On the Go – August 10, 2023

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

FAA Extends Waiver For Reduced Flights To NYC (Source: Reuters)
Federal Aviation Administration said it will allow airlines to continue offering a reduced number of flights into New York City area airports without risking the loss of landing slots. In a statement, Airlines for America said it welcomed the action in light of the serious shortage of FAA air traffic controllers that has contributed to congestion at the airports.

Delta Expands Partnership With Kenya Airways (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines has expanded its partnership with Kenya Airways to include the African carrier’s nonstop flights between New York and the capital of Nairobi. “At a time when we are seeing unprecedented demand for travel between North America and Africa, expanding our strategic partnership with Kenya Airways offers our customers more travel options as well as supports our priority to deepen our presence across the African continent,” said Alain Bellemare, Delta’s president of international.

United Airlines Expands In Denver With Land Acquisition (Source: Simple Flying)
United Airlines is investing $33 million to buy 113 acres of land in Denver for its expansion plans, which involves expanding its pilot training facility. This move allows United to explore future opportunities and execute its growth plans in important metropolitan areas. “Our growth means great things for our customers, our employees, and the communities we serve, including Denver, and this property gives us many options,” United stated.

General Interest

Surging Cost Of Business Travel Expected To Slow Down (Source: Skift)
Business travel costs rose dramatically last year, with business-related airfare jumping 72% to $749, the average daily hotel rate increasing 30% to $161 and the daily cost to attend corporate meetings and events going up 58% to $160, according to a report from CWT and the Global Business Travel Association. While prices will continue to go up in 2023, the increases are expected to be far less significant as supply chain issues begin to ease, the economy is slowing and travelers become more concerned with cost.

Airports

7 Major Ongoing Airport Projects (Source: Investment Monitor)
The $14 billion capital program at Los Angeles International Airport tops a list of the biggest airport projects underway nationwide. Salt Lake City; San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh; Denver, Colo.; and Houston are among the cities host to airports undergoing major transformations.

DFW Airport Begins Work On Renewable Energy Facility (Source: Travel Market Report)
DFW International Airport near Dallas has begun work on a $234 million renewable energy plant that will harness sources such as windpower to run the facility’s heating and cooling machinery. The project is to be completed in 2025.

Security

Details Emerge Of Other Airport Incidents That Forced Changes To CLEAR (Source: Business Travel News)
After reports broke last month that major changes were coming to CLEAR, as the TSA said it would start traditionally verifying CLEAR member IDs at airport checkpoints, questions emerged surrounding what exactly caused the move.

Hotels

IHG Says A New Midscale Brand Is In The Works (Source: Travel Weekly)
IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to launch a midscale brand with potential for “considerable scale,” the company said Tuesday during its second-quarter earnings call.  CEO Elie Maalouf said the brand would be focused on conversions.

Leisure Travel

The 10 Best Places to Spend Halloween In The U.S. (Source: Travel Market Report)
When autumn comes along, many travelers will be itching to get in the Halloween spirit. Some may even want to book a trip for Oct. 31 to the scariest, most festive place around. Fortunately, there is no shortage of towns and cities in the United States that take Halloween very seriously.  From spectacular Jack-o-Lantern shows to chilling ghost tours to family-friendly costume parades, there are plenty of reasons to travel for this haunted holiday. Here are the top 10 places in the country to visit for Halloween.

Maui Fire Update: Evacuations, Hotel Closures, And Airline Changes (Source: Travel Market Report)
The fires ripped through Lahaina in particular, a major resort city, and are still burning at the end of Wednesday, according to Maui County.  At least 36 people are dead, and many more are still unaccounted for, as fires raged across Hawaii’s Maui island through much of the last two days.  The fires started on Tuesday night and were propelled by winds from Hurricane Dora, which is traveling a few hundred miles to the island’s southwest. The fires ripped through Lahaina in particular, a major resort city, and are still burning at the end of Wednesday, according to Maui County.