Author Archives: TravelPulse.com Airlines & Airports Headlines

Delta Delays Its Decision to Furlough Pilots

With one eye on Congress and another on its balance sheet, Delta Air Lines has decided to delay its decision to furlough almost 2,000 pilots for a month until Nov. 1."This move will provide time as we continue to lobby for a clean extension of the CARES Act and the Payroll Support Program and resume our negotiations with Delta," the Delta chapter of the Air Lines Pilots Association said in a statement provided to FOX Business.The carrier had previously planned to lay off about 1,941 pilots in October when the restrictions of the CARES Act stimulus package run out. Airlines were bound by provisions, including no pay cuts or layoffs for six months, when they accepted almost $30 billion in grants and loans. MORE Airlines & Airports Industry officials, including airline CEOs, have heavily lobbied Congress for an extension of the CARES Act in order to avoid a mass cumulative layoff. The industry has struggled since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which at one point dropped demand for travel to five percent – 95 percent off what it was a year ago at this time.It has since improved to about 30-35 percent capacity, still well off from the year-over-year numbers and certainly not as quick a rebound as the industry had hoped.On Monday, two Republican Senators introduced a bill that would provide an additional $28 billion in aid.Delta said last week that it will be able to avoid involuntary furloughs for most frontline employees, thanks to thousands of employees who took early retirement, buyouts or agreed to have their pay cut. The airline has "effectively managed our staffing between now and the start of peak summer 2021 travel," CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to employees. Let's block ads! (Why?)

United Launches Innovative Online Map Search

United Airlines has launched a new way for travelers to see all their flight options in one place.The airline now has Map Search, where customers can easily see, compare and shop for flights based on destination, budget and departure city on an interactive map. Travelers can also see nearby locations such as national parks, skiing and cultural destinations.United Airlines is the first airline to introduce a tool like this feature, which is powered by Google Flight Search Technology. "We've reinvented the way people search for flights and introduced something new for our customers that is simpler, provides better results and is easy to use," said Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President for Technology and Chief Digital Officer. "Leveraging the power of Google's Flight Search technology, we are able to provide an all-in-one solution that streamlines the search process and allows our customers to more easily find the flights that work best for them." Trending Now The map also allows customers to apply a number of different filters to search options, including non-stop only flights, specific or flexible dates, and one-way or round-trip options.Customers can also set preferred departure city and maximum price preferences, and they can find destinations that are popular for national parks, beaches, bars and breweries, romance, hiking and more.“The Map Search filters were designed to highlight the destination types that are most popular with today's traveler, including the top national park destinations served by United. The airline operates more flights to more national park destinations than any other U.S. carrier,” United noted in a statement.The map was a direct response to customer feedback and Google and United continue to partner to enhance map features. This is part of an overall effort by United to streamline the travel process, especially in light of current travel conditions.Earlier this month, United launched its Destination Travel Guide, another map feature that highlights destinations that are closed, partially open, or fully open for travel. It also shows quarantine restrictions and if Covid-19 tests are required. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Airport Satisfaction Is up, but Volume Is Down

Traveler satisfaction with the airport experience is up, according to the J.D. Power 2020 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.Up sharply, in fact. And that’s a good thing, right?Not so fast. The respected firm noted the boost in satisfaction – a record-high score of 784 out of a 1,000-points scale – came at the expense of a significant reduction in volume since the coronavirus pandemic hit more than seven months ago.Travelers’ ability to easily get through security checkpoints and baggage claim, and the speed with which they can obtain food and retail services at checkout, were all because of decreased volume thus leading to a better airport experience. Trending Now “Over the Labor Day weekend, airport passenger volumes climbed to 40 percent of year-ago levels as travelers slowly started to trickle back onto airplanes,” Michael Taylor, travel intelligence lead at J.D. Power, said in a statement.“Compared to the pre-COVID-19 environment when most airports were running significantly over capacity, the lack of crowds and long lines is actually creating a very convenient experience for travelers right now. Obviously, this lower passenger volume is not sustainable for most airports. Airport managers are doing all they can to provide a safe and clean environment to facilitate a rebound in travel.”The record score of 784 was up 22 points from a year ago. Passengers also have provided airport terminals with high marks for cleanliness, less crowding and lower noise levels—all of which are positively affected by record-low passenger volumes.The common bond among top-ranked airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Dallas Love Field and Indianapolis International Airport was an open, airy experience that feels more like a well-designed shopping mall than an airport. These airports also do a good job of conveying local flavor in their passenger experience, from food and beverage offerings that feature regional specialties to design cues that evoke local color.Many passengers also applauded airport response to COVID-19.The 2020 North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures overall traveler satisfaction with mega, large and medium North American airports by examining six factors (in order of importance): terminal facilities; airport arrival/departure; baggage claim; security check; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail. Mega airports are those with 33 million or more passengers per year; large airports with 10 to 32.9 million passengers per year; and medium airports with 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year.The study was fielded from August 2019 through July 2020. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Boeing to Introduce Ultraviolet Wand to Combat COVID-19

Boeing has teamed up with Florida-based Healthe Inc. to develop a new ultraviolet (UV) wand as part of its Confident Travel Initiative (CTI) to support the health and safety of passengers and crew amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The wand uses 222-nanometer UVC light, which research finds effectively inactivates pathogens. The new tech is expected to be available for airlines in late fall.The UV device builds on measures already in place, including high-efficiency particulate air filters designed to trap 99.9 percent of particulates. Trending Now Resembling a carry-on suitcase, the easy-to-transport device allows airlines to pass UV light over high-touch surfaces, quickly sanitizing everywhere the light reaches. The new UV wand was found to be particularly effective in compact spaces and is capable of sanitizing a flight deck in fewer than 15 minutes."The UV wand is designed to be more effective than similar devices. It quickly disinfects surfaces on an airplane and further strengthens other layers of protection for passengers and crew," said Mike Delaney, who leads Boeing's CTI efforts, in a statement. "Boeing spent six months transforming an idea for the wand into a working model, and Healthe will now take that prototype and make it available to the world at large.""We are proud to be assisting Boeing as they work with their partner airlines to enhance in-cabin plane sanitization efforts. This could also benefit schools, hospitals, offices, wherever pathogens go," added Healthe executive chairman Abe Morris. "As we ramp up deployment of our cutting-edge UVC and Far-UVC 222 light solutions across many sectors, this new commercial-grade wand will be another powerful tool in the sanitization arsenal to protect passengers against the spread of harmful viruses."Etihad Airways was the first to evaluate the new device, which was demonstrated on the Etihad 787-10 ecoDemonstrator airplane last month. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Baby Born on Flight Gets Lifetime Ticket

This will be one baby on board for the rest of its life.A newborn entered the world early last week when a woman gave birth on the plane mid-flight.And talk about worldly. The mother was from Yemen. The plane was an EgyptAir flight that departed from Cairo. It was headed to London. The pilot diverted to Munich because of the emergency. MORE Airlines & Airports Mother and child are doing well. In fact, EgyptAir said the baby will receive free flights for life from the airline after navigating such a wild beginning to life. Imagine? As if birth isn’t tough enough but to do it in the confined spaces of an airplane in a pressurized cabin? Maybe Mom should get free flights as well.The woman, Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban, reportedly went into labor mid-flight, prompting the pilot to initiate an emergency landing while in German airspace. But baby decided to make its appearance before touching down in Munich and was safely delivered on board.Gizmodo, which first reported the story, is trying to get clarification on the “lifetime” part, however. The media outlet noted that the congratulations relayed by the pilot of the flight said the airline was ‘pleased to present the child with a free ticket for life on Munich flights.’ It’s unclear if the gift is just for EgyptAir flights back and forth to Munich or on any route that EgyptAir flies. Gizmodo is saiting for the airline to clarify. Let's block ads! (Why?)

TSA Launches Prohibited Items Week

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has kicked off Prohibited Items Week in hopes of alerting more travelers to what they can and can't bring with them on an airplane to prevent avoidable headaches at security checkpoints.On Monday, the agency highlighted one of the most common prohibited items travelers bring or often forget in their carry-on, firearms, which must be unloaded and stored in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage when being transported. Gun owners must also declare the weapon to the airline when checking in.MORE Airlines & Airports "It’s always amazing to me when I see the things people try to sneak or how often people forget they have something. Guns are a great example," TSA Arizona spokesperson Patricia Mancha told FOX 10 Phoenix.While TSA has reported a dramatic drop in passenger numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, officers are still seizing firearms at a higher rate than in previous years.TSA agents found 4,432 firearms at security checkpoints across the country last year. What's more, a vast majority, 87 percent, were discovered loaded."We have seen an uptick of people bringing guns to airports all over the country although we have seen a reduction in travelers," added Mancha, who also noted that "people are getting a little creative" when it comes to concealing knives.This week is @TSA Prohibited Items Week! Today we feature; Firearms! A pink or BB Gun that looks like a gun? It doesn't matter, all firearms are prohibited from being in your carry on bag. Below are some firearms detected at New England airports this summer. #KnowTheRules pic.twitter.com/A43LR52NlU— TSA_NewEngland (@TSA_NewEngland) September 21, 2020You can follow along all week long via the TSA Twitter account to learn more about what items are prohibited in addition to mind-boggling stats and some of the craziest things agents have uncovered.As always, travelers are encouraged to download the MyTSA app or visit TSA.gov to see what items they can and cannot bring with them when flying. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Alaska Airlines Expands ‘Sun and Snow’ Strategy

Alaska Airlines is expanding its winter offerings via its ‘Sun and Snow’ strategy with five new routes from Los Angeles International and Palm Springs International airports, the carrier announced today.Alaska will begin daily nonstop service on Dec. 17 between Los Angeles and Cancun, Mexico, as well as to the Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, Nevada.Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular getaways, and Reno is the gateway to Lake Tahoe and its endless possibilities, particularly skiing in the winter. Lake Tahoe was the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. These additions build on Alaska's intra-West and transborder route network from Los Angeles. MORE Airlines & Airports On the same date, the airline is adding daily nonstop service between Palm Springs and Reno, Boise, Idaho and San Jose, California. Tickets are now on sale at alaskaair.com."As demand for leisure travel returns, and for those ready to fly the coop, we're excited to offer even more nonstop routes this winter," Brett Catlin, Alaska's managing director of capacity planning and alliances, said in a statement. "We've long offered nonstop flights to some of the most popular vacation destinations from Southern California, and we continue to see demand for our unique low fare, high-quality experience."The daily flights between Los Angeles-Reno and Palm Springs-San Jose will be year-round. The flights between Los Angeles-Cancun, Palm Springs-Boise and Palm Springs-Reno are part of the airline's seasonal schedule from Dec. 17 through April 12, 2021.Alaska is also increasing the frequency of service on certain routes from Los Angeles starting Dec. 17, including Guadalajara (two daily flights), Salt Lake City (two daily flights) and Boise (three daily flights).Alaska is continuing to build on its route map despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has shrunk demand for air travel. In July, Alaska announced seven new routes from Los Angeles to further connect its guests between Southern California and key markets around the country, including the first nonstop service from the West Coast to Fort Myers/Naples, Florida, which begins Nov. 20.Just in time for fall travel, Alaska is also extending physical distancing on board by limiting the number of guests and blocking middle seats through Nov. 30, 2020. Let's block ads! (Why?)

United Airlines and Unions Send Letter to Congress

United Airlines on Friday sent a letter to Congress, all but begging the leadership for a six-month extension of the CARES Act federal aid grants and loans, as well as to restart the negotiations for the stimulus package as soon as possible.The letter was signed by United CEO Scott Kirby and five of the airline’s biggest unions.United and all domestic carriers are facing an Oct. 1 deadline when they are allowed to conduct layoffs. Without another stimulus package, up to 70,000 aviation workers could be let go. The letter was addressed to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.“On behalf of the 87,000 aviation professionals of United Airlines, we are joining together to respectfully urge a restart of critical negotiations on Covid-19 legislation to include a clean 6-month extension of the very successful Payroll Support Program (PSP) for airline employees. Without additional funding for the PSP grants, up to 16,000 members of the United family are at risk of involuntary furloughs beginning October 1st,” Kirby wrote. “Continuation of this critical program would prevent the furloughs and provide additional time for the industry to reach recovery without losing our colleagues to involuntary furloughs.” Trending Now Kirby noted that airline officials didn’t expect the crisis to last as long as it has. While he was appreciative for the original grants and loans back in March, he stressed that a second round was needed."We recognize the severe impact the virus is having on our entire economy and the need for support touches many other individuals, organizations and programs. Assistance now can help to lessen the long-term impact to the economy and ultimately speed recovery," Kirby wrote. "The sooner Congress and the Administration can come together again and reach an agreement, the better United and the entire industry’s chances of keeping employees and returning the economic benefits we provide for the larger economy."Kirby stressed that through the remainder of the third quarter of 2020, passenger demand expects to be down over 70 percent and revenue down 85 percent from 2019 levels. To survive the crisis with such low demand, United has also billions of dollars in the private capital markets. In the midst of these unprecedented, dire circumstances, Kirby wrote, United has continued to serve more than 99% of the domestic markets that we served before the pandemic.“As company and union leaders at United, we have worked together to reach important agreements toreduce the impact on employees as much as possible but without additional government support, involuntary furloughs will be unavoidable,” he wrote. “Getting through this crisis will continue to require cooperation and sacrifice from everyone. We respectfully urge an urgent return to negotiations and an agreement for aviation workers and the larger economy.” Let's block ads! (Why?)

Delta Air Lines CEO Calls for Travel Industry to Unify

The CEO of Delta Air Lines said the aviation would take several years before volumes return to 2019 levels unless the entire travel industry comes together to communicate a unified message about safety and trust.Delta CEO Ed Bastian said during an interview with SAP Concur president Jim Lucier last week the airline is operating about 50 percent of its domestic schedule and only selling about 60 percent of the seats due to its decision to block middle seats through January 6. Trending Now “So while we can get people traveling again I think the question is just broader than our sector of air travel. It’s the travel ecosystem,” Bastian said. “Getting the hotels and getting all aspects of the hospitality business to join arms and continue to drive the same type of safety protocols, the safety message and the confidence in protecting people through will help us all get out and get more comfortable in being on the road.” Bastian revealed the airline has used the slow period to retire older and less fuel-efficient planes, end operations in unprofitable markets and streamline operations. He said that while some changes are temporary, many will stick around when the coronavirus pandemic ends.“If the experience of flying was not safe, you would expect our people to be getting sick on board the planes because they live in the airport environment, they live onboard the aircraft,” Bastian continued.Lucier also spoke to Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson, who said occupancy is now in the mid-60 percent in China. He said that while the numbers are skewed, they are an encouraging sign, with at least modest improvement every week in most markets.Last month, the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) were asked about post-COVID 19 plans for recovery and resumption of business in an ongoing survey. More than a third (38 percent) of Active Members have seen an increase in bookings in the last 60 days. Another third (38 percent) have seen no change in bookings during this timeframe, with the remaining 24 percent reporting a decrease in bookings. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Numerous Airlines Now Offering Flights to Nowhere

Ten minutes.That’s how long it took a flight on Qantas Airways to sell out.A flight that takes off in Sydney, flies for seven hours and returns to Sydney.Welcome to the new world of Flights To Nowhere.With the coronavirus pandemic still running amok and travel restrictions in place, several airlines are catering to those still seeking to get in an airplane by running flights to nowhere. Qantas, Taiwan’s EVA, Singapore Airlines and Japan’s ANA have all either run flights to nowhere or are about to.MORE Airlines & Airports For Qantas, the flight that left Sydney was “probably the fastest selling flight in Qantas history," the airline's CEO, Alan Joyce, said in a statement. "People clearly miss travel and the experience of flying. If the demand is there, we'll definitely look at doing more of these scenic flights while we all wait for borders to open."According to CNN, the seven-hour scenic flight will perform a giant loop taking in Queensland and the Gold Coast, New South Wales and the country's remote outback heartlands. Fliers should be able to spot famous Aussie attractions including Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef. The jet will do a low flyover over certain landmarks, including Uluru and Bondi Beach.Special onboard entertainment is promised too, including a surprise celebrity host.The Boeing 787 Dreamliner being used is usually reserved for intercontinental journeys across continents, and CNN noted that the aircraft is renowned for its big windows, making it ideal for sightseeing from 30,000 feet.USA Today reported that Americans who want the same experience can do so – sort of. A California business has been offering its own nostalgic flights to nowhere called "The Pan Am Experience," which takes passengers on simulated flights in the shell of former 747 that's now used for movie sets. Let's block ads! (Why?)