On the Go – January 11, 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

Boeing 787 Max 9 Update: Cancellations Continue (Source: Travel Market Report)
Cancellations continue to pile up for Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two North American carriers with the largest 737-9 MAX fleets, in the wake of the Alaska Airlines 1282 incident last Friday.  Alaska is canceling all flights on its 737-9 MAX aircraft through Saturday, Jan. 13 as it continues to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspections.

Will Air Fares Remain High In 2024?  Here’s What Experts Say (Source: CNBC)
The airline industry’s dramatic climb from the depths of the pandemic may be ending soon.  A review of multiple reports shows stabilization across several key metrics, as rapid growth ends and a new era of normalcy begins.  “2024 is expected to mark the end of the dramatic year-on-year increases that have been characteristic of the recovery in 2021-2023,” a December report by the International Air Transport Association said.

General Interest

Turkey Drops Visa Requirement For North Americans (Source: Travel Weekly)
Turkiye is no longer requiring North Americans to obtain visas to enter the country.  The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that North American travelers visiting the country will not have to purchase e-visas, which were available online for $51.50.

Brazil Postpones Visa Requirement Until April 10 (Source: Travel Weekly)
Brazil has postponed the requirement of entry visas for passport holders from the U.S., Australia and Canada to April 10, 2024.  This is the second postponement of the visa requirement. Brazil initially set the requirement for Oct. 1., then set Jan. 10 as the new deadline.

Hotels

Hilton Names New Extended-Stay Brand LivSmart Studios (Source: Travel Weekly)
Hilton’s new extended-stay hotel brand now has a name — LivSmart Studios by Hilton.  Hilton had previously revealed plans to debut a lower-midscale extended-stay brand early last year. According to the company, the brand will be designed to accommodate guest stays of 20 nights or more.

Leisure Travel

Greece Institutes New Climate Tax For Tourists (Source: Travel Market Report)
Greece has instituted a new climate tax for tourists that will fund disaster recovery projects in the country.  The new “climate resilience tax” replaces Greece’s previous tourism tax, according to a Greek National Tourism Organization representative, and will only increase during the high season of March to October. From November to February, the per-bed tax will remain the same as it has been since it was first established.

Greece Reopens 2,400 Year-Old Palace Where Alexander The Great Was Crowned (Source: CNN)
Greece has reopened the ancient palace where Alexander the Great became King of Macedonia some 2,400 years ago after it underwent restoration.  The Palace of Aigai, formally known as the Royal Metropolis of the Macedonians, was the largest building in classical Greece, covering an area of approximately 15,000 square meters, according to the Greek Cultural Ministry.