✈️ July 4th Travel Surge

Airlines and federal agencies are gearing up for what could be the busiest Fourth of July travel period in more than a decade.

View in browser Unsubscribe Monday June 30, 2025 Good morning, readers. Airlines are getting ready for a record-breaking Fourth of July. Omni Hotels' President tells us he sees significant advantages to owning its properties, unlike many major hotel brands. And three regional air travel startups announced fundraises.  Airlines   Meghna Maharishi Airline Reporter Image by Tampa International Airport Airlines' Big Fourth of July Airlines and federal agencies are gearing up for what could be the busiest Fourth of July travel period in more than a decade. The FAA expects a total of 300,000 flights between July 2 and 8, which would be its busiest Fourth of July period in 15 years. The TSA expects to screen 18.5 million people between July 1 and July 7. United Airlines anticipates flying around six million passengers for the July Fourth holiday weekend. Get The Full Story On Skift AWARDS | JUNE 30 Last Day to Enter Skift IDEA Awards This is it—the Skift IDEA Awards submission window closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET. If you've been waiting to share your groundbreaking ideas, now is your last chance. GET YOUR SUBMISSIONS IN Hotels   Luke Martin Hospitality Reporter Image by Omni Hotels & Resorts Why Omni Still Owns Hotels While many major hotel brands are focusing on asset-light growth strategies, Omni Hotels & Resorts has opted to build and, in most cases, own its properties. Omni plans to spend $1.5 billion on development and renovations over the next five years.  Omni remains one of the last large hotel companies committed to a vertically integrated model, and it handles operations in-house. "We are the owner-operator brand, which is really the last player in that regard. It allows us to do things others can't," Omni President Kurt Alexander told Skift. Get The Full Story On Skift Hotels Reimagining All-Inclusive Travel Together With   Blue Diamond  Blue Diamond Resorts marks 15 years with bold moves in tech and well-being. RFID, smart apps, and seamless tech shaped guest expectations early New Royalton Vessence brand offers soulful, adults-only escapes Get the Full Story on Skift Startups   Justin Dawes Travel Tech Reporter Image by Mokulele Airlines Regional Air Travel Startups Raise Over $85 Million Three regional air travel startups recently announced fundraises that will go toward modernizing the industry. Expliseat, which develops and manufactures lightweight seats for commercial aircraft, raised $42.1 million. Surf Air Mobility, an airline owner that is also developing tech for regional airlines, raised $27 million. XTI Aerospace, which is developing a flying taxi for long distances, raised $16 million. Get The Full Story On Skift Editor's Picks   Rashaad Jorden Associate Editor/Archivist Airlines Singapore Airlines' Emissions Rise, Climate Rules Threaten Higher Costs   Airlines EU Wants to Ban Luggage Fees for Carry-Ons — Airlines Push Back   Experiences 'Let Loose the Goose': Klook Launches Viral AI-Powered Travel Campaign   Tourism Why Is Thailand Funding 50% of Domestic Trips, and What's at Stake?   Tourism Travel is India's Biggest Global Spending Category: Here's How Much They Spent   Airlines Extreme Loyalty: The Airlines Turning Travel Into a Competitive Sport Get More News On Skift   SKIFT PRO       With a subscription to Skift Pro, you get full access to the in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews, and breaking news that the Skift Editorial team produce – as well as the travel industry's premier AI answer engine and Skift Travel 200 stock index. SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST YEAR Defining the future of travel. Skift. 35 W 31st St., New York, NY, 10001, USA Follow Us: LinkedIn   |  X   |  Facebook   |  Whatsapp   |  Bluesky   |  Threads You received this because you are subscribed to Newsletter | The Daily from Skift. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.