On the Go – April 28, 2022

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

United Boosts Service to Europe, Asia (Source: Simple Flying)
United Airlines has launched new routes between Chicago and Zurich, Switzerland, and Denver to Munich, Germany, and will offer 71 European routes this summer, up from 62 routes in 2019. United has also expanded its codesharing partnership with Singapore Airlines, allowing passengers to book connections to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Could Fuel Shortages Be The Airlines’ Next Pandemic Problem? (Source: The Points Guy)
On March 28, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) was running low on jet fuel. The airport was coming out of an unusually busy weekend and had just issued a fuel shortage alert notice to operators. In fact, five such alerts have been issued so far in 2022 — compared to 11 that were issued in all of 2021, an airport spokesperson told TPG.

Delta Will Begin South Africa Route in 2022 (Source: Travel Weekly)
Delta Air Lines will begin flying to Cape Town, South Africa later this year. The South African government approved the airline’s request to fly a triangular route from Atlanta that stops at Cape Town as well as Johannesburg.

United Exec Prioritizes Technology Enhancements (Source: Forbes)
Since joining United Airlines as Chief Information Officer in 2014, Linda Jojo has overseen technology investments that increased the functionality of mobile tools and operational systems for employees and passengers, including ConnectionSaver and the online Travel Ready Center, which facilitate a seamless travel experience for passengers. “I really felt like there was a lot we could do with technology to help both customers and employees,” said Jojo, now executive vice president of technology and chief digital officer.

American Airlines Says Business Travel is About 80% Recovered (Source: Travel Weekly)
During the airline’s Q1 earnings call, CEO Robert Isom said revenue from small and midsized companies is nearly all the way back, with revenue from large corporate clients only 50% recovered from the pandemic.

General Interest

ASTA: Inbound Testing Rule Still Biggest Barrier to Full Travel Recovery (Source: Travel Market Report)
This week, the travel industry took another step towards its full return to normal, albeit one that still carries some uncertainty, when a federal judge ruled on Monday ruled against the federal mask mandate, and the White House, shortly after, said it would no longer enforce it while it is under review.

Airports

O’Hare’s Upgraded People-Mover System Now Fully Operational (Source: The Points Guy)
For the first time in years, passengers navigating Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD) have access to round-the-clock service from the airport’s people-mover system. After years of construction and delays, O’Hare’s Airport Transit System (ATS) resumed 24-hour service last week, marking the end to a lengthy saga, and a major win for travelers departing, arriving and connecting at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

Hotels

How Hoteliers Prioritize Sustainability Efforts (Source: CoStar)
Environmental sustainability has been a growing focus of the global hotel industry over the last several years. Through development and operations, many hoteliers are introducing more environmentally friendly practices to protect their local ecosystems and communities as well as their guests. Check out these stories reported by Hotel News Now since the beginning of 2022 about the various ways hoteliers are trying to be better stewards of the planet.

Ground Transportation

Hertz Plans for 3,000 Electric Vehicle Chargers by Year-End (Source: Business Travel News)
Hertz Global Holdings currently has electric vehicles and charging stations deployed across more than 30 markets, and it plans to have about 3,000 charging stations across 80 markets by year-end, CEO Stephen Scherr said Wednesday during the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

Leisure Travel

Ireland’s Best Attractions (And Best Kept Secrets) (Source: SmarterTravel)
With its endlessly green hills, dramatic cliffs, infectious music, and welcoming good nature, Ireland is hard to beat as a vacation destination. Get off the typical tourist track and discover Ireland’s best-kept secret spots.