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Technology
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- FAA initiative may help reduce Chicago flight delays
- Amtrak expands ‘wireless’ food and beverage purchasing
FAA initiative may help reduce Chicago flight delays
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced an initiative designed to reduce weather-related flight delays at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports. O’Hare is testing software that predicts ground and air traffic several hours in advance, which allows the FAA to plan escape routes to allow planes to fly alternate routes once airborne during bad weather.
The initiative aims to reduce Chicago’s notorious flight delays. Testing should be completed and the program operational sometime this month.
Source: Chicago Sun Times
Amtrak expands ‘wireless’ food and beverage purchasing
From coast to coast, Amtrak passengers will be able to pay for food and beverages with their credit cards. No signatures will be required for purchases of less than $25 USD and receipts will be issued upon request. The nationwide rollout, expected to be complete within a year, follows the successful launch on Acela Express last year.
This added convenience can be attributed to Amtrak’s new wireless electronic credit card processing terminals, which will increase efficiency for the company’s café cars, dining cars, and at-seat cart services. While in the past attendants hand wrote tickets and passenger information on paper forms to process a credit card transaction, the new electronic devices can complete most transactions in fewer than 20 seconds.
Amtrak executives describe this new capability as a win-win situation for customers and employees, with faster transaction times resulting in faster service times—especially during the busy dinner hour
Sources: Amtrak, Breakingtravelnews.com
