New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport will see its first nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale (Miami area, Florida) and Quito,Ecuador, via Ecuador-based TAME airlines; service begins on October 17.

Guadalajara, Mexico

 

Mexico and Central America

Aeromexico will add an additional daily flight between Mexico City and Orlando, Florida (U.S.) on November 3. It will add a fourth daily flight between Mexico City and Miami on November 13.

 

Volaris will introduce twice-weekly flights between Guadalajara, Mexico (Jalisco state) and Reno, Nevada (U.S.) on December 16.

 

Caribbean

San Juan, Puerto Rico-based Seaborne Airlines and United Airlines have entered into a new interline agreement that allows passengers to purchase a single ticket for both airlines' services and foster easier connections from San Juan throughout the Caribbean.

 

Sunwing Airlines will begin service between Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and St. Maarten on December 15.

 

U.S. Connections

Delta Air Lines will end Delta Connection operations at Dallas' Love Field on October 12.

 

On December 18 Virgin America will add seasonal daily round-trip service between New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, continuing through April 28.

 

Frontier Airlines will become the only U.S.-based low-cost carrier serving Miami International Airport in December, when it begins service between MIA and four U.S. cities. On December 20, Frontier will begin flying two daily round-trip flights between Miami and New York's LaGuardia Airport; one daily round-trip flight between Miami and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and one daily round-trip flight between Miami and Denver, with a second flight between the cities on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). On December 21, Frontier will begin daily round trip-flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Miami.

 

Airline Alliance News

Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines will expand their codeshare agreement to add three new flights from Australia to the U.S. cities of Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.

 

JAL Express has merged into parent JAL-Japan Airlines. JAL Express operated its last flight on September 30.

 

Japan-based All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Philippine Airlines entered into a codeshare agreement that covers 37 routes between Japan and the Philippines, as well as domestic service in both countries.

 

Other Airline News

United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airlines added in-flight Wi-Fi to its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft, with plans to roll out the service to its entire fleet during the next few months. Connectivity rates start at US$5.

 

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Lufthansa will add a new Premium Economy class to its flights as of December 1. The new long-haul flights section will include more seating space, two free checked bags, a welcome drink onboard, in-seat entertainment screens and other services.

 

U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic Airways will close its Little Red United Kingdom domestic airline (owned by both Virgin and Delta Air Lines) next year.

 

Airport News

London-Heathrow installed a "sensory park pod" in Terminal 2, complete with a park bench, flowers, greenery and the smell of freshly cut grass.

 

Travelers can now access free Wi-Fi at both Houston, Texas (U.S.) airports - George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.

 

Loyalty Program News

American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn up to 125,000 bonus miles for American, US Airways, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, or OpenSkies flights to Europe in first or business class, between now and January 10, 2015.

 

IHG Rewards members can book participating hotels for 5,000 points per night through November 30.

 

US Airways Dividend Miles members will receive up to a 100% bonus when purchasing miles now through October 12.

 

American Airlines and Israeli airline El Al will cease to be mileage-program partners as of October 31. AAdvantage members will no longer be able to earn miles or book award travel on El Al flights after that date.

 

Chase Ink Business Plus credit card increased its sign-up bonus to 70,000 points after a new cardholder spends $5,000 within three months.

 

Florida House of Representatives member Alan Grayson has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation conduct an audit of airlines' frequent flyer program policies and practices.

 

Hotel News

The 123-room Hilton Garden Inn Barranquilla has opened in Barranquilla, Colombia, in a complex that includes a convention center, restaurants, shopping mall and executive offices. The hotel includes two flexible meeting rooms that fit up to 150 people, as well as a complimentary business center, full-service restaurant, free in-room Wi-Fi, 24-hour food market, lobby bar and pool.

Holiday Inn Express Managua

 

InterContinental Hotels Group opened its first Holiday Inn Express in Managua, Nicaragua. The 114-room Holiday Inn Express Managua is within walking distance of the Galerias Santo Domingo mall and close to the Inter-American Development Bank. It includes free high-speed Internet access, a business center, rooms with desks and free local phone calls, free breakfast, an outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center. Latin American Hospitality Management S.A., a subsidiary of Grupo Agrisal, owns and manages the hotel.

 

Hoteles City Express opened the 104-room City express Apizaco in Mexico's Tlaxcala state.

 

The Cornerstone Collection opened its first property on Playa del Carmen, Mexico's Fifth Avenue. The 60-room Hotel Cacao features a central court, rooftop bar and regionally-influenced restaurant.

 

The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico has begun accepting reservations. The 319-room historic hotel will open December 1 after a $200 million renovation. It will offer 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in several different sizes, as well as a second restaurant, Puerto Rico's first Hammam spa and two post-pool lounges with butler service.

 

Beginning December 1, all Sandals and Beaches resorts will begin offering free property-wide Wi-Fi.

 

Marriott International is asking for clarification on U.S. Wi-Fi service rules. The company recently agreed to a $600,000 fine from the U.S. Federal Communication Commission for blocking personal Wi-Fi hot spots in meeting rooms at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Travel Services

Last-minute travel booking app Hotel Tonight will now accept reservations for up to seven days in advance.