05
Aug
Travel
05
Aug
EasyJet’s Rail Deal Highlights New Airline Sector Way of Selling Trains and Flights
Deutsche Bahn recently launched the Flughafen-Express, an airport express service run by DB Regio Nordost between downtown Berlin stops and Berlin’s new airport (BER) Terminal 1-2 on behalf of the VBB (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg). EasyJet and Deutsche Bahn have begun selling combination tickets that include flights and rail using a new airline method, virtual interlining. Deutsche Bahn
Skift Take: Airlines need to work more closely with railway operators to fend off climate change activists. But they also need to test new technological ways of selling content from other suppliers. Let’s think beyond joint ventures, codeshares, and interlining.
05
Aug
Indian Billionaire Plans to Launch Low-Cost Carrier in an Already Tough Market
An aircraft operated by IndiGo, a unit of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., prepares to land at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, on Monday, July 10, 2017. Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala wants to launch a new low-cost carrier to compete with Indigo in India. Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg
Skift Take: With the pandemic gutting India’s low-cost carrier market, which already includes IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoFirst and AirAsia India, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala thinks a fresh start, a capital infusion, and new planes could be a competitive advantage. Hope springs eternal, as they say.
05
Aug
England Opens U.S. Travel and 11 Other Top Travel Stories This Week
England will allow fully vaccinated tourists from U.S. and European Union to enter without quarantine. Heathrow airport pictured. Jeff Hitchcock / Flickr
Skift Take: In Skift’s top stories this week, England welcomes fully vaccinated tourists, hotels are focusing on conversions rather than mergers, and Brazil is setting itself up to become a travel tech hub in Latin America.
05
Aug
UAE to Lift Ban on Transit Flights Including From India and Pakistan From August 5
Airports in the UAE will soon be able to welcome transit flights Charles / Flickr
Skift Take: Major carriers in the UAE are thrilled with the decision to lift the ban on transit flights. Not only will they welcome large numbers of passengers from important markets, but they’ll also be in a better position for a quicker recovery.
05
Aug
U.S. Adds Greece, Ireland, Other Destinations to Travel Warning List
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now warned against travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tevin Trinh / Unsplash
Skift Take: Devastating news for many holiday hotspots that would have welcomed Americans with open arms this season.
05
Aug
Remote Workers Flock to European Hotspots Before Offices Reopen
Gran Canaria has been a popular destination for remote workers this year. Reiseuhu / Unsplash
Skift Take: Thousands of people will be experiencing the benefits of remote work, and no doubt telling their employers all about it once they return.
05
Aug
UK Finance Minister Presses for Travel Rules Easing
The gains of the UK’s successful vaccination program could be wasted if the country does not relax its strict restrictions, tourism and airline groups say. Giuseppe Milo / Flickr Commons
Skift Take: Britain’s airlines and tourism sector are increasingly concerned that the country will suffer grave economic damage if it does not relax its strict travel restrictions and runs the risk of squandering the benefits of the country’s successful vaccination program.
05
Aug
Broadway Theater Vaccination and Mask Requirements Set Big Tourism Example
Broadway and New York City’s theater district (seen here in happier days) is looking to draw tourists back to the Big Apple this fall when shows reopen with vaccination and mask requirements. Richard Ricciardi / Flickr
Skift Take: The return of Broadway shows is a much-anticipated catalyst for New York City tourism’s rejuvenation in the fall. Now with a vaccine and mask requirement in place to see plays on the Great White Way, the Big Apple may serve as a model — yet again.