Year: 2021

44% of Republicans said they would support a government requirement to provide proof of vaccination in order to fly.48% of Republicans would also support a mandate directly from commercial airlines.95% of Democrats would support either a government or commercial airline vaccine passport requirement. As the delta variant surges, nearly 65% of frequent flyers report that a vaccine passport would increase their confidence in the safety of air travel, according to a new report. While 90% of frequent flyers either fully or partially vaccinated against the virus, nearly one in 10 frequent flyers refuse to get vaccinated.   These numbers are encouraging because frequent flyers have high levels of vaccinations. However, if the FAA decided to implement a vaccine passport program, nearly one in 10 travelers would be barred from boarding the plane. The survey was conducted  using the Frequent Flyer Database, which includes more than 200,000 opt-in frequent flyers from across the United States. Nearly 65% of survey participants are more than 60-years-old, placing them in an at-risk category for severe illness from COVID-19. The travel industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, with restrictions forcing travel and tourism to come to a screeching halt. Recovery has been slow. In the 2020 Frequent Flyer Survey, 60% of respondents said they had plans to travel in the next six months. Yet in this year’s report, 36% of respondents said they have not traveled since January 2020. But the appetite for travel is increasing. Nearly 70% of respondents said they have plans to travel by plane in the next six months, with 72% of those travelers planning personal trips.

Lufthansa starts operating its first aircraft with Single-Aisle Airspace cabin.More than 80 of Lufthansa’s A320 jets to be equipped with new cabin.Lufthansa continues to focus emphatically on premium product for its guests. Lufthansa has started operations with its first A320 Family aircraft – an A321neo – featuring Airbus’ new Single-Aisle Airspace cabin. In doing so, the airline becomes the first operator in Europe to introduce the new Airspace cabin features for passengers on board A320 Family aircraft. In 2018 Lufthansa Group, a long-time A320 Family customer, chose to equip more than 80 of its new A320 Family aircraft on order from Airbus with Airspace cabins. The new Airspace features include: slimmer sidewall panels for extra personal space at shoulder level; better views through the windows with their redesigned bezels and completely integrated window shades; the largest overhead bins for 60% more bags; the latest full LED lighting technologies; LED-lit ‘entrance area’; and new lavatories with hygienic touchless features and antimicrobial surfaces. “Lufthansa has once again made a choice of innovation and passenger appeal, raising the bar for the flying public at large to experience next-level, Airbus leading cabin innovations”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International. “I am delighted to welcome one of our long term partners, Lufthansa, to become the first European operator for the A320neo Family Airspace cabin. I can’t wait to fly on one of these aircraft.” “Regardless of the crisis, we continue to focus emphatically on a premium product for our guests,” emphasizes Heike Birlenbach, Head of Customer Experience, Lufthansa Group. “For us, premium means providing high-quality, individualized and relevant offers for all our passengers at all times. With the new Airspace Cabin, we are significantly improving the travel experience on short-haul routes and setting a new industry benchmark.” Lufthansa has been operating the A320-family since the 1980s and has been the very first operator of the A321 and the A320neo. The airline group is one of the biggest Airbus operators worldwide. At the end of July 2021, the A320neo Family had received more than 7,400 orders from over 120 customers worldwide.

Taliban reopens Kabul Airport for domestic travel.Ariana Afghan Airlines relaunches three domestic routes from Kabul Airport.Technical team from Qatar repaired parts of Kabul Airport traffic control system. Ariana Afghan Airlines announced in a statement on its Facebook page that it has resumed domestic flights between the capital city of Kabul and Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar. Ariana Afghan Airlines flights between Kabul and three major provincial cities in the west, north and south of the capital restarted after a team of aviation engineers from Qatar repaired parts of the air traffic control system last week and reopened the capital’s airport for aid and domestic services. Earlier, Qatar’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Saeed bin Mubarak al-Khayarin said a technical team had been able to reopen Kabul airport to receive aid. Lauding this as a step taken to return the country to relative normality after a tumultuous period, the ambassador added that the airport runway has been repaired in cooperation with Afghan authorities. But the Kabul airport is operating without radar or navigation systems, making it difficult to resume international civilian flights. Reopening the airport, a vital lifeline to both the outside world and across Afghanistan’s mountainous territory, has been a high priority for the Taliban as it seeks to restore order after they completed their lightning seizure of the country by taking Kabul on August 15.

European summer air travel reached 39.9% of pre-pandemic level.The picture was mixed, with some destinations doing better than others.Bookings slowed towards the end of summer period. New research reveals that international flights to European destinations in July and August reached 39.9% of pre-pandemic levels. This is significantly better than last year (which was 26.6%), when the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread lockdowns; and vaccines were not yet approved. However, the picture was very mixed, with some destinations doing considerably better than others. Also, the outlook is not improving, as bookings slowed towards the end of the summer period. Looking at performance by country, Greece was the stand-out. It achieved 86% of July and August arrivals in 2019. It was followed by Cyprus, which achieved 64.5%, Turkey, 62.0% and Iceland, 61.8%. Greece and Iceland were amongst the first countries to make widely publicized claims that they would accept visitors who had been fully vaccinated and/or could show a negative PCR test and/or could show proof of recovering from COVID-19. The countries which fared worst were those which rely more on long haul tourism, such as France and Italy and those which imposed the most onerous and volatile travel restrictions such as the UK, which languished at the bottom of the list, achieving just 14.3% of 2019 levels. Excluding low-cost carriers, intra-European flights made up 71.4% of arrivals, compared with 57.1% in 2019. The relative disappearance of long-haul visitors, who typically stay longer, spend more and focus their attention on cities and sightseeing, was underlined in rankings of the best and worst performing local destinations. Travel to London was particularly disappointing; it was at the bottom of the list of busiest European cities, achieving just 14.2% of 2019 arrivals. That list was headed by Palma Mallorca, also a major beach resort destination, reaching 71.5% of 2019 levels and by Athens, a gateway to numerous islands in the Adriatic, at 70.2%. The next best performing major cities were Istanbul, 56.5%, Lisbon, 43.5%, Madrid, 42.4%, Paris, 31.2%, Barcelona, 31.1%, Amsterdam, 30.7% and Rome, 24.2%. By comparison, leisure destinations proved to be much more resilient. A ranking of all major local destinations (ie: those with a market share over 1%) was dominated by traditional seaside holiday hotspots or the gateway to them. The leaders were Heraklion and Antalya, which exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 5.8% and 0.5% respectively. They were followed by Thessaloniki, 98.3%; Ibiza, 91.8%; Larnaca, 73.7% and Palma Mallorca, 72.5%. Aside from the macro trends, certain destinations fared relatively better or worse for more locally specific reasons. For example, Portugal, which is a favorite destination of UK holidaymakers, suffered when the UK changed its designation from green to amber in June; and Spain suffered at the end of July when Germany warned against all but essential travel. When one considers how dreadful things were for tourism in Europe last year, this summer has been a very modest recovery story. Benchmarked against normal times, the continued low intensity of international air travel, less than 40% of normal, has been extremely damaging for the aviation industry. The continued absence of long-haul travelers, particularly from the Far East (it reached just 2.5% of pre-pandemic volumes this summer) will prove a severe blow to the visitor economy of several European countries. If there is an element of consolation, it is people “staycationing”, ie: taking a holiday in their own country. While the domestic aviation has a minority share of the market in Europe in normal times, it has held up much better during the pandemic because it has not been subject to such challenging travel restrictions. For example, the Canaries and the Balearics welcomed more Spanish visitors than they do in a normal season.

