Bogota, Colombia will institute security measures - including car restrictions and increased police presence - on June 19, when Colombia plays Ivory Coast in the World Cup. Travelers are advised to avoid large gatherings and monitor local media.
Flooding in Natal, Brazil is affecting transportation within the city. Travelers - including those in the city for the World Cup - have been advised to check local media and allow extra time for transport.
New Airline Routes and Route Changes
South America
Aerolineas Argentinas will add two new routes within Argentina as of August 3: Rosario (Santa Fe province) - Cordoba and Rosario - Iguazu's Cataratas International Airport. Both round-trips will run on Wednesdays and Sundays.
From July 12 - August 30, Aerolineas Argentinas will fly between Buenos Aires Jorge Newberry and Malargüe, Mendoza, Argentina on Saturdays. The airline will also begin summer service between Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina) and São Paulo Guarulhos, on Saturdays from July 19 - August 9.
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Shanghai, China
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Mexico and Central America
Beginning July 4 Air Panama will offer three weekly flights between Panama City Alborook airport and Medellin,Colombia.
AeroMexico launched charter service between Cancun and Richmond, Virginia, through August 11.
International Connections
American Airlines launched daily nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas, U.S.) to both Hong Kong and Shanghai.
TAP Portugal will increase its Lisbon, Portugal - Caracas route to four times per week from July 1 through October 25.
Airline Alliance News
US Airways and British Airways expanded their codeshare agreement, with the BA code appearing on select domestic service out of Philadelphia and the US code appearing on BA intra-European flights out of Heathrow.
Other Airline News
Membership airline Surf Air allows commuters to fly private between select cities in California. Members, who pay a monthly fee, avoid TSA lines, show up 15 minutes before the flight and can book last-minute flights and avoid changes fees. Surf Air is currently awaiting government approval to launch routes outside of California.
JetBlue Airways has started Mint flights. The premium service between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Los Angeles International Airport includes the widest seat and longest fully-flat bed in the US domestic market, 15-inch flat screens with more than 100 DIRECTV channels, more than 100 channels of SiriusXM radio and the option of booking one of four private suites,
Delta Airlines upgraded its BusinessElite transcontinental service between New York JFK and Los Angeles International Airport with the introduction of three Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring full flat-bed seats in the BusinessElite cabin.
Airport News
Grand Bahama's private West End Airport reopened, offering service to private pilots and charter operators flying to Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour and West End, Grand Bahama Island.
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United Airlines
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Loyalty Program News
The merging of American Airlines and US Airways will see frequent flyers able to combine award mileage balances, Million Miler balances and elite-qualifying activity sometime in early 2015. Benefits will begin immediately with both airlines extending same-day upgrade benefits to elite members from either airline.
United Airlines will make changes to its Mileage Plus program beginning in 2015, giving members award miles based on ticket price rather than distance flown.
As of July 1, InterContinental Hotels Group Rewards Club members will earn 10 points for every $1 of qualifying spending at any of the 178 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties across the globe. The program no longer has a maximum number of points.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members earn double points when renting a mid-sized or larger car for five or more days through August 22.
Hotel News
The 148-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites Puebla Angelopolis opened in Puebla, Mexico. The select-service hotel includes three meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 40 people per room, free Internet access and breakfast, a 24-hour business center, 18 suites and two master suites.
The 105-room Hampton by Hilton Cali, Colombia opened this month in Cali's Santa Teresita neighborhood in western Cali. The brand's first hotel in Cali, it includes free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, a meeting room that can accommodate up to 20 people, a restaurant, a 24-hour convenience store and fitness center and the ability to print documents from guest rooms.
Yoo Hotels and InterCity Hotels will launch Yoo2, a new hotel brand, in select Brazilian markets. The design-led brand will see each hotel adopt aspects of the local culture and feature a Yoo Lounge gathering place as the centerpiece.
