Feature 1: NASA has a vision for what aircraft that could take to the skies in the year 2025 should look like. Actually, it’s going to end up with three visions since NASA awarded a contract for advanced concept designs to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and The Boeing Company.

NASA’s main goals for these designs are less noise, cleaner exhaust and lower fuel consumption. Here’s a sneak peek at the preliminary designs submitted to NASA by each of the three companies.

NASA 2025 Aircraft Designs

Northrop Grumman’s design looks like a WW II bomber, and Boeing’s futuristic design looks like something straight out of a Spielberg spiel. Lockheed Martin’s design is the only one that looks somewhat similar to the commercial aircraft in service today.
A first look at flight in 2025 – NASA.gov
Aircraft designs for 2035 – NASA.gov

Feature 2: The Open Allies for Airfare Transparency coalition, formed to oppose American Airlines’ attempt to impose AA Direct Connect and bypass GDSs, is circling the wagons around its 115 members and hopes to prevent others from reaching distribution agreements with AA.
American Airlines in distribution agreement with Priceline.com – AA.com
Vegas.com Cyllenius Division first to announce it has implemented AA Direct Connect – AA.com

“Our members are some of the airlines’ closest partners,” said ASTA senior vice president Paul Ruden, in a statement. “We hope the airlines reconsider the more fragmented direct connect approach and work with us to make all of their fares and fees available to all travelers through the systems the travelers themselves choose to use.”
Nation’s largest travel companies call on airlines to disclose fares/fees in current systems, protect comparison shopping – Faretransparency.org
US Airways and Expedia sign new multi-year partnership agreement – Expedia.com

Here’s the rest of week’s interesting news:-

Traffic congestion costs in the United States rises to $115 billion – Texas Transportation Institute

Boeing recorded 462 commercial airplane deliveries in 2010 – Boeing.com
Airbus recorded 510 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2010 – Airbus.com
Embraer closes out 2010 with 246 jets delivered – Embraer.com

Sustainable Travel International (STI) launches green.travel – UpTake.com
Without the Stress launches “Passports Without The Stress” – WithouttheStress.com
Viator.com launches local language site in Japan – Viator.com

DOJ Antitrust Chief bows out of Google-ITA case – WSJ
Breakdown in TripAdvisor-Google talks – WSJ
Google rivals quizzed by EU on whether competition is thwarted – Bloomberg
Google shake-up may also speed things up – Marketwatch

Lonely Planet maps the future: a conversation with CEO Matt Goldberg – Gadling
Wanderfly’s co-founder Christy Liu talks about launching new travel site - Complex.com

Restaurants reach out to customers with social media – NYT
Master the corporate tweet, Facebook page and blog – Portfolio.com

Spanish hotel group AC Hotels and Marriott International, Inc. announce joint venture – Marriott.com
Marriott says no to adult movies in new hotels – USA Today

Connecticut back on the map – Hartford Courant
Pure Michigan happiness at $25 million surprise from Gov. Rick Snyder – Detroit News

Photo credits: NASA/Northrop Grumman/The Boeing Company/Lockheed Martin