Week in Review

Another Friday, another Week in Review blog post! We’re rounding up the top industry news stories to keep you updated on the latest happenings in business travel.

London had quite a bit of trouble this week, first with the forced closure of London City Airport due to an operation to remove a 500 kg (1,102 lb.) World War Two bomb. According to BBC, all Monday flights were cancelled affecting up to 16,000 passengers.

Two days later, a vehicle collision at Heathrow resulted in one death and major flight delays and cancellations, Travel + Leisure reports.

According to Skift, Airbnb is set to launch a new tier of properties through its latest product, Airbnb Select. The program “invites selected hosts with high ratings and reviews to be part of a curated collection of listings that undergo an inspection and professional photography process.”

Lodging Magazine shares findings from a hospitality survey revealing the seven meeting trends of 2018.

A last-minute flight bidding app launched recently, allowing travelers to place bids on seats within two weeks of flying, Business Traveller notes.

As we continue to work our way through GBTA’s history, this week’s throwback post takes a look at the Association and industry through the 1980s. The late ‘80s brought about tighter travel budgets as the U.S. economy slowed, with corporate travel departments scrambling to cut costs where possible.

A Philippine consortium submitted a $6.7 billion USD (€5.38 billion) proposal to modernize Manila’s international airport, Reuters reports.

According to Aviation Pros, Munich Airport and Lufthansa have begun testing humanoid robot “Josie Pepper” in Terminal 2. The AI-powered robot can assist passengers by provding directions to their gate and other similar requests.

Singapore Airlines now offers complimentary Wi-Fi for its premium passengers, Business Traveller shares.

USA TODAY reports United Airlines takes the lead for on-time performance among other U.S. airlines.

The same source notes President Trump proposed to raise TSA fees for one-way tickets from $5.50 to $6.60.

According to Buying Business Travel, Uber is set to introduce a host of new safety features, including a 24/7 support line for both passengers and drivers.

In other ridesharing news, Business Traveler reports Lyft added 14 cities to its commuter tax program, allowing customers to use pre-tax dollars for Lyft Line rides.