On the Go – November 4, 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 to Offer Peloton Classes In-Flight (Source: CNN)
Delta Air Lines is adding stretching and meditation exercises created for the airline by Peloton to its in-flight entertainment offerings. The carrier has also rolled out other new in-flight options, including Spotify podcasts and custom playlists.

Labor Shortages, Weather Making Airlines Nervous (Source: BNN Bloomberg)
Bad weather and staffing shortages are playing havoc with American and Southwest airlines, which have been forced to cancel thousands of flights as recently as Monday. Airlines are particularly nervous about labor shortages ahead of the holidays.

American Airlines Cancellations Slow After Difficult Weekend (Source: Business Travel News)
American Airlines’ cancellation rate slowed on Monday after a weekend of nearly 2,000 cancelled flights, and the carrier said it is beefing up its staffing levels in the coming weeks before the busy holiday season.

General Interest

Argentina Reopens to Vaccinated U.S. Travelers November 1 (Source: TravelPulse)
Following a significant drop in COVID-19 infection since the Delta variant surge of this past summer, Argentina’s government has just issued an order to begin granting entry to fully vaccinated international travelers from all over the world as of November 1.

From Vaccines to Testing: What Travelers Need to Know Before The New US Travel System on November 8 (Source: USA Today)
The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit. The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists. The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Security

Ground Transportation

Avis Budget Posts Record $1B+ Earnings (Source: Business Travel News)
Avis Budget Group has reported adjusted EBITDA of $1.06 billion, the highest figure in the company’s 75-year history. CEO Joe Ferraro said that the company had set the figure as a target in 2014 but that the headwinds of Covid had delayed its achievement. Revenues for the third quarter reached $3.0 billion, double the figure for 2020 and 9 percent above 2019.

Hertz Reports Record Q3 EBITDA Results (Source: Business Travel News)
Hertz Global Holdings reported third-quarter 2021 revenues of $2.2 billion, with $1.9 billion attributed to the Americas and $312 million from international operations. The total compared with $1.1 billion one year ago.

Airports

Construction Begins on $3.5B California Airport Project (Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune)
An airport serving San Diego, Calif., has kicked off demolition and utility relocation activities for its $3.4 billion overhaul of Terminal 1. The project, which received environmental approval from the Federal Aviation Administration last month, is the biggest for the airport and will include improvements to the airfield.

Pittsburgh Set Its Sights On A Post- Pandemic Airport (Source: SmartBrief/Infrastructure)
Historically, Pittsburgh has laid claim to many aviation “firsts.” But a new project at Pittsburgh International Airport could top them all. Recently, the airport broke ground on a $1.4 billion terminal that has been marketed as the first to be built from the ground up with a post-pandemic world in mind. It will be powered entirely off the grid and will streamline landside and airside operations to make the process of getting to your flight much smoother. The pandemic has also inspired the project team to place a big emphasis on air quality. To that end, the terminal will strive to monitor HVAC performance and make adjustments in real time. It will also provide outdoor space for people even after they’ve gone through security.

Denver Airport Marks Milestone in Terminal Renovation (Source: The Denver Post)
Officials gathered to mark completion of the first phase of Denver International Airport’s $770 million terminal renovation. The project is now three years old, and construction is expected to continue until at least early 2024 as the next phase focuses on security.

Leisure Travel

Top 10 Best US Resorts to Visit For Family Vacation (Source: USA Today)
A number of resorts across the United States offer several attractions and experiences that an entire family can enjoy for their trip, such as lazy rivers, mini-golf courses and access to theme parks. Among the best family-friendly resorts in the country are Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.