Weekend Review: U.S.-Russia Play Aviation Chicken + Metasearch on Airline Websites

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

May 26, 2018 View in browser

Editor's Note The frosty relationship between the United States and Russia seems like it is spilling over into the aviation arena. The two countries have been unable to reach a long-term agreement covering U.S. passenger and cargo aircraft overflights in Russia, and Washington is taking steps to retaliate. Nothing good will come of all this if the dispute does not get quickly resolved. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor Our Latest Skift Research Report Dives into Amazon in Travel Skift Research predicts Amazon could play a major role in the future of distribution, marketing, or technology in travel. Our latest report outlines scenarios for strategists, marketers, and executives to demystify both Amazon's business model and their potential approaches to travel. Learn More Top Stories U.S. Issues New Requirements for Russian Planes in Airspace Spat The State Department just closed the books on the last long-running airline-related diplomatic saga in Washington — Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Now, apparently, the government is turning its attention to a feud with Russia about so-called overflight rights. America's Smallest Discount Airline Wants to Emulate EasyJet With Cabin Retrofit Project Sun Country wants it both ways. It wants to add fees and reduce legroom for some passengers. But it also wants to keep the brand equity it earned when it was a full-service airline. Can this strategy work? Airlines Test Adding Metasearch to Their Websites If they can't beat the online travel companies, airlines might as well try to copy those companies' slickest moves. A couple of carriers are testing the display of flights on rival airlines in an attempt to prevent consumers from clicking away to shop elsewhere. An Allegiant Air Executive Popular With Wall Street Resigns Lukas Johnson isn't the most senior executive at Allegiant Air, but he has an outsized role at a company that has remarkably few executive vice presidents. He'll almost certainly be missed. Why Ryanair Is Hungry for Acquisitions Ryanair is the great white shark of the airline world. It knows which airlines are bleeding cash and it is in the mood to feast. Road Trip Evolution For all of you jet-setters out there who want to know how the other half lives or, shall we say, vacations, Assistant Editor Sarah Enelow-Snyder wrote a three-part series on the evolution of the road trip, USA-style. Not only is it a great read, but it also provides valuable insights into how a subset of the travel industry caters to wanderlust-driven vacationers on the road. How Driving Defines Us: The Future of American Road Trips Road trips in the United States are statistically on the rise due to both economic and cultural factors. These vacations have incredible potential to reflect what's simmering beneath the surface of contemporary America. Tours and Hotels Look for Innovative Ways to Cater to Luxury and Budget Road Trippers While most American road trips are DIY, created piecemeal on a budget, the luxury set has options and smart travel brands know who to target. Self-Driving Cars, Electric Vehicles, and the Future of Hitting the Road The sharing economy hardly puts a dent in the fact that most American road trips occur with owned cars. But look out for brands adapting to electric vehicles before driverless cars change things completely. More Editor's Picks Six Flags Is Adding 5 Parks in a Promised U.S. Expansion Push Six Flags has been talking up this scenario for more than a year, so it will be interesting to see how the strategy plays out. Will more people opt for season passes that give them access to multiple parks, even if those parks are a few hours away from each other? The Palms New Ad Campaign Aims for High Art, But Does It Miss the Mark? There's a fine line between what some might deem edgy and what some might find insensitive. Yelp Targets Google Employees in New Antitrust Drive Yelp's efforts to see tighter regulation of Google's business practices could have more success this time around than several years ago, when the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dropped the ball. European Union regulators have really cast the previous U.S. effort in a shameful light, and the Trump team may be more sympathetic than the Obama administration. Reimbursement for Flight Disruptions Slowly Gets Smarter Flyers are sometimes owed money from airlines following disruptions and delays, usually small amounts. New advances make it easier to submit claims, but it can still take a long time for flyers to get the money they deserve. Smarter predictive technology will eventually make delays and disruptions less of a hassle, or at least lead to insurance products that are actually useful. Corporate Travel Demand Remains Strong: Industry CEOs Corporate travel continues to grow as the global economy hums along immune to the geopolitical issues cropping up around the world. How long can it last? And will increasing hotel rates eat away at the increased spending made by corporations? For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab. You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift Daily Newsletter from Skift.

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