush hour.

If that’s not enough, civil servants, concerned about potential job cuts , have announced plans for a one-day strike November 20th. With an apparently high amount of public support , and what appears to be a natural bent toward sympathy strikes in France, this event could bring the entire country to a one-day halt.

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Kiko Heads Toward Mexico

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had a weather system of note, but it looks like Kiko, a tropical storm spinning off the Pacific Coast of Mexico, could be a hurricane contender. As of Oct. 19, the storm threatened Southwestern Mexico with strong winds and heavy rain, and if  Kiko stays on course it will hit California Baja by Monday, Oct. 22.

The National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, NOAA, expects the storm to intensify, and flight cancellations and delays could follow.

It’s Up in the Air in Italy

With plans for an Air Traffic Controller strike in Italy Oct. 22nd, travelers trying to fly to, from or through Italy will be taking their chances. Alitalia, the beleaguered national airline, is already preparing for severe impacts. The one-day strike could leave a lot of passengers stranded, so we suggest those with flights on the 22nd reschedule — in Italian, that’s devo annullare/rimandere il mio volo— and relax.   When in Rome …. expect delays.

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In France, Labor Loves a Strike

We’re predicting a transit melt-down in Paris tomorrow, October 18, with SNCF railway employees walking off the job, and Air France and Paris airport workers expected to strike in sympathy. Because this is France, the strike list also includes opera singers, teachers, electricity and gas workers and civil servants.

Metro, RER commuter rail, bus and tram services will likely be unavailable, and both Eurostar and Thalys, operators of high-speed rail lines, have said that they expect to reduce their routes to France by as much as 40 percent.

The International Herald Tribune quotes a Eurostar spokesman who says, "We are advising anyone who doesn't have to travel Thursday not to do so at all.”

Those are strong words, especially from a travel exec.

If that’s not enough, the French worry the strike could affect the rugby World Cup final, scheduled for Oct. 20. Business travel might feel the heat, but nobody messes with rugby.

For more on the strikes, straight from France:

The latest Expedia update:

Germany Faces Second Round of Train Woes

Perhaps the Germans are watching the French, with the country's latest round of rail strikes coinciding with massive industrial action in France. The latest move follows Deutsche Bahn’s most recent pay raise offer, which was soundly rejected by the Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivfuehrer (GDL) trade union.  GDL has threatened to strike from Oct. 18 until its demands are met, and it’s likely the trains will be off course though at least Oct. 24.  While delays can be expected, Deutsche Bahn expects to provide 60 percent of its normal service by calling in substitute drivers and adding bus routes.

For more on the strike:

The latest Expedia update:

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Planes, Trains, Traffic Jams, en Français

Strikes will slam France October 18, with rail workers and airport employees walking off the job to protest proposed pension changes. Travelers flying to, through or from a Paris airport and anyone with an Air France flight can expect cancellations and plenty of sitting around the airport.  The train strike will mess with commutes, make everyone late and promises to continue indefinitely.

Strike talks began after French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed increasing retirement age for train and bus drivers to 60, angering SNCF employees. In a sign that France and Germany should chat more, the initial SNCF strike would have overlapped the GdL measure, but the dates were changed to avoid impacting the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

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NYC Taxis, Take Deux!

New York City taxis drivers, initially angered over new technology requirements that include credit card machines and GPS devices in all cabs, have turned their attention toward higher-minded pursuits, such as lobbying for city-funded health care and pension funds. Bigger concerns lead to the same results, with drivers expected to park their cars in protest October 22.

It's hard to say how long this strike will last, but business travelers should schedule extra commute time, and reserve a limo or helicopter to get to the airport. During September's strike, city officials estimated that it took about 30 minutes to catch a cab. This time around, striking cabbies have reportedly made claims that they'll stall their working brethren, which could lead to some serious street-side arguments and traffic mayhem. For more on the taxi strike, click here.

