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.

Air travel in Europe is undergoing a quiet transformation, with new cross-border data offering an insight into how the “average flight” is changing.

Using statistics compiled by Eurocontrol – an air traffic control organization spanning more than 40 member states – it is possible to identify key trends about a typical flight in 2024, and learn more about where European aviation is heading:

Flights are Getting Longer

The average flight distance in Europe hit 1,157 kilometers last year – that’s just over 1,000 nautical miles. This 17 km increase on 2023 might sound modest, but it’s part of a much larger structural shift. Figures show a clear upward trend, with the 2024 average now 107 km further than in 2018. 

The reasons behind this are numerous, but there are some big-picture considerations. Domestic and regional routes are in long-term decline, often

Oyo-owned G6 Hospitality is bringing Texas-based hotel management company Galaxy Hotels Group back into its franchise network. Ten of Galaxy’s managed properties, totaling more than 1,300 rooms, will now carry the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands.

These hotels span Nevada, California and Colorado. Skift has learned that more properties will join in coming months.

In Las Vegas, Studio 6 Suites (308 rooms) will become one of the largest Studio 6 properties in the U.S. Two other Vegas motels will also rebrand.

Galaxy operates hotels across nine U.S. states, representing brands, such as Choice Hotels International, Hilton, IHG, and Marriott. Its CEO Jagmohan D