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DOT fines Comair for violating ‘bumped passenger’ rules

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Transportation this week fined Comair $275,000 “for violating federal rules regarding passengers denied boarding” — better known as bumped passengers — “on oversold flights.” “Our bumping rules are designed to protect passengers when airlines overbook a flight,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We expect carriers to comply with these rules and will take enforcement action when they do not.” The DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office opened an

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‘Ticket frenzy’ email said to be a hoax

An email claiming that “a 30 day speeding ticket frenzy” kicks off Aug. 1 is really a hoax, according to Georgia authorities. “Starting Aug 1, Georgia will launch a 30 day speeding ticket frenzy,” the email reads. “The state estimates that 9 million dollars will be generated in speeding tickets. 1 million will go to pay state troopers’ overtime. The rest to help with dwindling budgets.” Local media confirmed the “ticket frenzy,” the email claims.

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Feds investigate airline fees

The federal government is taking note of the fees that airlines charge for checked bags and other services, and additional regulations of — and federal tax revenue from — these fees could soon follow. “Travelers often experience difficulty understanding what airlines charge since fees are not printed on boarding passes, are not displayed on travel Web sites, and are often not clearly displayed on airlines’ Web sites,” U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., said in his prepared

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New arts festival coming to Atlanta

ATLANTA – Atlanta officials announced the debut of a regional arts event this fall. The Midtown Festival of the Arts is scheduled for Sept. 25-26 and will take place along the so-called Midtown Mile – Peachtree Street between 5th and 10th streets. A public art display and the Midtown Mile Road Race are among the festival’s events. “The two-day neighborhood event promises to be a joyous gathering that showcases the important cultural assets of our

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DOT: Five planes experience delays of three hours or more

ATLANTA — Five flights in May experienced tarmac delays of three hours or more, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported. The delays came during the first month of new rules that stipulate airlines can only keep passengers waiting on the tarmac for three hours before it would be required to let them disembark. Four of the five flights were operated by United Airlines, according to The Associated Press. The fifth flight was a Delta Airlines

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Marietta unveils statue dedicated to heroes

MARIETTA, Ga. — The city of Marietta last week unveiled a statue dedicated to the families and loved ones of the military and first responders. “It’s important to recognize and to salute those families and loved ones for their sacrifices every day,” Kiwanis Club of Marietta president Victoria Turney said in a city-issued news release. The new “Forever Remember” statue is located in a park at the corner of Anderson and Roswell streets near the

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DOT: May Airline On-Time Performance Lower Than Last Year and April

The nation’s largest airlines had a rate of on-time flights this past May that was lower than the same month last year and the rate posted in April 2010, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report. According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 18 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.9 percent

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Ga. company suspends duck boat rides after Philly accident

ATLANTA — Duck boat rides at Stone Mountain have been suspended in the wake of an accident on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Norcross-based Ride The Ducks suspended its operations nationwide on Thursday, including at Stone Mountain and in Philadelphia. The company’s fleet includes more than 90 duck boats that also operate in Branson, Mo.; San Francisco; and Newport, Ky. A Ride The Ducks boat in Philadelphia collided with a barge on Wednesday, capsized and