On the Go – August 6, 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.

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Airlines

An Inside Look at Aircraft Cleaning Procedures (Source: KVUE-TV)
A New York Times reporter who observed the detailed cleaning process aboard a Delta Air Lines regional jet in New York shared the enhanced cleaning procedures that passengers can expect aboard aircraft. Delta, American, United, Southwest and JetBlue have all employed electrostatic sprayers as a part of cleaning procedures. Meanwhile, a Texas television station went behind the scenes of United’s aircraft sanitation operation in Austin, Texas to highlight the increased measures to prioritize the health and well-being of passengers.

Delta CEO Anticipates Industry Recovery, Return to Business Travel (Source: The Washington Post)
In an interview on Washington Post Live, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian predicted that the reign of Zoom meetings will not be permanent and business travel will eventually resume, saying that “the human spirit needs to be in person.” Bastian also said the coronavirus pandemic has allowed the airline to accelerate retirement of older aircraft and confirmed that about 130 passengers have been banned from future travel for refusal to wear face coverings.

American Airlines Gives Passengers Free Apple TV Content (Source: Fox Business)
American Airlines will offer free Apple TV+ content aboard flights in an exclusive arrangement. The new options will be available in seat-back entertainment systems and passengers can also stream it to their own devices.

Photos: Future Airplane Promises Sleek Pandemic Safety (Source: CNN)
Staggered seating and dividing screens, as well as ultraviolet UVC cleaning, fogging and heat between flights could join a host of touch-free features on airplanes in a few years, a UK design studio says. “We have not only taken on board present anxieties but also tried to ensure our solutions are future-proofed against future pandemics, recognizing the significant commitment and investment involved,” Nigel Goode of PriestmanGoode says.

General Interest

Coronavirus-Sniffing Dogs Dispatched at Dubai Airport (Source: SF Gate)
In the United Arab Emirates, all arriving passengers must submit to COVID-19 testing prior to their trips and show negative results to be admitted into the country. But this week, Dubai International Airport (DXB) started using police dogs for on-airport rapid COVID-19 testing, which reportedly can produce results in minutes with 92 percent accuracy.

Airports

Miami Airport Adjusts Timeline For Projects (Source: Miami Today)
Miami International Airport will proceed with projects, including a new immigration area, upgrades to cargo and fuel areas and improvements to landing bridges used by American Airlines, and some repairs to taxiways and runways are being accelerated. The airport has put on hold renovations at the airport’s Central Terminal, a project that is to include new security and baggage areas and demolition of Concourse G to improve aircraft maneuverability as well as structural upgrades.

$1.3B Plan Proceeds at Houston Airport (Source: Community Impact Newspaper)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is continuing its $1.3 billion expansion, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The biggest part of the development involves combining terminals D and E to accommodate more international traffic.

Oklahoma Airport Awards $12M in Contracts for Runway Work (Source: Tulsa World)
Tulsa International Airport has awarded contracts worth nearly $12 million for a runway rehabilitation project. The funding is part of a $13.2 million project to rehabilitate pavement and make runway safety improvements.

Hotel

Hotels Ramp Up Tech Methods to Win Back Guests (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
Technology is front and center at US hotels seeking to recover from the pandemic and assure guests they are focusing on cleanliness and safety. Hotels are using digital room keys, electrostatic cleaning techniques, voice-activated digital assistants and other technologies to win back guests.