Staff shortage leads to huge lines at Heathrow.Travelers forced to wait in lines for five hours.Packed queues posed a COVID-19 risk to thousands of airline passengers. Border Force staff shortage at London’s Heathrow Airport resulted to enormous lines and complete lack of any social distancing this week, as the limited number of personnel were unable to cope with those at the border. Airline passengers at Heathrow Airport have repeatedly experienced such conditions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this Friday, some Brits were reporting absolutely absurd queue times due to a Border Force staff shortage which kept travelers waiting in lines for FIVE hours. One passenger even reportedly fainted during the chaos. Heathrow Airport responded to complaints by claiming that the delays were due to Border Force conducting “Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.” The airport did not address the lack of social distancing and lengthy, packed queues, however, which posed a coronavirus risk to thousands of airline passengers. On Saturday morning, travelers at Terminal 5 reported on social media that the queues had died down. According to local media, at least eight other incidents of long queues, crammed crowds, and a lack of access to water and bathroom facilities have been recorded between May and September. In December 2020 – just days before Christmas – hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Heathrow Airport as flights became overbooked with Brits trying to escape recently-announced Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, which forced families to stay at home and away from loved ones over the holiday season.

Staff shortage leads to huge lines at Heathrow.Travelers forced to wait in lines for five hours.Packed queues posed a COVID-19 risk to thousands of airline passengers. Border Force staff shortage at London’s Heathrow Airport resulted to enormous lines and complete lack of any social distancing this week, as the limited number of personnel were unable to cope with those at the border. Airline passengers at Heathrow Airport have repeatedly experienced such conditions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this Friday, some Brits were reporting absolutely absurd queue times due to a Border Force staff shortage which kept travelers waiting in lines for FIVE hours. One passenger even reportedly fainted during the chaos. Heathrow Airport responded to complaints by claiming that the delays were due to Border Force conducting “Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.” The airport did not address the lack of social distancing and lengthy, packed queues, however, which posed a coronavirus risk to thousands of airline passengers. On Saturday morning, travelers at Terminal 5 reported on social media that the queues had died down. According to local media, at least eight other incidents of long queues, crammed crowds, and a lack of access to water and bathroom facilities have been recorded between May and September. In December 2020 – just days before Christmas – hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Heathrow Airport as flights became overbooked with Brits trying to escape recently-announced Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, which forced families to stay at home and away from loved ones over the holiday season.

When COVID-19 first made its appearance, many companies were moved to create pandemic leave for those who came down with the coronavirus.Now that the Food and Drug Administration has an authorized vaccine against COVID-19, this is changing the face of what companies are willing to do for its employees who choose not to get vaccinated.Many new hires these days are required to show proof of vaccination to complete the hiring process. The new policy will take effect in early October for the non-vaxxers, however, American Airlines employees who have been vaccinated are still covered by the pandemic leave policy and do not have to use their own sick days to take time off from work to get well. This appears to be a trend among airlines, as Alaska Airlines has also prevented unvaxxed employees from using a special COVID-19 pay for missing work due to the virus. Not only that, Alaska Airlines is also rewarding its employees with a $200 bonus for getting vaccinated, and all new employees going forward must show proof of vaccination before officially being hired. The airline is also requiring all non-vaccinated employees to participate in a vaccine education program. Las month, United Airlines was the first US carrier to require vaccinations for all its domestic employees. United has 67,000 employees in the US and all new hires have had to show proof of vaccination since June of 2021. In the United company offices, unvaxxed employees must wear face masks. Frontier Airlines will also require employees to be fully vaccinated by October 1 of this year. Those workers who opt not to get vaccinated will be required to participate in regular COVID-19 testing. Other airlines are trying to get their employees to get vaccinated like Alaska Airlines has done by offering incentives such as extra pay or paid time off. What is sparking these changes? When the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer as a vaccine, this opened the gates for companies to change their policies for COVID-19, as this was often the reason used by employees who do not want to get vaccinated – that no vaccine had officially been approved. Airlines still do require all onboard to wear masks for the duration of the flight, except when eating or drinking, of course. #rebuildingtravel

Turkey updates anti-COVID restrictions for foreign arrivals.Regulations aim to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.Updated rules set to go into effect tomorrow. Turkey’s Interior Ministry issued a circular today, announcing new updates for requirements and restrictions for visitors arriving into the country from abroad. The updates are implemented in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, and are set to go into effect on Saturday, August 4. Red list: Brazil, South Africa, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Suspension of direct flights from Brazil, South Africa, Nepal, and Sri Lanka will continue until further notice. Passengers who have been to these countries in the last 14 days will be asked to submit a negative PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours before entering Turkey. They will also be quarantined for 14 days in locations determined by the governorships, at the end of which a negative test will be required one more time. If there is a positive test result, the patient will be kept under isolation, which will end with a negative result in the following 14 days. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan Travel rules for Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have been eased, and passengers from these countries, or those who have been to these countries in the last 14 days, will be requested to submit a negative PCR test result obtained up to 72 hours beforehand. People who document receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccines granted approval by the World Health Organization or Turkey or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 14 days before entering Turkey will be exempted from quarantine. UK, Iran, Egypt and Singapore Passengers coming from the UK, Iran, Egypt, or Singapore will be required to submit a negative result from PCR tests done a maximum of 72 hours before entry. For passengers traveling from Afghanistan, those who can provide a document showing they were administered a COVID-19 vaccine in the last 14 days or recovery from COVID-19 infection in the last six months will not require a test result or quarantine.

Lufthansa Group announces new executive appointment.New Head of Strategy & Organizational Development named.Jorg Eberhart will assume the position on November 1, 2021. On October 1, 2021, Jörg Eberhart, currently CEO of Air Dolomiti, will assume the position of “Head of Strategy & Organizational Development” at Lufthansa Group. He will succeed William Wilms, who was appointed to the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik on 1 September 2021. Jörg Eberhart has served as President and CEO of Air Dolomiti since 2014. During this time, he was also a member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa CityLine. Prior to this, he held a number of management positions at Lufthansa Group that  included being part of the establishment of Aerologic GmbH and the implementation of the SCORE project. Jörg Eberhart studied business administration at the University of Tübingen and holds a pilot’s license for the Airbus A320. The Lufthansa Group is an aviation group with operations worldwide. With 110,065 employees, the Lufthansa Group generated revenue of EUR 13,589m in the financial year 2020. The Lufthansa Group is composed of the segments Network Airlines, Eurowings and Aviation Services. Aviation Services comprises the segments Logistics, MRO, Catering and Additional Businesses and Group Functions. The latter also include Lufthansa AirPlus, Lufthansa Aviation Training and the IT companies. All segments occupy a leading position in their respective markets.

