On the Go – January 6, 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

Delta Leads 2021 On-Time Performance For North American Carriers (Source: Business Travel News)
Delta Air Lines had the best on-time performance among major North American carriers in 2021, with 87.8 percent of flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time, according to airline data analytics supplier Cirium’s annual report.  Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines followed, each with on-time arrival percentages at 80 percent or higher.

Updated Aircraft, Airports Coming in 2022 (Source: CNN)
New and revamped airport terminals and delivery of a spate of new aircraft with updated amenities are among the aviation trends anticipated in 2022. “Newer planes with updated seats, newer entertainment systems, at-seat power and faster Wi-Fi are in full ‘build’ mode and fast arriving at airlines,” CNN writes.

Winter Storms, Pandemic Affect US Airlines (Source: BNN Bloomberg)
US airlines are working to resume normal operations after thousands of flights were affected by winter storms in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Along with weather-related disruptions, airlines are managing staffing challenges related to rising COVID-19 infections.

Domestic Air Travel Vaccine Requirement Still Not Likely (Source: Business Traveler USA)
A vaccine requirement for domestic air travel is not likely, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert. “I don’t think people should expect that we’re going to have a requirement in domestic flights for people to be vaccinated,” Fauci told CNN. In September, Fauci said he favored a mandate, telling a podcast interview, “I would support that if you want to get on a plane and travel with other people that you should be vaccinated.” Subsequently, he clarified the statement, saying that although he supports a mandate he wasn’t proposing it.

General Interest

U.K. to Scrap Pre-Departure Tests For Travelers (Source: Business Travel News)
U.K. government will end the requirement for travelers to take pre-departure tests before arriving in England Jan. 7. Prime minister Boris Johnson announced the change in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The pre-departure test will no longer be required for travelers arriving in England from 4am on Friday (7 January). 

America’s 10 Best Coffee Cities (Source: SmarterTravel)
If your motto is “will travel for coffee” and you plan your trips around finding the best locally-roasted beans or coziest cafes, this list is for you. Plus: 10 cities for coffee-lovers to avoid. Real estate site Rent.com studied data from the 150 most populated cities in America to determine a ranking of the best coffee cities in the country. They analyzed the total number of coffee-related businesses (such as coffee shops, coffee roasters, etc.) and then evaluated each city on the percentage of local (non-chain) coffee businesses per square mile.

Security

Clear Acquires Virtual Queuing Tech Company Whyline (Source: PhocusWire)
Secure identity company Clear has acquired virtual queuing technology company Whyline to expand its products to new industries and countries. Terms of the all-cash transaction have not been disclosed. Founded in 2015, Whyline’s software allows users to see live wait-times to enter a queue remotely or pre-book an appointment. Its technology is used across industries, and partners include Newark Liberty International Airport, Los Angeles World Airports, Charleston International Airport and Western Union.

Airports

St. Louis Airport Officials Consider Single Terminal (Source: St. Louis Public Radio)
A single consolidated terminal would replace the existing terminals at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in a plan under consideration by the Airport Commission. The commission hopes to submit a draft plan to federal authorities this summer.

5G Agreement Will Reduce Signal Power Around “Priority Airports” (Source: The Associated Press)
The agreement reached between federal regulators, telecommunications companies and aviation interests calls for a two-week delay in expansion of 5G wireless spectrum, and for reduced signal power around up to 50 priority airports for six months. The measure gives federal authorities and the aviation industry more time to study possible interference with aircraft equipment. “Safety is and always will be the top priority of US airlines. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to help ensure that new 5G service can coexist with aviation safely,” Airlines for America President and CEO Nick Calio said.

Ohio Airport Plans $40M in Terminal Improvements (Source: Dayton Daily News)
Ohio’s Dayton International Airport is planning more than $40 million in upgrades, including two new connectors to reduce travel time from the security checkpoint to gates by about 44%. The airport will also consolidate concessions in a new area closer to the gates.

Hotels

CBRE Upgrades U.S. Hotel Forecast (Source: Business Travel News)
After tempering its outlook in October, CBRE has upgraded its forecast for the U.S. lodging industry after third-quarter average daily rate gains and a 35.1 percent year-over-year increase in hotel occupancy, despite the spread of the Covid-19 delta variant, the company announced.

Hard-Hit NYC Hotel Business Still Luring New Players (Source: New York Post)
New York City’s anemic hotel business is not lacking for infusions, highlighted by the openings of the Pendry Manhattan West, the Civilian NYC in the Theater District, the redesigned Park Lane New York and the new project Ritz-Carlton New York. “New York real estate is historically very resilient,” said GFI Hospitality’s Joel Rosen.

Leisure Travel

Traveling to New Orleans to Find The Real Big Easy (Source: The Points Guy)
There’s no city on the planet quite like New Orleans. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the most interesting cities in the country — if not the world. The birthplace of jazz and considered one of the most European cities in the U.S., it makes sense why people flock to NOLA, as it’s called.