On the Go – July 2, 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

United to Restore 25,000 Flights in August (Source: Business Travel News)
United Airlines is restoring about half of its domestic schedule in August as well as some international routes, particularly in Latin America, the carrier announced. In all, the carrier will triple the number of flights compared with June, adding about 25,000 domestic and international flights in August. That will bring United to about 40 percent of what its schedule was last August.

Delta CEO Highlights Customer Service, Safety (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian shared about the numerous layers of protection the airline has implemented in his latest message to customers. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety, including its partnership with the Mayo Clinic and face covering requirement. Additionally, Delta is recalling more customer service agents, expanding training and enhancing self service options to make flight changes.

Airlines Reopen Lounges, Expand Safety Precautions (Source: The Points Guy)
American and United have operated a limited number of airport lounges with scaled back services, and are gradually reopening more locations, while Alaska is operating only one lounge — in its Seattle hub — and Air Canada has closed all lounges. Delta announced this week that it is opening seven additional Sky Clubs this month, offering prepackaged food, and safety precautions such as plexiglass partitions, hand sanitizer stations, capacity limitations and a mask requirement.

Alaska Airlines to Give Maskless Passengers Warning Cards (Source: The Seattle Times)
Alaska Airlines will issue yellow cards to passengers who refuse to wear face coverings, warning them that a report will be filed and they may be denied access to future flights. “Overwhelmingly, those who fly with us understand and appreciate the importance of wearing masks and face coverings during this time of COVID-19,” the airline said, but “some travelers disregard or disobey our mask requirement,” which “creates tension and anxiety for many of our passengers who do have their face coverings on.”

Major US Airlines Require Health Acknowledgement (Source: TravelPulse)
Major US airlines now require passengers to complete a simple health acknowledgement affirming that they do not have coronavirus symptoms and have not had close contact with anyone who has tested positive for the virus in the previous 14 days, as well as an affirmation to wear a face covering in the airport and inflight. Airlines for America announced on Monday that its members would all take this step as “one more important measure in our multi-layered approach to help mitigate risk and prioritize the well-being of passengers and employees.”

Southwest Keeps Middles Seats Open Through Sept. (Source: Frequent Business Traveler)
Southwest Airlines will continue limiting sales to keep middle seats open through Sept. 30. “We’re giving customers peace of mind with our Southwest Promise that requires face coverings for everyone traveling with us, middle seats open through at least Sept. 30, and enhanced cleaning of our cabins and airport spaces,” said Bill Tierney, the airline’s vice president of marketing.

Aeromexico Files for Chapter 11 Reorganization (Source: LoyaltyLobby)
Aeromexico, Mexican flag carrier found in 1934, filed late on Tuesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the United States.

Delta Air Lines Collaborates With Mayo Clinic Experts (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines is furthering its partnership with the Mayo Clinic, which will provide additional infection control measures for customers and employees and “build upon its foundation of care and cleanliness.” Mayo Clinic will consult with Delta on safety practices and workspaces to deliver additional layers of protection through establishing an integrated advisory council, customer health consulting and establishing a testing program for the full Delta workforce. “There’s nothing more important than the health and safety of our people and our customers,” CEO Ed Bastian said.

American Airlines to Lift Capacity Caps July 1 (Source: Business Travel News)
American Airlines will begin booking flights to capacity on July 1, the carrier announced Friday. As of July, American will allow flights to be completely sold, though travelers will be notified of full flights and be allowed to move to less crowded flights without charge when available.

Airports

N.J. Airport Terminal on Track For Completion (Source: Engineering News-Record)
Work has proceeded without pause during the coronavirus pandemic on Terminal 1 at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Security

TSA Works to Balance Security With Virus Safety Efforts (Source: Bloomberg)
The Transportation Security Administration is under pressure to enforce social distancing during airport screenings and even screen travelers for symptoms of COVID-19 as more people return to air travel. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration says it will not require airports to enforce mask policies, making adherence to such policies uneven across facilities.

General Interest

The Europe Travel Ban: What’s Open and Who Can Travel (Source: Forbes)
The 2020 Europe travel ban is a setback for world travelers and those with family on two continents. But borders within the European Union (EU) are starting to open for travel. EU residents initially have the most freedom to travel, which began on June 15, 2020. Meanwhile, non-EU residents may need to wait a little longer. Most European nations sealed their borders in March, even to travelers within the EU bloc.

Leisure Travel

20-Plus Hotels For Great Views Of The Northern Lights (Source: The Telegraph London)
The ION Luxury Adventure Hotel in Iceland, Sheldon Chalet in Alaska, Treehotel in Swedish Lapland and Hotel Arctic in Greenland make for excellent home bases for watching nature’s spectacular northern lights. The Northern Lights Resort & Spa in Canada also made this extensive list of top locations for viewing.