Travelore News: Emirates Eyes 3 New US Cities For Nonstop Dubai Flights

The footprint of the world's most glamorous airline is looking to expand even further into the United States. Emirates President Sir Tim Clark recently revealed that the Dubai-based mega-carrier is actively evaluating three new U.S. gateways as it awaits the delivery of its highly anticipated next-generation aircraft fleet.

According to Clark, the airline is targeting Philadelphia (PHL), Detroit (DTW), and Denver (DEN) for future nonstop service to its massive global hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB). If launched, these routes would represent the first entirely new U.S. destinations for Emirates since it added Newark in 2017 (and swapped Fort Lauderdale for Miami in 2021).

Next-Generation Aircraft Unlocking New Markets

The key to making these specific markets profitable lies in the airline's massive order book of next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft. Emirates has hundreds of planes on order, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s, and the heavily delayed Boeing 777X.

The massive Airbus A380s and older 777s currently dominating the Emirates fleet are incredibly difficult to fill profitably from secondary U.S. markets year-round. However, the smaller, more efficient A350s and 787s make long-haul routes to cities like Philadelphia and Detroit incredibly viable. Clark noted that the long-awaited Boeing 777-9s, which will feature 300 to 400 seats and "stylish, luxurious and cool" new interiors, are finally expected to arrive in 2027.

Why These Three Cities?

The selection of these three specific hubs is a strategic masterstroke by Emirates:

• Denver (DEN): Thanks to its massive codeshare and loyalty partnership with United Airlines, Emirates has been funneling passengers across the U.S. network. Denver currently stands as the only major United hub that Emirates does not already serve directly.
• Detroit (DTW): The Detroit metropolitan area boasts one of the largest Middle Eastern populations in the United States, providing a massive built-in market for visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic connecting through Dubai to the broader region.
• Philadelphia (PHL): A major East Coast hub (and right in our own backyard for Philadelphia locals!), PHL offers another vital connection point and relieves pressure on the airline's incredibly busy New York-area routes.

While no official launch dates have been set—largely due to aircraft delivery delays—travelers in these three cities have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

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Travelore Weather Alert: 230 Flights Canceled At Denver International Airport

230 flights canceled, hundreds delayed by 1 hour, 45 minutes

By Kirk Mitchell and Jesse Paul
The Denver Post

Denver International Airport has canceled 230 flights and hundreds of other flights have been delayed by nearly two hours, officials say.

The snowstorm has dropped 5 inches of new snow at DIA and another 3 to 5 inches of snow are expected until the end of the storm at about 1 p.m., according to an 8 a.m. news release by DIA spokeswoman Mindy Crane.

Gusting winds and reduced visibility are adding to the delays. The average delay is about 1 hour and 45 minutes per flight, Crane said. Nearly one out of every six flights or 15 percent have been canceled, she said.

Patrick McNamee is heading to Chicago on a business trip, but so far has been facing mounting delays as he and other passengers wait in a plane stuck on the airport's tarmac.

"We got away from the gate and pulled up to the de-ice pad and we've been sitting here for over an hour," McNamee said in a phone interview from his seat aboard an American Airlines flight.

McNamee said he's been told the runway has to be periodically cleared, which is holding back takeoffs.

"The delays are just building and building and building," he said.

Despite the heavy snow, most flights at DIA have not been canceled, Crane pointed out.

"We're keeping aircraft moving," he said.

Pena Boulevard was briefly closed in both directions at about 5:20 a.m. because of a traffic accident, said Heath Montgomery, DIA spokesman.

That accident was cleared but caused additional backups as snow plows cleared the roads. Motorists should expect winter conditions and plan for extra travel time out to the airport.

"People should definitely check their flights. That's extremely important," Crane said.

Passengers can check their flight status with their airline or atwww.FlyDenver.com.

Snow-removal crews were deployed overnight and remain active for the duration of the snow, Crane said.

Passengers can check their flight status with their airline or atwww.FlyDenver.com.

Snow-removal crews were deployed overnight and remain active for the duration of the snow, Crane said.

DIA has more than 250 pieces of airside snow removal equipment, 110 pieces of equipment for landside parking lots and roadways, and more than 500 trained snow-removal personnel.

The equipment being deployed for this storm includes blowers, brooms, blades, plows, runway sanders, 4,000 gallon chemical trucks, loaders with box plows and snow melters, the news release says.

The airlines are expected to be in full de-icing operations, so passengers should expect to spend a little extra time on the aircraft prior to departure. The average de-icing time is approximately 16 minutes, but can vary based on the type of aircraft.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or denverpost.com/coldcases

Top Five Off-Peak Destinations For Winter 2014/2015

Four Seasons Denver (Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

Don't let fear of cold weather cloud your vision of the perfect winter vacation. Low-season trips to spots where winter weather reigns are where it's at, for many reasons. An off-peak destination affords budget travelers the rare chance to splurge: Luxury accommodations and flight upgrades become within reach during winter at popular destinations around the world. Plus, crowds are sparse and deals are plentiful. Here are five awesome and affordable spots to consider visiting this winter.

