The largest airport in Puerto Rico is still crippled almost a week after Hurricane Maria. Passengers hoping to escape the devastation have packed the main terminal, which has no air conditioning since it's running on limited emergency power. The conditions were intolerable, said David Mannasmith, an Ohio insurance adjustor who works surveying areas hit by natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes. He and his wife Amber were in Puerto Rico for their third anniversary. They rode Maria out at their resort and left for the airport Friday morning hoping to come home. Instead, they spent four days there, sleeping on hard floors, with little food and water -- and heat and humidity that made it feel like it was over 100 degrees. Mannasmith said he was told several times he and his wife would be able to get on the next flight only to lose out. Finally on Monday morning they got on a flight to Miami. There are a limited number of flights in and out of the island because of damage to radar and other equipment, airport authorities said. On Monday there were only 10 commercial flights between San Juan and the mainland US, with 10 more scheduled for Tuesday. Airlines have started flying larger than normal planes to handle as many passengers as possible on the few flights that can get in and out.<br/>
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Only days after monster storm Irma made landfall in Florida, cancelling and delaying thousands of flights, the head of the world’s largest airline appeared unfazed, voicing glowing optimism about the future of air carriers. Doug Parker, CE of American Airlines, said the impact of Irma and the earlier hurricane that tore through Houston will be short lived. “I don’t anticipate a financial impact to us other than the near-term financial impact,” he said. “I feel as good about this business as I ever have. How could that be in a time when monster storms are more common — and some fear that travel disruptions could become a regular occurrence amid quickening climate change? Chalk it up to science, technology and profits. The nation’s $1.5t airline industry is in the midst of one of its most financially stable eras in decades, which will help the biggest carriers absorb the short-term impacts of the unusually destructive hurricane season. Increasing passenger demand and cheap fuel costs have been key in helping build the carrier’s profit margins and cash reserves. But advances in science and technology are also playing a role. Modern weather forecasting has improved to the point that airlines can now tell with high reliability the moment a storm is expected to reach a major airline hub, making it easier to cancel and reschedule flights. Although it is too early to estimate the final dollar cost of the two hurricanes, the nation’s bigger airlines seem prepared to overcome the financial blow despite the storms’ enormous impact. Story has more details about impact on various airlines.<br/>
Some tourists are having second thoughts about visiting the tropical Indonesian resort island of Bali after repeated warnings that its highest volcano could erupt at any time, half a century after it killed more than 1,000 people. Strong volcanic tremors rumbling underground and billowing white smoke over the scenic Mount Agung have raised alarm, prompting the evacuation of more than 75,000 people within 12 km. Several countries, including Australia, Singapore, and the United States, have issued travel advisories alerting holidaymakers to the new risk. And a hotel operator in Bali said news of the volcano had caused cancellations. Airlines in Australia and Singapore said they were preparing for any disruptions due to an eruption, but flights were running normally for now. Virgin Australia and Jetstar, both of which fly to Bali from Australia, said they would carry extra fuel in case they needed to change course. Jetstar and Singapore-based budget carrier Scoot said they had been contacted by a small number of customers looking to change their travel dates. “Less than 100 customers chose to rebook to a later date,” a Scoot spokeswoman said.<br/>
The U. imposed duties on Bombardier’s marquee jetliner after Boeing complained that the Canadian planemaker received unfair subsidies. Exporters of 100- to 150-seat Canadian aircraft received subsidies worth 219.63 percent, the Commerce Department said Tuesday in Washington. US customs officials will begin collecting preliminary duties to offset the government assistance, a move that will affect Bombardier’s C Series jets. The decision marks the latest step in a trade dispute between Boeing and Bombardier that has roiled relations between the US and Canada. PM Justin Trudeau said the Canadian government won’t buy Boeing military jets unless the company drops its case against Bombardier. The spat comes as the US tries to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. The trade penalties could be reversed by the US International Trade Commission if the trade tribunal determines that Boeing wasn’t injured by Bombardier’s jet program. That decision is expected to be made next year, when the Canadian manufacturer is scheduled to deliver the first C Series planes to Delta. Bombardier spent $6 billion to develop the single-aisle aircraft.<br/>
Bombardier aims to close deals with Chinese airlines in upcoming months and is in talks with the country’s three biggest airlines, a senior Bombardier executive said Tuesday. Marc Meloche, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s head of structured finance, said the planemaker was also in discussions with leasing businesses on purchasing its C-Series plane. Meloche said he hoped the deals could be announced during a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to China next month. “Prime Minister Trudeau is coming to China next month so there is optimism that Bombardier will be among those able to announce deals on that trip,” he said. In Ottawa, a Canadian government official said Trudeau would not be going to China in October. The official, who was not authorized to discuss Trudeau’s travel plans publicly, did not say whether the prime minister would visit at another time. Government officials have previously said Trudeau is expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam on Nov. 11-12.<br/>