On the Go – July 13, 2023

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 Air Lines Reports On Operational Performance (Source: CNBC)
Delta Air Lines reported on the airline’s quarter,, citing continued strong demand, sales of premium seats and lower fuel costs. “Thanks to the incredible work of our entire team, Delta is delivering for our customers by providing strong operational performance and best in class service during this busy summer period,” said Ed Bastian, the airline’s CEO. “I think the corporate demand for travel is going to start to pick up a bit more… and this new hybrid work pattern that we see, that’s not going away so potentially any weekend could be a long weekend.”

United Airlines Unveils New Seats With Wireless Charging Stations (Source: TravelPulse)
United Airlines announced a new domestic first-class seat with a wireless charging station in every armrest.  The carrier revealed the new United First seats would feature vegan leather upholstery, 13-inch seatback screens, 18-inch tray tables, Bluetooth connectivity, privacy screens and an ergonomist-designed cushion.

JetBlue Offers Seatback Meal Orders (Source: The Points Guy)
Passengers on some transatlantic JetBlue flights can order dinner and breakfast on their seatback screens, speeding up meal service and cutting back on sleep interruptions. The menu includes allergen and ingredient details, pictures of the dishes and even an “express” option.

Delta Air Lines Launches New Routes (Source: The Points Guy)
Delta Air Lines is introducing five routes, including trips from Las Vegas to Austin, Texas and the California cities of Sacramento and San Diego. The airline is also adding service between Austin and Orlando, Fla., and seasonal flights to the Bahamas, from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. These new routes will begin Oct. 9, with LGA’s services following Dec. 16.

Southwest Adds New Drinks And In-Flight Payment Options (Source: The Southwest Airlines Community)
Southwest Airlines has added Google Pay and Apple Pay as payment options for its in-flight services, and has refreshed its system for credit and debit cards. The drink menu now includes AHA Blueberry + Pomegranate sparkling water and Sprite rather than 7-Up.

An Inside View Of Delta’s Upgrades For Wi-Fi (Source: CNBC)
A CNBC video shows Delta Air Lines’ initiative to add Wi-Fi technology in its planes. Delta is spending at least $1 billion to upgrade more than 1,200 aircraft before 2024, and provider Viasat expects that its new satellite will help more airlines provide quality Wi-Fi to customers.

General Interest

State Department Warns Of Passport Delays (Source: Travel Research Online)
Renewing or getting a new passport is taking between 10 and 12 weeks, the State Department reports, because of pandemic shutdowns and a post-pandemic surge in travel that created huge backlogs in applications. Officials are urging people who plan to travel for the holidays to get their applications in now.

Air Traffic Control Strikes Could Put Up To A Third Of Summer Flights In Europe At Risk (Source: Sky News)
The walkouts could see up to 12,600 flights across Europe delayed or cancelled every day during the peak summer travel period, with workers downing tools over pay, staffing and working hours, according to reports. Hundreds of thousands of flights across Europe this summer are in jeopardy after air traffic controllers vowed to take strike action.

Airports

Houston’s Hobby Airport To Add 7 Gates (Source: Houston Public Media)
Houston Airport System plans to spend $450 million to add seven gates at Hobby Airport, six of which serve Southwest Airlines. Some of the total is meant for baggage facilities, restrooms and other capacity upgrades.

In Reversal, Court To Allow Government To Limit Schiphol Flights (Source: Business Travel News)
A Netherlands court has reversed an April decision and will let the Dutch government reduce the number of flights allowed at Schiphol Airport in order to reduce noise, according to a Friday filing with the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. Delta, KLM and other carriers had brought the suit against the Dutch government.

The World’s Best Airports For Layovers (Source: Simple Flying)
Many people consider layovers to be the worst part of traveling, but these airports offer luxury lounges, sleeping pods, mini golf and more to keep travelers entertained.

Hotels

How To Work Efficiently From A Hotel Room (Source: Fox Business)
To effectively work from your hotel room, try to choose a centrally located property in a business district that caters to corporate travelers and offers amenities such as strong Wi-Fi, printers and sufficient meeting space. Other recommendations include using a VPN for your wireless connection to ensure security, properly prepping the room for Zoom calls with appropriate lighting and working from an uncluttered desk, not the couch or bed.

Orlando Hotel Upgrade At Theme Park Neighbor (Source: MeetingsNet)
At the Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Orlando, an upgrade of the property’s 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space was included in the multi-million-dollar renovation that wrapped up in late June.  All of the group space at this Universal Partner Hotel, including the 6,240-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 2,625-square-foot Junior Ballroom, now has new paint, carpeting, lighting, furnishings, and window treatments.

Leisure Travel

8 Best Hotel Pool Daypasses (Source: The Points Guy)
In today’s fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity, leading many individuals to seek out luxurious experiences that can be enjoyed without the commitment of an overnight stay. Recognizing this desire, hotels across the globe have embraced the concept of daypasses, allowing guests to indulge in their exquisite amenities for a few blissful hours.