On the Go – July 16, 2020

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.

* * For the latest COVID-19 travel industry information, please click on this link:

https://traveloneinc.com/covid-19-industry-information/

Airlines

Delta CEO: Pandemic Boosts Health Focus, Spurs Collaboration (Source: Delta News Hub)
“Safety is at the core – it’s the DNA of who we are, but the pandemic has caused us to focus on the health of each consumer as much as the safe travel and the flight safety of the experience,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in an episode of The Dow Report, a video series focused on leadership. As well as highlighting Delta’s heightened safety efforts, Bastian noted that the coronavirus crisis has spurred companies across the travel industry “to learn and work together in a more collaborative way.”

Delta Will Keep Middle Seats Open Longer (Source: USA Today)
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the airline will extend its middle seat blocking policy past September. “Everyone appreciates it’s not going to last forever. But in the face of a health crisis that space onboard really matters and customers are telling (us) that,” he said. Delta will also adjust its schedule expansion and add no more than 500 flights in August, rather than the 1,000 that were initially planned.

JetBlue Extends Middle Seat Blocking Through Labor Day (Source: Fox Business)
JetBlue will continue blocking middle seats at least through Labor Day weekend. Delta, Southwest and Alaska are also limiting sales to allow more distancing on flights.

American Airlines Moves London Operations (Source: Frequent Business Traveler)
American Airlines has moved into new quarters at London Heathrow Airport, where it will share Terminal 5 with British Airways. The airlines have a partnership for transatlantic flights and will share a terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where construction began in January.

Airlines Focus On Air Quality to Ensure Passengers’ Safety (Source: NBC News)
In order to quell concerns regarding air safety during flights, many airlines are paying specific attention to their air filtration systems, taking extra precaution to ensure that clean air flows into their cabins.

General Interest

N.Y. Enforces Travel Form Requirement at Airports (Source: WROC-TV)
New York is posting enforcement teams at airports to ensure that all out-of-state travelers complete the State Department of Health traveler form. Those who fail to complete the form could face a fine and mandatory quarantine.

What Countries Can Americans Travel To? (Source: Forbes)
July is an exciting month for international travel as more countries open their borders to foreign travelers. Airlines are offering more domestic and international flight options than in the last few months. However, there are still many countries that Americans cannot travel to this summer. As the global coronavirus health situation is continuously changing, countries may restrict American visitors with short notice.

Here’s What Travelers Are Most Concerned About With COVID-19 (Source: Travelmarket Report)
With the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic still present, it’s important to take stock of travelers concerns in order to better assist them moving forward and get them back to doing what they love. According to a new research from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 58% of those surveyed said that they have avoided air travel, with 33% suggesting that they will avoid travel in the future as a continued measure to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19.

Airports

Dallas Airport Moving Toward Self-Service Systems (Source: Reuters)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is investing heavily in self-service, biometrics and sanitation technology. Bathrooms at the facility will be completely touchless by this summer, and the airport is working with American Airlines on a self-service luggage check system.

Hotel

Hilton Extends Hygiene Initiative to Meetings, Events (Source: TravelPulse)
Hilton Hotels has launched a program tailoring its pandemic-driven CleanStay protocols to meetings and events. Hilton EventReady with CleanStay includes such features as room seals and checklists, sanitizing stations in public areas and adaptive contract terms.

Hyatt Announces New Loyalty Program Incentives (Source: Forbes)
Hyatt has announced new summer and early fall travel perks for World of Hyatt members. The loyalty program members can enjoy free parking, bonus points on stays and point redemptions and triple points at participating Hyatt-dining outlets until Oct. 8.