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United pushes economy-class travelers away with new frequent flyer program
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementUnited Airlines recently revealed massive changes to its MileagePlus Program. How much a traveler spends on tickets is the only thing that matters in the airline’s new frequent flyer program. Not long ago, United quietly switched from a distance-based rewards program to a fare-based frequent flyer program. Now, the airline wants to take a big step further to (only) reward those top-spending travelers as their elite customers. The new MileagePlus Program makes it much more challenging for most economy-class frequent travelers to achieve any elite status.
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Williston, North Dakota, is home to America’s newest airport
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveAmerica’s newest airport opened to passengers on Oct. 10 when United Airlines Flight 4643 touched down, commencing a new era of connectivity to this growing part of North Dakota and its important oil fields. Williston Basin International Airport (code: XWA) is located 10 miles northwest of the city, which is itself in the northwestern part of the state. The region is home to the oil fields operated in the Bakken Formation. The area is currently experiencing a boom in output and drives the local economy.
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E-scooters: A blessing or a curse?
Dave G. Houser Transportation Technology & AutomotiveOnce serving only as children’s toys, scooters have taken on a new life these days in cities across America. Powered by compact lithium-ion batteries, these stubby little two-wheelers have become the latest adult solution to urban congestion. The popularity of e-scooters is understandable. Foremost, they are easy and fun to ride. Eco-sensitive riders laud the fact that they produce no emissions and constitute a minimal carbon footprint. Nonetheless, the massive influx of e-scooters has created a groundswell of controversy. Critics cite safety issues, decrying scooters as risky to both riders and pedestrians.
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What does GM owe workers?
Michelle R. Matisons Transportation Technology & AutomotiveGeneral Motors (GM) workers began a historic strike three weeks ago. The labor action has already cost the U.S.’ largest automaker $1 billion. This lost money — including "idle trucks and packed warehouses" for numerous related businesses — continues, threatening broad economic instability. The UAW presented GM with a proposal package on Oct. 5 that outlined a minimum of 35 hourly proposals and three salaried proposals. On Oct. 6, GM rejected the package, according to the UAW website, and the union has called for a detailed response from GM, which it has not yet received.
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Travel2020: Construction causes pain at the airport, per new survey
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWe have all seen the scaffolding and cranes, walled-off waiting areas and slowed traffic around our favorite gateway airports lately. That might have something to do with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s airport infrastructure grants. These infrastructure improvements are happening as record passenger volumes force major expansion efforts. However, the road closures, confusing signage and delays that come with these projects are making it hard on passengers.
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Beijing Daxing Airport opens, gives a big boost to Chinese aviation
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveBuilt to relieve pressure in one of the world's busiest cities for air travel, the new Daxing Airport near Beijing formally opened last week, with the first passengers boarding one of seven flights on the day of opening. With its iconic starfish-shaped terminal and world-class design, Daxing is set to become one of the world’s major air hubs. It was built as the city’s Capital Airport has started to reach a saturation point. China is expected to become the largest aviation market in the world by 2022.
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New study reveals Europe’s fastest-growing freight airport hubs
Matt Falcus Distribution & WarehousingA new study by freight supplier CP Cases has revealed the current status of Europe’s cargo hubs and the airports that have been growing fastest in the sector. Obvious and well-known freight hubs naturally feature in the list when ranked by total tonnage. Because of the huge amount of belly cargo carried through passenger aircraft at these hubs, few of the dedicated cargo airports can compete with their capacity. However, a number of smaller airports rank highly in different categories, which is quite unexpected and could indicate the future places to watch as their cargo business develops.
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GM strike begins in 9 states
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingAs U.S. auto manufacturers outsource jobs to Mexico and China, wages and benefits are stagnating and plant closures reflect globalization’s effects stateside. Beginning Sept. 16, almost 50,000 active members of the UAW formed picket lines in nine states against General Motors. This is the first GM strike in 12 years. Workers have been without a collective bargaining agreement since 2015, even after GM declared bankruptcy in 2009 with a $50 billion government bailout saving the company. GM recovered, and now workers, who stood by the company through hard times, want compensation.
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UK airports introducing new scanners to speed up security screening
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotivePassing through security bag screening can quickly sour the joy of travel. Arriving at the scanner usually requires removing items of clothing and unpacking items from the bags you spent so long carefully packing. Now, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that new scanners, which have the potential to reduce the stress of screening and the time it takes, would be rolled out across the country’s airports over the next few years. One of the major benefits of the new scanners is in removing the need to remove liquids from luggage.
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The problem with heritage railroads
Lucy Wallwork Transportation Technology & AutomotiveI have always thought of heritage railways, or "preserved railways," as a peculiarly British phenomenon. But they are perhaps an affection that has come to America, too. These nostalgic locomotives might seem harmless, but might they be encouraging an image of railways as a ghost from the past rather than as the future of sustainable transport? Heritage railways may make a fun family day out. But here is the problem. In the U.K., heritage railways are booming, while investment in new rail infrastructure has crippled key transport routes and caused the country to fall far behind the rest of Europe.
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