Key Points

• Alaska Airlines will launch daily flights from Seattle to London and Reykjavik in May, expanding its international network.
• The airline is introducing a new livery inspired by the Aurora Borealis on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, debuting in January.
• Alaska aims to operate 12 international routes by 2030, with additional destinations like Paris, Bangkok, Delhi, and Ho Chi Minh City under consideration.

Summary

Alaska Airlines is expanding its international presence following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, announcing new daily flights from Seattle to London and Reykjavik starting in May. The carrier is also unveiling a new livery for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, inspired by the Aurora Borealis, and has plans for significant international route growth by 2030. While expanding services and premium offerings, Alaska will maintain its original branding on narrowbody aircraft and preserve the Hawaiian logo.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, August 5. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Some visitors to the U.S. might face a new financial challenge. The U.S. plans to require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program slated to start on August 20, reports Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. 

The 12-month program would give U.S. consular officers the discretion to require bonds for travelers from countries with high rates of visa overstays, according to a Federal Registry notice published on Monday. The notice said the rule is a key part of the White House’s efforts to tackle threats posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting. 

The State Department estimates that 2,000 travelers will be required to post the bond. Officers are expected to set the bond at $10,000, but they can increase that figure to $15,000 if they don’t believe it’s enough to ensure a timely departure. 

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Next, Indian hospitality company Oyo has bought Australian short-term rental platform MadeComfy in a deal valued at more than $50 million, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. 

Oyo’s acquisition represents its entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets. MadeComfy currently manages more than 1,300 properties with nearly 100 real estate agencies. Bhutia writes Oyo’s goal is to expand MadeComfy across Australia and New Zealand and possibly into other countries where Oyo already operates. 

Finally, new data has revealed that flights in Europe are getting longer and planes on the continent are bigger, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.

The average flight distance in Europe hit just over 1,000 nautical miles last year, according to air traffic control organization Eurocontrol. Although the 2024 figure is a modest increase from the previous year, Smith notes it’s part of a much larger structural shift as domestic and regional routes are in decline.

In addition, the average maximum take-off weight of an aircraft jumped to just over 90 tonnes, up from both 2023 and 2018. Smith notes the increase is a sign of airlines emphasizing larger planes over regional jets. 

Key Points

• The U.S. is launching a 12-month pilot program requiring visa bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourists and business travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates.
• The program is expected to impact around 2,000 applicants and applies only to B-1 and B-2 visa categories.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee is also being introduced, raising concerns about U.S. competitiveness in the global travel market.

Summary

The United States is set to implement a 12-month pilot program requiring selected travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for B-1 and B-2 visas. The program, affecting an estimated 2,000 applicants, gives consular officers discretion in setting bond amounts and is intended to address national security concerns. Additionally, a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee will be imposed on most nonimmigrant visa applicants, potentially making U.S. visitor visas among the most expensive in the world and raising concerns about the country’s attractiveness to international travelers.