On the Go – January 14, 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

FAA Orders “Zero Tolerance” For Disruptive Air Passengers (Source: Reuters)
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Steve Dickson has ordered the agency to take a “zero tolerance policy” against passengers disrupting airline operations, citing “a disturbing increase in these incidents” and promising that the FAA “will no longer adjudicate certain of these unruly passenger cases with counseling or warnings” but will “go straight to enforcement.” The policy will remain in effect until Mar. 30. Airlines for America expressed support for the measure, saying “The safety and security of passengers and employees is the top priority of the US airline industry, and we welcome the FAA’s order to implement a more stringent policy regarding unruly passenger behavior.”

American, JetBlue Partnership Will Move Ahead (Source: The Points Guy)
The partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways will move forward following regulatory review, as the airlines agreed to slot concessions at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Reagan Washington National Airport. The plan is focused on the northeastern U.S., as the airlines will coordinate their schedules in Boston and New York as well as code sharing and offering reciprocal benefits to frequent flyers.

Delta Deploys Cleanliness “Ambassadors” (Source: Delta New Hub)
Delta Air Lines’ Global Cleanliness division is deploying a team of “clean ambassadors” who will audit cleaning processes and procedures across US airports. “This team will serve as dedicated eyes and ears at our airports, advising employees and partners, answering questions from customers and bringing a focus and a rigor to cleanliness that will give customers even more confidence in their choice to fly with Delta,” said Mike Medeiros, vice president of global cleanliness.

General Interest

US to Require Negative Test For International Fliers (Source: The Associated Press)
The Centers for Disease Control said that travelers entering the US on international flights will be required to present a negative coronavirus test, effective Jan. 26. The decision was praised by airlines: “US airlines have been strong advocates for a national testing standard set by the federal government,” Airlines for America said. Airlines continue to advocate for current entry restrictions on travel from the UK, Europe and Brazil to be eliminated. United Airlines added: “As the first airline to offer COVID customer testing, we know it is key to unlocking international borders and safely reopening global travel.”

CNN to Cut Airport Network, Citing Drop in Travel (Source: One Mile at a Time)
CNN will shut down its airport network March 31, citing “the steep decline in airport traffic because of COVID-19, coupled with all of the new ways that people are consuming content on their personal devices.” The service, a ubiquitous presence US airports for decades, airs news from CNN with an emphasis on entertainment, sports and weather along with bits of programming from other WarnerMedia networks.

New Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing Requirement Come Into Effect For All Air Travelers Flying Into Canada (Source: Canada.gov)
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis that is having a significant impact on the air industry and all travelers. The Government of Canada has multiple measures in place to protect the health and safety of Canadians, and to help prevent air travel from being a source of further introduction and spread of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus into Canada.

Airports

Airports Continue Opening COVID-19 Testing Sites (Source: Times Union)
Airports continue to increase the availability of COVID-19 testing for air passengers, with airports in Cleveland and Palm Springs, Calif., among the most recent to launch programs. Some airport testing sites also serve individuals who are not traveling.

Hotels

Hilton CEO: Change Wrought by Pandemic Here to Stay (Source: TravelPulse)
Hilton Hotels CEO Chris Nassetta expects business travel to rebound in 2021 largely due to coronavirus vaccine distribution, but he projects a new landscape geared to virtual interaction. “We expect hybrid events to be a key part of our events business in 2021 – as it becomes safer to have smaller group gatherings, organizers will continue to promote virtual attendance, reaching a much larger audience than they did pre-COVID,” he says.