Blue Lagoon (Photo: Icelandair)

Iceland

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it may seem counterintuitive to head north for the winter. However, Iceland offers thermal refuge during the coldest months of the year thanks to its many geothermally heated springs and pools. A hike through the Icelandic countryside often yields the chance to submerge in steamy hot springs. And the celebrated bath-like Blue Lagoon is, arguably, best visited on a brisk winter day, when the toasty mineral waters and blood-warming cocktails offer a welcome thaw.

Airfares to Iceland during winter are notably lower than those in summer. Icelandair, which flies from eight U.S. cities to the Nordic country and beyond, is a great choice for low-priced winter airfare. We spotted flights from New York to Reykjavik for as low as $622 round-trip in early February, via a Hacker Fare on Kayak (combining flights on Icelandair and Norwegian Air). The lowest fares we found for June and July travel started at $837 round-trip.

Iceland is also the perfect place for a winter stopover if you're heading to Europe. Check out Icelandair's free stopover package and take advantage of those affordable low-season airfares.

Hotel Monaco, Philadelphia (Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is an ideal winter destination because so many of its top historical attractions are indoors. It doesn't really matter how cold it is outside when you're taking in a Matisse at the Barnes, exploring Independence Hall, or fiddling with hands-on exhibits at the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum. Plus, there'll be far fewer crowds to contend with while you're learning about Mr. Franklin's affinity for musical inventions and printmaking.

Not all Philadelphia properties offer clearly discounted seasonal rates. Still, it's common to see comparatively lower prices at many hotels during winter, and it didn't take us long to unearth a few examples: At the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, we found rates in late December for as low as $135 per night, compared to June, when the lowest nightly rates amount to $189. At Rittenhouse 1715, nightly room rates start at $219 during January; in spring, those prices bump up to $239.

(Photo: Bucharest via Shutterstock)

Bucharest

Bucharest made our list of 10 Places to Go While They're Still Cheap this year. It's almost always inexpensive to visit Bucharest, compared to other major European cities. Better yet, it's an even more affordable place to visit during winter. From airfares to hotel rates, prices drop sharply with the temperature. This winter, you can get from JFK to Bucharest on Turkish Airlines for as little as $724 round-trip, with a stop in Istanbul. (Try a free stopover and get two cities for the flight price of one.)

Hotels are cheaper too, naturally. At Hotel Christina, the number-one rated Bucharest hotel according to TripAdvisor (our parent company), prices are the lowest all year during winter months. In February, for example, nightly rates come to €50 (about $63). In June, though, rates jump to €70 (about $87) per night. At Hotel Epoque, the best available rate in June came to €170 (about $212). In January, you can grab a room at this historical and luxurious property for as little as €128 (about $159) per night.

(Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Paul Zizka Photography)

Banff National Park

Banff National Park is achingly beautiful in wintertime. Whether seen from the ground by sleigh, snowshoe, or dogsled or viewed from the comfort of a fire-warmed room, the park's snow-dusted mountains and turquoise lake appear dreamlike against a pale winter sky.

Banff is full of well-known luxury properties that can cost an arm and a leg come spring and summer--but we found rates dropping by almost half during winter. For example, let's look at the local Fairmont resorts: If you want to stay at Banff's iconic and luxurious Fairmont Banff Spring, go soon. During winter, rates fall as low as $359 CAD (about $317) per night. Comparatively, the best available rate in July is $609 CAD (about $539). Same goes for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Grab January rates starting at $299 CAD (about $265). In June? Those prices skyrocket to $559 CAD (about $495) nightly. Moreover, both properties are offering a range of deals during winter, from free nights to complimentary resort credits with your stay.

(Photo: Denver via Shutterstock)

Denver

It's rare to see a U.S. ski destination offering lower seasonal rates during winter. There's an exception, though: Denver, Colorado. Though it isn't exactly a ski spot itself, the Mile-High City makes an ideal base for winter sports. It's close to Winter Park Resort and Loveland Ski Area. Plus, Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour away, offers non-downhill activities, from hiking to snowshoeing to cross-country skiing in pristine park wilderness. Rent a car, take a few day trips, and return to Denver after the sun sets to enjoy the city's fabulous nightlife and restaurants. The best part? You'll save money on accommodations, and you can fly right into Denver International.

There's a general uptick in Denver room rates when the weather gets warmer. At theFour Seasons Denver, for example, weekday winter rates start at $525 per night in January. Comparatively, weekday nights in June cost $100 more. Denver's Magnolia Hotel offers weekday January rates from $215 per night. In June, those rates rise to $242.

Contributed by Caroline Costello, Smarter Travel

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Hot Destinations And Top Travel Trends

Contributed by Emily Fisher 

As we wrap up another eventful year in travel, it’s a great time to sneak a peek at what’s ahead.

The rise of the super airline

For travelers in the U.S., one of the biggest stories of the past year is the rise of the super airline. With the merger of American Airlines and US Airways, United Airlines’ rule as the largest airline ended less than a year into its new life. Last March, Continental Airlines was fully integrated into United – the fruit of two years’ worth of work.

