On the Go – August 26, 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’s Exec Discusses New Route Strategy (Source: Simple Flying)
Airlines’ new strategy for using its hubs — and sometimes bypassing them in favor of direct flights from smaller cities — exemplifies more flexible thinking airlines have adopted as a result of the pandemic. “The thing that we do better than anybody in the world is connecting people from all the small cities of the Americas into the global marketplace, whether that city is Abilene, Texas, or Bogota, or whatever the case might be,” said Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja.

American Airlines Announces Reopening of Flagship Lounges (Source: American Airlines Newsroom)
American Airlines will start reopening its Flagship Lounges, beginning with John F. Kennedy International Airport and Miami International Airport in September. The airline has announced that locations at Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will reopen later in the fall.

Airlines Assist in Afghanistan Evacuation (Source: Delta News Hub)
Airlines are continuing to exist in Afghanistan evacuation efforts, flying evacuees from military bases in the region to their final destinations in the US. “This is a challenging time and, like always, we are stronger when we come together around a common purpose and work together for the greater good,” American Airlines head Doug Parker wrote on Instagram. “This is what we do,” said Delta Project Specialist Quentin Harris, who helped provide diapers and personal products for evacuees. “We serve.”

Delta Plans to Add 30 Planes to its Fleet (Source: Delta News Hub)
As part of its goal to replace less fuel-efficient aircraft, Delta Air Lines announced it will add 30 Airbus A321neo planes to its fleet. “Adding these aircraft strengthens Delta’s commitment to replacing older fleets with more sustainable, fuel-efficient jets, and offers the best customer experience in the industry,” said Senior Vice President of Fleet and TechOps Supply Chain Mahendra Nair.

Delta is Testing New Tool to Let Passengers Upload Vaccine Cards Ahead of Their Flight (Source: The Points Guy)
Delta Air Lines is testing a new digital feature that would let passengers upload proof of vaccination ahead of international flights to countries requiring tourists to be have received the vaccine, TPG has learned. The airline is currently piloting the tool on some flights to Iceland and Greece, both of which require passengers to be vaccinated in order to visit for non-essential reasons.

General Interest

Smartphones Will House Vaccination Status Via QR Codes (Source: NBC News)
Samsung Electronics has joined Apple and Google in developing QR codes that display whether or not users have received COVID-19 vaccinations. The codes will be stored in digital wallets, letting people quickly access them for scanning when entering indoor places such as bars, stores and gyms.

Hotels

How 3D Robots Can Aid Hotels Amid Labor Shortages (Source: PhocusWire)
The pandemic upended many sectors with mass layoffs at the beginning of COVID-19 and ended with record labor shortages. The hospitality sector in particular was deeply hit with massive unemployment gaps that ran well above the national unemployment rate during the pandemic. While other industries have started on the road to recovery, the hospitality industry is still 2.8 million jobs shy of where it was in February 2020.

Hilton, Marriott, and IHG Are Making Affordable Brands Development Priorities (Source: Skift)
Luxury and lifestyle hotels may be the shiniest assets in a hotel company’s portfolio, but investors want to be where the travelers are. That means pumping money into more affordable offerings like Hilton’s Tru, IHG’s Holiday Inn, and Marriott’s Fairfield Inn — all concepts that snapped back fast from the pandemic.

Airports

Honolulu Airport Opens New $270M Concourse (Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport will open a new $270 million concourse Aug. 27, its first major expansion since 1993. “The Mauka Concourse will offer an improved experience for kamaaina travelers and visitors, our employees and all other airport users,” said Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex Da Silva.

Florida Airport Makes Expansion Plans (Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is planning major renovations that include expanding the passenger terminal and new facilities for car rentals and ground transportation. “When you’re growing at over 100% in such a short period of time, challenges arise,” said Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of the Florida airport.

Leisure Travel

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in London (Source: The Points Guy)
London is a fantastic shopping destination — in fact, you could easily visit just for that purpose. It is also, in my opinion, one of the fashion capitals of the whole world — so what better spot for a wardrobe shake-up or something for a special occasion?  London is huge, multicultural and full of shops for every budget, so I challenge you to not to be able to find something you love.