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More Strikes Planned for Germany 

European commuters might find themselves on the wrong side of the tracks this month, with two planned train strikes expected to create traffic congestion and delays. The German train drivers' union, GdL, shut down routes October 12, and this time trains were out of commission the entire day. The union has said the next strike could be as early as Wednesday, October 17th, which gives Deutsche Bahn time to prepare a new wage agreement.  The company’s earlier proposal of a 4.5% raise fell far short of union demands, but a second more generous offer could keep the trains on schedule.

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Cabbies  Plan NYC Strike

New York City taxi drivers, ticked off by measures that they say hit pocketbooks and reduce privacy, have put the wheels in motion for a second city-wide strike Oct. 22. Last month, the Taxi Workers Alliance organized a 48-hour strike in response to requirements that all taxis include GPS devices and credit-card machines, technology that many cabbies pay for. While the strike’s impacts were much less than expected, it certainly wasn’t possible to catch a cab in a New-York minute. City officials estimated cab wait times averaged approximately 30 minutes, and business travelers reported longer waits during rush hour and at airports.

It’s difficult to say what this strike’s impacts would be, but taxi drivers are a notoriously independent bunch, and they don’t make money if they aren’t driving.  If the strike happens, business travelers to the Big Apple should schedule plenty of time for commuting, and bring a good pair of walking shoes.

More on the taxi strike.

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It’s all about getting from point A to B, but sometimes even the simplest business trips can turn into alphabet soup. Road Warriors plan for contracts, negotiations and business presentations, but they’ve also got to be looking out for flight delays, cancellations and labor strikes. You’ve got a lot riding on travel, and we can help. Consider it part forecast, part analysis, part travel news. We’ll scour the globe for events that could impact business travel, and tailor the information to help smooth out the ride. And remember, on-the-ground business travelers are our eyes and ears, so send in your tips and help a fellow Road Warrior. In that vein, here are a few travel tidbits that have been on our radar:

Off Track in Germany

If German train drivers make good on threats to strike Oct. 5 it could cripple the country’s uber-punctual, uber-efficient public transportation system. The shut-down will likely cause traffic jams, missed meetings and stressed Germans. Work stoppage is likely, as pay negotiations collapsed in September and the union’s self-imposed strike moratorium ended last week. The last nation-wide rail strike in 1992 lasted eleven days, and it’s possible this one could drag on as long. Deutsche Bahn AG has said that most of its nationwide and more than half of its regional trains will run if there’s a strike, but that’s a stretch given that 75% of the nation’s train drivers wouldn’t be on the tracks. Unless there’s a last minute deal, expect fewer routes, crowded trains and more commuters competing for alternate transportation. Give yourself extra time to make it to meetings, and confirm all regional transportation.
More on the trains:
More on the strike:

Krosa Tracks Toward Taiwan

Trouble could be brewing for Taiwan, with typhoon Krosa moving northwest toward Taipei this week. The Philippines, Vietnam and Laos felt the torrential downpours earlier in the week, and, if the storm stays on course, it could hit Okinawa and Taiwan as early as Oct. 6. These areas were pounded last month, and airports will close with little notice. If Krosa continues, travelers should keep their hotels on speed dial. To track Krosa, click here.

New Storm System Near Mexico

We’ve gotten our first peek at what could be an embryonic Kiko, a weather pattern developing over the eastern Gulf of Mexico that shows signs of strengthening into a tropical cyclone by Oct. 4 or 5. The Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, has reported rain showers and thunderstorms with a broad area of low pressure, a common recipe for a cyclone. With storms, it’s quality versus quantity, and that was definitely true for September. Last month NOAA produced alerts on eight major storms, all of which fizzled soon after they were named. Business travelers might not be so lucky in October and November, with experts calling for four more storms and at least one major hurricane. Depending on the storms’ paths and severity, travelers could be in for delays this month, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Gulf of Mexico system:
Hurricane predictions:
Up-to-date storm information: