Last updated: 10 June 2012
Travel
Airports
Atlanta
Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Direct flights are available from Hartsfield to all major cities in the Americas, and to many European cities. Delta Airlines is based in Atlanta.
Chicago
Chicago is serviced by two major airports:
- O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a hub for both American and United Airlines. As one of the world’s busiest airports, O’Hare offers more connections to more cities, more often than any other airport in the world, including over 60 foreign destinations.
- Midway International Airport (MDW) is the premier point-to-point airport in the nation and one of the fastest growing airports on the continent, serving over 19 million travellers each year.
Detroit
Detroit Wayne County airport (DTW) is the principal airport in Detroit and is a hub for Northwest Airlines.
Los Angeles
The main airport in Los Angeles is referred to as LAX and is usually the first stopover when coming to the USA from Australia.
New York
New York has three major airports:
- JFK is the major international airport with daily Qantas and United through flights to Australia. Flights to the west coast of the USA also operate from JFK. Travel time to JFK is about 40 minutes.
- La Guardia is located closer to Manhattan (around 30 minutes). La Guardia is primarily a short-haul domestic airport.
- Newark is a major international and domestic airport (about an hour to Manhattan).
Interstate trains operate from Penn Central Station on 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Regular fast trains operate to Boston (a three hour trip) and Washington (a three and a half hour trip).
San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), located south of city, serves Silicon Valley and the wider Bay Area. One of the nation's busiest airports, SFO handles domestic flights and international connections to and from the Pacific Rim, Europe and Latin America. Some alternative airports are Oakland International Airport (OAK) and San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Washington
Three main airports service Washington:
- Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
- Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
- Washington Dulles International Airport
If flying from New York to Washington DC, consider a shuttle flight with US Air or Delta Airlines from New York’s LaGuardia Airport into Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). From DC, it is only a 20-minute drive to your hotel. If catching the train from New York to Washington, it takes approximately four and a half hours. Driving takes around five hours.
Shuttle flights provide flexibility and subject to seat availability you can take an earlier or later flight at no extra charge. Providers include US Airways shuttle and Delta shuttle.
For other cities in the USA, World Executive has more information on how to get from the airport.
Ground transport
The internal travel systems in the USA are highly efficient. All larger cities have airports and the interstate highway system, connecting major cities, is well maintained and efficient. Air travel between cities is probably the best way to travel due to time and convenience.
Trains (Amtrak) rarely offer any significant cost savings. For travel within the compact cities of the eastern US, taxis are preferred due to parking difficulties. Taxi drivers expect a tip of approximately 15 per cent.
Some places in the USA have shuttlebuses, which seat around 10 people and are a cross between a taxi and a bus in as much as they run roughly to a timetable, but will pick you up from your door. The price too, reflects the compromise by being less expensive than a taxi, but more expensive than a bus.
Cities in the western US tend to be more dispersed, so hiring a car for your travels is often more economical. When possible, hire a car with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to reduce the chances of getting lost. An Australian driver’s licence is required to hire a car and get insurance in the USA, and can be used for up to six months, after which you will need a local licence. International licences can only be used for up to 10 days, and very few rental car companies will accept them for insurance purposes. Americans drive on the right side of the road and the driver sits on the left side of the car.
Top Business Risks
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Multinational Enterprises should be aware of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business behaviour in a variety of areas, consistent with applicable domestic laws. These Guidelines are endorsed and promoted by the Australian Government. For more information, go to the AusNCP website.
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a voluntary mechanism which promotes and supports improved governance in resource-rich countries through the full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining.
The EITI is supported by governments, industry, and non-government organisations around the world. The Australian Government supports the EITI and encourages Australian companies operating internationally to comply with its recommendations.
Bilateral agreements
Australia has social security agreements with several countries that address the issue of 'double super coverage' for employees sent to work overseas. To take advantage of these agreements, Australian employers sending employees overseas to work must apply to the Tax Office for a Certificate of coverage.
For more details, please visit the Australian Taxation Office website.
IP Passport fact sheets
These fact sheets outline foreign Intellectual Property (IP) regimes and some of the issues and challenges which may be faced by Australian exporters.
The current fact sheets are available on the IP Australia website.