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American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth Interna-
Launches Service to Iceland tional Airport and Reykjavík’s
Keflavík International Airport.
With airlines like WOW air and These seasonal flights will last
Icelandair dominating the skies until Oct. 27, at which point
between North America and travelers seeking to fly from
Iceland, it seems inconceivable Dallas to Iceland can reserve a
for another airline to enter the seat on one of the other two
route race. But beginning this aforementioned airlines that
June, American Airlines will offer recently began to fly the same
service to the North Atlantic route. If Texans were previously
island nation, driving further concerned about having to
competition among the airlines connect in another city to finally
already in place. take that trip to Iceland, this
Starting June 7, daily non- summer they will have not one
stop service will be available but three options.
between American’s hub at
aa.com

EXTRA AIRLINE FEES COLLECTED

IN 2017

The year 2017 saw the early stages of airlines enacting add-on fees for services
previously packaged into flight fares. But with increased competition from budget
airlines both at home and abroad, the big names had to cut some inclusions in order
to keep prices low.
As travelers’ perks continue to decrease or be eliminated altogether, some pas-
sengers are willing to pay to get them back. According to IdeaWorks Company, the
estimated total of extra passenger fees collected by airlines in 2017 may reach $57
billion.
Two of the big three airlines — Delta Air Lines and American Airlines — noted ap-
proximately 50 percent of their travelers are more likely to pay the extra price for the
bells and whistles than to grin and bear it in the increasingly basic Basic Economy.
Such fee-carrying services can include seat selection, in-flight entertainment, checked
bag fees and even carry-on bag fees. Facebook, Airbus Collaborate on WiFi
If a collaboration between Facebook and Airbus comes to fruition,
there may finally be a solution to the spotty WiFi connection often
found at 30,000 feet. Through technology known as high altitude
platform station systems, internet connectivity will be possible
through solar-powered, drone-like devices floating throughout the
PHOTOS: © UNDREY | DREAMSTIME, HAKINMHAN | DREAMSTIME Global Traveler’s weekly newsletters keep you up to Aquila which, through drones, would extend internet connectivity
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Facebook introduced a precursory program in early 2017 called
to remote areas around the world. Airbus’ functional assistance
date with info on the go. Sign up for newsletters at
comes into play as it begins to conceptualize single-pilot and pilotless
globaltravelerusa.com/newsletter.
planes. These flying internet hotspots could roam through the atmo-
sphere for multiple months at a time before running out of power.
eFlyer Asia
eFlyer USA
Not only would this invention provide passengers with quality
GT’s independently run
GT’s independently run
internet connections throughout their flights, but also it would assist
weekly travel email
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planes with satellite communications with other planes and air traffic
newsletter written for the
ter written for executive
control towers.
business travelers.
Asian travel market.
FEBRUARY 2018 globaltravelerusa.com 13