European Airports Going Carbon Neutral
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& TRAVEL NewsTRAVEL • MANUFACTURERNotes • RETAIL USTA Travel Outlook European Airports Going he U.S. economy may be stuck in low gear going forward. This Taccording to the USTA based on a Carbon Neutral continuing pattern of weak GDP growth in the first quarter of the year followed by a resurgence of growth in the second quarter. This has created a frustratingly restrained 2% growth rate. While the consumer confidence index decreased briefly in May it rebounded in June and the USTA’s Travel Trends Index (TTI) has defied expectations and continued to grow for 13 consecutive months. Summer air travel was expected to grow by nearly 10 million passengers over 2016, while data suggests that nearly 78% of U.S. residents searched Earlier this year, in support of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, for lodging within the U.S. in June. European airport operators agreed to make 100 airports carbon neu- For the first time in 17 years gasoline prices were lower on July 4th than they tral by 2030. Now Finavia, the operator of 21 European airports, says were on New Year’s Day. Global busi- its Helsinki Airport will reach its carbon neutral goal this year. Finavia ness travelers report that they prefer to is building the largest airport solar power plant in a Nordic country atop avoid human interaction while travel- the roof of Helsinki Airport’s Terminal 2. Expected to begin production ing unless they encounter a problem, and interest in the United States as a by this fall, the 500 kWp photovoltaic system will be fully operational destination for international travelers by 2019. The company has also converted airport buses to renew- has remained consistent at 12.8% of able fuels made entirely from waste and residue and smaller airport international travel searches. vehicles are almost entirely powered by electricity. Finavia’s goal is to SOURCE: USTA encourage other companies operating at its airports to use renewable fuels as well. SOURCE: FINAVIA Travel at the Happiest Times Judges Tell FAA to Regulate aturdays may be some of the least Legroom What Do Millennial Travelers expensive travel days, but that fter the Federal Aviation Adminis- Want? Scomes with a tradeoff: travelers tration rejected a request by a illennials who travel want on Saturdays and Sundays report the Aconsumer group called Flyers experiences, not just beach lowest passenger satisfaction compared Rights to regulate airline seat size and Mtime. That’s the consensus of to any other day of the week. This dis- pitch, Flyers Rights sued on behalf of 81% of respondents in travel technology satisfaction is amplified for redeye trav- air travelers. And now the U.S. Court company iSeatz’s travel survey. These elers between midnight and 2 a.m. The of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has told travelers primarily purchase day trips, happiest day at the airport, according to the FAA that it should in fact reconsider excursions and sightseeing tours, as a study from global customer satisfac- whether airline seats should be regu- well as visit museums, galleries, cultur- tion firm HappyOrNot, is Wednesday. lated. One judge even called it “the case al attractions and do outdoor activities The survey also found that the heat of of the incredible shrinking airline seat.” as well. Pre-booking activity decreases summer – July and August – have the It’s a rare reprimand for the airlines, with age, with millennial travelers far lowest passenger satisfaction ratings, though one that serves more as a public more likely to pre-book activities than while November, October and February rebuke than an official requirement for baby boomers, who prefer to book once represent the top three months with the implementing seat size standards. The they’ve arrived at a destination and usu- highest satisfaction ratings. FAA is considering how to address the ally on the day of the activity itself. SOURCE: HAPPYORNOT Court’s request. SOURCE: USA TODAY SOURCE: ISEATZ Travel Goods SHOWCASE Fall 2017 15 News &Notes New TSA Inspection Rules Protecting Against Lost Luggage and Travel Interruptions irlines are now 70% less likely insurance. Protection could be as close to lose a checked bag than they as a traveler’s wallet, however, as 93% were 10 years ago. A 2018 dead- of credit cards provide travel accident TRAVEL A line to comply with a new baggage insurance. Just 36% of cards cover lost tracking resolution adopted by air- luggage, while 25% cover delayed lug- lines will mean even fewer lost bags gage and 9% insure against both. The than ever. Still, it does happen on top four credit cards for travel insur- occasion – especially for passengers ance are Chase Sapphire Preferred, JP making connections. That’s why it’s Morgan Reserve (also branded Chase good news that more than one-third Sapphire Reserve), Citi ThankYou of credit cards offer travel insurance Premier and Citi