We're in rare air

We aren't afraid of flying—not yet. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Good morning, Pursuits subscribers, it’s [Lily Girma]( here in Washington, DC, reporting on all things travel. And wow—what a week: Scorching temperatures reaching 100F here and up to 115F in Las Vegas; Hurricane Beryl decimating parts of the Caribbean and southeastern Texas. And another United Airlines flight lost a wheel shortly after takeoff, the carrier’s second such incident since March. Thankfully, no one was injured in that one. But it’s not all bad: The good news from the week is that US airports are making huge strides on the global stage. This month, seven of them placed in the top 30 in AirHelp’s annual rankings of the best airports in the world. [Salt Lake City International Airport came in at No. 8](, which makes me think I should finally visit Utah, long on my bucket list. If you want to know which of the world’s airports took the No. 1 spot in 2024, you’ll have to click on the picture. Photographer: Alamy/www.alamy.com Another pleasant surprise? One of my home airports, Washington Dulles International, ranked No. 11. New York’s revamped airports didn’t make AirHelp’s Top 100, interestingly—[but that doesn’t mean they suck](. AirHelp’s scores are partially based on the passenger claims that the company processes worldwide—along with data about on-time performance, customer feedback and the quality of food and shopping options at 239 airports globally. As for European airports, they didn’t rank high—but they’re certainly scoring big when it comes to demand. American tourists are flocking to European cities and shorelines in record numbers this year, no matter the heat or the inflation. Tourists continue to flock to the Greek islands. Photographer: Angelos Mihas/Getty Images These visitors, who include regional and Chinese travelers, are predicted to pump a record €800 billion into the European economy, according to [a report from the European Travel Commission](. Arrivals have surged 6% above 2019 levels, too, much to locals’ chagrin. Which is why you’ve likely seen the tourism protests dominating the news. Residents in various hot spots, particularly in Spain, have been pushing back, just as they were pre-pandemic. Locals say they’re no longer able to enjoy or even afford living in their home cities, while others are questioning deepening levels of poverty amid an economic boom from tourism. In Barcelona, street protests reached a new level this week as [residents used water pistols on tourists]( who were dining outdoors.  Here’s where to find a “coolcation” amid rising temperatures. Photographer: Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg On a positive side, the data show that more travelers are choosing to experience lesser visited places and cooler climates in Europe so far this year. It’s a [pattern we reported in 2023]( and it is still a thing. Affordable, offbeat destinations in the Mediterranean and “coolcations” in northern Europe [are growing in popularity](. To wit, places like Sweden, Norway and Denmark have seen visitor increases ranging from 9% to 38%, compared with pre-pandemic levels. Croatia, Malta and Albania are also seeing a surge in visitation. Conversely, the market share of major tourism players such as France, the UK and Italy has dipped compared to 2019, the report also shows. All of these changing European tourism patterns are likely to continue as the climate increasingly influences our travel decisions. Wherever you end up going this summer, take this solid reminder with you, [courtesy of our latest Distinguished Travel Hacker](: Put your phone down and engage with locals. At the very least, it could save you from being on the receiving end of a water pistol. Connect with Lily on [Instagram]( or [LinkedIn](. OK, now for the bad news ... This week, the Boeing Co.—one of just two major plane manufacturers in the world—[agreed to plead guilty]( to conspiring to defraud the US government in connection with its two 737 Max jetliners that crashed and killed 346 people back in 2018 and 2019. Our ace aviation team [explains how this all came about five years later](. Among the plea terms: a hefty fine that’s yet to be determined, the installation of a corporate monitor whose focus will be quality control, and $455 million in spending to bolster compliance and safety programs over the next three years. The US government and Boeing are expected to finalize the plea deal by July 19 and a judge has to approve it. It means Boeing will avoid a criminal trial, which the families of the crash victims plan to push back on. Personally, the visual of plane debris scattered across a field outside of Addis Ababa—the city where I was born—in March 2019 remains seared on my brain. The courtyard at the Fasil Ghebbi complex in Gondar, Ethiopia. Photographer: Marc Guitard/Moment Unreleased RF I was just nine months old when I boarded my first Ethiopian Airlines flight, with my parents, [bound for the Ivory Coast](. I’d like to think that flight kicked off my passion for travel. I also have relatives who are pilots for Ethiopian Airlines. Thankfully, none were on that jet, but it hit close to home. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a tad anxious about my next flight in a couple of weeks. But I haven’t yet gotten to the point of looking up the airplane model I’ll be flying, nor am I chanting, “If it’s Boeing, I ain’t going,” as some are on social media. After all, Airbus SE has had incidents as well, albeit fewer. I prefer to stay focused on what I love about flying—a privilege many don’t get to experience: It connects me with my family and with other cultures and communities around the world. The latest on planes, airports and fares Updates that could shape your next trip [The Best New Business-Class Cabins to Know About Now]( Some are already available for booking. Others will come online soon. All are full of innovative features that may change the way you fly. [The Remarkable Story of Brazilian Jet Maker Embraer]( How did the third largest commercial aviation company emerge from Brazil? [Flying With Disabilities Is a Dangerous Nightmare. But Change Is in the Air]( New airline rules from the US Department of Transportation are expected to pass by the end of this year. For wheelchair users, the effects could be transformative. [Delta’s Disappointing Outlook Sends Warning on Summer Travel]( Delta Air Lines Inc. warned that domestic carriers are struggling to fill planes in the all-important summer travel season, dragging down ticket prices in a fare war that’s weighing on profits. [Looser Visa Rules for Indian Travelers Stoke a Tourism Boom]( The country of 1.4 billion is poised to be the No. 4 source of tourist spending by 2030. And now, in lighter travel news From underrated Bogotá to a future Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in London next year, here’s what to keep on your radar. [Two Bogotá Insiders Share Itineraries for a Perfect Day in Town]( [Former Royal Residence in London to Open as Luxury Hotel and Club]( [The 18 Best Pasta Dishes in New York City, Picked by Top Chefs]( [Saudi Arabia to Lure Ultra-Luxe Travelers With Palace Stays]( [Greece’s First Helicopter Airline Takes Off, With €160 Flights to the Islands]( What else I’m enjoying Catching the Amtrak train to nearby cities for affordable and fun weekend day trips. There’s New York, of course, but more recently my husband and I went to Philadelphia for the day to visit family and do a bit of sightseeing. It’s not too late to become a hat person! Here’s where to get the OG sunscreen. Photograph by Sarah Anne Ward for Bloomberg Businessweek. Set Design by Ryan Schaefer We had breakfast at [Reading Terminal Market]( and gawked at the Masonic architecture downtown contrasting against skyscrapers, from City Hall to Love Park. Eventually we stumbled on a delightful gourmet coffee spot in Chinatown, [Ray’s Cafe and Tea House](, to escape the unbearable heat. An iced latte made with Jamaica Blue Mountain was the perfect fix. Next stop will be Boston, but that won’t be a train ride, unfortunately—not until Amtrak figures out how to shorten the eight-hour journey. I’ve also been enjoying browsing through images of my solo vacation to Venice and Sicily this past May. I expected to feel underwhelmed because of potential overcrowding, but staying overnight for three days let me see this Unesco World Heritage Site away from day trippers. I was also lucky to meet environmental scientist and activist Jane Da Mosto, founder of [We Are Here Venice](, who invited me to lunch with her family. At one point, I asked her sons what they thought about all the tourists in their backyard. One of them said, “It’s too much, too much!” The other told me that on a recent trip back to Venice, he was asked to show a receipt for the new Venice tourist entrance fee. He was thrilled to show his resident identification card. “I was like, I live here! I felt so empowered.” And if you read just one thing ... Free-form aquamarines make this Tiffany bracelet stand out—the 25-carat blue zircon at the center doesn’t hurt, either. Source: Tiffany If I hit the lottery one day, I’m certain that over-the-top bling—diamonds, emeralds and rubies—will be one of my major obsessions. (I blame my mother for that.) Some designs can transform the simplest of outfits. And our feature on the [10 most exciting jewelry collections this year]( proves it. OK, that’s it from me! Tune in next week, when my colleague [Nikki Ekstein]( weighs in with a preview of the Olympics in Paris. Last call If you’ve made it this far, consider subscribing to our [Pursuits Bundle]( of newsletters. If you’re into timepieces, you’ll love our monthly [Watch Club]( updates. Prefer some happy hour conversation topics? Our weekly [Top Shelf]( missives will slake that thirst. New for subscribers: Free article gifting. Bloomberg.com subscribers can now gift up to five free articles a month to anyone you want. Just look for the “Gift this article” button on stories. (Not a subscriber? Unlock limited access and [sign up here](.) Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. 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