The Week In Travel

Uber has unveiled a new feature to its UK app this week, which will enable users to book flights as well as taxis. Launched in partnership with online travel agent Hopper, the tool will allow users to search for and book flights, and will also offer discounted rides to the airport with a flight booking. Uber has stated that the feature is ‘the latest and most ambitious step’ in the company’s strategy to create a ‘seamless door-to-door travel solution’.

Across the pond, IATA has criticised a compensation plan proposed by the US Department of Transportation for passengers affected by flight delays and disruptions. The proposal would require airlines to pay passengers compensation equal to their ticket price, plus fees of up to $1,000 for delays lasting over four hours to cover expenses. IATA said that the added layer of expenses imposed by this plan would result in increased airfares and fewer flight options for passengers.

In more positive news, figures from European air traffic management body Eurocontrol reveal the number of European flights has reached 90% of 2019 levels. The recovery had been hovering between 86% and 88% from September 2022 to March 2023, before breaking through the 90% mark last month.

In airline news, Ryanair has placed an order for 300 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this week in a deal worth $40 billion, the largest-ever order for both the airline and the plane model. The move comes as part of the low-cost carrier’s ambitious growth plans, which include increasing its fleet size and expanding its routes across Europe.

And finally, passengers were stuck on a Houston runway for three hours as a result of a hive of activity on the exterior of the plane. The Delta Airlines flight was unable to take off until a swarm of bees, which had congregated on the aircraft’s wing, had been removed. Despite the frustrating circumstances, many of the passengers enjoyed the buzz created by the commotion, with one of the travellers, journalist Anjali Enjeti, tweeting: “I’m not moving from this window. I want front row seats for this.”