In this edition of the Travel News Brief: U.S. to open Mexico and Canada land borders for those vaccinated, U.S. to accept international visitors with WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines, airline flight expansions, Delta to launch facial recognition program, TSA to improve cybersecurity, car shortage affects rental satisfaction, Enterprise and National extend loyalty status, Uber adding a variety of in-app experiences, hotel rates could rise and more!
U.S. to Open Mexico and Canada Land Borders to Fully Vaccinated People
NBC News — The policy will apply only to legal travel, not to undocumented immigrants, such as the nearly 30,000 Haitians who arrived at the Texas border last month. Read More
U.S. Will Accept WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccines for International Visitors
Reuters — The United States will accept the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by U.S. regulators or the World Health Organization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More
Vaccines Mandatory for Canadian Public Servants, Air and Rail Workers, Travellers
Canada’s National Observer — The core public service, air travel and rail employees and passengers must all be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October, according to Canada’s new mandatory vaccine policy. Read More
United Plans Large Transatlantic Expansion for Spring 2022
Business Travel News — United Airlines next spring will add five new destinations in Europe and the Middle East and new routes to five others as a part of the largest transatlantic expansion in the carrier's history. Read More
Delta's Domestic Corp. Travel Recovery Nears 50 Percent Mark
Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines' corporate travel volume in recent weeks has grown to its highest point during the Covid-19 pandemic recovery, with domestic business travel volume last week nearing 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Read More
Delta Aims to Cut Down Those Long Walks Between Airports Gates
Insider Travel Report — Delta Air Lines, over the next year, will be working to increase airline partner co-location in key airports in the U.S., such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, as well as Santiago, Chile. Read More
Delta to Launch Facial Recognition Program for PreCheck Members in Atlanta
Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines in the coming weeks will begin a facial recognition program for U.S. Transportation Security Administration PreCheck members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Read More
BA to Operate Biggest Schedule Since Start of Pandemic
Business Travel News — British Airways is planning to add the Airbus A380 back into its fleet in November as it prepares to operate its biggest flight schedule since March 2020. Read More
United Domestic Capacity to Reach 91 Percent of 2019 Levels in December
Business Travel News — United Airlines plans to fly 91 percent of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity this December, as the carrier has seen flight search activity surpass 2019 levels for the upcoming holiday season. Read More
Delta to Add Routes from Boston in Summer 2022
Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines will launch five new routes out of Boston next year, including international service to Tel Aviv and Athens. Read More
Qantas Pushes Up Restart Date for London and Los Angeles Flights
Travel Market Report — After news broke that Australia would be re-opening its international border sooner than expected, Qantas announced plans to re-launch some international flights this November. Read More
Virgin Atlantic to Restart More International Services
Business Travel News — As the U.S. prepares to lift a ban on non-citizen travelers from the European Union and United Kingdom, Virgin Atlantic said it would resume more transatlantic services this winter. Read More
Air New Zealand Will Require Vaccination for International Travelers
Travel Market Report — Starting next year when New Zealand’s borders open, guests on the country’s flag carrier will have to show proof of vaccination in order to fly. Read More
TSA Announces Plan to Improve Cybersecurity for Rail, Airline Industries
Travel Pulse — Recent attacks have left officials concerned about key transportation companies. Read More
CLEAR Adds iPhone Integration for Health Pass
Travel Market Report — The app will allow users to share vaccination records during travel, including when going to Hawaii. Read More
The Cost of TSA PreCheck Renewal Just Dropped
Afar Magazine — As a growing number of travelers head back to airports, those shorter TSA PreCheck security lines are sounding pretty good right about now. Read More
Government Travel Warnings & Alerts
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Global Car Shortage Hits Rental Satisfaction
Business Travel News — Overall customer satisfaction with airport-based rental car companies in North America this year has declined sharply as a global shortage of new vehicles caused average prices to increase 58 percent during the last nine months, according to the J.D. Power 2021 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study. Read More
Enterprise, National Extend Loyalty Status
Enterprise Holdings — National Car Rental's Emerald Club executive and executive elite members as well as Enterprise Rent-A-Car's Enterprise Plus silver, gold and platinum elite members whose status was set to expire on Feb. 28, 2022, will be extended to Feb. 28, 2023, due to the impact of Covid-19 on customers' travel plans. Read More
Uber Rolls Out New Airport Services, Including Reserve Pickup
The Points Guy — Uber is adding a variety of in-app experiences for use at airports around the world in response to ongoing increased travel demand this year… Read More
Why Renting a Car Will Be a Pain Until at Least 2022
Los Angeles Times — “COVID has put so many stresses on the system, and this is just one of them,” said Eben Peck, executive vice president for advocacy at the American Society of Travel Advisors. Read More
2022 Negotiated U.S. Hotel Rates Could Rise 15 Percent
Business travel News — For those buyers conducting an RFP this year, the average 2022 U.S. corporate negotiated rate could increase 10 percent to 15 percent year over year, predicted industry expert Bjorn Hanson, adjunct professor at the New York University School of Professional Studies' Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, in his annual analysis. Read More
W Hotels Debuts in Nashville
Travel Market Report — W Hotels officially opened the doors to W Nashville, the brand’s newest property set in the city’s upscale Gulch neighborhood. Read More
Hilton Takes Top Honors
Business Travel News — Hilton Worldwide earned the top spot among corporate travel buyers in BTN’s annual Hotel Report. Read More
8 Things to Pack if You Want to Sleep on the Plane
Smarter Travel — From an under-$20 inflatable footrest to a pricey pair of earbuds designed specifically for sleep, these items might just be the thing that actually lets you get some shut-eye on your next flight. Read More
5 Tricks for Making Your Travel Gear Last Longer
Smarter Travel — Treat your travel gear right and it will last you through millions of miles—leaving you more money to spend on vacations. Here are our top tips for making your suitcases, bags, and other travel gear last longer. Read More
15 Tips To Travel Safely During Covid
Smarter Travel — Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic carries some level of risk, no matter how far you’re going. However, there are plenty of things we can do to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus while traveling. Read More
5 Types of Face Masks That Are Banned From Planes
Smarter Travel — Did you know that cloth masks aren’t allowed on some airlines? Better know what types of masks aren’t accepted before you try to board. Read More
Canada Announces Vaccine Mandate for Air, Rail and Cruise Travelers
TravelPulse — The Canadian government announced Wednesday that domestic and international travelers arriving in the country via commercial flight, train or cruise ship must be fully vaccinated. Read More
Airlines Face Travel Boom Heading into the Holidays (Video)
The Today Show — Experts say that if you’re thinking about flying to see family and friends during the holidays, you’d better start planning now – and anticipate spending more to do it. Read More