On the Go – June 11, 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 Air Lines Establishes “Global Cleanliness Division” (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines is creating a “global cleanliness” division within its customer experience branch. The department will be “dedicated to innovating and evolving our already-high cleanliness standards.” Mike Medeiros, an executive who recently served as vice president of airport operations and strategy, will lead the unit.

United Airlines Unveils “Ready-to-Fly” Assessment (Source: USA Today)
United Airlines will begin asking passengers to complete a “Ready-to-Fly” health self-assessment during the check-in process to confirm that individuals have not experienced COVID-19 symptoms 14 days prior to flying and will abide by safety protocols, such as wearing face coverings. The checklist is based on recommendations from the Cleveland Clinic and a part of the airline’s United CleanPlus program.

American, Delta Plan to Redeploy Parked Aircraft (Source: Bloomberg)
American Airlines will reactivate 141 aircraft now in storage to fly the additional routes the airline plans to add in July, including 83 Airbus A320s and 58 Boeing 737s. Delta Air Lines confirmed it will also redeploy parked aircraft through the summer.

United Airlines Increases Schedule, Nonstop Flights in July (Source: Frequent Business Traveler)
United Airlines will reinstate flights serving 150 US and Canadian destinations and increase nonstop flights. The increases in capacity planned for July involve both business and leisure destinations.

Company Develops Glass Shields For Passenger Jets (Source: Aircraft Interiors International)
Aviation Glass has developed panels that can be placed between seats on commercial aircraft, helping passengers feel more secure. “When the consequences of the corona crisis for the airline industry became clear, various parties in the industry asked us to help them come up with ideas that would allow them to fly without jeopardizing the health of passengers and crew,” Jaap Wiersema, managing director said.

US Airlines Begin to See Gradual Increase in Demand (Source: Wall Street Journal)
American Airlines and United Airlines have announced plans to add flights during July in response to a modest increase in demand as states begin to reopen their economies. Despite this, passenger load factors remain significantly beneath yearly levels. American will operate 55% of US flights that it operated in July 2019, a 20% increase of the schedules it ran in April and May. Only 20% of international flights operated in July 2019 will be offered.

Airports

New Terminal To Open At NYC’s LaGuardia Airport (Source: Engineering News-Record)
A new passenger concourse will debut June 13 at LaGuardia International Airport, marking a milestone in the airport’s $8 billion redevelopment project. “As more customers take to the skies, American is ready to welcome them to New York in this reimagined facility,” said Jim Moses, vice president of Northeast Hubs and Gateways for American Airlines.

Airport Lounges Go Touchless (Source: Forbes)
Airport lounges that provide touchless services may help air passengers feel safe at airports as travel activity picks up. “COVID-19 has radically altered what travelers need and expect from the airport journey,” said Andy Besant of Collinson, which owns Priority Pass lounge access program.

Europe to Start Airport Trials of Thermal Cameras (Source: Airport Technology UK)
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is testing new airport procedures in response to the coronavirus pandemic at select airports, including Brussels Airport in Belgium. Thermal cameras for identifying feverish passengers and those without masks will be part of the new protocols.

General Interest

U.S.-Canada Travel Ban Will Be Extended To End Of July (Source: Forbes)
Canada and the United States are expected to extend a ban on non-essential travel to late July as both countries seek to control the spread of the coronavirus, multiple sources tell Reuters.