Check-In with Suzanne
In this week’s Check-In, Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA, is filming from Las Vegas where she reflects on the meetings and events sector and how its recovery is such an important part of the business travel industry. One doesn’t exist without the other.
She also shares the line-up of in-person GBTA events for the coming months, as well as poll results and research studies on the horizon from GBTA.
News to Know:
U.S. Extends Travel Mask Mandate by 15 Days
The U.S. government will extend by 15 days its requirements that all travelers wear face masks on all commercial aircraft, in airports and on other forms of public transportation. The requirement had been set to expire on April 18, and now is set to expire May 3. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the move as a precautionary response to rising average U.S. Covid-19 case counts amid the spread of subvariants of the omicron variant. According to the New York Times, the rolling seven-day average U.S. case count rose from about 28,500 on April 3 to about 32,800 on Tuesday
Demand for Off-Peak Travel Rises in Post-Pandemic Recovery
The return of post-pandemic travel has been so robust that airlines and hotels are selling more seats and more rooms for times once designated as “off-peak.” As a result, off-peak pricing has shown gains, which can burden travelers while benefitting airlines and hotels, even as historically more-profitable business travel has not yet fully recovered to 2019 levels.
EU court broadens application of flight delay compensation law
The Court of Justice of the European Union has broadened the application of airline passengers’ rights to claim compensation for delays and cancellations from airlines based outside the EU. The regulation, known as EU 261, applies to disruptions from technical issues caused by the airline but not to disruptions that fall outside the carrier’s control, such as extreme weather conditions or civil unrest. Previous application of the regulation covered any flights originating and/or ending in the EU, but only applied to flights being operated by an EU-based airline. The new ruling adjusts those parameters, broadening them to any airline that “operates the entirety of the flight” on behalf of an EU airline when that carrier takes off or lands in the EU. This includes any connections made as part of a single reservation.
LATAM makes pledge on using SAF to power flights
South American airline LATAM is hoping to start using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with the goal of using 5 per cent of this fuel for its operations by 2030. Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, made the pledge on using SAF as part of the group’s sustainability targets, which also include sending no waste to landfill by 2027 and offsetting half of all domestic emissions by 2030.
GBTA News and Reminders:
Global to Local Panel on Business Travel
With the COVID crisis slowing, countries lowering entry requirements and companies returning to office, what does this mean to our business models? Will there be a great rush to travel, or will it trickle in? Will there be new trends in how and why people travel, or will it be the same old thing? Join our panel of local PSBTA experts on April 19th as we talk about the new face of business travel. Click here to learn more.
I Got Your Back: The Importance of Mentors and Sponsors – Women In Technology
On April 20th we will discuss the differences between mentors and sponsors and how to find the right person to support you on your career journey and what does it mean to continue to have other women’s backs as they make their way into senior roles. Click here to register.
English 
Spanish 
French 
Portuguese