October 14, 2025
In This Edition… the European Union’s Entry/Exit system begins, airline flight and service updates, new codeshare agreements, TSA delays, passport news, additions to Clear, ground transportation news, hotel updates, many traveler tips, and more!
Dans cette édition… le système d’entrée-sortie de l’Union européenne entre en vigueur, des mises à jour sur les services de vol des compagnies aériennes, de nouveaux accords de partage de code, des retards à la TSA, des informations sur les passeports, des ajouts à Clear, des nouveautés sur les transports terrestres, des actualités hôtelières, de nombreux conseils aux voyageurs, et bien plus encore!
Navigator Blog
Direct Travel Acquires ATPI
Direct Travel, Inc. has announced the acquisition of its long-time strategic partner, ATPI, creating one of the world’s largest travel management companies. Together, the two companies will drive over $6 billion in annual total travel volume and offer leading technologies and unparalleled service across global corporate, leisure, events, and specialized travel sectors.
Creating a Global Organization to Transform Travel Management
Direct Travel CEO Christal Bemont shares her vision for the global travel company after acquiring longtime partner, ATPI.
Building a Travel Culture That Supports Employee Well-Being
Discover strategies travel managers can use to support traveler wellness, reduce burnout, and build healthier business travel programs.
Travel Management
American Travelers to Be Fingerprinted as Part of Europe’s New Entry System
TravelPulse — Travelers heading to Europe in October will be among the first to experience the European Union’s new Entry/Exit system that replaces passport stamping with biometric scanning, depending on the destination they’re visiting.
Airline & Flight Updates
United to Add Four New 2026 European Destinations
Business Travel News — United Airlines for its summer 2026 schedule will add four new European routes, the carrier announced Thursday. It also will bring back service on all of the new routes it debuted this past summer.
This Airline Is Charging More for Reclining Seats
MassLive — The Canadian carrier WestJet said its new plane design with slim-line seats is supposed to help reduce ticket costs.
Delta Just Announced New Flights to This Enchanting European Wine City
Afar Magazine — Hilly streets, custard-filled pastries, and a UNESCO-listed wine region will soon be a nonstop flight away.
Air Canada to Offer Free Beer and Wine in Economy on All Flights
USA Today (subscription may be required) — Air Canada is betting on free beer and wine at the back of the plane to help fill more seats, an executive said on Wednesday, as North American airlines face passenger pushback over fees for extra baggage and legroom.
Qatar Expands IAG Codeshares on U.S. Routes
Business Travel News — Qatar Airways has expanded its codeshare with International Airlines Group brands Aer Lingus and Level on U.S. routes, Qatar announced.
Porter to Launch Four New International Routes
Business Travel News — Porter Airlines plans to launch in winter 2026 four new international routes, the Canada-based carrier announced.
Alaska, Starlux Expand Codeshare Agreement
Business Travel News — Starlux Airlines has added 12 U.S. cities to its codeshare agreement with Alaska Airlines, the Taiwan-based airline announced.
Delta and Aeromexico Ordered to Dissolve Their Joint Venture
Travel Weekly — The DOT says Mexico violated the countries' Open Skies pact when it placed capacity restrictions on Mexico City's Benito Juarez Airport.
American Airlines to Upgrade Regional Planes with New Seats and Perks
TravelPulse — Short-haul flights aboard American Airlines are about to get a lot more comfortable.
United Adds SFO Connecting Remote Bag Screening
Business Travel News — United Airlines has launched international remote baggage screening for customers connecting in San Francisco on United's service from Sydney, Australia.
American, Porter Launch Codeshare Agreement
Business Travel News — American Airlines and Canada-based carrier Porter Airlines have launched a new codeshare partnership.
Safety & Security
TSA Warns Travelers of Possible Delays During Government Shutdown
TravelPulse — The agency asks for passengers’ patience as most employees work without pay, with longer security screening lines or flight disruptions likely to occur if the shutdown persists.
TSA Is Still Running During Shutdown, But Travel Risks Could Grow
USA Today (subscription may be required) — Why TSA checkpoints remain open during the government shutdown, and how screenings could still get disrupted.
