Skift Take
Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at hybrid cruise ships, cautious optimism in Latin American skies, and Capital One’s luxury loyalty push.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, October 19. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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Episode Notes
Cruise lines worldwide, in an attempt to operate more sustainably, have turned to biofuels in place of fossil fuels. But Norway-based luxury cruise and shipping company Hurtigruten Group has gone further, running hybrid-powered cruise ships . While electric cars and now airplanes dominate the news of the technology in journey, Hurtigruten’s leadership is a welcome sign for a cruise industry that often finds itself in the crosshairs associated with environmentalists, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldman said in an exclusive interview with Skift that will sustainability is important for both its guests and the regions it operates within. The company launched the world’s first battery hybrid-powered cruise trip ship in 2019. Skjeldman added the Hurtigruten Group is focused on sustainability because the sailings possess historically been around both North plus South Poles, where he said the particular effects of climate change are visible.
Skjeldman also said the company aims to have the zero emission ship sailing in 2030, adding that electric energy will help the particular Hurtigruten Group accomplish its goal.
Next, Latin United states airline executives are optimistic that the region will certainly continue to see strong traveling demand. Yet they’re a lot more worried about economic uncertainty than global airline executives elsewhere in the world , reports Edward Russell, editor of Airline Weekly, a Skift brand.
As passenger traffic within Latin America led the particular global recovery in August, airline executives largely said at a conference this week in Buenos Aires they’re seeing a surge within bookings. Passenger numbers in August with regard to Latin America’s domestic markets combined were down just 4 percent from pre-Covid levels. However , Pedro Heilbron, CEO associated with Panama’s Copa Airlines, admitted the region is facing the prospect of economic turbulence. Russell notes global oil prices have got remained high after Russia’s invasion associated with Ukraine within February.
Finally, as more banks are digging deeper into travel, Capital One is staking its claim as a major player in the industry. The company is planning to introduce 10-times rewards regarding bookings in its travel portal’s new luxury hotel collection , reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.
Travelers owning a Capital One Venture X card will be able to earn the reward — 10x miles per dollar — through booking stays at properties in Funds One Travel’s Premier Collection. The credit card company will be planning in order to launch the particular collection, which would include hotels bookable via Capital 1 Travel, by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Capital A single has unveiled plans to partner along with the José Andrés Team, the company behind the award-winning chef, in order to open airport lounges. The first two lounges are slated to open at Reagan National Airport and LaGuardia Airport.