Prestige. With the he United States Transportation against lost bags. A WalletHub study right credit card, the headaches of Security Administration (TSA) found that while 1 in 6 Americans travel interruptions and lost luggage Thas announced it will now require experienced trip interruptions, only could almost completely disappear. the removal of any electronic device 22% of them had the necessary travel SOURCE: FOX NEWS, WALLETHUB larger than a cell phone from carry-on luggage. Electronics such as tablets and Most Interesting Modes of Travel cameras will now need to be placed ravelers who gravitate to the exotic separately in bins for X-ray screening, will appreciate the new infographic similar to the way laptops have long Tput together by insurance provider been examined. The new requirements GoCompare.com. It highlights the most for screening are currently in place at a interesting methods of transportation in dozen U.S. airports and will be phased the world. Included are the Wuppertal in at airports across the country over the Suspension Motorail, the world’s old- next several months. “Whether you’re est elevated railway with hanging cars; flying to, from, or within the United Felucca, a wooden Egyptian sailboat States,” said TSA Acting Administrator that’s been in use for thousands of years; Huban A. Gowadia, “TSA is commit- and Habal-Habals in the Philippines ted to raising the baseline for aviation which seat up to 13 people on a single security by strengthening the overall motorcycle. Also included are burro taxis The infographic from GoCompare.com shows many of security of our commercial aviation in Spain, rickshaws in Japan and Cuba’s the most interesting modes of transport in the world. network to keep flying as a safe option two-seater Coco-taxis. To view the full for everyone.” The new requirements do infographic, visit gocompare.com/van-insurance/global-transport-methods. not impact travelers who have enrolled SOURCE: GOCOMPARE.COM in TSA Pre Check when using TSA Pre Check security lanes. SOURCE: TSA The World’s Happiest Destinations ooking for a travel idea? Why not put a smile on any face. Or try the Trump’s Cuba Change Not visit one of the happiest destina- Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro, Impacting Travel L tions in the world? According to KY. This roadside landmark has grown n a fiery speech this summer, CNN, there are 16 places around the from a small 30-seat restaurant to President Trump said he would roll world that offer travelers a unique a destination with enough space to Iback the Obama administration’s bit of bliss. For instance, one can accommodate more than ten times that agreement with Cuba that opened the visit Bangkok’s Health Land Spa and number of hungry customers. Other island nation to U.S. travel and trade. It Massage, where an old stately home suggested happiness-inducing desti- appears, however, that the adjustments has been converted into a relaxing spa nations include chocolatier Mary, in to the rules for Cuban travel will not in the heart of the city. Or travelers Brussels, Belgium; Table Mountain in have a significant impact on cruises might consider Kyoto, Japan when the Capetown, South Africa; a remote atoll to the island nation. In fact, Miami cherry blossoms are gloriously bloom- in the Maldives called Gaafu Dhaalu, based cruise line Norwegian has decid- ing along Okazaki Canal. Or maybe where villas on stilts perch over the ed to add new departures from Port adorable wildlife is more your thing, in Indian Ocean; and the Okavango Delta Canaveral, FL to Cuba, bringing their which case the Giant Panda Research in Botswana, one of the world’s pre- total to six cruise routes from the U.S. Base in Chengdu, China, where visi- mier ecotourism destinations. Chile’s to the Caribbean island, a route that tors can hold a baby panda, is sure to Casablanca Valley, Ulva Island in New was closed to U.S. travelers for more please. At the other end of the exotic Zealand, Nyhavn in Copenhagen, the than 50 years. Norwegian is booking spectrum are a couple of domestic des- Osho International Meditation Resort four-night trips aboard the Norwegian tinations that may be less glamorous in Pune, India, Uluru (commonly called Sun beginning next May, departing on but are no less blissful. First is Wrigley Ayers Rock) in the Australian outback Mondays. Norwegian has been sailing Field, home of the World Champion and Iguazu Falls on the Argentine- to Cuba from Miami since May. Chicago Cubs, and where six months Brazilian border round out the list. SOURCES: CNN, USA TODAY of the year a beer and a hotdog can SOURCE: CNN News & Notes continued on page 18 16 Fall 2017 Travel Goods SHOWCASE & News Notes News & Notes continued from page 16 American’s New Bag Tracking App merican Airlines recently debuted its Customer LongLat’s Portfolio Baggage Notification System which allows travelers to use mobile phones in order to track the location TRAVEL A of their bags at any given moment.