Latest travel news: April 2018

Air Canada unveils newfares

New basic economy fares will be part of Air Canada's bid to keep up with low-cost competition. The Canadian flag-carrier is also matching other legacy carriers like United, Delta and American, all of whom have already introduced basic economy fares. These pared-back offerings trade reduced perks in exchange for a lower ticket cost. Currently these fares apply only to travel within Canada and are targeted particularly against domestic competitors like Westjet.

Hilton expands Canopy brand in the U.S.

Hotel giant Hilton has expanded its Canopy brand in the United States with the addition of the Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Bethesda North. This is the second in this new line of hotels from Hilton, along with the Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C. The Wharf. The Canopy brand debuted in Iceland in 2016, but only arrived in the U.S. in the last six months. Pitched as an upper-midscale offering emphasizing local flavor, with locally sourced ingredients and an informal service style, 30 Canopy hotels are currently in development.

JetBlue trades trays for carts

American carrier JetBlue Airways will no longer be bringing travelers their drinks on trays. Instead, onboard carts will be used to deliver both snacks and beverages. The change leaves Southwest as the last large U.S. carrier to take customers drinks into the cabin loaded onto trays. JetBlue says switching to carts will enable them to offer more choices on 95% of its flights while also increasing the speed of service.

Chicago Cubs-Themed hotel opens near Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs ownership in cooperation with Marriott have opened a new Cubs-themed hotel across the street from Wrigley Field. Named after the designer of the iconic ballpark, the Hotel Zachary is part of Marriott’s International Tribute Portfolio. Boasting 173 rooms, the property incorporates iconic Cubs elements into its design, such as pinstriped carpets and green headboards, as well as an original architectural sketch of Wrigley Field on display.

Lufthansa ends Berlin-New York Route

Lufthansa’s Berlin-New York flight will be suspended after operating for only a few months. Instituted after the collapse of fellow German carrier Air Berlin, the service connected the German capital to New York-JFK five times a week. Lufthansa travelers will have to fly to Berlin via Frankfurt in the future.

HNA looks to sell Hilton stake

Chinese conglomerate HNA Tourism Group has amended its agreement with Hilton, allowing HNA to sell its shares earlier than anticipated. HNA currently owns 26.1 percent of the international hotel giant, which experts say could be worth as much as $6.5 billion. Hilton has announced its intention to buy back between 10 and 16 million of the more than 80 million shares in the offing. HNA also owns stock in Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations, two of Hilton’s spun-off divisions, which could fetch a price of up to $2.5 billion themselves.

New interiors, more flights from Emirates

Gulf carrier Emirates has unveiled a new business-class cabin on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Key features include larger 23-inchscreens for entertainment, widened seats and a 2-2-2 seat configuration. The airline has also announced that they will increase the frequency of services on its Dubai-Orlando and Dubai-Fort Lauderdale services, as well as deploying the A380 super-jumbo to its Houston route.