Bled Strategic Forum is an international conference in Centrals and South-Eastern Europe.COVID-19 pandemic has posed many questions for tourism.The role of tourism at the EU level needs to be rethought. The Bled Strategic Forum has evolved into a leading international conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The 16th edition took place 31 August – 2 September in a hybrid form. The tourism panel held on 2 September brought together top experts from Slovenia and renowned institutions, including EC, UNWTO, WTTC, OECD, ETC, HOTREC, ECM, to discuss the future of (European) tourism. Prominent international and Slovenian experts, guests, panelists and representatives of Slovenian tourism were addressed by Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, Director-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission Kerstin Jorna, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board MSc. Maja Pak, Director of Regional Department for Europe at UNWTO Prof. Alessandra Priante and Director of the Portugal National Tourist Board and President of the European Tourism Commission (ETC) Luis Araújo. COVID-19 pandemic has posed many questions for tourism, among the most pressing ones are survival and recovery, along with the transformation of the tourism industry into more resilient and sustainable one. Despite the difficult situation, optimistic forecasts of key international tourism institutions are on the rise. This year’s Tourism Panel has discussed the question What will the future bring to European tourism. Panelists agreed that the pandemic has had a major impact on tourism industry and posed many challenges, as well as opportunities. It is time to address the shortcomings of tourism industry that have resulted from the expansion in the last 50 years and transform tourism into a much greener, digital and inclusive industry. Key conclusions identified at the panel were: Tourist’s confidence in travel needs to be rebuilt.Travel protocols and communication and coordination between the Member States concerning travel restrictions, COVID tests and quarantine rules need to be improved.Roadmap for sustainable transition is necessary.New performance indicators are needed.Digital transformation of the tourism industry needs to be supported and promoted.Investments and EU funding allocation towards sustainability and digitalization of the tourism industry is required.The role of tourism at the EU level needs to be rethought.DMO transition in their role to actively facilitate the industry transition process to green, inclusive and digital needs to be supported.

Seychelles has welcomed over 15,000 tourists from the UAE so far this year.Safety measures and straightforward protocols have been conveniently designed to ease travel between the destinations.Emirates operates seven flights a week to the Seychelles from Dubai and is the second leading source market to the islands. The partnership will include a series of campaigns aiming to bring the Seychelles Islands maximum visibility as the ultimate leisure destination throughout the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) market through integrated Seychelles-related content that will be visible on Emirates’ social media platforms as well as through email marketing and joint radio advertisements. The collaboration will keep guests up to date with information on travel the archipelago, which has welcomed over 15,000 tourists from the UAE so far this year and which, as of Sunday, August 29, 2021, stands as the second leading source market to the destination. Furthermore, the campaigns will strengthen travel trade relations and enhance product knowledge through online training and workshops as well as familiarization trips, focused on areas whose borders have now opened for travel. Keeping safety at the heart of travel to Seychelles, the collaboration will also highlight the journey from Dubai to the island nation, including important details such as safety measures and straightforward protocols conveniently designed to ease travel. In addition, guests will be able to discover what the Seychelles Islands hold in store for them before they even land on its sandy shores. Commenting on the collaboration, Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Sherin Francis, said, “The partnership with Emirates is one that has grown from strength to strength, and we are happy for the support they have extended to the destination and Tourism Seychelles over the year. This year’s partnership is no different. However, in a time when our industry is slowly recovering and where building travel confidence is very important, partnerships such as this one has new meaning and definition. Through this collaborative work, it will be a win for both airline and destination.” With Emirates operating seven flights a week to the Seychelles from Dubai, UAE nationals and residents can now plan an exotic getaway to the land of turquoise waters, pearly shores and emerald mountains, choosing from one of the many luxurious resorts or charming guesthouses for their stay. Entry to Seychelles requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test, conducted within 72 hours of the date of travel and approval from the Health Travel Authorization app. More information in regard to travel to the island paradise can be found at ‘seychelles.advisory.travel.’

Abu Dhabi removes quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated visitors.Abu Dhabi expects huge surge in demand for travel to the emirate.Etihad Airways prepared for a boost in travel to Abu Dhabi. The government of Abu Dhabi announced the removal of the quarantine requirement for all vaccinated travelers arriving to the emirate from abroad. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is prepared for a boost in travel to and from Abu Dhabi following the government’s announcement. Fully vaccinated travelers (with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization) can arrive from all international destinations without the need to quarantine. All travelers will require a PCR test within 48 hours of departure, a test on arrival and retesting on select days depending on the country they have travelled from. Unvaccinated travelers, however, should follow the rules according to the destination they are arriving from. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad, commented: “The news is perfectly timed to begin welcoming the world back to Abu Dhabi. We expect a huge surge in demand from tourists and visiting friends and relatives from around the world. This will also give UAE residents greater flexibility and peace of mind when travelling globally. “The emirate has delivered one of the world’s best public health programs to protect the population with an extremely high vaccination rate, and smart technologically-driven solutions such as the Al Hosn app to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. “This is a huge step forward as the UAE prepares to host the EXPO 2020, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and many more global events over the coming months. “Etihad is currently operating to 65 passenger destinations with one of the world’s youngest and most sustainable fleets. We look forward to welcoming our guests to Abu Dhabi with Etihad to enjoy this world-class destination – an emirate and capital city we’re so proud to call our home.” Flying with Etihad is supported by the Etihad Wellness program which has been introduced to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Etihad was the first airline in the world to fully vaccinate its crew on board. Etihad also requires 100% of its passengers to show a negative PCR test before boarding to protect the inflight environment, which is now recognized to be one of the best in the world. The airline has implemented an extensive sanitization and wellness program and is practicing the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey. This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others.

FlyersRights calls for oversight hearings with airline CEOs, labor and passenger representatives.Airlines were given massive federal subsidies since 2020.There are questions whether taxpayers money has been misused by airlines. FlyersRights President Paul Hudson called for US Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearings with airline CEOs plus labor and passenger representatives.  FlyersRights President Paul Hudson Paul Hudson explained, “Airlines were given massive federal subsidies since 2020 to keep public air service strong and reduce COVID infections. But recent record-high cancellations, flight delays, plus airline opposition to some CDC guidelines call into question whether taxpayer money has been misused by airline management.” US airlines received over $79 billion in bailout money across three COVID-related bills in 2020-2021 to help them, their employees, and the air travel industry survive the worst of the COVID pandemic. Congress intended this money to go to pilots, flight attendants, and other airline and airport employees to ensure they were paid during the severely depressed demand period and to ensure that the airlines would have the capacity to meet the increased travel demand as soon as the COVID-19 situation improved.  The airlines, particularly American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, completely failed the American people. Throughout the summer, airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights per day because they did not have enough employees ready to go. On its worst day, Spirit Airlines cancelled over half of its scheduled flights. This is unacceptable, and Senator Maria Cantwell, the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter on this subject to the airlines in July. FlyersRights.org met with her staff to discuss the issue and to propose the solution to the latest of airline abuses.  FlyersRights.org proposed committee oversight hearings to force Doug Parker, Gary Kelly, Ted Christie and other airline CEOs to explain what they did with the COVID relief money and why their airlines have failed to deliver what the law intended. Oversight hearings should also include passenger representatives and labor representatives. FlyersRights.org proposed a stimulus and social distancing plan that would have kept the airlines profitable, running at a higher capacity during the pandemic, and would have ensured air travel was safer, all at a lower cost than the bailout packages. 

