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News in Brief for 27 January

SEA RESCUE Princess Cruises liner Ruby Princess rescued three French yatchsmen near the Bahamas last week after picking up a distress call from their boat which had lost power and was drifting.

BRIDGECLIMB MOVE Sydney Opera House chief executive Richard Evans has quit to become managing director of the city’s BridgeClimb tourist attraction.

WOTIF HONOUR Wotif website co-founder Graeme Wood was named in Australia Day honours. His Member (AM) in the General Divisdion award cited services to business, particularly the tourism industry, and philanthropic support for young people and tertiary education institutions in Queensland.

SHIP EVACUATION An elderly American husband and wife were transferred by helicopter from the liner Seabourn Odyssey about 180kms off the northern coast of NZ last week after the husband suffered a gallstone attack. He’s recovering in an Auckland hospital.

NEW SWISS MEALS Swiss International Airlines says it will be putting stronger emphasis on the country’s "culinary heritage" with new meals it will offer in business cabins from 22 February.

SHIPYARD STRIKE A strike at a yard of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will delay the launch of new Oceania’s Cruises liner Riviera till mid-May, forcing cancellation of two voyages. A maiden sailing was scheduled for 24 April.

FLIGHT DIVERTED A United Continental Airlines flight from Houston, Texas to Ontario, California diverted to San Antonio on Wednesday after a male passenger lit a ciagrette, refused to put it out and then fought with a flight attendant. The man is facing federal charges.

DISNEY TO EUROPE Disney Cruise Line will return to Europe next year after a one-year break, basing the 1754-passenger Disney Magic in Barcelona for the summer season.

CAT DELAYS FLIGHT An Air Canada flight to Toronto was grounded for two hours in Halifax on Wednesday after a passenger’s cat escaped from a carrier and ran into the cockpit of the plane, CBC News reported. It was recaptured, but take-off was delayed while engineers checked wiring for damage.