On the Go – May 6, 2021

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 Plans New Seat Class, Upgrades For 2 Aircraft Types (Source: Delta News Hub)
American Airlines has moved its regional flight operations into a new 14-gate concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National airport. The concourse, which is to be complete in 2022, includes mother’s care rooms and an indoor pet relief area, with an Admirals Club and retail options to be added.

Founder of JetBlue Launching New Budget Airline (Source: Forbes)
Breeze, a new low-cost airline, will take to the sky in May with a focus on second-tier cities. David Neeleman, who founded JetBlue, is building the airline on cheap fares, fees for extras and a customer-service app.

Delta Plans New Lounge at Seattle Airport (Source: The Business Journals)
Delta Air Lines plans to build a $71 million Sky Club lounge in conjunction with a terminal expansion underway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airport is building its $1 billion International Arrivals Facility and will realign gate assignments for Delta and United Airlines.

United CEO Looks Toward Recovery, Discusses Vaccinations, Staffing (Source: Yahoo)
United Airlines anticipates its staffing will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, said CEO Scott Kirby, who discussed vaccinations, business travel and electric aircraft in an interview. Kirby said vaccine hesitancy among employees is less than he had feared, but the airline is still discussing possible vaccination requirements with unions.

General Interest

EU May Life Some Travel Restrictions (Source: Travel Weekly)
In an announcement sure to be welcomed by travelers worldwide, EU officials on Monday proposed easing restrictions on visiting the 27-nation bloc as vaccination campaigns across the continent gather speed.

5 Important Vaccine Card Tips For Travelers (Source: SmarterTravel)
With numerous countries requiring proof of vaccination for entry, your vaccine card is becoming just as important as your passport, so treat it with the same amount of care. Here are five important things you should know about your vaccine card.

Everything You Need to Know About Vaccine Passports (Source: SmarterTravel)
After a year of travel practically coming to a standstill, as more people get vaccinated, heading somewhere that is not your backyard is very appealing. However, as air travel has started picking up this spring, a lot is still uncertain. Domestically, it’s easy to travel. As long as you wear a mask on the plane and follow any COVID-19 travel regulations the state you are traveling to may have, traveling in the U.S. is fairly straightforward. Just recently, the CDC has said that vaccinated individuals are safe to travel without testing or quarantining.

Security

New System Lets Travelers Make a Reservation at the TSA Checkpoint (Source: The Points Guy)
The next time you fly out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), you might be able to skip the line at security thanks to a new pilot program. The airport is testing a program called SEA Spot Saver, which lets passengers reserve a time to go through the security checkpoint.

TSA Extends Mask Mandate Through September 13 (Source: National Public Radio)
The Transportation Security Administration has extended through Sept. 13 the rule mandating face coverings on aircraft and other public transportation. Airlines for America applauded the extension, noting that the “federal face covering mandate has significantly strengthened our flight crews’ ability to enforce these requirements onboard.”

Hotels

Hilton CEO Optimistic About Return of Business Travel (Source: CNBC)
Half of business travel has returned overall, with the numbers reaching close to 75% in some markets, and the recovery will continue to trend upward, said Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta. “As businesses are starting to reopen offices and an expectation of in the fall kids going back to school, people start to travel for business again, and they start to congregate in meetings,” Nassetta said.

Ground Transportation

Avis Budget Group: We Are Managing Fleet Availability As Best We Can (Source: Business Travel News)
“It’s a very fluid situation right now,” said Avis Budget Group CEO and president Joe Ferraro in its 2021 Q1 earnings call today in regard to the uncertainty around the potential car rental vehicle shortage. “I can guarantee you we are doing everything in our power to ensure we have available fleet to meet the current and future demand.”

Leisure Travel

The 9 Best European Cycling Tours For Beginners (Source: SmarterTravel)
Cycle touring isn’t just for Lycra-clad enthusiasts. Europe alone offers hundreds of accessible cycle tours aimed at the casual rider, from Mediterranean coastal roads to river-hugging bike paths. Exploring Europe on two wheels is the best way to avoid crowds while experiencing its iconic landscapes from a new perspective. And by booking through a trusted tour company, beginners avoid the common pitfalls of planning a cycling trip abroad. Typical benefits start with bikes and equipment included, as well as pre-planned routes, luggage transfers, pre-booked hotels, and professional guides to help with all aspects of the trip.