Plane crashed into industrial building in Connecticut.All people onboard Cessna Citation business jet killed in crash.Local firefighters are tackling the fire started by the crash. Rescue teams in Farmington, Connecticut are battling a fire at a local industrial complex that started after a Cessna Citation business jet crashed into the building on Thursday morning, apparently killing all four people onboard. Farmington Police Department confirmed that a plane had crashed into a building on Hyde Road, and said in a tweet that emergency services were on the ground working to “evacuate the immediate area”.  Four people were onboard the plane, reportedly a Cessna Citation business jet, according to information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). None of the four is thought to have survived. Four people were onboard the plane, reportedly a Cessna Citation business jet, according to information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). None of the four is thought to have survived. According to Farmington police, there were no injuries reported inside the building, which is owned by the German tool manufacturer Trumpf. In imagery shared from the scene on social media, smoke could be seen billowing from the site of the crash, with firefighters tackling the sizable blaze that erupted from one section of the building. Farmington is located in Connecticut’s Hartford County, roughly 10 miles (16km) from the state capital.

Lufthansa returns mobile check-in to flights from non-risk areas.Travelers again can have their boarding passes issued directly on their smartphone.With digital boarding pass, no additional document is necessary at check-in counter. Lufthansa is once again offering its passengers a more convenient check-in process. On all 2000 weekly flights from non-risk areas of the Schengen area (currently from Spain, Italy or Sweden, for example) to Germany, travelers can once again have their boarding pass issued directly on their smartphone when checking in. This is made possible by the automatic and digital verification of EU vaccination certificates, which prove full vaccination protection, and COVID-19 test results from the Centogene laboratory. During mobile check-in, the QR codes of the paper certificates can now be scanned and thus checked quickly and conveniently. This means that the digital boarding pass can be issued and an additional document check at the check-in counter at the airport is no longer necessary.  But the same applies to many other Lufthansa flights: anyone who is concerned that they do not have the right certificates for the trip can have them checked by a Lufthansa Service Center up to 72 hours before departure. These can be proof of tests, a survived COVID-19 disease and vaccinations. Confirmations of digital entry applications can also be checked in this way. Thanks to new digital solutions, the check is now partly automatic and therefore much faster, also at the Service Center. The airline advises its guests that in addition to the digital proof, the printed original certificates must still be carried on the trip until further notice.

In a letter to Envoy Air management dated August 25, 2021, New York attorney Lee Seham takes Envoy Air, an Affiliate with American Airlines to task for terminating three employees for referring to themselves as “slaves” and quoting a line from the Jackie Chan movie Rush Hour as a means of explaining that the reference was not intended to offend others.  The three employees – Losaolima Fonokalafi, Faye Tuala, and Asefash Asfaha – each have over twenty (20) years of seniority.  They are, respectively, immigrants from Tonga, Samoa, and Eritrea (Africa) and were employed by Envoy as Inventory Control Specialists.Envoy found cause to terminate Ms. Fonokalafi because, in response to a comment by an aircraft mechanic that she was working too hard, she agreed that she and her co-worker’s worked like “slaves.” The following week, a white co-worker confronted Ms. Fonokalafi about her comment and asserted that “Black lives matter.”  Ms. Asfaha – an African-American born in Eritrea – came to her colleague’s defense by explaining that Ms. Fonokalafi was from Tonga and had a different life experience from her white accuser.  Ms. Asfaha compared to a colleague to the innocent Chinese police detective in a hit movie who inadvertently made an offensive remark in a bar patronized exclusively African-Americans, and appealed to Ms. Tuala for help in recalling the movie and the scene.  Ms. Tuala supplied the movie name and relevant quote to assist Ms. Asfaha in explaining Ms. Fonokalafi’s innocence. Envoy terminated Ms. Fonokalafi and Ms. Tuala for allegedly making an improper “slave” reference and because they “quoted movie lines” that were offensive.  Envoy terminated Ms. Asfaha for allegedly quoting the same movie lines. Mr. Seham’s August 25 letter provided Envoy with precedent from the National Labor Relations Board held that an employee has a right under federal labor law to articulate complaints concerning her working conditions using such language.  He also argued:  Every race has been enslaved and has enslaved others.  Our republic’s first international conflict was in response to African pirates who had enslaved over a million European and white American sailors.  In the English language, the term “working like a slave” or “wage slave” is a common idiomatic expression meaning nothing more than the individual is working hard for paltry compensation.  Seham further argued that terminating life-long employees for a reference to a popular movie that grossed over $245 million worldwide could not be justified, particularly when the purpose of the reference was not to offend but to promote understanding.  Moreover, the only African-American present at the time was Ms. Asfaha, whom Envoy terminated. On August 30, Envoy responded to Mr. Seham that it was “working on collecting data for this case….” Termination letters and August 25 letter

International and domestic air travel demand showed significant momentum in July 2021.Government-imposed travel restrictions continue to delay recovery in international markets.Total domestic demand was down 15.6% versus pre-crisis levels. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that both international and domestic air travel demand showed significant momentum in July 2021 compared to June, but demand remained far below pre-COVID-19-pandemic levels. Extensive government-imposed travel restrictions continue to delay recovery in international markets.  Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in July 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.1% compared to July 2019. This is a significant improvement from June when demand was 60% below June 2019 levels.   International passenger demand in July was 73.6% below July 2019, bettering the 80.9% decline recorded in June 2021 versus two years ago. All regions showed improvement and North American airlines posted the smallest decline in international RPKs (July traffic data from Africa was not available).   Total domestic demand was down 15.6% versus pre-crisis levels (July 2019), compared to the 22.1% decline recorded in June over June 2019. Russia posted the best result for another month, with RPKs up 28.9% vs. July 2019.  “July results reflect people’s eagerness to travel during the Northern Hemisphere summer. Domestic traffic was back to 85% of pre-crisis levels, but international demand has only recovered just over a quarter of 2019 volumes. The problem is border control measures. Government decisions are not being driven by data, particularly with respect to the efficacy of vaccines. People traveled where they could, and that was primarily in domestic markets. A recovery of international travel needs governments to restore the freedom to travel. At a minimum, vaccinated travelers should not face restrictions. That would go a long way to reconnecting the world and reviving the travel and tourism sectors,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

