On the Go – September 1, 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

Airlines Prepare for Busy Labor Day Weekend (Source: Reuters)
Airlines continue to refine operations in preparation for what is expected to be a busy Labor Day weekend, with as many as 12 million passengers traveling through airports. Delta Air Lines, which expects to serve up to 2.9 million travelers over the weekend, has “taken steps this summer to ensure our people have the tools and support they need to deliver on our high standards for reliability, while offering Delta’s signature customer service with warmth and care,” said Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband.

American Executive Discusses Domestic Flight Network (Source: Forbes)
In a recent statement, American Airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja highlighted the strength of American Airlines’ domestic network, using Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport in Tennessee as an example of its unique markets. “[W]e have the biggest and best domestic short-haul network, and we’ll always preserve that,” Raja said.

General Interest

Understanding Carbon Offsets During Travel (Source: Travel Market Report)
As the travel industry continues to pay more attention to its impact on the environment, including how global carbon emissions contribute to climate change, the subject of carbon offsets is being raised more frequently. But for many, offsets are still a mystery.  What are they exactly? How do you “buy” one?

Security

Which Airports Can You Use Global Entry At In The U.S. And Abroad? (Source: The Points Guy)
Earlier this month, I applied for Global Entry for the first time in preparation for my upcoming trip to Singapore in October. Much to my non-surprise, I couldn’t secure an in-person interview at my home airport, or any others nearby, ahead of my trip.  Completing an interview is the final step of the Global Entry application process. However, many travelers, like myself, have been unable to schedule one successfully due to an ongoing backlog of applicants for various trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck.

Airports

Airport Offers Trial Run to Ease Flyers With Varying Needs (Source: PBS)
Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport offers a program on Saturdays to allow passengers with varying needs to have a trial run of the airline process, including navigating the airport, plane and process. The program uses a mock airplane cabin that was used to train Delta employees so passengers can practice navigating the aisles.

Orlando Airport Plans $2.8B Terminal Opening (Source: Forbes)
Orlando International Airport is scheduled to open its new terminal, which adds 15 gates and will increase airport capacity by about 10 to 12 million passengers, for international flights on Sept. 20 and domestic flights on Sept. 26. The terminal’s features will include facial recognition technology for boarding and radio frequency identification for baggage handling.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Charts Way Forward (Source: Twin Cities Business)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is charting its future as Delta Air Lines continues operations at 100-plus gates and monitors market conditions. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United, JetBlue and Southwest all have operations at MSP.

Hotels

Nashville’s New Hotel Fraye Debuts in Midtown (Source: MeetingsNet)
Located near Music Row, the city’s first Curio Collection property has 200 upscale rooms and meeting space for 275.  The 200-room Hotel Fraye opened in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood on August 18, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and managed by Concord Hospitality.  The property is just a few blocks from Vanderbilt University and close to Music Row, home to the recording studios, record labels, and other businesses that serve Nashville’s music industry.