As the calendar rolled over to July the global aviation community saw significant wins. Borders reopened, airlines resumed or increased flight levels. And, perhaps most exciting, lounges are reopening, too. Get details on that and lots more in this edition of The Weekly Wrap
Lounge
Qantas lounges reopen in Australia, inflight wifi service resumes
Qantas will reopen eleven of its airport lounges to kick off the month of July as travel and venue restrictions ease across Australia. The lounges shuttered on 23 March owing to government restrictions. The reopened lounges will welcome fewer passengers owing to new capacity limitations, and operate slightly differently than they did earlier this year.
Finnair brings back Helsinki lounge, inflight catering
Finnair is the latest carrier to reinstate some additional services for travelers. The carrier will reopen a lounge in Helsinki and expand catering on board most flights, though still with limitations and an eye towards the current operating environment.
Air Canada brings back inflight meals, lounges, middle seat passengers
Travelers on Air Canada flights will soon have a few more of the creature comforts they’re used to when traveling. But they’ll also be sharing them with more creatures. The carrier joins a growing list of airlines halting the process of blocking middle seats.
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.
Delta, United extend elite status by a year, adjust other benefits
Frequent flyers at two of the world’s largest airlines received a reprieve over the weekend. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines announced major changes to their loyalty program, extended previously earned elite status and other benefits. The moves are dramatic, affecting millions of program members. [A]s coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, […]
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.
Live from the CRJ550: PaxEx Update 25 Oct 2019
United’s newest aircraft type takes flight this week and the CRJ550 interior really is as special as the company has been hyping. Airbus orders and Boeing delays plus some fancy new wifi and upgraded airports on the horizon. Another busy PaxEx week.
Doha aims to complete new airport, copy Changi
More gates. More fancy art. A water feature and garden that look surprisingly familiar. These are just a few of the updates slated for Hamad International Airport in Doha as it seeks to complete its terminal build out.
Biometrics expand in Asia, Europe and the Middle East
Where will travelers find biometric systems next? As the technology continues to evolve and expand new airport implementations are coming online around the globe. Here are a trio of recent activations that span the range of services and values to passengers.