EU removed the USA from the green list of countries.Portugal will still welcome US visitors, regardless of EU action.Travel requirements for mainland Portugal and the islands are different. Portugal will remain open to travelers from the United States despite the announcement from the European Union this week that the USA will be removed from the green list rank of countries due to rising COVID-19 numbers with the Delta variant.  Portugal has confirmed that discretionary, non-essential travel is still allowed, provided visitors present a negative COVID-19 test result at boarding and entry into the country. Requirements for mainland Portugal and the islands are different however.  Arrival details for each are below: Restrictions for MAINLAND PORTUGAL (Porto, Lisbon, Faro airports) By the current restrictions, airlines and cruise lines should now allow passengers to board flights with destination or stopover in mainland Portugal after presenting at boarding: NAAT – Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (RT-PCR, NEAR, TMA, LAMP, HDA, CRISPR, SDA, etc), performed 72hrs before boarding OR an antigen test (TRAg) performed 48hrs before boarding and approved by the European Commission’s Directorate-General For Health And Food Safety Exceptions: Children under 12 year old Complete the Passenger Locator Card online for each passenger up to 48 hours before travelling Travelers will also need to present the documentation above to the Borders Officers at arrival and no other test or quarantine will be required. Restrictions for THE AZORES (Ponta Delgada and Terceira airports) To travel to the Azores it Is mandatory to present: RT-PCR Test – 72h before boarding OR Declaration of Immunity (for those who already had COVID-19, for example)Passengers may perform free test on arrival and await the result in prophylactic isolation (results are available between 12 to 24 hrs) Exceptions: Children under 12yo If the stay is longer than seven days, on the 6th day from the date the first CoVid 19 test was performed, the passenger must contact the Azores health services to schedule and perform a second testAll passengers must fill the questionnaire

With revenue still suppressed, airlines have a tough winter ahead of them.New COVID-19 variants could potentially reduce travelers’ willingness to fly.Labor costs will rise and financially difficult decisions must be made. European airlines are set to face a tough winter due to the ongoing pandemic and travel confidence likely remaining suppressed. Low fares will be key to stimulating demand as travel restrictions are likely to continue. With revenue still suppressed, airlines will have a tough winter ahead. During what is traditionally the offseason in Europe, the pandemic is likely to make operating conditions difficult. Although demand was beginning to return this summer, winter could be a different story. COVID-19 cases could potentially rise, and further variants may develop, reducing travelers’ willingness to fly. With numerous governments ending furlough support, including the UK, labor costs will inevitably rise, and financially difficult decisions must be made. A delicate balance must be struck between serving numerous destinations and keeping operating costs under control. Airlines must be nimble to ensure survival. Passengers may continue to delay travel plans this winter due to high uncertainty. Even though Europe’s vaccine rollout is progressing well, the Delta variant is a concern. With some countries struggling to contain the virus, travel restrictions look set to remain. Planning trips will continue to be complicated further by ever-changing restrictions such as the requirement for negative COVID-19 tests for entry into many territories. Furthermore, travel restrictions are the second biggest deterrent to travel, with 55% of respondents in the latest industry poll stating this reason for avoiding traveling. Route networks must focus on destinations with limited restrictions and an agile/responsive approach must be taken. Competition among airlines in Europe was fierce pre-COVID and often price was the determining factor for travelers when selecting an airline. With demand uncertainty likely this winter, encouraging booking will be a key goal. Lowering fares to stimulate demand will be a tactic deployed this winter to fill seats. This could attract the 57% of European respondents who rated price as the most important factor when selecting an airline brand, according to a recent poll. Price will be critical to encouraging travel in the interim and low-cost airlines are likely to be the dominant airlines this winter. With travelers continuing to travel closer to home, the expansive European network of these carriers should work to their advantage.

Study looked at the biggest US cities to discover most and least affordable travel destinations.Oklahoma City is the most affordable destination for US city breaks.New York City is the most expensive US vacation destination. With travel restrictions meaning more Americans than ever are choosing to vacation close to home, travel experts have revealed the most affordable and most expensive US vacation destinations to inspire your next trip!  The study looked at the biggest cities in the country to discover which were the most affordable, based on factors such as food and drink, the cost of a hotel and transportation.  Top 10 most affordable destinations in the US  RankCityBeerWineRestaurant mealTaxi (1km fare)One-way local transport ticketNightly hotel price (weekend)Vacation affordability score /101Oklahoma City, Oklahoma$3.00$12.00$11.50$1.65$2.00$1068.582Indianapolis, Indiana$3.50$10.97$15.00$1.24$1.75$1798.003Tucson, Arizona$4.00$12.00$14.00$1.37$1.75$1347.964Memphis, Tennessee$4.50$10.00$15.00$1.49$1.75$1727.875San Antonio, Texas$3.60$12.00$15.00$1.52$1.50$1617.776Houston, Texas$5.00$12.00$15.00$1.44$1.25$1367.737Fort Worth, Texas$3.00$12.00$15.00$1.12$2.50$1457.708Louisville, Kentucky$5.50$10.00$15.00$1.43$1.75$1627.679Orlando, Floria$4.00$11.00$15.00$1.49$2.00$1607.6510Raleigh, North Carolina$5.00$12.50$15.00$1.40$1.25$1347.62 The study found Oklahoma City to be the most affordable destination for US city breaks. The city was the cheapest for half of the factors analyzed, costing just $3 for a beer, $11.50 for a meal in a restaurant, and $106 for a night in a hotel! If you’re fascinated by the Old West, then Oklahoma City is a must-visit, where you can visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, try your hand at roping and herding cattle and riding horses at a ranch, or take in a rodeo! Indianapolis is another extremely affordable city to visit,  ranking second place. Transportation is particularly cheap, with a one-way ticket on local transport costing just $1.75, and a 1km taxi fare averaging at $1.24. Followed by Tuscon, a popular choice for those wishing to visit the Saguaro National Park and one of the cheapest cities to visit!  Top 5 most expensive destinations in the US  RankCityBeerWineRestaurant mealTaxi (1km fare)One-way local transport ticketNightly hotel price (weekend)Vacation affordability score /101New York City, New York$7.81$15.00$20.00$1.86$2.75$3092.562San Francisco, California$7.50$15.00$20.00$1.86$3.00$2313.073Boston, Massachussetts$7.00$15.00$20.00$1.86$2.63$2733.164Brooklyn, New York$7.00$15.00$17.00$1.55$2.75$2803.765Philadelphia, Pennsylvania$5.00$15.00$15.00$3.42$2.50$2443.94 As one of the most popular tourist destinations, not just in the US but in the world, it’s little surprise to see that New York City is also the most expensive US vacation destination, whilst neighboring Brooklyn ranks 4th place. NYC was the most expensive city for four of the six metrics looked at: a beer ($7.81), bottle of wine ($15), restaurant meal ($20), and hotel stay ($309 per night). Another hugely popular city takes second place, with San Francisco matching New York when it comes to some prices and not far behind on most others. As well as being a very popular destination due to its landmarks and architecture, the city is also one of the highest-earning in the US, which also drives prices up for visitors.

