Few are traveling and those who are tend to avoid direct interactions at the airport. That’s bad news for XpresSpa, provider of spa services at airports around the globe. The company sees a silver lining, however, as it pivots to deliver COVID-19 testing in terminals.
Ground Services
Slivers of normalcy: Air New Zealand lounges reopening
Demand for air travel is up significantly in New Zealand, though still massively below 2019 levels. And now some passengers will have a slightly more comfortable travel experience as the carrier’s airport lounge network begins to reopen.
TSA implementing lower-touch screening protocols
The TSA screening process will look a little different next time you pass through an airport. The agency is adjusting its passenger screening protocols to reduce touch points where travelers and screeners must interact.
Optimism on the horizon: The Weekly Wrap 15 May 2020
Is it time to start getting excited about a travel rebound? It appears the market finally hit rock bottom so everything that happens is good news, though maybe not too much of it too quickly.
Cape Air’s ugly April stats (and some possible good news for May)
Total flights down by 40%. Passenger count down by 90%. Load factor for the month of just 8%. Needless to say, Cape Air’s statistics for April 2020 are pretty awful, just like the rest of the aviation world. But the airline has some potential good news to consider as it looks to a slow summer and beyond.
United plans touchless bag tag kiosks
United Airlines wants to make it even easier for travelers to print their own bag tags at check-in kiosks. A new option to be tested this month will allow passengers to complete the process without ever touching the machines.
Is it time for US airports to start closing terminals??
We’ve seen airlines slash capacity. The skies are far less crowded than they were a couple months ago. Is it time now for more airports to consider similar moves?
Understanding design elements of the new LaGuardia Airport Terminal B
The new LaGuardia Terminal B is lovely. If you want to understand WHY it is that way no better place to go than the source, the principal design architect for the project. And his explanation is spectacular.
Airport lounges shutter as airlines slash capacity
The lounges are closing. Not every airline and not every location, but for the trickle of passengers still flying opportunities to duck into a private space in the terminal for a bit are starting to disappear.
JetBlue increases baggage and change fees
Raising fares is relatively hard for airlines. Raising fees, on the other hand, tends to work out reasonably well. JetBlue is about to find out just how well as it increases fees for checked baggage and phone-based customer support.