On the Go – February 17, 2022

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

Alaska Airlines Launches New Subscription Flight Service (Source: Travel Market Report)
Alaska Airlines is getting into the subscription service game with a new Flight Pass members-only ticket service. The subscription service will give members access to routes within California, along with service from California to Reno, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Alaska promises that plan members will be able to choose from 100 different daily flights.

Inside Delta’s De-Icing Operation (Source: WCCO-TV)
Delta Air Lines shared an inside look at its aircraft de-icing operations. The airline uses about 40,000-50,000 gallons of glycol in the de-icing process on a snowy day, and has 30 de-icing trucks and 14 support vehicles available for the process at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Nearly 6,000 aircraft have been de-iced at MSP this season.

Delta Invests $4.8M in Atlanta Lounge Renovation (Source: The Business Journals)
Delta Air Lines is investing $4.8 million in the Sky Club on Concourse A at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The project will add 1,300 square feet, including a new kitchen, bars and restrooms as well as additional seating with access to power outlets.

Delta to Resume Transatlantic Flights From Minneapolis (Source: Star Tribune)
Delta Air Lines will resume transatlantic service from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport by summer, with flights to Amsterdam, Paris, London and Iceland. “We’re starting to see passengers come back but, most importantly, we’re seeing our corporates come back,” said Mary Loeffelholz, vice president for customer service at MSP.

General Interest

Canada Eases COVID-19 Testing For Vaccinated Travelers (Source: Global News)
The Canadian government will eliminate the pre-arrival PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travelers at the end of the month and accept rapid antigen tests or PCR tests for fully vaccinated incoming international travelers. Canada is also allowing more airports to accept incoming international flights.

UK Lifts Testing Requirements For Vaccinated Travelers (Source: National Public Radio)
The UK has lifted testing requirements for travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting today, citing high vaccination rates in the country. Unvaccinated travelers are still required to take tests before departure and after landing in the UK but will not have to quarantine.

Airports

Memphis Airport Opens Renovated Concourse (Source: WMC-TV)
Memphis International Airport is opening its new Concourse B this week after $245 million in renovations that expanded its footprint. The facility has more natural lighting, enhanced restaurant and retail offerings, a children’s play area and a performance stage.

2023 Opening Planned For LAX Automated People Mover (Source: KABC-TV)
Los Angeles International Airport’s $2 billion Automated People Mover project is on track to start testing trains this year, and an opening should follow next year, officials say. The system will extend 2 1/4 miles linking terminals, parking and car rentals with a total travel time of about 10 minutes.

Hotels

The 7 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2022 (Source: SmarterTravel)
From overwater bungalows on private islands to slopeside ski chalets, 2022 is looking to be a good year for new hotels. These are the seven hotel openings that we’re most excited about for the new year. 

Hilton Posts a Q4 Profit, Looks to 2022 With Optimism (Source: Travel Weekly)
Hilton posted a profit in the final quarter of 2021, and CEO Chris Nassetta expressed broad optimism for continued growth in 2022 during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. For the last three months of 2021, Hilton’s net income was $148 million, bringing the total annual figure to $407 million. The company reported a $109 million net loss in the first quarter, $128 million net income in the second quarter, and $240 million net income in the third quarter.

Marriott Sees Slow But Improving Corporate Demand (Source: Business Travel News)
Marriott International for the fourth quarter of 2021 reported year-over-year advances in key performance metrics, the company’s executives said during a Tuesday earnings call. Most advances, however, were attributed to leisure demand, which continued to outshine corporate volume.

Ground Transportation

Avis Budget Group Posts Record Q4 Revenue But Notes a ‘Dearth’ of Business Travel in Early 2022 (Source: Travel Weekly)
Despite a negative turn in demand because of the Covid-19 omicron variant from late November into January, Avis Budget Group posted its best fourth quarter in terms of revenue, company executives said during a Tuesday earnings call.  “In August we reported our best-ever second quarter revenue, adjusted EBIDTA and margin in our company’s 75-year history,” Avis Budget CEO Joe Ferraro said during the call.