Prague Airport to reinforce passenger checks on arrival.Prague Airport will strengthen the control of the currently valid conditions for entry into the country.From September 1, 2021, the arrival procedure for all passengers flying to Prague Airport will be adjusted. As per the new protective measure implemented by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, Prague Airport, the Foreign Police of the Czech Republic and the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic will strengthen the control of the currently valid conditions for entry into the country. Together, the parties thus respond to the gradually increasing traffic at Prague Airport and the possibility to visit the country for tourist activities by foreigners. From 1 September 2021, the arrival procedure for all passengers flying to Václav Havel Airport Prague will be adjusted. Until further notice, the changes implemented at both Prague Airport terminals will affect tourists as well as citizens of the Czech Republic and the EU+ countries returning to the Czech Republic. The airport continues to encourage passengers to thoroughly review the implemented rules in advance. Before their departure to Prague, they should have prepared, and ideally printed out, all documents, arrival forms and confirmations of non-infectivity, if required. “We are coordinating the new model with representatives of the Ministry of Health and other security forces present at the airport. We are also increasing our personnel capacity and reinforcing the technical equipment to speed up the entire check-in process on arrivals. Passengers can help accelerated the Czech arrival checks, too, by having reviewed the current conditions and prepared all documents in advance,” Jiří Kraus, Vice-Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors, said.

David L. Joyce elected to Boeing’s Board of Directors.Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. retires from Boeing’s Board of Directors.Changes to Boeing’s Board of Directors are effective immediately. The Boeing Company board of directors today announced that David L. Joyce has been elected to the board, effective immediately. He will serve on the Aerospace Safety and Compensation committees. The Boeing board today also announced that Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. has informed the company that he will retire from the board at the end of 2021. David L. Joyce elected to Boeing’s Board of Directors An accomplished aerospace executive, Joyce, 64, retired from General Electric (GE) as vice chair in 2020, where he also served as president and CEO of GE Aviation from 2008 to 2020.  During his 12-year leadership of GE’s largest division, Joyce also led customer and product support for more than 19,000 global engines and 500 airlines customers and oversaw the implementation of an industry-leading safety management system across GE Aviation. A 40-year GE veteran, Joyce joined GE Aviation in 1980 as a product engineer and spent 15 years designing and developing GE’s commercial and military engines, before serving in a variety of leadership positions in GE Aviation, including vice president and general manager of Commercial Engines. Joyce earned both a Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and holds a master’s in business finance from Xavier University.  “David Joyce is a recognized aerospace industry leader who brings a demonstrated track record of safety leadership, engineering expertise and operational excellence to our board,” said Boeing Chairman Larry Kellner. “He will provide valuable counsel and guidance based on his significant experience.” Joyce is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and is the recipient of the National Defense Industrial Association’s James Forrestal Industry Leadership Award and the American Society of Materials’ Medal for the Advancement of Research. Since 2010, he has served on the Board of Trustees of Xavier University. “Boeing will benefit from David Joyce’s deep aviation experience and broad industry relationships,” said David Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO, and member of the board of directors. “David’s experience transforming businesses and focus on quality and safety in the aerospace industry will further strengthen our board.”

Taliban to restart operations at Khamid Karzai International Airport.Kabul’s airport will be operational within days.Taliban took over Kabul and entire Afghanistan on August 15. Taliban representative announced today that Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport will resume normal operation in just a few days. “We are ready to resume the airport’s operation. We will do it within days,” Anas Haqqani, a ranking member of the Taliban said in an interview. Haqqani described the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as a “great” event and called the day when evacuation ended a “historical” day. The United States finished the evacuation of civilians from Kabul and their entire mission in Afghanistan on August 30. The decision to end the US operation in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 and became the longest US overseas campaign in history was announced by President Joe Biden on April 14, 2021. After this decision was announced, the Taliban embarked on an offensive against Afghan government forces. On August 15, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance, and gained full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours. Hamid Karzai International Airport, also known as HKIA, is located 3.1 miles (5 km) from the city center of Kabul in Afghanistan. It serves as one of the nation’s main international airports and as one of the largest military bases, capable of housing over one hundred aircraft. Hamid Karzai International Airport was previously named Kabul International Airport and locally as Khwaja Rawash Airport, though it continues to be officially known by some airlines by the latter name. The airport was given its current name in 2014 in honor of former President Hamid Karzai.

67% of US business travelers are planning to take fewer trips.52% of US business travelers are likely to cancel existing travel plans without rescheduling.60% of US business travelers are planning to postpone existing travel plans. US business travelers are scaling back travel plans amid rising COVID-19 cases, with 67% planning to take fewer trips, 52% likely to cancel existing travel plans without rescheduling, and 60% planning to postpone existing travel plans, according to a new national survey conducted on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Despite an uptick in leisure travel over the summer, the new survey highlights the dim outlook for business travel and events, which account for more than half of hotel revenue and aren’t expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. The lack of business travel and events has major repercussions for employment both directly on hotel properties, and in the broader community. Hotels are expected to end 2021 down nearly 500,000 jobs compared to 2019. For every 10 people directly employed on a hotel property, hotels support an additional 26 jobs in the community, from restaurants and retail to hotel supply companies—meaning an additional nearly 1.3 million hotel-supported jobs are also at risk. The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted August 11-12, 2021. Of these, 414 people, or 18% of respondents, are business travelers—that is, those who either work in a job that typically includes work-related travel or who expect to travel for business at least once between now and the end of the year. Key findings among business travelers include the following: 67% are likely to take fewer trips, while 68% are likely to take shorter trips52% say they are likely to cancel existing travel plans with no plans to reschedule60% are likely to postpone existing travel plans until a later date66% are likely to only travel to places they can drive to

Russian flag carrier announces scheduled flights to Egypt’s Red Sea resort cities.Aeroflot will operate Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh flights daily.Aeroflot’s Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh flights will operate from Moscow. Russia’s flag carrier Aeroflot issued announced today that has launched the sale of tickets for direct scheduled passenger flights from Moscow, Russia to the Egyptian Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. According to announced schedule, Aeroflot will operate one flight from Moscow to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh daily, starting from October 1, 2021. Since August 27, Russia has tripled the number of regular flights to Egypt on the Moscow-Hurghada and Moscow-Sharm el-Sheikh routes – from 5 to 15 flights per week on each route following the decision of the federal operational headquarters for the fight against COVID-19. According to the Federal Air Transport Agency, nine airlines, including Aeroflot, have received the opportunity to operate flights on these routes, in addition to Rossiya. Previously, Aeroflot did not operate regular flights to these destinations. PJSC Aeroflot – Russian Airlines, commonly known as Aeroflot, is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation. The airline was founded in 1923, making Aeroflot one of the oldest active airlines in the world. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug (District), Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo International Airport. The airline flies to 146 destinations in 52 countries, excluding codeshared services.

