On the Go – November 5, 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.

* * For the latest COVID-19 travel industry information, please click on this link:

https://traveloneinc.com/covid-19-industry-information/

Airlines

American Expands Traveler Testing Program (Source: Simple Flying)
Starting Nov. 16, American Airlines is expanding its pre-travel coronavirus testing program to passengers traveling to Belize, Grenada and St. Lucia, and expanding test options for Hawaii-bound travelers. American continues to emphasize its “Clean Commitment” to keep travelers safe on aircraft and in airports.

American Airlines Cuts December Flight Schedule (Source: The Dallas Morning News)
American Airlines has cut its planned December flight schedule in half due to low demand, but will operate more flights at the end of the month to accommodate holiday travel. “In December, our schedule will be approximately 50% smaller than the same time period last year, with the exception of the last two weeks of the month, which will be approximately 45% smaller than the same time period last year during the holiday peak,” said spokeswoman Nichelle Tait.

Pandemic Not Curbing Demand For Holiday Flights (Source: USA Today)
Despite a surge in coronavirus cases, holiday travel is still expected to be busy because people are suffering from “pandemic fatigue” after months of lockdown and many college students intend to come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas break, airlines executives say. In addition, travelers are being enticed by low fares and fewer blackout dates and restrictions.

JetBlue Steps Back From Flight Capacity Limits (Source: USA Today)
JetBlue will keep flights less than 70% full through Dec. 1 and relax the capacity cap through the holidays in anticipation of more families flying at that time. “JetBlue is blocking the vast majority of middle seats on our larger aircraft and the majority of aisle seats on smaller aircraft,” the airline said.

Southwest Airlines Details O’Hare, Colorado Springs Plans (Source: The Dallas Morning News)
Southwest Airlines will begin flying out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport Feb. 14, with flights to Baltimore, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas Love Field and Nashville, Tenn. Southwest also announced which cities it will connect to its new destination in Colorado Springs: Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas Love Field and Chicago Midway.

General Interest

NY Requires Coronavirus Testing For Most Visitors (Source: TravelPulse)
New York has eliminated the 14-day quarantine for visitors, instead requiring visitors to have a COVID-19 test within three days of arrival, a three-day quarantine and a negative test on Day 4. The rule applies to visitors from 41 states and exempts bordering states.

Hotels

Hotel Rates Plunged 17% Due to Pandemic, Study Shows (Source: TravelPulse)
The pandemic depressed hotel room rates across the globe by 17% and beyond in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a new report from Dertour, a major tour operator in Germany and Austria. Hardest hit were Amsterdam, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Phuket and Bangkok, with each declining by more than 33%.

Ground Transportation

Uber, Lyft Prevail in Ballot Effort Classifying Drivers as Contractors (Source: Business Travel News)
California voters approved a ballot measure that allows Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services to designate drivers as contractors, not employees. The state’s Proposition 22 specifies “app-based drivers” as contractors, exempting Uber and Lyft from a State Assembly bill passed last year that defines who companies can classify as independent contractors. A Superior Court ruling this summer had said rideshare drivers did not meet those criteria and were entitled to benefits and rights afforded employees

Leisure Travel

Now Open And Not Crowded – Theme Parks (Source: TravelPulse)
This is the perfect time to tour theme parks, almost all of which are open, with no crowds and plenty of safety precautions in place. And many parks are debuting new rides and attractions, such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla.