May 3, 2022

Direct Travel

News Briefs

May 3, 2022

In This Edition… travel outlook survey results, sustainability in travel, airline updates and new flight services, updates on the mask mandate, high-speed trains in Europe, increased car rental prices, Hertz plans for electronic vehicles, hotel industry recovery, CDC updated its warning level policy for international travel, and much more!

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How Changes in Standard of Care are Evolving for Post-Pandemic Travel

Corporate travel goals have shifted significantly for most businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For individuals tasked with managing travel, a common thread tying many of these shifts together is the increased importance of duty of care. More specifically, standard of care. Read More


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Travel Outlook Survey: International Travel in 2022 to Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels

4Hoteliers — Survey results reveal travel trends for 2022 that include willingness to travel internationally, comfort level of traveling internationally compared to 2021, and insurance benefits travelers care about most. Read More

GBTA Survey: Sustainability a Top Industry Priority, But Progress Limited

Business Travel News — A vast majority of travel professionals are prioritizing sustainability, though only a small percentage thinks the business travel industry currently is “well advanced” in its sustainability efforts, according to a new Global Business Travel Association survey. Read More


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United Sets Its Largest-Ever Transatlantic Expansion

Business Travel News — Betting on a strong summer, United Airlines has launched the largest transatlantic expansion in the company’s history. Read More

American Airlines App Enables Health Document Uploads

Business Travel News — American Airlines now allows international passengers flying to the United States to upload their health credentials, including Covid-19 vaccine status and test results, directly into the airline’s app. Read More

United, Singapore Airlines to Expand Codeshare

Business Travel News — Star Alliance members United Airlines and Singapore Airlines are expanding their codeshare agreement. Read More

United Airlines Cancels Johannesburg Flights Over Fuel Shortage

Simply Flying — The carrier flies to Africa’s second-busiest airport from its Newark hub. Read More

Wi-Fi on Your Next American Airlines Flight Could Be Free

Afar Magazine — In exchange for watching an ad, fliers will receive 15 or 30 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi. Read More

US Airlines Forecast Return to Profitability

Travel Pulse — Carriers are expecting a bounceback after the devastating impact of coronavirus. Read More

American Airlines’ New CEO Vows Reliability as Massive Peak Travel Season Kicks Off

CNBC — American Airlines’ new CEO Robert Isom is aiming for one thing this summer: reliability. Read More

Airline Tickets Are Now 11% Higher Than They Were Pre-Pandemic

Travel Market Report — March airline tickets were at the highest price since June 2015, according to ARC. Read More


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TSA No Longer Enforcing Transportation Mask Mandate

Travel Pulse — The court said the CDC “did not follow proper rulemaking.” Read More

Government Travel Warnings & Alerts

U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More


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New High-Speed Train Routes Are Coming to Europe

Afar Magazine — Two of Europe’s largest railway companies are joining forces to create a high-speed network that will better connect five countries. Read More

Hertz CEO Says Rebounding Business Travel Could Tighten an Already-Constrained Used Car Market

CNBC — Business travel is making a comeback and could constrain already tight supplies of rental cars when it finally recovers, Hertz chief executive Stephen Scherr told CNBC’s Jim Cramer. Read More

Car Rental Prices Could Remain Elevated through the Summer

Travel Market Report — Stephen Scherr, a former Goldman Sachs finance chief who was named Hertz CEO in February, spoke about the rental car market and what that says about the prospects for the travel industry’s future. Read More

Hertz Plans for 3,000 Electric Vehicles by Year-End

Business Travel News — Hertz Global Holdings currently has electric vehicles and charging stations deployed across more than 30 markets, and it plans to have about 3,000 electric vehicles across 80 markets by year-end. Read More


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U.S. Hotel Industry Recovery Marches On

Business Travel News — Adjusted for inflation, average daily rates are still below 2019 comparables. Read More

Can the Hotel Industry Reach a Carbon Positive Future?

Surface Magazine — Construction has started on Populus, a carbon positive hotel designed by Studio Gang in downtown Denver. It’s the latest in a wave of hospitality destinations that are stepping up the sustainability factor. Read More


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U.S. CDC Restructures Covid-19 Travel Warning System

Business Travel News — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month updated its warning level policy for international travel, now reserving its Level 4 warning only for instances of extreme Covid-19 threats. Read More

Here’s Why You Might Still Want to Wear Masks on Public Transport

NPR — While the freedom to choose has excited many travelers, here’s what experts say about the risks in various circumstances… Read More

Greener Flying Tips

Skyscanner — A sustainability expert suggests ways to reduce one’s carbon impact while traveling the skies… Read More

Tolerance For Unruly Airline Passengers Is Here To Stay

Travel Weekly — The federal mask mandate for air travel is over, at least for now. But the FAA’s stricter policy against unruly airline passengers isn’t going anywhere. Read More

How Long Does It Take to Renew a Passport?

CN Traveler — It all depends on how much you’re willing to spend. Read More

Despite CDC News, Masks Still Required at New York Airports

Travel Market Report — For the time being, JFK International and LaGuardia Airport will continue to require masks. Read More

Planes? Trains? Where Masks Are and Aren’t Required Now

Afar Magazine — A breakdown of where you will and won’t need to mask up after the federal transportation mask mandate was abruptly lifted on April 18. Read More

Comeback–As Do The Prices And Crowds

Forbes — Despite the war in Ukraine and the ongoing cloud of Covid-19 travel restrictions, it’s clear that people are ready to travel to Europe and between EU countries once more– incentivised by the fact that many European countries have scrapped travel restrictions. Read More

Experts Are Predicting a Summer of Travel Chaos. Here’s Why…

CNN — Top of the chaos board? Aviation. The industry was, of course, decimated by the pandemic — but many airlines and airports currently seem unable to cope with travel’s resurgence. Read More

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