The ratio of projected growth of travel jobs (3.3 million) to total U.S. job growth by 2020 is 1 in 7.
1 in 7 7.5 million
$813 billion
Direct traveler spending in the U.S. in 2011.
#6
Travelers supported 7.5 million American jobs — 7 percent of the country’s total private-sector employment (in transpor- tation, hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and many other sectors).
Travel ranks sixth in total U.S. employment; only five of the 20 major industries employ more people than travel.
› Runway status lights The FAA is testing a new, automatic runway lighting system at Los Angeles International Airport and a handful of other airports, designed to help reduce and prevent runway incursions and accidents. According to a New York Times article, since 2008, there have been about three incidents a day in which a plane or vehicle gets on an active runway by mistake — an average of 1,000 a year. convn.org/runway-status
Up Next
› Continued scrutiny Two U.S. passenger advocacy groups — the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) and the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA) — continue to push for the DOT’s (Department of Transportation) vigilance regarding potentially deceptive online pricing. BTC Chairman Kevin Mitchell said: “… there must be a system that empowers consumers to compare and purchase all airfare offerings and ancillary fees across multiple airlines. We must guard against unfair policies and practices that short-circuit the free market and deceive both business and leisure travelers by showing the traveler only those offerings an airline wants the passenger to see.” convn.org/BTC-pricing
Fees 50 airlines analyzed
$22.6 billion
collected in 2011 +66% jump in two years Ancillary Fees
According to a study released this summer by airline consultant IdeaWorks and sponsored by travel technology company Amadeus:
› United Airlines made nearly $5.2 billion from ancillary fees last year, topping the study’s global list. United’s ancillary fees — which cover penalties for items such as baggage, food, and boarding times — brought in more than double the $2.5 billion that Delta, next on the list, collected. › In total, $22.6 billion was collected by the 50 airlines analyzed in the study — an increase of more than $1 billion from 2010 and a 66-percent jump in two years.
› Airports as public event spaces? A terminal at Dusseldorf airport turns into a public event space one day each month as part of an “Airxperience Sunday” series, free for passengers and visitors. Last month’s fashion focus included fashion shows, makeover desks, and presentations and consultations by major fashion labels across the check-in areas. fly2dus.com