EU is gradually lifting temporary non-essential travel restrictions.Five countries and one entity/territorial authority removed from the restrictions lifting list.Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia and USA removed from list. Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. In particular, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States of America were removed from the list. Non-essential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed in Annex I is subject to temporary travel restriction. This is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travelers. As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed regularly and, as the case may be, updated. Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 30 August 2021, member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries: AlbaniaArmeniaAustraliaAzerbaijanBosnia and HercegovinaBrunei DarussalamCanada JapanJordanNew ZealandQatarRepublic of MoldovaSaudi ArabiaSerbiaSingaporeSouth KoreaUkraineChina (subject to confirmation of reciprocity) Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao.

US citizens warned not to travel to Canada.US State Department raises Canada travel advisory level to 3.Travel between US and Canada not recommended due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic The United States Department of State has increased the travel alert level for Americans travelling to Canada, advising all US citizens to reconsider going to the country amid amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The latest travel advisory issued by the US State Department, upgraded Canada to Level 3, which says ‘Reconsider travel’. The US State Department issued a statement saying that it had re-categorized travel advisories from Level 2 — “exercise increased caution” — to Level 3 — “reconsider travel” — on the advice of the CDC, due to “a high level of COVID-19 in Canada.” The US State Department, along with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also warned against travel to Switzerland, among other countries because of rising number of new cases of COVID-19 infection. In the past seven days, over 21,000 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Canada. At the same time, over 900,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded last week in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

FAA stated that the Kabul Airport is not controlled by anyone.The air traffic control is not being carried out in Afghanistan.Just one route along the eastern border remains open. US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement today announcing that all US civilian airlines are banned from flying over the entire territory of Afghanistan with the exception of one route that remains open along the eastern border. Civilian carriers “may continue to use one high-altitude jet route near the far eastern border for overflights. Any U.S. civil aircraft operator that wants to fly into/out of or over Afghanistan must receive prior authorization from the FAA,” the statement says. Earlier, the FAA stated that the Kabul Airport is not controlled by anyone and the air traffic control is not being carried out in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, US servicemen completely withdrew from Afghanistan. The Taliban movement stated that Afghanistan has gained complete independence.

Jiri Pos elected Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors.His appointment was approved by the Personnel Nomination Committee of the Czech Republic.His appointment was recommended by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic. Today, Jiří Pos was elected Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors by fellow Board members. He thus assumes the role of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the largest international airport operator in the Czech Republic, effective 30 August 2021. His appointment into the company’s management was approved by the Personnel Nomination Committee of the Czech Republic Government in August 2021, following the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, the sole shareholder of the company. The Ministry’s commission selected Mr. Pos as the most suitable candidate in a tender called for the position. Jiří Kraus continues to perform the role of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. The current four-member Prague Airport Board of Directors met today at an extraordinary meeting of the statutory body to vote its chairman. Jiří Pos was approved. “I do not promise the impossible within three days and miracles at once. However, I am convinced that we can use the potential of Prague Airport to facilitate its return to profit and enhance its further development to the satisfaction of passengers, our business partners, and the owner, while naturally, considering the impact on the environment of the surrounding municipalities and Prague city districts.” Jiří Pos returns to Prague Airport after seven years. He originally joined the company in 2006. From 2011 to 2014, he was Prague Airport Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO. From 2014 to 2015, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Czech Aeroholding Group. After leaving the Group, he pursued his own business activities, predominantly in the field of civil aviation and tourism. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a Secretary of Karlovy Vary Airport. He started his career in aviation at Czech Airlines, where he stayed for a total of twenty years. He started his career in aviation in 1986, working for Czech Airlines, where he stayed for twenty years. He first worked for the Czech national carrier foreign offices from 1994 to 2001. Then, he was the company Vice-president in charge of Ground Operations from 2003 to 2006. He graduated from the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization in the field of aviation production economics. Prague Airport Board of Directors as of 30 August 2021: Jiří Pos – Chairman of the Board of DirectorsJiří Kraus – Vice Chairman of the Board of DirectorsJakub Puchalský – Member of the Board of DirectorsJiří Černík – Member of the Board of Directors

European Commission recommends travel restrictions for US travelers to EU.Many EU countries experienced boost in inbound visitation this summer.US Travel encourages the EU to remain open to vaccinated Americans. US Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on news that the European Union recommends removing the United States from its list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted: “This is a disappointing development following the boost in inbound visitation by vaccinated travelers that many E.U. countries experienced this summer. It’s a setback despite the uptake in vaccinations—the tool that’s highly effective against the variants—which are on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic. “Travel is a crucial component of the global economy and will be necessary for a full recovery from the economic devastation of the pandemic. US Travel encourages the E.U. to remain open to vaccinated Americans, and likewise urge the United States to take immediate steps to begin welcoming vaccinated individuals and restoring our travel economy.” European Union officials today recommended to suspend all non-essential travel from the United States as US new COVID-19 case numbers spiked. Today’s announcement by the European Council amounts to a recommendation to the bloc’s 27 member states, which technically retain sovereignty over their own borders.

80% of Singapore’s population fully immunized.Singapore to ease COVI 19 pandemic-related restrictions.Singapore citizens and residents will be allowed to travel again. Singapore has become the world’s most vaccinated country with 80% of its 5.7 million people fully inoculated against COVID-19, the island-state government officials said. Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung “We have crossed another milestone, where 80% of our population has received their full regimen of two doses,” Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post yesterday. “It means Singapore has taken another step forward in making ourselves more resilient to COVID-19.” The development gives the tiny city-state the world’s highest rate of complete vaccinations. Other countries that have high vaccination rates include the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Chile, which have fully inoculated more than 70 percent of their populations. Reaching this milestone sets the stage for further easing of COVID-19 pandemic-related curbs in Singapore. According the the officials, large gatherings such as the New Year Countdown will resume and “businesses will have certainty that their operations will not be disrupted”. Singaporeans will also be allowed to travel again, at least to countries that have also controlled the virus. Singapore, which began its vaccination campaign in January, relied mostly on the jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Singapore has logged a total of 67,171 cases and 55 deaths since the pandemic began.

EU to suspend all non-essential travel for US visitors.EU to reinstate travel restrictions due to US COVID-19 surge.EU tourists still remain banned from entering the US. EU officials recommended to suspend all non-essential travel from the United States as US new COVID-19 case numbers spiked. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen The European Union has advised its member states to remove the United States, Israel, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia from the list of safe countries for non-essential travel, due the rising number of new coronavirus infections in those countries. Today’s announcement by the European Council amounts to a recommendation to the bloc’s 27 member states, which technically retain sovereignty over their own borders. It reverses the June recommendation to ease restrictions on US travelers. The recommendation is nonbinding, meaning individual countries will be allowed to decide if they still wish to allow US visitors with proof of vaccination, negative tests, or quarantine. The EC updates its travel recommendations every two weeks, based on COVID-19 infection levels. To be considered “safe” a country needs to have no more than 75 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the 14-day period.  According to the latest data, the US averaged 152,000 new COVID-19 cases per day last week, on par with numbers from late January. The latest surge is straining hospitals and health care workers. Roughly one in five intensive care units have reached at least 95% capacity. Death rates have risen too – reaching an average of more than 1,000 per day. Just over half of all Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated people are about 29 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, tourists from the EU – and much of the rest of the world – remain banned from entering the US under the restrictions imposed early in the pandemic. In early August, the Biden administration was rumored to be considering a vaccination requirement to reopen the borders, but nothing has been heard about the proposal since. Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the lack of reciprocity would not be allowed to “drag on for weeks”.

