On the Go – July 28, 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

Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire (Source: Travel Market Report)
Southwest Airlines on Thursday morning moved to give its customers more flexibility with their flight credits.  Effective immediately, all Southwest flight credits, whether current or issued in the future, will no longer have an expiration date, giving flyers the option to hold them for as long as they want.

JetBlue Airways Reaches Deal to Buy Spirit Airlines (Source: Travel Market Report)
JetBlue Airways has reached a deal to buy ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, bringing an end to a months-long bidding war with Frontier, and creating a “national low-fare challenger to the dominant big four airlines.”  JetBlue announced the deal on Thursday morning, writing that it will acquire Spirit for $33.50 per share in cash, including a prepayment of $2.50 per share in cash payable upon Spirit shareholders’ approval of the deal. When the deal is finalized, the combined carrier will be the fifth-largest airline in the U.S.

Security

TSA Expands Use Of Credential Authentication Technology (Source: TravelPulse)
The Transportation Security Administration is expanding Credential Authentication Technology, which allows security agents to confirm a passenger’s reservation as well as their identity by scanning their identification. The system is now in use at 100 airports.

Airports

New York LaGuardia’s New Terminal B is Now Complete (Source: Travel Weekly)
The final two gates in New York LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B have opened.  In addition, the final section of a new aircraft taxiway is open.  “Today’s announcement marks the completion of a remarkable journey that culminated in an award-winning, 21st century facility at Terminal B, and we couldn’t be prouder,” said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chairman Kevin O’Toole.

Charlotte Airport to Debut Terminal Expansion (Source: WSOC-TV)
This week, Charlotte Douglas International Airport will open its new 90,000-square-foot expansion of the existing main terminal, which first opened in 1982. The expanded terminal will offer passengers more space on the ticketing and baggage levels as well as a new underground tunnel that connects the terminal to hourly parking and rental car areas.

Atlanta Tops Busiest Airports List (Source: Business Travel News)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport regained the top spot as the world’s busiest Airport by passenger traffic in 2021, the Airports Council International trade association announced Monday. The Atlanta airport handled 75.7 million passengers during last year, up 76.4 percent from 42.9 million in 2020. It replaced China’s Guangzhou airport, which dropped to eighth busiest amid Covid-19 lockdowns in the country.

Hotels

Business Travel Comeback Boosts Hilton’s Q2 Earnings (Source: Travel Weekly)
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta reported an improved outlook for the latter half of the year during Hilton’s second-quarter earnings call Wednesday, as revenue per available room (RevPAR) for all major regions, except for Asia Pacific, surpassed 2019 levels.

Leisure Travel

10 Best Things To Do In Boston (Source: SmarterTravel)
Sample the lobster rolls, see the historic buildings, or hear that infamous accent in person—there are many reasons to visit Massachusetts’ capital city. Whether you’re a foodie looking to taste the best restaurants all in one place or a culture buff hoping to soak up some art and history, Boston has something to entice every type of traveler. Here are the 10 best things to do in Boston.

6 Places Where The U.S. Dollar Goes Furthest In 2022 (Source: SmarterTravel)
Need a vacation from inflation? Plan a trip to one of these affordable destinations where the U.S. dollar stretches significantly further than it does at home. Insurance site HelloSafe analyzed the spending power of the U.S. dollar around the world using The Big Mac Index. The Big Mac Index is a method of comparing currencies that was invented in 1986 by The Economist.