On the Go – March 9, 2023

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

U.S. DOJ Sues to Block JetBlue, Spirit Merger (Source: Business Travel News)
The U.S. Department of Justice, along with the attorneys general of Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to block JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion merger with Spirit Airlines, the agency announced Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines Makes It Easier To Earn Elite Status (Source: TravelPulse)
Southwest Airlines is making it easier to earn elite status in its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program by offering double qualifying points for flights taken through May 31. The offer also applies to tickets booked with points.

Airlines To Fight Additional Schiphol Flight Reductions (Source: Business Travel News)
Delta Air Lines, KLM, EasyJet and other carriers have joined forces to sue the Dutch government after it announced it would further reduce flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport from 500,000 annual movements—take-offs and landings—to 460,000 by November, Delta announced.

Virgin Atlantic Joins SkyTeam Airline Alliance (Source: Travel Weekly)
Virgin Atlantic on Thursday formally joined the SkyTeam airline alliance.  The move, announced in September, among other features allows travelers to redeem loyalty points on alliance carriers.  Virgin Atlantic already had a transatlantic joint venture with SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM.

General Interest

Women Business Travelers: Personal Safety Is Mission Critical (Source: Business Travel News)
Traveling for work as a woman is less safe than traveling as a man, according to 71 percent of female respondents in a recent global survey of business travelers.  The survey, commissioned by World Travel Protection ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, included 2,000 business travelers in the U.K., U.S., Australia and Canada and found that women are more likely to take measures to protect their safety during a business trip than men.

Security

TSA Anticipates Strong Travel This Spring (Source: Airline Weekly)
U.S. passenger airlines are expected to carry a record number of passengers this spring, according to a new forecast from trade group Airlines for America. That’s big news for the industry that, due to a pilot shortage and other constraints, has struggled to recover to pre-pandemic capacity levels despite robust travel demand.

Hotels

Survey: 79% Of Hotels Remain Short-Staffed (Source: Hotel Management Online)
A survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that 79% of hoteliers are facing a staffing shortage, with 43% ranking housekeeping as their most pressing need. Significant vacancies remain, despite the fact that 71% of respondents are increasing pay, 64% are providing more flexible hours and 33% are improving benefits.

St. Regis Hotel To Open Near The Chicago River (Source: Hotel Management Online)
Almost two years after originally planned, Marriott International expects to open a prominent addition to its luxury St. Regis hotel portfolio on May 1.  The pandemic along with supply-chain issues and other factors delayed the 192-room St. Regis Chicago, but the property is now gearing up for its opening in the city’s third largest tower, part of the Lakeshore East development on Wacker Drive.

Leisure Travel

Notre Dame Cathedral Is Scheduled To Reopen At End Of 2024 (Source: Travel Weekly)
The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is going fast enough to allow its reopening to visitors and faithful at the end of 2024, less than six years after a fire ravaged its roof, French officials said Monday.  The cathedral’s iconic spire, which collapsed in the blaze, will gradually start reappearing above the monument this year in a powerful signal of its revival, said the army general in charge of the colossal project, Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin.

The 15 Most Romantic Places To Visit In Italy (Source: The Travel)
Italy remains one of the best locations for lovebirds. After all, Shakespeare’s greatest love story, the tragedy of Romeo & Juliet, was situated in the Italian city of Verona. This fact alone may be all the motivation one needs to pick this country for a honeymoon or an anniversary, or simply enjoy the presence of one’s significant other. For those eager to take on this adventure, here are the most romantic places in Italy.