New Airline Routes and Route Changes
Mexico and Central America
Aeromexico will begin direct daily service between Mexico City International Airport and Panama City's Tocumen International Airport on May 14.
Aeromexico will begin daily service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Mexico City on May 4.
Caribbean
Sunwing Airlines will run seasonal non-stop service between Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Grand Bahama International Airport from May 24 through August 2.
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Osaka Kansai International Airport
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International Connections
Japan Airlines began daily service between Osaka's Kansai International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport on March 20.
American Airlines will begin daily summer seasonal service between New York's John F. Kennedy International
Airport and the United Kingdom cities of Birmingham and Edinburgh on May 7.
United Airlines will add seasonal service between New York's Newark Liberty International Airport and Newcastle, England, with five weekly flights beginning May 23.
Airline Alliance News
Aerolineas Argentinas and Korean Air began a codeshare partnership, with Aerolineas operating a Korean Air flight between New York-JFK and Buenos Aires Ezeiza and Korean Air operating an Aerolineas flight between New York-JFK and Seoul Incheon (South Korean).
JetBlue Airways and Silver Airways have begun a codeshare partnership will see the JetBlue code on 14 Silver Airways routes within Florida. They plan to add 13 Silver Airways routes from Florida to The Bahamas later this year.
Air China and Air New Zealand will form a codeshare partnership, allowing Air China to introduce daily nonstop service between Beijing, China and Auckland, New Zealand.
China Airlines commenced a codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways and expanded an existing partnership with Garuda Indonesia in an effort to grow its service in Southeast Asia. New codeshared routes will include service out of Bangkok, Thailand and Jakarta, Indonesia.
New Caledonia's AirCalin and Air Tahiti Nui will begin a partnership as of March 29 that will introduce codesharing on flights to and from New Caledonia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Los Angeles.
Other Airline News
Aeromexico now offers Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on four weekly flights connecting Mexico City and Monterrey; the move increases seat capacity by 51% on those flights.
Southwest Airlines has gained permission to launch service between Houston, Texas' Hobby Airport and both Mexico City International Airport and Los Cabos International Airport. Southwest is in the process of building a five-gate international facility at Houston Hobby.
Both American Airlines and Delta Airlines have ended in-flight sales of duty-free products.
Frontier Airlines will raise its baggage fees as of May 1; rates will increase by between US$5 and US$10 per checked bag.
Atlasjet Airlines has rebranded to AtlasGlobal Airlines.
Airport News
United Airlines is upgrading its terminal at Chicago-O'Hare Airport with new seating areas, power outlets and a signature scent to be sprayed within the jet bridge and walkway.
Loyalty Program News
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can earn double miles on flights between Seattle, Washington and New York-JFK through October 28.
Best Western Rewards members can earn and 1,000 bonus points for a qualifying stay at any Best Western hotel in the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean between March 23 and March 27.
The new Miles card from Discover offers 1.5 points per US$1 charged to the card, with that number doubling to three points after the first year. The card also has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, annual statement credit of US$30 credit for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases and more.
Hotel News
The 192-room Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport opened in Lima, Peru. The hotel, which is connected to Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport, offers a fitness center, indoor pool, 24-hour spa, business center and Huairuro Bar and Sacsayhuaman Restaurant featuring traditional Peruvian dishes. It also has six flexible event rooms that can accommodate up to 250 people.
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Staybridge Suites Chihuahua - Suite
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InterContinental Hotels Group opened Staybridge Suites Chihuahua, in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. The first Staybridge Suites property in Mexico (four more are in the pipeline), the all-suite hotel includes 100 studio, one- and two-bedroom suites. Amenities include complimentary daily hot breakfast buffet and evening reception, 24-hour business center, free Wi-Fi in rooms and public areas and an outdoor fire pit.
InterContinental Hotels Group also opened the 144-room Crowne Plaza Panama Airport less than a mile from Panama City's Tocumen International Airport. The new-build hotel, developed by owner/operator Bern Hotels & Resorts, offers airport shuttle service, 24-hour business and fitness centers, free Wi-Fi, a healthy snacks and drinks station and two on-site restaurants. The property has four meeting rooms and two boardrooms; its largest space accommodates up to 260 attendees.
Sunwing Vacations has opened the adults-only, all-inclusive Memories Jibacoa in Cuba's resort area of Varadero. The resort offers scuba diving and water sports, fitness and tennis centers, beach, pool, spa and four restaurants and bars.
The 114-room Baccarat Hotel has opened in New York, across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. While salons, bar and guest rooms opened on March 20, the Chevalier restaurant and Spa de la Mer (the first in North America by Crème de la Mer) will open in the near future.
Hotel Pipeline
Hilton Worldwide signed an agreement to build a new Hilton Garden Inn Salamanca in Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico. Grupo Aldo Promotora de Inversion will develop the 120-room property, which will target both business and leisure travelers at the mid-price point.
Weather-Related Cancellations
A late-season snowstorm brought flight cancellations earlier this week, mainly at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Travel Services
Website Vidtur.com now offers more than 700 videos for 30 destinations in North America, Europe and Asia. Its video guides focus on nightlife, traveling with kids, shopping, thematic holidays, budget tips and more.
