On the Go – February 24, 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

Air Canada Restores Schedule, Adds New Routes (Source: Simple Flying)
Air Canada said it will operate 90% of its pre-pandemic North American schedule by this summer and launch seven new routes, including four to the US. The airline also announced its plans to resume 34 long-haul international routes.

Delta Upgrades Travel App With Personalization (Source: TravelPulse)
Delta Air Lines is upgrading its FlyReady app that helps passengers access international travel requirements, offering a personalized interface that automatically fills in information from the user’s SkyMiles profile. “Preparing for an international trip shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt,” said Rhonda Crawford, senior vice president for global distribution and digital strategy.

American Airlines Cuts Schedule Due to Aircraft Delay (Source: Reuters)
American Airlines will cut back its summer schedule due to delays in receiving new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The airline will temporarily suspend flights between Dallas and Chile, and from Seattle to London, Los Angeles and Sydney, as well as delay the start of a new route between Dallas and Tel Aviv, Israel.

General Interest

Ukraine Closes Airspace to Civilian Flights as Russia Invades (Source: TravelPulse)
Air traffic–tracking websites showed no flight activity over Ukraine on Thursday morning, with commercial planes avoiding the airspace and creating crowded corridors to the north and west. Ukraine has officially closed its airspace to civilian flights on Thursday as Russian soldiers began invading the country. According to Reuters.com, Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise announced the nation’s airspace was closed to civilian flights and air traffic services were suspended. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also said airspace within 100 nautical miles of Ukrainian borders could also pose safety risks to civilian flights.

Airports

First High-Speed Rail Integrated Into a US Airport (Source: The Construction Broadsheet)
Brightline says it has achieved a US first at an active airport with completion of the Orlando International Airport section of its 170-mile high-speed rail line that will eventually connect to West Palm Beach. Orlando-based Middlesex was the contractor for the 3.5-mile section, which Brightline describes as one of the most complex in the overall $4 billion project.

Atlanta Airport Renovation Proposal Moves Forward (Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The Atlanta City Council’s transportation committee has approved a $5 million planning contract that represents the first stages of a project that will end in the renovation of Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The project is projected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars to widen and modernize the concourse.

Hotels

Drake’s Name Dropped From San Francisco Hotel (Source: San Mateo Daily Journal)
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco is losing the name it bore for 94 years in one of several California efforts to cease memorializing the famed explorer in light of his involvement in slave trading. The 416-room hotel, bought by Northview Hotel Group last year for about $157 million, is scheduled to reopen this spring as The Beacon Grand after being closed since the onset of the pandemic.

Kimpton Aims For Third Denver Hotel (Source: Travel Weekly)
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, a subsidiary of IHG Hotels and Resorts, has announced plans for a lifestyle hotel in Denver that is scheduled to open in early 2024. The hotel will be in the Denver Tech Center neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the city.

Ground Transportation

Hertz: When Bankrupt, Exited or Renegotiated ‘Almost All’ Corporate Contracts (Source: Business Travel News)
Hertz’ bankruptcy restructuring allowed the rental car company to exit or renegotiate “a number of unprofitable [corporate] contracts,” which later became “almost all of our [corporate] contracts,” Hertz Global ;Holdings interim CEO Mark Fields said Wednesday during a fourth-quarter earnings call.

Leisure Travel

10 Ski Towns to Visit Even if You Don’t Ski (Source: Travel + Leisure)
So, you’re not a two-planker or a snowboard shredder. You’d rather not rip down triple black diamonds or gear up for a day in the park. And god forbid you have to ride up a chairlift. And you know what? That’s OK. There’s still plenty of fun to be had in the snow, especially at these mountains sprinkled across the United States that equally cater to skiers, riders, and those looking to just have fun in the winter too.

The 7 Best Things To Do In New York City (Source: SmarterTravel)
There really are countless things to do in New York City but we’ve attempted to narrow down our favorites to the top seven attractions. New York City quite literally has something to offer everyone. Skyline views, nature walks, artwork, architecture, musicals and photo opportunities fill our list of things to do in NYC. Whether you’re visiting the Big Apple for the weekend or a week, we’ve gathered a few ideas in a variety of New York neighborhoods so you can enjoy every New York minute.