On the Go – May 30, 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

Southwest Airlines Unveils New 737 Seat Design (Source: Simple Flying)
Southwest Airlines has unveiled the design of the seats Recaro will provide for the airline’s new 737s going forward, which features upgraded headrests and arm rests, a second cup holder aimed at left-handed travelers, charging ports and a device holder. “Every part of the design is meant so you don’t have to put too much effort into moving around, keep your neck comfortable, and you can be productive with your devices,” said Bill Tierney, vice president for customer experience at Southwest.

American Airlines Pulls Back On AAdvantage Move (Source: Travel Market Report)
American Airlines is backtracking on its plan to tie loyalty points in its AAdvantage program to NDC bookings.  Speaking at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday, CEO Robert Isom admitted that, in light of some bad Q2 numbers, American moved too fast with its NDC ticket sales strategy, and said that the carrier would be re-evaluating the move.

How To Disinfect Your Airplane Seat (Source: SmarterTravel)
Imagine a petri dish squirming with bacteria, then add a recline function and limited legroom.  Now you’re accurately imagining the typical airline seat.  According to study after study, airplanes are filthy places – the average tray table , for instance, is exponentially germier than a home toilet seat.  Other top spots for airplane germs include seatbelt buckles, seatback pockets, and the tops of seats (especially aisle seats, since countless people touch them for balance as they walk by in flight each day).

Security

Airport Traffic Sets New Record May 24 (Source: Reuters)
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record 2.95 million passengers at airports on Friday, surpassing the 2.91 million that set the previous one-day record during Thanksgiving week last year. In Airlines for America’s (A4A) forecast for summer travel (June 1 to Aug. 31), US carriers plan to fly more than 26,000 daily flights, or 5.6% more than last year.

Canadian Border Workers Vote For Strike, Warn Of “Significant Delays” (Source: Travel Market Report)
Crossing the Canada-U.S. border could be a problem for travelers this summer.  Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers have voted 96% in favour of job action, according to a release from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Hotels

Omni to Build Hotel Near New Orleans Convention Center (Source: Hotel Business)
Omni Hotels & Resorts is moving ahead with a plan to build a 1,000-room hotel across from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center following approvals from the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. The $500 million project is expected to be under construction by 2025, with an opening planned for 2028 or 2029.

Leisure Travel

The 10 Best Destinations To Visit In July (Source: The Points Guy)
Smack dab in the middle of most Americans’ summer holidays, July is the ultimate travel month. It can also be one of the most challenging months to decide where to go.  Whether you’re a beach lover chasing the perfect wave, a culture vulture hungry for vibrant festivals or just someone craving a break from the daily grind, July has options for every type of traveler.

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