On the Go – March 7, 2024

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

5 Interesting Air Travel Insights & Trends That Will Define The Industry In 2024 (Source: Simple Flying)
In recent years, commercial air travel has seen its fair share of turbulence, pun not intended. The global pandemic left the aviation industry wondering if commercial air travel would ever return to its former glory. Fortunately, almost four years later, the aviation industry is prospering like never before. Significant developments are happening regarding passenger growth, fleet modernization, sustainable infrastructures, etc.

JetBlue Abandons Spirit Airlines Merger After Regulatory Hurdles Prove Too Much (Source: Travel Market Report)
The JetBlue-Spirit Airlines deal, which had been in the works for close to two full years, is officially dead.  JetBlue announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Spirit to terminate the deal, which was struck in July 2022. JetBlue will pay a $69 million breakup fee, and Spirit will continue to operate as an independent ultra-low-cost airline.

Delta Continues To Roll Out Sync Entertainment System (Source: Travel Weekly)
Delta expects to install its personalized Sync entertainment system on nearly all mainline, single-aisle aircraft by the end of the year.  The carrier has already enabled Sync on its Airbus A321 and Boeing 757 fleets. Next up will be installations on Airbus A319s and A320s as well as the carrier’s Boeing 737 planes by the end of the summer.

Airlines Improved On-Time Performance In 2023 (Source: Simple Flying)
The 10 largest US airlines canceled only 1.29% of scheduled flights in 2023, down from 2.71% in 2022 and 1.9% in 2019, according to the US Transportation Department’s year-end report. DOT reported that 78.34% of flights arrived on time in 2023, up from 76.72% in 2022.

Delta Is The Latest Airlines to Raise Its Checked Bag Fee (Source: MSN)
Delta Air Lines just became the latest airline to raise its checked bag fee — this time by $5, beginning Tuesday.  Delta said the fee for both the first and second checked bag is increasing by $5 for most domestic and short-haul international routes. Travelers with Delta perks, such as Delta SkyMiles Medallion members and customers in first class, will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags, the airline added.

General Interest

Can You Bring Batteries On A Plane? (Source: SmarterTravel)
From phones to laptops, travelers bring a lot of batteries with them when they fly.  But can you bring batteries on a plane?  Yes, you can bring batteries on a plane, although whether you can bring them in a carry-on or pack them in a checked bag depends on the type of battery.

Security

TSA: Spring Break Travel Could Set New Record (Source: TravelPulse)
The 2023 spring break broke records for travel volume and the Transportation Security Administration says 2024 could set a new one. “So far in 2024, travel volumes are trending at nearly 6% above the same period in 2023,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. According to the agency, spring break season goes from March 7-25.

The TSA Is Testing Self-Service Screening In Las Vegas (Source: Travel Weekly)
The new technology will be trialed on TSA PreCheck passengers with a goal of determining if the system, or portions of it, work well enough to deploy more broadly.

Airports

Chattanooga, TN Airport Opens Expanded Terminal (Source: WRCB-TV)
The Chattanooga, Tenn., airport opened its expanded terminal March 2 after completing a $28 million renovation. The project added space for restrooms, concessions, security screening and a business center, as well as two new gates, which will be used by Delta Air Lines. “With this grand opening, we are doubling down on our position as an economic driver of our region,” said April Cameron, Chattanooga Airport president and CEO.

New Terminal Takes Shape At Pittsburgh, PA, Airport (Source: WPXI-TV)
Pittsburgh International Airport’s new $1.5 billion terminal is about 60% complete and the airport offered journalists a sneak peek. “What you saw today is this amazing facility truly coming to life,” said Paul Hoback, chief development officer for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Hotels

Nashville Property For Smaller Meetings Makes Debut (Source: MeetingsNet)
The new, wellness-focused Tempo by Hilton brand opens its second hotel, offering 9,600 square feet of event space three blocks from Nashville’s convention center and the Lower Broadway entertainment district. After the August debut of the 661-room Tempo by Hilton Times Square in New York City, the brand has landed in Music City with the 306-room Tempo by Hilton Nashville.

Loews Minneapolis Hotel Rebranded To The Lofton Hotel, Now Under Hilton Name (Source: Bring Me The News)
Loews Hotel in downtown Minneapolis will now be known as The Lofton Hotel after its sale was confirmed Monday.  A joint venture of Marcus Hotels and Resorts, Hempel Real Estate and Robinson Park Investments has completed the purchase of the 251-room hotel opposite Target Center.

Ground Transportation

Amtrak Increases Northeast Corridor Service (Source: Business Travel News)
Amtrak has added multiple roundtrips to its Northeast Corridor service to meet “growing customer demand,” the rail provider announced Monday.  The additions include four new weekday and two new weekend roundtrips between New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station, a new morning departure from William H. Gray II 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to New York Penn and a new roundtrip between Philadelphia and Boston South Station.

Leisure Travel

Top 10 Spring Break Destinations (Source: Travel Trade)
Before school lets out, the results are in: Allianz Partners’ Top 10 Spring Break Destinations review reveals the importance of sun-drenched beaches in Americans’ 2024 spring itineraries.  After analyzing more than 3.4 million flight itineraries for Spring Break trips between five and eight days in length, the travel insurance and assistance company found that 76% of the itineraries are for domestic travel and 24% are for international trips.