Air Travel News

The U.K.-based airline quality rating firm Skytrax has issued the results of its latest annual survey on the world’s best airports; the winners showed only minor shifts in their placements from last year’s poll, and once again, there are no U.S. airports in the top 10.

A flurry of news reports at week’s end indicated that Boeing’s troubled 787 Dreamliners could be cleared as soon as this week to return to the air, but also that U.S. travelers are now facing the prospect of significant delays as the Federal Aviation Administration begins to furlough air traffic controllers.

What do you think is the busiest air route in the world in terms of passenger numbers? New York-London? San Francisco-Los Angeles? Not even close. In fact, the busiest air route does not involve North America or Europe, but it does involve a city you probably never heard of.

In news of U.S. airlines, Delta has started to renovate the cabins in the last of its five widebody aircraft types; American’s CEO makes an appearance on YouTube, but it’s not an advertisement; Virgin America raises a passenger fee; and Hawaiian eyes a new Asian route.

In car rental news, Germany’s largest rental firm sets its sights on significant U.S. expansion; the Zipcar car sharing operation now has vehicles available at New York City airports; an all-Audi rental start-up opens another Texas airport location; and Hertz adds exotic cars at some European locations.

Instead of relying on airline employees to help them with their travel processing and problems, air travelers would really like to see more technological options for taking care of themselves, according to the results of a new survey.

In news of hotel openings and rebrandings this month, New York City adds two chain properties; a prominent downtown Atlanta location changes brands; a Renaissance in Houston gets a new identity; Kempinski cuts the ribbon on a classic Vienna hotel; Paris loses one of its top hotels for a while; Marriott adds a pair of U.K. affiliates; and Hyatt expands in India.

In airport news this week, United signed a contract guaranteeing its long-term presence at Newark Liberty International; Phoenix Sky Harbor passengers have a new transit link to the city’s light rail system; Paris Charles de Gaulle makes connections easier; and new airport lounges open at Cleveland and Washington Dulles.

Citing key economic indicators, a leading business travel organization has raised its projection for how much U.S. companies will spend on employee trips in 2013 as travel recovers to a level even higher than it reached before the Great Recession.

Fast-growing Emirates has built up a substantial international network focused on its hub at Dubai and its fleet of long-haul aircraft. But now the carrier has announced plans for its first route in the U.S.-Europe market, promising a superior level of service. At the same time, Emirates and Qantas this month officially launched their new long-haul partnership in the Europe-Australia market.