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| Tungurahua volcano eruption |
Travel News
Volcano, Flooding Updates
Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano erupted several times late last week and over the weekend, leaving behind a cloud of ash that is more than 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) high. Ash has forced some temporary closures of the Cuenca, Ecuador's Mariscal Lamar airport. Tungurahua is nearly 90 miles (140 kilometers) south of Quito; the ash has affected around one-third of the nation's provinces.
Heavy rains throughout Bolivia have caused flooding and landslides, particularly in the country's northern and eastern regions. Travel disruptions, including airport closures, are likely. Check in advance before traveling to or around the country.
New Airline Routes and Route Changes
Mexico
Several airlines have cut flights to Venezuela in the wake of the government's reduction of the rate at which airline are reimbursed for ticket sales in Bolivars. Aeromexico reduced flights from Mexico City to Caracas to five weekly flights, down from seven. In March, Air Europa will end one of its weekly flights between Madrid and Caracas, leaving it with five. Air Canada will reduce its weekly flights between Toronto and Caracas to four in February and three in May (down from five currently).
Central America
United Air Lines will end its service between Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport and San Salvador, El Salvador after March 14.
Caribbean
Seaborne Airlines will expand its service between Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and San Juan, Puerto Rico to daily beginning February 14.
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| San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Seaborne Airlines will begin daily flights between Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Santiago, Dominican Republic (Cibao International Airport) on March 15. That same day, Seaborne will also expand its service between San Juan and La Romana, Dominican Republic to daily (from Tuesday and Sunday).
Airline Alliance News
Copa Airlines Colombia and United Airlines launched codeshare operation on service between Panama City and the Colombia cities of Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cucuta, Medellin and San Andres Island.
Other Airline News
Seaborne Airlines became the first Caribbean-based airline to allow passengers to use portable electronic devices from "gate to gate."
The United States Federal Aviation Administration announced that India's civil aviation oversight no longer meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and downgraded its status from Category 1 to Category 2. That means India-based airlines can still fly to the U.S., but cannot start new routes into that country. India recently approved hiring 75 more full-time aviation inspectors, and is working with the FAA to regain its Category 1 rating.
Southwest Airlines began serving New Belgium's Fat Tire craft beer on all flights, priced at US$5 per can. It joins U.S. carriers Frontier and Alaska Airlines in offering craft beer onboard.
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| Delta Sky Club Entrance |
Between mid February and late April, Delta Air Lines is testing a variety of new complimentary foods and services in several Delta Sky Clubs in the U.S. Services being tested include complimentary shoe shines, manicures and chair massages. Foods include pancakes and "upgraded bagels" for breakfast, hot soups and sandwiches during lunchtime and hors d'oeuvres, antipasti and dessert during the evening.
Airport News
San Francisco International Airport (California, U.S.) opened its renovated Terminal 3, including the new Boarding Area E. T3E, as the airport calls the boarding area, is a major United Airlines point of departure and arrival, and includes new restaurants and retail, as well as free Wi-Fi, 375 power outlets, nine workstations and a yoga room.
Hotel News
The Hilton Curaçao has finished renovating its 196 guest rooms, which now include executive floor rooms and an executive lounge.
The 330-room Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York City opened after multi-million-dollar renovation. The full-service InterContinental Hotels Group property is one-quarter mile from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and has both a free 24-hour airport shuttle and free parking. It also has free Internet access, a 24-hour market, a full-service restaurant, a fitness center and a "zen room" for yoga and meditation. It also offers 5,000 square feet of meeting space in nine meeting rooms, as well as a Presidential Suite.
The 401-room Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South-Midtown West opened five blocks south of Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, as well as remote printing, a 24-hour snack shop and an Empire Steak House. Two meeting rooms offer a total of 1,300 square feet of space.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hotel Pipeline
The Trump Hotel Collection expects to open its first South American property, the 171-room Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro, in 2016. The hotel, which will include 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a pool deck with private cabanas, will be in the Barra de Tijuca district.
Best Western International plans to open 29 new hotels in Mexico, Central and South America during the next two years.
Hotel Loyalty Program Updates
From February 1 through April 30, Hilton's HHonors program is offering 1,000 bonus points for every eligible weeknight travelers stay at a participating hotel, as well as 5,000 bonus points for Thursday through Sunday stays of two or more nights. Registration is required, and many Hilton properties are not participating in the program.
IHG Rewards (formerly Priority Club Rewards) has a new list of 140 PointBreaks hotels, which can be booked for 5,000 loyalty points per night through March 31; normally, booking reward travel requires at least 10,000 loyalty points per night.
