On the Go – June 3, 2021

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

United Plans to Offer Supersonic Travel by Decade’s End (Source: Today)
United Airlines has signed a deal with Boom Supersonic to buy more than a dozen supersonic planes, bringing back supersonic passenger travel almost 20 years after the retirement of the Anglo-French Concorde. The jets, which are certified to fly with sustainable aviation fuel, would cut transatlantic flying time by 50% compared to conventional commercial aircraft.

American Airlines Offers 15-Minute, At-Home COVID Test (Source: Simple Flying)
American Airlines is offering 15-minute, self-administered COVID-19 testing in partnership with telehealth provider eMed. Passengers can get results uploaded to the VeriFLY app for pre-travel testing or tests done at their destination for re-entry to the US.

How The Pandemic Has Changed airline Scheduling (Source: FlightGlobal)
The pandemic has prompted significant changes in airline scheduling: boosting point-to-point flights over routing passengers through hubs, more flights to domestic outdoor destinations and smaller cities and relying on new information sources that allow airlines to make faster adjustments. “We need to adjust our capacity based on incoming bookings, not historical trends,” said Brian Znotins, vice-president of network and schedule planning at American Airlines.

General Interest

Airlines Urge G7 Nations to Reopen Travel (Source: The Associated Press)
As vaccination rates continue to increase, US and UK airlines have been urging the easing of travel restrictions between the two countries ahead of the G7 summit, citing extensive economic data about the importance of this international market. On Wednesday, the International Air Transport Association again urged representatives from the G7 nations to lift blanket travel bans in favor of “data-based” alternatives that rely on testing and vaccination. “With sensible testing and screening methods in place we can safely open our borders to regain the freedom that has been taken from us,” said IATA head Willie Walsh.

Hotels

What’s In A Name? Bargain At N.Y. Hotel If It’s James (Source: CNN)
The James New York-NoMad hotel is marking its fourth anniversary by offering a 40% discount to any guest who can prove he or she is a namesake. Interested Jameses — first or last name — have until June 30 to book one of the 360 rooms at the hotel, known for offbeat promotions.

Airports

Photos: The New And Old at LaGuardia Airport (Source: The Associated Press)
Photographer Craig Ruttle roves the nearly 700 acres of LaGuardia Airport to document the ongoing $8 billion makeover, highlighting the renovation and repurposing of some of the oldest continuously operating airport facilities in the US. The project includes construction of two new main terminals adding 72 gates.

Leisure Travel

CDC Drops Mask And Distancing Rules on Ships Where Passengers Are Vaccinated (Source: Travel Weekly)
New CDC guidance enables passengers and crew on ships with 95% vaccination rates to forego wearing masks or physical distancing while onboard.