On the Go – April 30, 2021

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

American Airlines Moves Into New Concourse At D.C. Airport (Source: Business Traveler)
American Airlines has moved its regional flight operations into a new 14-gate concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National airport. The concourse, which is to be complete in 2022, includes mother’s care rooms and an indoor pet relief area, with an Admirals Club and retail options to be added.

Delta to Begin Wi-Fi Upgrade in 2021 (Source: TravelPulse)
Delta Air Lines plans to equip 300 aircraft with upgraded Wi-Fi by the end of 2021 and roll out the upgrade across its domestic fleet in 2022. “By equipping our fleet with enhanced Wi-Fi capabilities, we are taking steps to ensure we can adapt to the different ways our customers will use technology during their journey both today and in the future,” says Delta’s Byron Merritt.

Delta Banks on Technology to Ease International Travel (Source: Delta News Hub)
A one-stop Travel Planning Center is only the start of Delta Air Lines’ efforts to offer technological solutions to travelers, said Matt Muta, vice president for innovation, as the airline focuses on making it easier to meet shifting international travel requirements. “Our goal is to build a system that can adapt to both government requirements and customer needs both today and down the road,” he said.

Delta Exec: What to Expect as Travel Comes Back (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines is completing its reopening of Sky Clubs and bringing back amenities such as curbside baggage service and inflight snacks, but the key health and safety innovations put in place in response to the pandemic remain, writes Chief Customer Experience Officer Bill Lentsch, responding to customer questions about travel this summer. “We know our customers have a renewed excitement to get back out into the world, and we’re just as excited to connect them to it,” Lentsch notes.

General Interest

DHS Extends Real ID Deadline to 2023 (Source: NBC News)
The Department of Homeland Security has delayed Real ID-compliance for air travel until 2023, citing challenges with driver’s license issuance amid the coronavirus pandemic. The requirement was supposed to kick in Oct. 1.

Europe Will Open to Vaccinated American Travelers This Summer (Source: SmarterTravel)
Fully vaccinated and planning your summer vacation? American travelers can go ahead and add Europe to the list of potential destinations for summer 2021. In an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, indicated that the European Union will allow American tourists to visit this summer, as long as they have been fully vaccinated. “The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines,” said von der Leyen. “This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union.”

Security

TSA to Invest in Upgraded Screening Equipment (Source: Bloomberg Government)
The Transportation Security Administration is reviewing bids to build new screening equipment that will allow agents to spot hazardous items in carry-on baggage more effectively without requiring passengers to remove food and electronics. The new system uses a computed tomography to generate three-dimensional images of the items being scanned.

Hotels

Hotel Sector Embraces Sustainability (Source: SmartBrief)
Hotels are responding to demand for green practices, especially by younger guests who are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their decisions about where to stay. Booking portal HRS, for example, is scoring hotels on sustainability and Marriott is using UV light in cleaning as a way to cut down on the use of chemicals.

Automation Greets Hotel Guests in Coronavirus Wake (Source: Millionacres)
Marriott International is leading a pandemic-spurred foray into machine-based check-ins on the part of the hospitality industry, meeting consumer demand for enhanced hygiene while saving on payroll. Marriott is testing touchscreen kiosks at two New York City hotels and at locations in Miami and Monroe, La.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Unveils New Prototype (Source: Business Travel News)
Extended-stay brand Homewood Suites by Hilton this week unveiled a new brand refresh and prototype design, about two years after it updated its public spaces and suite interiors, according to Hilton Worldwide.

Airports

Airport Retailers Begin to Reopen Amid Uptick in Travel (Source: NBC News)
As air passengers return, airport shops are reopening and some seeing an uptick in purchases. “We’re noticing that travelers who are shopping are buying high-ticket, luxury items, including jewelry, high-end handbags, sunglasses, and wallets” said Jim Tyrell, chief revenue officer at Philadelphia International Airport, adding: “It’s like you have people who have decided to travel and now they are all in.”

Leisure Travel

CDC: Cruises Can Begin Sailing Out of U.S. Starting in July (Source: Travel Market Report)
After countless stops and starts for the U.S. cruise industry over the past 14 months, the definite light at the end of the tunnel appears to be on the horizon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday told cruise lines, according to a report by both USA Today and Reuters, that they could start sailing again in July.

The Top 10 Summer 2021 Destinations (Source: SmarterTravel)
Will you be heading to one of the most popular vacation spots this summer? Or will you be staying as far away from them as possible? As vaccines continue to roll out across the country, Americans are feeling ready to travel, with many looking to summer 2021 as the time for their first trip since the pandemic. Whether you’re looking for some inspiration for a popular vacation destination (or you just want to know where to stay away from in order to avoid the crowds), this list can help.