TRAVEL NEWS RECAP FOR WEEK OF JULY 11th
American Airlines Offers Additional Credit Card – American Airlines struck a deal with Barclays to offer another credit card option in addition to their long-running agreement with Citi. Barclays was the credit card provider for US Airways before the merger with American in 2013. All the credit cards will be MasterCards. Citi will promote its cards via American’s website, mobile apps, direct mail, and Admirals Club airport lounges. Barclays will promote its cards on American Airlines flights starting in 2017. The new credit card deals are expected to increase pre-tax revenue by $200 million this year, $550 million next year, and $800 million in 2018.
Qatar Airways Will Invest in LATAM Airlines - Qatar Airways plans to take a stake of up to 10% in LATAM Airlines Group. Qatar will invest $613 million, despite the Latin American airline’s financial struggles. LATAM shareholders still have to approve the investment, and that meeting will be held sometime before September. LATAM and Qatar Airways are Oneworld alliance partners. Qatar Airways is also considering a stake in Italy’s Meridiana airline.
Emirates Named World’s Best Airline – This week at the Farnborough Airshow, Skytrax presented the 2016 World Airline Awards with the leaders and top management from over 40 airlines worldwide in attendance. Air travelers voted Emirates as the World’s Best Airline, making it the fourth time Emirates has won the top honor. Emirates also rated highly in World’s Best Inflight Entertainment and World’s Best Cabin Staff. Qatar Airways ranked second in the world, and won World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class lounge, and Best Airline Staff in the Middle East. Third place went to Singapore Airlines, which also won Best Airline in Asia and Best Business Class Airline Seat. The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2016 are Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA All Nippon Airways, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air, Qantas Airways, and Lufthansa.
Proposed Legislation for Airlines to Seat Families Together – The proposed legislation for the Federal Aviation Administration requires airlines to ensure that children 13 years old and younger are seated next to accompanying family members older than 13. The reasoning is that it has become more difficult for parents and children to sit together due to overcrowded planes and extra fees to reserve specific seats. Under the bill, airlines would be allowed to charge extra if seating family members together means accommodating passengers with higher-priced seats. Airlines for America, a trade group for the country’s airlines, said the law is unnecessary.
FAA Announces No-Fly Zones for Republican and Democratic Conventions - The Federal Aviation Administration announced that the airspace over the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia will be no-fly zones. The public notice to pilots says they are not allowed to fly within a 34-mile radius around each of the conventions. The exceptions are law enforcement, military aircraft for the conventions, approved air ambulances, scheduled commercial airline flights to local airports, and cargo flights. Banned flights include drone flights, training flights, utility surveying, model rocketry, aerobatic flights, seaplanes, parachutes, hang gliders, balloons, and banner-towing. The ban in Cleveland is from July 17 to July 22, and the ban in Philadelphia is from July 25 to July 29.
Philadelphia Airport Workers Vote to Strike During Democratic National Convention – Philadelphia International Airport workers, including baggage handlers, security, wheelchair attendants, and aircraft cleaners voted to go on strike during the convention. They want to be in a union with higher wages and better benefits and work schedules. Currently, these airport workers are employed by subcontractors for the airlines. As many as 1,000 workers could participate in the strike.
KLM to Serve Heineken Draft Beer During Flights - KLM plans to introduce a custom-made bar cart. The airline and the brewery have been working together on the innovative cart, which keeps Heineken kegs chilled and ready for dispersal. Serving draft beer at 35,000 feet is difficult due to carbon dioxide pressurization, but the new keg system solves this problem by using air pressure and insulation to keep the beer fresh. The first in-flight draft beer keg will be available exclusively on select KLM flights in August after approval from aviation authorities.
Missed our last news recap? Catch up with Travel News Recap for Weeks of June 6 & June 13.