US TO PROPOSE NEW RULES FOR AIRLINE CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS

The Biden administration is creating new regulations requiring airlines to compensate air travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control, reports AP News. The compensation would be in addition to ticket refunds when the airline is at fault for a flight being canceled or significantly delayed. It would give US travelers protections similar to those in the European Union. The new rule is the latest in a series of moves by the Biden administration to bolster consumer protections for domestic US flights and international flights involving US destination or origin. “I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you get from your US airlines,” President Biden said. “That’s why our top priority has been to get American air travelers a better deal.” Biden added, “You deserve more than just getting the price of your ticket (refunded) — you deserve to be fully compensated. Your time matters, the impact on your life matters.” Officials at the Department of Transportation (DOT), which will write the new rules, said they don't have a set timeline for the new rule, but indicated they are working to quickly publish a notice that is required to get the process started.

WHO DECLARES END TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY, URGES LIFTING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the COVID-19 global health emergency, stating that the pandemic "has been on a downward trend" for more than a year, reports Travel Pulse. Among the temporary recommendations issued by the WHO is that member states continue to lift COVID-19 international travel-related health measures, based on risk assessments, and not require any proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a prerequisite for international travel. The news comes just days after the US government announced it would end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travelers and federal workers on May 11. US Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said the move to "lift the vaccine requirement eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers, moving our industry and country forward."

MARRIOTT TO INCLUDE RESORT FEES IN TOTAL PRICES, BREAKING NEW GROUND IN SETTLEMENT

Beginning May 15, Marriott International will disclose resort fees in the total prices it displays in its initial search results on its website and mobile app, reports Skift. The move is part of the outcome of a 2021 settlement with Pennsylvania that required Marriott to include in fees in upfront total prices. Marriott is the first of the global hotel groups to make the change, which pertains to extra fees for services and amenities offered during a hotel or resort stay. All other global hotel groups have continued to charge fees for services or amenities at some properties and exclude them from the room rate or bury them in the taxes and fees. “We have been working diligently over the last several months on the technology required to update our room rate display and further enhance the way these fees are disclosed, in accordance with our agreement with the State of Pennsylvania,” a Marriott spokesperson said. It remained uncertain whether other non-resort fees properties may change, such as mandatory fees for non-valet or valet parking, and would be included in Marriott’s updated search results later this month. In February, President Biden called out companies for not disclosing “frustrating charges.” The administration stated that more than one-third of hotel guests claim to have paid such fees.

UNITED TO TRIPLE SAF USE IN 2023; ADDS SAF ON FLIGHTS AT SFO

United Airlines has announced that it will begin using a blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on departing flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). They are also planning to use a SAF blend later this year at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which could put the airline on track to use approximately 10 million gallons in 2023, nearly three times more than 2022 and close to 10 times more than 2019. United has invested in the future production of over five billion gallons of SAF, and as a result of their recent announcement, the carrier will fly more miles in 2023 than any airline. The SAF used on United's flights will be paid for in part through the company's Eco-Skies Alliance, a program collectively contributing toward the purchase of nearly 15 million gallons of SAF. With its up to 80% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions on a lifecycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel, this is enough SAF to reduce approximately 150,000 metric tons of GHG emissions, or enough to fly passengers close to 1 billion miles. United has used SAF blends at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) since 2016 and Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam Alliance since 2022 and continues to use SAF at those airports.

FAA LAYS OUT A BLUEPRINT FOR ACCOMMODATING AIR TAXIS

The FAA has released an updated blueprint for the airspace changes and infrastructure development required to accommodate air taxis, reports Travel Weekly. Electric air taxis are under development by dozens of companies around the world, with some developers targeting launch dates as soon as 2025. Acting FAA administrator Billy Nolen stated that the first electric air taxi certifications are on track to be completed in a few years. The blueprint, developed by the FAA in conjunction with NASA and industry stakeholders, envisions what the authors are calling a "crawl-walk-run" approach to air taxi startup. Initially, air taxi operations will be conducted with new aircraft types that have been certified to fly within the current regulatory and operational environment. They'll fly at low rates, similar to today's helicopters, and use existing helipads and helicopter routes, along with early air taxi vertiports. They'll also communicate with air traffic control towers as needed. Eventually, higher frequency operations will be supported through regulatory changes and air taxi corridors that leverage collaborative technologies. At that time, electric aircraft are expected to fly in corridors between major airports and vertiports in city centers. For example, United has already announced planned air taxi routes to Newark and O'Hare airports from Manhattan and downtown Chicago.