On the Go – October 5, 2023

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

The Best Domestic Airlines for 2023, Ranked (Source: SmarterTravel)
If you’ve ever been crammed into an uncomfortable coach seat, been charged extra for a bag, or had a flight delayed for no good reason, you know how much the airline you fly can impact your trip. Here’s which airlines you should choose (and which ones you should avoid) for your next flight in the United States.

Air France-KLM Would Take SAS Stake In Restructuring (Source: Business Travel News)
SAS has agreed to a restructuring deal worth nearly $1.2 billion that will allow the carrier to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the carrier announced Tuesday. The package includes funding from Air France-KLM, investment firm Castlelake, Lind Invest and the Danish government. The carrier filed for bankruptcy in the United States in July 2022.

Delta, AeroMexico to Expand Codeshare (Source: Business Travel News)
Aeromexico in January 2024 will start to introduce 17 new routes from seven airports in Mexico to nine destinations in the United States, and each flight will be part of the carrier’s joint cooperation agreement for codesharing with Delta Air Lines.

General Interest

U.S. Passport Renewal Wait Time Drops (Source: Travel Market Report)
Potential international travelers got some good news this week when the U.S. State Department cut the estimate time for passport renewal.  On Monday, the U.S. State Department announced that the wait time for a standard passport renewal is now 8 to 11 weeks, down from 10 to 13 weeks earlier in the summer. The 8 to 11-week timeline is the same as the summer of 2022, but still longer than the 4 to 6 weeks the State Department was estimating in 2019.

Airports

Denver Airport Plans to Add Four New Concourses (Source: The Colorado Sun)
Denver International Airport, expecting to handle 120 million passengers by 2045, is planning a major $2.1 billion expansion to add four new concourses and 100 gates. “The ability to build those in phases will allow us to negotiate with the airlines as we build those,” said airport CEO Phil Washington, and “my guess is that they will be spoken for very quickly.”

Iowa Airport Begins Work On $455 Terminal (Source: KCCI-TV)
Iowa’s Des Moines International Airport has begun construction on a new, $455 million terminal. Gov. Kim Reynolds said the expansion will add more than $6 billion to the area’s economy. Work is slated to wrap up in 2026.

Baltimore Airport Wins Restroom Contest (Source: WJZ-TV)
Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport has won the 2023 “America’s Best Restroom” contest. “I will tell you I have never been more excited about restrooms,” said airport CEO Ricky Smith.

Hotels

Aloft Denver Downtown Is Back In Business Just A Block From The Convention Center (Source: MeetingsNet)
Denver used the Aloft Denver Downtown as a homeless shelter during the Covid-19 pandemic, but after three years serving some of the city’s most vulnerable, the property is returning to the business of travel. The shelter closed this spring and now, after a five-month, $3 million makeover, the hotel has officially reopened.

Marriott International Launches New Brand – Four Points Express By Sheraton (Source: Travel Daily Media)
Marriott International has announced the launch of Four Points Express by Sheraton, designed for the midscale segment. This new brand is a response to growing consumer demand for reliable yet affordable accommodation in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Consistent with the company’s approach to meeting the needs of guests with regionally relevant lodging products for every stay purpose, the announcement follows the company’s recent move into the affordable midscale space with City Express by Marriott in the Caribbean and Latin America and the announcement of its plans for StudioRes in the U.S. & Canada.

Ground Transportation

Travel One & Enterprise: Common Values Lead To Joint Success (Source: Enterprise.com)
A long-standing business relationship founded on trust, communication, fun and hard work is at the heart of this unique pairing.  When you’re in the experiential business, as is the case with travel management company Travel One, you often rely on two key ingredients to survive and thrive: trust and relationships.