Travel Week in Review – June 7, 2024

The business travel industry provided a “major boost” to the U.S. economy in 2022, accounting for about 2 percent of total U.S. gross domestic product and 3.5 percent of total employment, according to a study released by the Global Business Travel Association on Wednesday. The study combined GBTA research with international spending as reported by the National Travel and Tourism Office as well as meeting spending in an Events Industry Council research study called the Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy,  Read More…

The U.S. Government is taking a summer road trip to make it easier for first-time passport holders to complete applications. Continuing the State Department’s “Special Passport Acceptance Fairs” — which was created to speed up passport processing times of passports for first timers — the agency has just released a new batch of dates through July 6. The events will be held in Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina. The events are often held at post offices, recreation centers, or libraries. Read More…

Delta and United are set to resume flights to Tel Aviv this week. United confirmed that one of its daily flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Tel Aviv restarted June 6. Its second daily flight is still canceled until June 20, according to a United spokesperson. The carrier had resumed flights in March, but halted them again after Iran launched strikes on Israel in mid-April. Delta’s flights between New York and Tel Aviv will resume June 7, which it had announced in March. The carrier will continue “to closely monitor the situation in Israel in conjunction with government and private-sector partners. Read More…

DUBAI — Airlines worldwide will achieve record revenue of $996 billion in 2024, according to an estimate put forward Monday by IATA.  Expenses will rise to $936 billion, leaving the airline industry with a net profit margin of 3.1%. Average ticket prices per mile, or yield, will be up 3.2% year over year, according to the forecast. Speaking at the trade group’s annual general meeting at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, IATA director general Willie Walsh stressed that airlines still have thin margins. The industry’s average profit per passenger this year will be a projected $6.14. Read More…

Clear, which is an authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, launched more locations to help travelers get PreCheck at airports around the U.S. The biometric company, which is an authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, is expanding its locations with seven new airports across the United States, according to the company. With this addition, Clear will operate TSA PreCheck enrollment centers at 20 airports in total. “TSA PreCheck with enrollment by Clear provides a fast and efficient airport experience,” Clear CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker said in a statement. Read More…