On the Go – February 18, 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

CDC: “Not Recommending” Testing For Domestic Travel (Source: The Hill)
“At this time, CDC is not recommending required point of departure testing for domestic travel,” says a CDC statement. The announcement followed a virtual meeting of the CEOs of Airlines for America, American, United, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue with White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients. “We had a very positive, constructive conversation focused on our shared commitment to science-based policies as we work together to end the pandemic, restore air travel and lead our nation toward recovery,” A4A CEO Nicholas Calio said.

Passenger Airline Traffic Fell To Lowest Levels Since 1984 (Source: Reuters)
U.S. passenger airline traffic fell 60.1% in 2020 to the lowest number since 1984 as the COVID-19 pandemic devastated demand for air travel, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Tuesday. In total, there were 368 million passengers in 2020, down from 922.6 million in 2019. The previous yearly low was 351.6 million in 1984, the department said.

Southwest’s Tech Upgrades Aim For International Markets (Source: The Business Journals)
“I’ve never seen an industry that is more technology dependent than airlines,” said Tom Nealon, president of Southwest Airlines, in an interview that focused on upgrades to the airline’s reservation system, especially improvements that enable codesharing, purchases outside the US with foreign currency and multiple languages. Nealon said this will facilitate partnership with an international airline, and will also improve Southwest’s ability to attract business travelers in Mexico and Canada.

JetBlue Eliminates Change Fees On Most Fares (Source: The Points Guy)
For JetBlue, it’s better late than never. On Tuesday, the New York-based carrier announced that it’s eliminating change fees on most fares, following similar moves made by other major U.S. airlines roughly six months ago.

General Interest

Health Passport Standards, Interoperability Critical For Revival of International Travel (Source: PhocusWire)
Multiple digital health passport solutions are in development from companies including the International Air Transport Association, AOKpass, Airside Mobile, Yoti, Daon, Ink Aviation and the Commons Project – all aiming to facilitate the resumption of international travel since it came to a virtual standstill due to COVID-19.

A New Chunnel? Tunnel Connecting Scotland And Northern Ireland May Soon Get Green Light (Source: The Points Guy)
A long-awaited tunnel between Scotland and Northern Ireland could get the go-ahead as early as next month. The connection — dubbed Boris’ Burrow due to the prime minister’s enthusiastic backing — would span from Larne in Northern Ireland to Stranraer in Scotland and be roughly the same length as the Channel Tunnel.

Hotels

Tiny Toiletries – Will COVID Mean Their New Life in Hotels? (Source: Travelers United)
I admit it. While I support environmental measures, I’ve always had a soft spot for hotel tiny toiletries. Maybe it started with my grandparents. They adorned their main bathroom with dozens of unused little beautifully wrapped and nice smelling soaps they picked up at hotels during their world travels.

IHG Unveils 10-Year Sustainability Plan (Source: Business Travel News)
More than four in five adults—82 percent—from around the world are committed to taking their everyday sustainability habits with them when they travel, according to a survey released Monday by InterContinental Hotels Group. IHG also announced a 10-year sustainability plan for the company

Airports

Airport Spa Company Aids COVID-19 Testing Effort (Source: WCVB-TV)
Airport spa company XpressCheck now has opened a second coronavirus testing center inside Boston Logan International Airport. The company offers spa and health services at dozens of US airports.

McCarran Airport in Las Vegas Could Soon Have a New Name (Source: The Points Guy)
Airports, schools and other public buildings throughout the United States often bear the names of politicians and other historical figures. Many times, those names become synonymous with the buildings they represent — take New York’s JFK Airport, for example — but that doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to last for eternity. Now, as The Washington Post reports, the Clark County Commission voted this week to change the name of Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, removing the reference to former U.S. Senator Patrick McCarran and replacing it with former U.S. Senator Harry M. Reid.