On the Go – December 12, 2024

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

Air Canada To Launch Free In-Flight Wi-Fi Starting In May 2025 (Source: Travel Market Report)
Air Canada announced Thursday morning that it plans to begin rolling out “fast, free streaming-quality Wi-Fi” across its fleet starting in May 2025.  The service, sponsored by Bell, will initially be available to Aeroplan members on Wi-Fi-equipped planes flying within North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Air Canada said about 85% of its fleet will be covered, including flights from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport to Montreal and Ottawa.

Delta One Lounge Opens In Boston With Maritime Theme (Source: Simple Flying)
Delta Air Lines has opened a Delta One Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) that offers a unique dining experience highlighting Boston’s maritime heritage. The 6,700-square-foot lounge, accessible through the Delta Sky Club on Concourse E, features a menu by Chef Ed Brown, including seafood dishes and Boston classics.

General Interest

U.K. To Require Electronic Travel Authorization In 2025 (Source: TravelPulse)
Beginning January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the United Kingdom (UK) will need to secure an electronic travel authorization (ETA) before their journey, including for layovers. This new policy is part of the UK’s plan to digitize its borders fully by the end of 2025, which will affect all international visitors who are not either UK or Irish citizens.

Corporate Travel Trends: Prices Stabilize As Demand Holds Strong (Source: MSN)
Corporate travel showed remarkable resilience in the third quarter of 2024, with global demand reaching its peak and poised for further growth into 2025, according to FCM Consulting’s latest Global Quarterly Trend Report.  This sustained demand is prompting airlines to expand capacity, even as some travel costs show signs of stabilization.

BCD Travel 2025 Outlook: What’s Next For Business Travel In 2025 (Source: Travel Daily News)
BCD Travel issued the latest edition of Travel Market Report: 2025 Outlook – a must-read for anyone looking to stay ahead in the business travel industry. Packed with actionable insights, this report provides a comprehensive look at the trends and challenges in 2025.

Airports

Ohio Airport Starts Construction On $2B Terminal (Source: The Columbus Dispatch)
Construction has begun on a nearly $2 billion terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) with completion expected by 2029. The new terminal will feature 36 gates, accommodate larger aircraft and consolidate security and concessions.

Hotels

Hilton Milwaukee Will Undergo A $40 Million Renovation (Source: Travel Weekly)
Milwaukee’s largest hotel is embarking on a $40 million renovation project, which is slated for completion this summer.  Formerly known as the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, the hotel’s name has been shortened to Hilton Milwaukee. The hotel originally opened in 1928, operating as the Schroeder Hotel.

New Opening: W Hotels Prague (Source: Travel Market Report)
W Hotels has revived the famous former Grand Hotel Evropa to open W Prague, its first property in the Czech Republic.  The luxury Marriott brand has also recently opened W Rome and W Budapest. The new Prague hotel takes the Art Nouveau-style building and showcases its heritage in a contemporary fashion.

Ground Transportation

Amtrak Will Debut High-Speed Electric Trains In 2025 (Source: Fast Company)
Earlier this year, if you happened to be standing at a train station in New Jersey at a certain time of night, you might have seen a sleek new high-speed Acela zip by. The trains, which did 900 test runs between January and August, are expected to start commercial service on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line next spring.

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