X at the US Border - Passport Alert
Open Jaw — The United States now requires sex assigned at birth, rather than gender identity, on federal forms including visas, Nexus applications, passenger manifests and passports.
Clear Adds 36 Countries to Its Security Program Eligibility
Business Travel News — Travelers from 36 additional countries now are eligible to enroll in Clear's secure identity program for access to expedited security services at U.S. airports.
How to Check Your Passport Status—and What to Do if It’s Taking Too Long
Afar Magazine — U.S. passports are normally processed in four to six weeks, but if the waiting seems endless, here’s how you can check your passport application or renewal status.
Government Travel Warnings
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts.
Ground Transportation
45 Minutes from Calgary to Edmonton
OpenJaw — High-speed rail line uses magnetic levitation.
Enterprise Mobility to Expand to Taiwan
Business Travel News — Enterprise Mobility will bring franchise locations of its Enterprise, National and Alamo brands to Taiwan.
October Kicks Off With Stagnant Gas Prices
Travel Pulse — With the national average around $3.17 per gallon, U.S. drivers are enjoying the cheapest summer fuel prices since 2021.
Amtrak’s Fastest Train Is Launching This Month on the East Coast
Afar Magazine — A new era of high-speed rail is coming to cities throughout the Northeast with the debut of Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains.
Hotel News
San Diego Hotel-Tax Increase Moves Forward
CBS8 — The measure will raise the city's levy by up to 3.25 percentage points in some areas, with the increased revenue earmarked for expanding the convention center, addressing homelessness and repairing streets.
Hilton Launches New Lifestyle Hotel Brand
Hotel Investment Today — The Outset Collection is positioned in the upscale and upper-midscale space and has 60 hotels under development.
Wyndham Adds Dazzler Select in ‘Lifestyle Economy’ Space
Hotel Investment Today — Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced Dazzler Select by Wyndham, in what it calls the “lifestyle economy” space, which it says will fill a long-overlooked hole in the soft-brand landscape. The soft brand is targeting the 16,000-plus economy, independent hotels in the U.S.
Hilton Expands Texas Hill Country Portfolio
Hilton — Hilton announces the conversion and opening of Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa representing both Signia by Hilton’s first hotel in Texas and Hilton’s 9,000th hotel globally.
Marriott Doubles Down on the Outdoors
Hotel Investment Today — Outdoor-focused hotelkeeping has officially arrived with the world’s biggest hotel company, Marriott International, announcing the launch of a digital outdoor platform and collection brand called Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy.
Traveler Tips, Trips & Convenience
Yes, You Can Bring Food Through TSA—With Some Exceptions
Afar Magazine — Here’s what to know before you attempt to bring a home-cooked meal or tasty souvenir through airport security.
Airports, National Parks, and Amtrak—What the October 2025 Government Shutdown Means for Travel
Afar Magazine — Travelers may want to head to the airport a bit earlier than usual and should expect some services to be suspended at the national parks as government spending grinds to a halt during a shutdown that started on October 1. Here’s what to know.
The 12 Best Airport Lounges That You Can Pay to Get Into
Fodor’s Travel — There are some fabulous lounges in airports across the world.
This Midwestern Airport Was Just Named No. 1 in North America for Traveler Satisfaction
Travel + Leisure — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International topped J.D. Power’s 2025 rankings for “mega” airports for the second year in a row.
How AI-Driven Platforms Are Helping Airlines Improve Their Airport Turn Times
Travel Weekly — Airlines and airports have long looked at ways to cut the time between when an aircraft lands and when its next flight can depart, saving money and improving on-time performance. Newly developed AI-driven platforms combined with old-school video cameras are helping do just that.
Meetings & Events
Best Convention Centers for Events in Every U.S. Region
Northstar Meetings Group — These Stella Award-winning venues showcase everything from LEED Certification and gourmet culinary options to state-of-the-art Wi-Fi and walkable, campus-like environments.
Cvent Adds Hotel Sustainability Data
Business Travel News Europe — More than 12,000 hotels and venues have begun sharing environmental data through a new Cvent partnership with travel sustainability firm BeCause.
Looking for assistance with your next convention, incentive, or special event? From designing memorable experiences to managing strategic meetings, Direct Travel is your trusted event partner! For details, please send a message to: [email protected].