The restart is on. While the past few weeks have seen offerings and traffic slowly begin to rise this week the pace is clearly shifting, with the US and Europe hitting a number of milestones.
COVID-19
Allegiant driving passenger traffic recovery
Total air traffic numbers are down in Spring 2020. There is no doubt this is true. But some airports are suffering more than others. An examination of TSA Screening Throughput data shows the impact with greater detail, bringing some interesting patterns to light. And one airline, in particular, is shifting the balance of traffic across the USA.
GermFalcon to take flight as Honeywell UV Cabin System
After a few years of solo development work Dimer’s GermFalcon relaunched this week as the Honeywell UV Cabin System. The new name is super boring, but the ability to quickly clean a plane with UV-C light remains key for the product positioning.
From pre-flight massages to COVID-19 testing: XpresSpa pivots to XpresCheck at JFK
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.
Inflight magazines are not dead yet: The Weekly Wrap–5 June 2020
Rumors of the death of inflight magazines are, perhaps, greatly exaggerated. That’s just one of the topics we dive in to on this episode of the Weekly Wrap, covering the top PaxEx news you need to know.
ATPCO moves to ease ticketing changes for airlines worldwide
Automating millions of airline ticket changes is no easy task. Retroactively adjusting the fare rules was nearly impossible. But ATPCO stepped up to deliver a new Emergency Flexibility option to airlines and distribution channels, massively easing the change burden for the industry.
China blinks, US to back down on flight ban
Looks like flights between the US and China won’t be stopping mid-month after all. Chinese regulators backed down after the US took a hard line in the negotiations.
US retaliates against China, blocking all flights
Nonstop service between the US and China will terminate later this month, ending 24 years of direct links between the countries. The move comes as the two governments escalate rhetoric on many fronts, covering trade, human rights and more.
Frontier, Mobile bicker over flights to Orlando
At first glance the fight between Mobile, Alabama and Frontier Airlines makes little sense. Why should a city fight so hard for a single flight and route running empty a couple days per week?
JetBlue plans return of international markets in June
JetBlue’s international route network virtually disappeared as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapidly shifting entry requirements and limited demand forced dozens of markets to close. Headed into June, however, the company sees some signs of optimism and opportunity as it anticipates reopening 13 destinations.