Highlights include:

- Holiday travel season rankings by airline.

- Consumer travel priorities: data on what consumers value

in air travel.

- Economic turbulence affecting aviation industry.

- Impact of airline mergers on quality performance,

specifically the recent Delta-Northwest merger.

- Ramifications of election results on air transportation.

About the AQR

The AQR, the most comprehensive study of the performance and quality of the 17 largest airlines in the United States, each year helps sort out the difference in airline performance for the business community, the media and the general public. The rating is conducted annually by researchers at SLU's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University (WSU). The AQR is a cooperative project funded as part of faculty research initiatives at SLU and WSU. Bowen of SLU and Dean Headley of WSU are co-authors of the Airline Quality Rating.

Media Notes

Media unable to attend the news conference may receive a copy of the AQR news release on the day of the news conference, Monday, Nov. 10.

Contact:

Amanda Pope at SLU, 314-977-8371 p, 314-977-8403 f, apope@slu.edu; or Joe Kleinsasser at WSU 316-978-3013 phone, 316-978-3776 fax, joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. An electronic version of the full report will be available after 10 a.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 10 at wichita.edu or parks.slu.edu.

Dean Headley of WSU and Bowen will be available for interviews Monday, Nov. 10, after the press conference. Contact Headley at 316-978-3367 or Bowen at 402-516-8756.

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? The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has scheduled a 2 p.m. online broadcast and live discussion of its merit-based Blue Distinction health care designation program.

? The American Council of Life Insurers wraps up its Global Financial Leadership Forum at the Barclay Intercontinental Hotel in New York.

? Utica First Insurance Co. observes its 105th year of incorporation. The company is based in Utica, N.Y.

Search A.M. Best Co.'s extensive directory of upcoming industry meetings and conventions at http://www3.ambest.com/review/convsearch/meetsrch.asp.

(By Jonathan Williams, BestWeek: Jonathan.Williams@ambest.com)

This roundtable will consist of a single panel, which will focus on potential improvements to the current accounting model and implications of possible changes.

The panel will include investors, accountants, regulators, business leaders, and other interested parties. Additionally, representatives from the U.S Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve Board, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will be present as observers.

The roundtable will be held in the auditorium at the SEC's headquarters at 100 F Street, NE, in Washington, D.C. A final agenda including a list of participants and moderators will be announced at a future date. The roundtable will be open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The roundtable also will be webcast on the SEC Web site. (Press Rel. 2008-271)

"The infant formula industry takes all safety issues very seriously, and we support science-based efforts to continue to produce infant formula products of the highest possible quality. When new information becomes available on substances like Bisphenol A, we support bringing that information forward through a sound regulatory process of scientific peer review and evaluation as the basis for regulations," stated Mountford in her verbal testimony at the FDA Science Board meeting in Washington D.C.

A subcommittee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Science Board recently reviewed the FDA's safety assessment for Bisphenol A (BPA). The Subcommittee made recommendations for the Science Board to consider, as part of the standard multi-step scientific review process for establishing a sound risk assessment based on well-defined criteria.

In her testimony, Mountford emphasized IFC member companies continually evaluate food packaging and scientific research to guarantee product safety and quality, with the goal of ensuring the health and well-being of infants. "Because questions about the use of BPA have been raised, we have continued to work with our suppliers to identify opportunities for packaging without BPA. There are no quick solutions, and, in the interest of safety and consumer confidence -- any new alternatives need to be carefully assessed to assure the highest possible standards of quality. As soon as a safe and viable alternative is identified by the chemical and container industries, we stand ready to bring those new containers to market, once they have been approved for use by the FDA."

IFC also cited the October 28, 2008 press release by FDA, quoting Acting Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., who stated, "The most important thing parents can do for their babies is ensure that they receive adequate nutrition. While the best source of nutrition for babies is the mother's breast milk, infant formula remains the recommended alternative when breast milk is not an option."

IFC's testimony is available at www.infantformula.org .

*The International Formula Council is an association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products, e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals, whose members are based predominantly in North America. IFC members are: Abbott Nutrition; Mead Johnson Nutritionals; Nestle Infant Nutrition; and Wyeth Nutrition.

SOURCE International Formula Council

http://www.infantformula.org