On the Go – April 2, 2020

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

White House Weighing Limits on Domestic Travel (Source: CNBC)
The Trump administration is considering whether to temporarily stop travel connections by flight and rail between some parts of the US as a way to combat the spread of coronavirus. “Closing up every single flight on every single airline, that’s a very, very, very rough decision, but we are thinking of hot spots, where you go from spot to spot, both hot,” President Donald Trump said.

Airline Trialing Contactless Health Screening Technology (Source: Future Travel Experience)
Etihad Airways will trial Elenium Automation’s contactless self-service technology, which facilitates touchless screenings of temperature, heart rate and respiration at airports. The company has filed patent applications for its automatic illness detection and touchless technologies.

Delta Makes Heightened Cleaning Standards Permanent (Source: Delta)
Delta Air Lines will step up its sanitation efforts even further in coming months, expanding interior fogging from US international flights to the whole fleet and cleaning between flights to the standard previously set for overnight cleanings. “The highest levels of clean should not be reserved for times of crisis – customers deserve to feel confident and safe whenever they decide to travel,” Delta’s Bill Lentsch said

Airlines Continue to Cut Flights (Source: The Motley Fool)
As American and Delta announced additional schedule cuts, Airlines for America estimates that US airlines have grounded 1,200 planes in their combined fleet of 6,215 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

General Interest

You Will Travel After COVID-19, But it Won’t Be The Same (Source: PhocusWire)
The coronavirus pandemic has changed all of our worlds, and not just in the short-term. Outside of healthcare – where heroes dressed in gowns are battling on the front lines – few industries have been hit like travel.

How to Disinfect Your Suitcase (Source: SmarterTravel)
We’re currently in “disinfect everything” mode, so while you’re stuck at home, why not give your suitcase a wipe-down? Even when travel gets back to normal, it’s important to know how to clean a suitcase—think of all the germs and just regular old dirt and grime you pick up your suitcase as you roll it through the streets and subways, not to mention from the overhead compartments and baggage claim.

Hotels 

5.2 Marriott Guests May Be Affected by 2nd Data Breach (Source: Business Traveler News)
Marriott International has experienced the second data breach in less than 18 months after two franchise employee logins were used to access 5.2 million guest records beginning in January. Contact details, airline loyalty program account numbers, birth dates and more were collected — but likely not Bonvoy loyalty account numbers, PINs or payment information.

Hilton Extends Elite Status for Hilton Honors Members (Source: Forbes)
Hilton is extending elite status of Hilton Honors members by one full year. “With many of the traveling workforce grounded for the near future, earning miles and points and qualifying for elite status for the year is becoming harder by the day,” writes Grant Martin.

Security 

TSA Screening Checkpoints Close Due to Pandemic (Source: CNN)
Checkpoints at some airports have closed due to a significant decline in travelers and an increasing number of Transportation Security Administration officers who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and the TSA is now allowing workers to wear N95 respirator masks. The number of passengers screened on March 26 was only 8% of the number screened on the same day last year.