On the Go – May 28, 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.

Airlines

Delta Details Increased Cleanliness Standards (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of customers and employees and shared the extensive measures the airline is taking to add layers of protection. The airline has adjusted the boarding process and inflight service and is thoroughly sanitizing every flight with electrostatic spraying. Additionally, all aircraft are outfitted with industrial-grade HEPA filters which frequently recirculate the air on flights.

Delta Air Lines Updates Summer Flight Schedule (Source: Travelmarket Report)
As demand for air travel increases, Delta is updating its flight schedule and introducing complimentary health kits in preparation for the summer travel season.

Air Canada Restarts U.S. Operations (Source: Travel Weekly)
The carrier has brought back flying to New York LaGuardia, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston.

Delta Aims For Early Finish on LaGuardia Work (Source: Forbes)
Delta Air Lines hopes to take advantage of pandemic-reduced traffic at LaGuardia Airport to wind up $3.5 billion in redevelopment work much earlier than a scheduled completion date of 2026. The project, which spans 37 gates and four concourses, could entail tearing down multiple concourses simultaneously, says Paul Jacobson, chief financial officer at Delta.

Delta Offers Passengers Kits With Masks, Sanitizer (Source: Delta News Hub)
By June 5, Delta Air Lines passengers will be able to request a complimentary kit including a face mask, hand sanitizer and an information card on hygiene measures when they check in for flights. ​”Our survey data showed a clear desire for these kits and we have a bias toward action when we see new trends emerge,” Delta’s Bill Lentsch said.

Lufthansa Agrees to €9B Rescue Deal in Germany (Source: Business Travel News)
The Lufthansa Group has agreed a deal with the German government worth €9 billion that will shore up the company’s finances to survive the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Germany is acquiring a 20 percent stake in the share capital of the Lufthansa Group, though it intends to sell this by the end of 2023.

Latam Files for Bankruptcy Protection (Source: Business Travel News)
Latam Airlines Group has filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. bankruptcy court in order to maintain operations as it works to pay off creditors.

Air Canada Plans Flights With Only Business Class Seats (Source: Forbes)
Air Canada plans to fly its Airbus A319s that will be configured with only business class seats starting June 1. The flights from Toronto to Montreal and Ottawa will be priced lower than regular business class fares.

An In-Depth Look at United’s Enhanced Safety Measures (Source: KHOU-TV)
Television station KHOU took a close-up look at United Airlines’ safety and hygiene measures under the airline’s United Clean Plus initiative at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The new measures include updated signage, sneeze guards and touchless check-in procedures among others. “We want to make sure the customer’s journey from check-in to landing is sanitary, clean and safe,” said Rodney Cox, vice president of Hub in Houston.

Hotels

MGM Resorts to Reopen First Las Vegas Properties on June 4 (Source: Travelmarket Report)
MGM Resorts will reopen three of its Las Vegas properties, MGM Grand Las Vegas, New York-New York and the Bellagio, on June 4, the first three MGM reopenings in the city since properties on the strip were shut down because of COVID-19.

Your Guide to Hotel Companies’ Coronavirus Safety and Cleaning Initiatives (Source: Skift)
The world’s major hotel brands are upping the ante on cleaning in an effort to win customer confidence and capture whatever market share exists in the travel industry’s initial coronavirus recovery.

Ground Transportation

Advantage Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy (Source: Business Travel News)
Advantage Rent a Car parent company Advantage Holdco has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Hertz Files For Bankruptcy (Source: Business Travel News)
Hertz Global Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday, though the car rental company said it would be able to continue operations as it begins restructuring.

Security

TSA Alters Screening Procedures to Limit Contact (Source: Forbes)
The Transportation Security Administration has changed security screening procedures to limit contact between its agents and passengers. Air travelers will now be asked to scan their own boarding passes, remove flagged items from bags themselves and put small items such as cell phones into their carry-on luggage to limit the handling of trays.

Airports

Airports Eye Touchless Tech, New Cleaning Systems (Source: CNBC)
Touchless technologies, prearranged security screenings and new sterilization systems are among anticipated technologies airports will bring on line in response to the coronavirus pandemic. More spacious terminals and health threat detection are also anticipated trends.

Slowdown Accelerates Salt Lake City Airport Project (Source: KSL-TV)
The travel slowdown has enabled Utah’s Salt Lake City International airport to accelerate the airport’s $4.1 billion redevelopment project, which is projected to cost $300 million less than expected and open two years ahead of schedule, in 2024. Instead of demolishing old terminals in stages, the airport will tear down two old concourses as soon as the first phase of construction is complete.

Leisure Travel

Walt Disney World Plans to Start Reopening on July 11 (Source: Travelmarket Report)
Touchless technologies, prearranged security screenings and new sterilization systems are among anticipated technologies airports will bring on line in response to the coronavirus pandemic. More spacious terminals and health threat detection are also anticipated trends.