On the Go – November 3, 2022

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 Offers Free Wi-Fi to Elite Flyers (Source: The Points Guy)
Delta Air Lines is offering free Wi-Fi to its elite frequent flyers on some aircraft. Delta is testing the capacity of upgraded internet systems and collecting usage data with an eye toward expanded service offerings.

Delta Pilots Say They’re Willing to Strike, But No Impact to Thanksgiving Travel is Expected (Source: CNN)
Delta Air Lines pilots intensified their push for improved pay by insisting they will strike if they do not get a new contract.  With 96% of members participating in an Air Line Pilots Association union vote, 99% of Delta pilots “authorized union leaders to call a strike, if necessary, to achieve a new contractual agreement,” the union said.

Air Canada Upgrades Passenger Experience (Source: Simple Flying)
Air Canada is upgrading the passenger experience with 25% more in-flight entertainment and upgraded dining on international flights and in airport lounges. The airline plans to roll out Wi-Fi across its fleet by early 2023 and Premium Rouge passengers will receive complimentary internet access on available flights starting Nov. 1.

Southwest Focuses on Restoring Schedule (Source: Routes News Online)
After expanding its network during the pandemic, Southwest Airlines is focusing on “putting the planes back that were already there,” by restoring pre-existing routes and capacity, said Adam Decaire, vice president of network planning. New routes Southwest has added recently have been short, regional flights.

JetBlue Will Soon Announce a Europe Expansion (Source: Travel Weekly)
JetBlue will announce an expansion of Europe service in the near future, CEO Robin Hayes said Tuesday.  The airline currently has five Airbus A321LR (long-range) narrowbody aircraft with six more scheduled for delivery before the end of next year. Those new planes will be used to support more transatlantic routes, Hayes said during JetBlue’s Q3 earnings call.

American to Add Business Class Seats (Source: CNN)
American Airlines plans to phase out first class in favor of more business class seats. “The quality of the business class seat has improved so much and frankly, by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for,” said Vasu Raja, the airline’s chief commercial officer.

Hotels

Hotel Prices Skyrocket Past 200% (Source: TravelPulse)
A new study has revealed a shocking increase in the cost of U.S.-based hotel rooms compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. In fact, research conducted by The Family Vacation Guide found that in some major cities, the average room price skyrocketed more than 200 percent compared to three years ago, the last full year prior to the virus hitting the country and wreaking havoc on the travel industry.

Tampa’s Water Street District Gets a Third Marriott-Branded Hotel (Source: MeetingsNet)
The recent debut of the luxury Tampa Edition Hotel completes a three-tiered hospitality offering from Marriott and adds to a bustling waterside dining/entertainment district. Mid-October saw a big opening party for the Tampa Edition Hotel, a 172-room, 30-suite luxury property that’s part of Marriott’s portfolio. It joins the 529-unit JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, opened in February 2021, and the 727-unit Tampa Marriott Water Street, fully renovated in 2019, in the waterfront neighborhood near the Tampa Convention Center.

Hilton New York Times Square Welcomes Guests For The First Time Since 2020 (Source: Travel Weekly)
After an extended pandemic-related closure, the Hilton New York Times Square in midtown Manhattan has reopened its doors.  The 478-room property, which is located along 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue, shuttered in 2020 and was once rumored to be at risk of closing permanently.

President Biden Targets Hotel Resort Fees in Larger Crackdown (Source: Skift)
U.S. President Joe Biden commented on Wednesday that his administration would look to crack down on “surprise fees” consumers face. Biden named two examples, including “resort fees” for hotel stays and administrative fees for live events and concert tickets.

Ground Transportation

Avis Budget: Q3 Corporate Demand Increase ‘Significant’ (Source: Business Travel News)
Corporate travel demand during the third quarter was “strong,” exceeding both 2021 and 2019 levels for the period, Avis Budget Group reported Tuesday. The month of September was the busiest September on record, with a “pretty significant” increase in corporate business as a contributing factor, CEO Joe Ferraro said during an earnings call.