The latest merger is changing the course of the airline industry Last week, Spirit Airlines ended a months-long merger battle, abandoning its original deal with rival low-cost carrier Frontier Holdings in favor of a $3.8 billion all-cash offer from JetBlue Airways. The neck-snapping pivot came July 27, when Spirit nixed the merger agreement with Frontier and, the next morning, announced it had accepted the JetBlue bid. Currently JetBlue is the sixth-largest carrier in the country as measured in passenger miles, while Spirit is seventh-largest, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statisti ..read more

New routes include three times-weekly services from both Washington, DC, and Atlanta Two US airlines have announced the launch of new nonstop services to Cape Town, South Africa. United Airlines is set to begin flights to Cape Town from Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, starting Nov. 17, while Delta Air Lines will operate a new nonstop from Atlanta to Cape Town beginning Dec. 17. Washington DC – Cape Town United’s service is the first nonstop between the US capital and the South African city, operating aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 48 lie-flat United Polaris business clas ..read more

The interior designer’s latest project is the new Conrad Los Angeles When Starchitect Frank Gehry broke ground for his Grand LA construction project in California in 2019, it was the beginning of a behemoth downtown presence—a vast billion-dollar complex sitting opposite his iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, in all its reflective, curlicued glory. The Grand LA, which opened in July, was conceived as a self-contained city block. For years Bernerd had been working alongside Gehry, intent on creating interiors that live up to the dramatic promise of the exterior. “It’s a beast of a project,” she s ..read more

A timeline of the months-long corporate high-stakes bidding war between JetBlue and Frontier After months of negotiations and a wildcard bid, JetBlue has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion, creating the fifth-largest airline in the United States. Spirit Airlines ended its merger agreement with Frontier Airlines Wednesday as Spirit shareholders were in the midst of voting on the deal. The Spirit board had delayed the shareholder vote four times citing a lack of support for the Frontier bid. Wednesday’s action cleared the way for Spirit to entertain a rival bid from JetBlue Airways ..read more

A hotel like no other, Cour des Vosges immerses guests in the 17th-century residence of a noble French family whose love of art extended to collecting sculptures, ceramics, tapestries and furniture. Opened to visitors in 2019, the property was carefully handled by designers Yann Le Coadic and Alessandro Scotto, who saw their role as archaeologists, bringing back the structure’s beauty and strength. Blending historic splendor with 1970s flair, the 12 rooms and suites, arrayed across four stories, feature restored wooden ceilings and antique mirrors, as well as furnishings upholstered in blue an ..read more

Cabo beckons with endless action and luxury stays Los Cabos has been the go-to destination for celebrities for more than 60 years, beginning with Golden-Age stars like John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Steve McQueen; and more recently attracting George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, and Leonardo DiCaprio, to name a few. The stars are aligned in Los Cabos to attract celebrity interest as the destination is within easy reach of Los Angeles and many major cities offering direct flights via commercial and private, with an abundance of luxury stays and amenities to make these trip ..read more

Hot-springs spas blend two of the country’s buzziest travel trends: wellness and adventure Traditional spas may not cut it for the post-pandemic wellness traveler. Today’s health-centric jet-setters seek rejuvenation with a dose of nature, and they’re in luck: The hot-springs spa trend is sizzling. Thermal and mineral-spring experiences, particularly those that fuse soaking in geothermally heated water with massage or skincare services, became popular well before the pandemic. Wellness advisory group Resources for Leisure Assets credits the interest bump to travelers’ increasing desire for hea ..read more

Delta and United restart routes put on hold by the pandemic, and launch service to new destinations Despite the delays and cancelations encountered by travelers at many of Europe’s airports, the rising demand for international travel is prompting US airlines to reinstate long-dormant routes to popular European destinations. Delta Air Lines has announced the relaunch of services next spring between Detroit and Rome, starting March 25, 2023, and between New York and Berlin, set to begin in May 2023. The carrier has also announced the return of operations between Cincinnati and Paris, commencing ..read more

Carrying more passengers than any other airline in South America, LATAM was created a decade ago when LAN Chile and TAM merged. An immediate goal was to unify and elevate the passenger experience, and while the ground product, including the glorious new lounge in Santiago, was the first element to be undertaken, LATAM ultimately released its stylish new 777—in the midst of the pandemic. Two years on, I took the flagship 777 for a spin, to see how it stacks up on a global stage. For most people traveling from the U.S. to South America, and in particular Brazil, there are limited options, with t ..read more

Flights resume and frequencies increase to Cozumel, Monterrey, Guayaquil and Panama City With international air travel on the rebound, airlines are reinstating north-south routes between the US and Canada and destinations in Latin America that had been on hold during the pandemic travel slump. Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta and Copa Airlines have all announced the resumption of services or increasing frequencies to key markets in Mexico, Ecuador and Panama. Toronto-Cozumel Starting Oct. 30, Air Canada will resume seasonal service between Toronto and Cozumel, a route which the carrier has ..read more