On the Go – July 14, 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 to Hold Capacity at June Level Through 2022 (Source: Business Travel News)
After apologizing during a second-quarter earnings call Wednesday to customers “who have been impacted by cancellations, delays and long wait times over the last two months,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced the carrier would hold capacity at its June level for the remainder of this year.

Airlines Forced to Drop Service at These U.S. Airports Due to The Pilot Shortage (Source: CNN)
Despite efforts by airlines to hire more pilots, the US shortage is still forecast to get worse. And that will especially be true for the regional airlines serving these smaller cities on behalf of the major carriers. It is mainly those pilots who are being hired away to fly the larger jets.

Delta CEO: Surging Travel Demand Not Slowing Down (Source: Forbes)
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian says he sees no signs that surging demand for air travel will slow down in the near future. “That’s not going to be quenched with a strong summer season,” Bastian said.  Asked whether high fares will decline, he said, “Demand is really high – that’s what’s driving fares.”

Mishandled Baggage Is On The Rise: Here’s What You Need To Know Before You Check A Bag (Source: SmarterTravel)
A new study from aviation technology company SITA revealed that the global mishandled baggage rate increased by 24 percent in 2021. On flights around the world, 4.35 bags per thousand passengers were mishandled.  Staffing shortages and cost-cutting measures in the airline industry have contributed to the spike in mishandled baggage. “The industry now needs to do more with less,” said David Lavorel, the CEO of SITA.

Boeing to Unveil Max 10, 777X at Farnborough (Source: Simple Flying)
Boeing plans to officially unveil the 737 Max 10 and the 777-9 at the Farnborough International Airshow. “This is an airplane with superior fuel efficiency, increased seating capacity of up to 230 passengers and high-cycle reliability to create the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane in the market,” said Boeing of the 737 Max 10.

Airports

MSP Airport Gets $21.3M For Terminal Improvements (Source: Star Tribune)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been awarded $21.3 million in federal funds for terminal improvements and three smaller Minnesota airports will get almost $4 million more. The Minneapolis airport will add five new boarding bridges, replace electrical substations and modify walkways to better accommodate passengers with disabilities.

London’s Heathrow Caps Passenger Volumes (Source: Reuters)
London’s Heathrow Airport asked airlines to pause ticket sales for summer flights and capped the number of departing passengers at 100,000 a day in an effort to limit congestion as European airports continue to experience a surge in passenger traffic.

Hartford Airport Opens Ground Transportation Center (Source: Passenger Terminal Today)
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., has opened a new $210 million ground transportation center. The facility houses rental car operations, increased parking and improved access to public transit.

Hotels

Heavy Demand Lifts London Hotel Rates to All-Time High (Source: Bloomberg)
Air travel snarls haven’t slowed London tourism enough to keep hotel rates from setting records. STR reports an average cost of $249 in June, reflecting the highest demand in three years.

Unique Interactive Hotel Room Hatched by Marriott, TED (Source: TravelPulse)
What’s touted as the first immersive hotel guestroom, presenting various puzzles and hidden clues, can be booked beginning July 15 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. The Curiosity Room by TED, a joint venture of TED and the hotel chain, will have counterparts in Bangkok and London Marriott locations later in the summer.

Conrad Opens Gehry-Designed Hotel in L.A. (Source: MeetingsNet)
The new-build 305-room property has a winning location in the downtown Los Angeles arts district.  Conrad Hotels & Resorts opened is first West Coast property on July 6, part of a $1 billion, two-tower development in downtown Los Angeles called LA Grand. A mix of retail space, luxury residences, and the Conrad Los Angeles, LA Grand was designed by acclaimed modern architect Frank Gehry, best known for his spiraling, stainless steel Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilboa, Spain.

Leisure Travel

Go Here, Not There: Overlooked European Cities You Need To Visit (Source: The Points Guy)
First-time and frequent visitors to urban European tourist hotspots such as Barcelona and Amsterdam can find endless options for new restaurants, attractions, exhibits and more.  In fact, there’s nothing wrong with being a repeat visitor to a specific destination. But there’s also something to be said for visiting some of Europe’s underdog cities.  They aren’t necessarily off the beaten path — you’ve probably heard of them — but they may be less touristy and more affordable than some of the more popular cities.

U.S. Dollars Will Go Further On European Vacations Right Now (Source: CNN)
At the time of writing, the euro and dollar are almost at parity. The UK pound is also weak: It’s exchanging at $1.20. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, why not consider Occitanie, a region of France that includes a long stretch of Mediterranean coast dotted with laid-back seaside villages and one of the country’s largest wine regions.