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American to Further Preferred Agency Program Without Loyalty Restrictions

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American Airlines may have nixed its plans to limit how AAdvantage loyalty program members can earn miles or points based on booking channels, but the carrier still intends to move forward with its plans to reward agencies it designates as “preferred,” according to copies of emails the carrier sent to corporate clients and travel agencies that BTN reviewed.

The memos, signed by American SVP of partnerships and retailing Scott Laurence, do not provide any specifics about the program, but noted that agencies would “soon receive additional information about our preferred agency program and upcoming incentives to reward agencies who continue to promote and book travel through New Distribution Capability technology.” 

Corporate clients were told they also would “soon receive additional information about our preferred agency program, and our sales and distribution strategy.”

The preferred agency program was announced in February, with plans first to begin May 1 but postponed to July 11, and would have required agencies to book at least 30 percent of their American volume through NDC channels by April 21 to qualify as preferred. That figure would increase to 50 percent by Oct. 31 and 70 percent by April 30, 2025. It was unclear how those percentages would be measured

The emails also reiterated comments made by American CEO Robert Isom on Wednesday during an investor conference that the carrier no longer planned to change how AAdvantage members earned miles or points. Isom also noted that the carrier had moved “faster than we should have” in terms of its NDC strategy, and it “didn’t execute well.” 

That mea culpa came one day after American announced that chief commercial officer Vasu Raja, a key architect of the carrier’s distribution strategy, would leave the company in June.  

Each memo noted Isom’s comments that the carrier was “revisiting our policies” to give corporate travelers and agencies’ mutual customers “the best experience on American, and to ensure we’re easy to do business with.”

Additionally, Laurence noted that American is “holistically adapting our approach to prioritize that no matter where travelers book, they shouldn’t be negatively impacted by our policy changes in the future. The decisions we make are with our mutual customers in mind, and making our agency and corporate partners’ experience the best it can be.”

American did not provide any further information about the preferred agency program.



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Global air passenger traffic continues to rise, outpacing capacity

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But North America sees lagging demand growth in latest Iata figures



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CTO Chairman calls for preparedness and solidarity during hurricane season

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CTO Chairman Kenneth Bryan calls for vigilance and solidarity among Caribbean nations during the hurricane season, emphasizing preparation, swift recovery, and international support for resilience against climate change impacts.

GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS – Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Kenneth Bryan, has issued a strong call to all Caribbean people to continue exercising vigilance during this hurricane season by preparing for storms, while also being ready to respond and recover swiftly.

“Even as we protect life and property here in the western Caribbean, we stand in solidarity with the people of St. Vincent and the islands of the Grenadines who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl,” said Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands. “Their pain is our pain, and their struggles are felt across our entire region,” said the CTO Chairman, who noted that “when one member of our Caribbean family is affected, we all feel the impact. But together, we must unite and support each other through these challenging times”.

The CTO is committed to working closely with relief organizations to ensure a coordinated and effective response to hurricane impacts.

“We recognize the critical importance of preparedness. As hurricanes become more frequent and intense due to climate change, we urge all residents and businesses to take necessary precautions. Secure your homes, stock up on essential supplies, and have a clear plan in place. At the same time, we must be ready to support our neighbors and contribute to swift recovery efforts,” Chairman Bryan emphasized.

“Climate change poses a significant threat to our region, and we must be proactive in our response. This hurricane season, let us demonstrate the strength of our Caribbean spirit by preparing diligently and standing in solidarity. Our collective efforts will make a difference and ensure that we emerge stronger and more resilient,” Chairman Bryan added.

Chairman Bryan also called on the international community to assist the region with rebuilding infrastructure, restoring essential services, and helping communities get back on their feet. “We contribute the least to and suffer the most from the changing climate, so we need the global community to help provide resources for improved building standards, better communication systems, and more resilient infrastructure to mitigate future hurricane impacts.”


Vicky Karantzavelou

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.





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American Increases Investment in ZeroAvia

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American Airlines has agreed to purchase 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia intended to power regional jet aircraft, the carrier announced Tuesday. 

American also has increased its investment in the “clean aviation” company, in which it first invested in 2022. Details of ZeroAvia’s Series C financing round were not disclosed.

ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric engines for commercial aircraft, with the potential for “close to zero inflight emissions.” The company is flight testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane, and has designed an engine for larger aircraft, such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which American operates on certain regional routes, according to American.



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