It will take American and US Airways time to combine their resources too, but consumers can expect changes to start early in 2014. Most notable will be when US Airways drops its membership in the Star Alliance to join oneworld. This shift in the international airline partner base will leave heavy mileage accumulators and frequent overseas travelers with some homework and head scratching to do — and maybe some tough decisions to make. It might also encourage folks who have been planning to cash in for a big trip to get moving. The switch over happens on March 31/April 1, 2014.

The new American (Image: American Airlines)

With United, Delta and the new American all truly super sized, these large airlines are sure to be very busy competing with one another with a lot of focus on international travel and amenities like lay flat beds in first class (even on domestic flights). For the price-conscious traveler, there may be less to love on those major airlines as nickel and diming for basics — like a few more inches of leg room — becomes even more prevalent.

However, this battle among the power airlines will likely leave room for newer and smaller players competing on base price to emerge, for established “budget” airlines like Southwest and JetBlue to gain even more ground and for regional airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines to expand the number of markets they serve.

Travel hot spots

In 2013, a number of new travel hot spots began to emerge (or reemerge). Domestic travel is still by far the most popular in the United States, but we did find that people are increasingly including the U.S. territories in their vacation plans. Searches to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, jumped 40 percent while those to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where up 34 percent. Puerto Rico also saw a 10 percent spike in popularity.

Good budget airline service can also deliver a boost to the popularity of a destination. Two prime examples: Denver, Colo., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. Denver is not only a great city and jumping off point for a mountain getaway but also a strategic low-cost carrier hub. Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue and Spirit all serve Denver International and the competition works in the traveler’s favor. So it’s no surprise that Denver saw a 17 percent increase in travel searches for the year. Likewise, Myrtle Beach’s small but growing airport now offers non-stop flights to 25 different cities – the majority offered by low-cost carriers Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Airlines. That has served as pricing pressure on the flights US Airways, United and Delta offer into Myrtle Beach, which led to a 20 percent increase in travelers looking to visit this southern beach town.

All year we’ve been tracking Los Cabos’ continued appeal as a year-round beach destination with something to offer at pretty much any price point. Despite the troubles that have plagued many parts of Mexico, Los Cabos has been a relative safe haven for tourists. Now, as Mexico tourism begins to bounce back for many parts of the country, Los Cabos is leading the pack. In 2013, we saw a 4 percent increase in travel searches to Los Cabos.

For 2014, we see signs U.S. travelers will continue to chase warm weather and sunshine, look for new bargain destinations and travel for events. Here are some destination trends to watch for:

The year of Brazil

With the Olympics on the horizon and the World Cup coming this summer (June 12 to July 13), Brazil is working hard to be a welcoming host country to sports fans and tourists in general. Already a popular destination, especially during Carnival, Brazil is building out infrastructure for its major upcoming events. Even so, capacity is tight. If you’re planning to visit during the World Cup, act now. Even during the offseason, it’s advisable to book four months in advance.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Image: pedrokirilos)

Paying homage in Europe

2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I so this may be a year for history buffs and family members to visit the battlefields to reconnect with and remember loved ones who sacrificed across Europe in the “war to end all wars.”

Caribbean distinction

Images of crystal blue water and white sandy beaches are the ubiquitous daydream of the Caribbean. However the islands have a mix of cultures, climates and currencies that make it worthwhile to do your homework before you book. Some recent changes, especially in the Dutch Antilles, mean some key island countries have new-found autonomy. As a result, they have – and will – continue to ramp up how they market themselves.

Be prepared to see an increase in other parts of the Caribbean pushing what makes them stand out. Price will be one point but so will ease of access (for example, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with no passport requirements for Americans), travel style (nightlife versus beach views, family versus adventure, chic versus laid back) and activities (diving and bare boating – or cruise ships and shops).

Staying ahead of the crowds

As deal destinations get popular, they lose their unique appeal-of-the-new charm – and their bargain status. The challenge is to spot the next wave of alternatives and beat the growing crowds and climbing prices. This year’s list: instead of Costa Rica, try Nicaragua. Skip Malta and head for Albania. Swap Bulgaria for Estonia. Opt for Laos over Vietnam

The connected passenger

As we flip the calendar, we are in the heyday of a major transition in terms of the individual flier’s travel experience. Gone are the days of simply reading a book or flipping through a magazine to pass the time on a flight. Whether you are watching satellite TV or playing trivia against your cabin mates on the airplane’s infotainment system or, more likely, glued to your tablet, laptop or phone for videos, games or news from the outside world, you are now a “connected passenger.”

Inside a Virgin America plane (Image: Albert Domasin)

The rules and technology will push this trend even further over the next 12 to 36 months. In-flight WiFi is on the verge of blazing new speeds with vendors eyeing satellite technology to deliver more capacity. Meanwhile, the FAA has relaxed the rules about personal electronic device use below 10,000 feet so you will soon find you can keep reading, playing your games and watching your movies right through landing and takeoff.

The real question now is whether you will be able to chat away on your cell phone during flights. The debate is on as the FCC is currently considering lifting a ban on cell phone use on planes. Some members of Congress are already moving to block in-flight calls.