U.S. travel agency air ticket sales, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), were up by 10 percent in August versus the previous year. At just over $8 billion, air ticket sales were also up 6 percent over July 2023. Even better: Total passenger trips were at their highest since the pandemic with August 2023 numbers at 94 percent of August 2019 levels. The average ticket price also down versus both July 2023 and August 2022 at $514.
“The positive travel trends for August matched what we’re hearing from the largest airlines regarding the strength of air travel demand,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “Travelers continue to take advantage of lower airfare, particularly in the U.S. domestic market.”
In other great news for air travel, overall airport passenger satisfaction improved in 2023, according to the “J.D. Power 2023 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.” Faced with a potentially crippling combination of record-high passenger volumes, an ongoing pilot shortage that shrank the number of available flights and countless weather delays and cancelations, satisfaction improved 3 points (to 780 on a scale of 1,000) over 2022.
Many of the top-performing airports in the study have recently completed construction and redevelopment projects that have improved passenger flow, parking and terminal facilities. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport ranked highest in passenger satisfaction among mega airports; Tampa International Airport ranked highest among large airports for a second consecutive year; and Indianapolis International Airport ranked highest for a second consecutive year among medium airports.
Another positive development for the travel industry is the rising popularity of “blended travel,” in which one combines work with a vacation. A recent TripIt survey found that 41 percent of people are planning to partake in “blended travel” in the next six months—many of these being younger travelers. In all, 40 percent said they added vacation days onto a business trip, 33 percent worked remotely from a vacation destination and 27 percent both added days and worked remotely.
That all said, a looming U.S. Government shutdown could cost the U.S. travel economy as much as $140 million a day, according to new analysis for the U.S. Travel Association. Congress has until September 30 to pass a short-term extension; if a deal isn’t made, the U.S. air travel system is typically hampered by more flight delays, longer screening lines and setbacks in air travel modernization. U.S. Travel research additionally shows that 60 percent of Americans would cancel or avoid trips by air in the event of a shutdown.
Coinciding with the federal budget deadline, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) authorization is set to expire on September 30. Congress has yet to pass a full FAA reauthorization bill, despite a version passing in the House of Representatives in June.
New in Expedition Cruising
Hurtigruten Group this week announced major changes to two of its brands: Hurtigruten Expeditions, going forward, will be known only as HX, while Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express will be simplified to Hurtigruten, the same name as when it first launched in 1893. The rebrand is the culmination of a split that began in 2021, when Hurtigruten Group first distinguished the two brand identities. In June this year, Hurtigruten Group completed its internal restructuring to align commercial and support functions with the dedicated ship operations.
Looking forward, HX will place a much greater emphasis on the travel advisor market. It will be adding to its sales team to better support existing and new travel trade partners. It would also be improving its commission structure to be more competitive with other expedition cruise lines.
Next up, the line will be launching its West Africa and Cape Verde sailings aboard MS Spitsbergen. The itinerary begins with a night in a hotel in Dakar, Senegal before disembarking the following day on a 14-day sailing. There will be six total departures for the 2023-2024 season.
Swan Hellenic has opened bookings for its Antarctica 2024-25 season of “Cultural Expedition Cruises” on its luxury ice-class ships SH Diana and SH Vega. Departures commence on November 13, 2024, with itineraries ranging from nine to 20 nights. Both ships offer opportunities to explore the Antarctic Peninsula from either side, including the less-visited Weddell Sea, as well as the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich and South Shetland Islands.
Every cruise offers multiple zodiac expeditions, giving traveler the chance to get up close to whales, penguins, seals and seabirds. All the expeditions are led by seasoned guides and international experts, who provide a rich onboard lecture program.
On the cultural immersion side, Azamara has launched four new voyages for 2023 and 2024 that take guests deeper into the heart of a destination. The “Extended Destination Days” offer 10 or more hours in port or overnight stays, giving guests ample time to enjoy each city at their own pace. The sailings include local festivities in such countries as Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Vietnam and beyond.
Active Travel Experiences
DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. announced new itineraries for 2024. Destinations include Slovenia, an emerging active travel destination; Norway, northern Europe’s cycling frontier; a Dordogne-Bordeaux trip combining two regions in Southwestern France; as well as Italy’s Siena during the Strade Bianche—Italy’s answer to the Tour de France. New itineraries range from Level 2 (recreational cyclists should “prepare with some training prior to tour”) to Level 4 (“not recommended” for recreational cyclists).
The tour company has also debuted new hotel-forward itineraries that use one or two properties as a base and adventure outward from there.
In Rome, travelers can embark on a unique adventure with ArcheoRunning’s new Colosseum running or walking tour. Following a customized running tour that explores the iconic squares of the "Eternal City," the private experience offers insider access to the historic amphitheater’s attic. The two-hour Colosseum tour takes participants around the city to see hidden gems and historic monuments before venturing up to Colosseum’s intermediate gallery, ascending to the third tier, and then even higher with a climb to the attic. Every route is personalized to the travelers’ preferred departure location, ensuring a unique and immersive experience.
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