Taliban to assume control of Kabul airport after US withdrawal.Taliban wants Turkey and Qatar to assist in operating Kabul airport.US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan on August 31. According to the latest reports, the Taliban will assume full control of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport tomorrow, following the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan on Tuesday, August 31. As is had been reported earlier, the Taliban is conducting negotiations with Turkey and Qatar regarding the technical management of operations at the airport. The sides have not come to an agreement yet. Earlier, the Spokesman for the Taliban Political Office in Qatar, Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, said that the radical movement was optimistic about the upcoming complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.  After the US announced the end of its 20-year-long operation in Afghanistan and the beginning of its troop withdrawal, the Taliban launched an offensive against Afghan government forces. On August 15, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance, establishing full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani left the country, while Vice President Amrullah Saleh declared himself acting head of state and called for armed resistance to the Taliban. Many countries have conducted emergency evacuation of their citizens and embassy staff from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover.

Transport Canada restricts all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from Morocco.Morocco flight ban is in effect from August 29 until September 29.Canadians are advised to avoid any non-essential travel outside of Canada Canada has some of the strictest travel and border measures in the world, and is prioritizing the health and safety of Canadians by continuing to take a risk-based and measured approach to re-opening its borders. Like every other element of Canada’s COVID-19 response, border measures are based on available data, scientific evidence and monitoring of the epidemiological situation both in Canada and internationally. An increase in COVID-19 positive test results has been observed in travelers arriving in Canada from Morocco over the past month. Based on the latest public health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada is issuing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from Morocco from August 29, 2021, at 00:01 EDT until September 29, 2021, at 00:00 EDT. All direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from Morocco are subject to the NOTAM. Cargo-only operations, medical transfers or military flights are not included. To ensure aviation safety and to reduce operational interruptions, flights from Morocco that are already in transit at the time of the publication of the NOTAM will be allowed to proceed to Canada. As an interim measure, until the NOTAM comes into effect, all travelers arriving on those flights will be required to take a test on arrival to Canada. Transport Canada is also amending the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, related to third-country pre-departure COVID-19 molecular tests to include travelers to Canada from Morocco via an indirect route. This means that passengers who depart Morocco to Canada, via an indirect route, will be required to obtain a valid COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country – other than Morocco – before continuing their journey to Canada. The third-country testing requirement will also come into effect on August 29, 2021, at 00:01 EDT.  Canada continues to closely monitor the situation, and will be working closely with the Government of Morocco and aviation operators to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to enable a safe resumption of direct flights as soon as conditions permit.   Restricting flights from countries of concern is part of Canada’s general approach to the responsible and effective management of Canada’s border re-opening plan. Canadians are advised to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada – international travel increases the risk of exposure to, and the spread of, COVID-19 and its variants. Border measures also remain subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves.

Bangkok Airways restarts BKK-USM, BKK-CNX, BKK-HKT, BKK-THS and BKK-LPT flights.Bangkok Airways continues to support Thailand’s re-opening projects.All passengers are required to strictly follow guidelines issued by each provincial office and/or destination. Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited announces the resumption of its five routes which are Bangkok – Samui, Bangkok – Chiang Mai, Bangkok – Phuket, Bangkok – Sukhothai and Bangkok – Lampang, starting from 1 September 2021 onwards.  Flight schedules for the resumed routes will be as follows:  Bangkok – Samui (v.v.) 3 flights daily Bangkok – Chiang Mai (v.v.) 5 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Bangkok – Phuket (v.v.) 5 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Bangkok – Lampang (v.v.) 4 flights per week (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday), *starting from 9 September 2021 onwardsBangkok – Sukhothai (v.v.) 3 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), *starting from 16 September 2021 onwards  In addition to that, the airline continues to support Thailand’s re-opening projects which are Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus by offering the following services: Bangkok – Samui (v.v.) (sealed-route flights) which accommodate transit/transfer international passengers, connecting from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Koh Samui (2 flights per day)  Samui – Singapore (v.v.), available 3 flights per week (Monday, Thursday and Sunday) Samui – Phuket (v.v.) available 5 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)  All Bangkok Airways passengers are required to strictly follow guidelines issued by each provincial office and/or destination. Passengers can check announcements, orders, and travel procedures, for each destination prior to travel from the related authorities such as: The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)  Airports of ThailandDepartment of Airports

Turkey decides on a Taliban request to help run Kabul’s airport.Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says discussions with Taliban under way.The talks were held at military facility at Kabul airport where Turkey’s embassy is stationed. Turkey held its first talks with the Taliban regarding assistance in running the capital city airport today at a military facility at the Kabul’s airport where Turkey’s embassy is temporarily stationed. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan According to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara was still assessing Taliban’s offer to assist in operating Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL) in Kabul and more talks would perhaps be needed before the decision is made. “We have held our first talks with the Taliban, which lasted three and a half hours,” Erdogan said. “If necessary, we will have the opportunity to hold such talks again.” Turkey had hundreds of troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission, and had been responsible for the security of the airport for the past six years. Responding to domestic criticism over Turkey’s engagement with the terrorist group, Erdogan said Ankara had “no luxury” to stand idly by in the volatile region. “You cannot know what their expectations are or what our expectations are without talking. What’s diplomacy, my friend? This is diplomacy,” Erdogan said. Turkey had been planning to help secure and run Kabul’s strategic airport, but on Wednesday it started pulling troops out of Afghanistan – an apparent sign of Ankara abandoning this goal. Erdogan said the Taliban now wanted to oversee security at the airport, while offering Ankara the option of running its logistics. He said the twin suicide bombs that killed at least 110 people, including 13 US troops, outside the airport during the last days of an urgent evacuation effort on Thursday showed the importance of knowing the details of how the air hub will be secured. Erdogan said calm should be restored in Kabul before making a decision on the airport, adding there was a risk of getting “sucked in” to something that would be hard to explain given uncertainty around the possible mission. “Taliban said: ‘We will ensure the security, you operate the airport’. We have not made any decision on this issue yet,” Erdogan said. Ankara has so far evacuated at least 350 soldiers and more than 1,400 people from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover this month. Erdogan, who previously criticized the Taliban as it swept through the country en route to Kabul, said Turkey was aiming to complete evacuations and troop withdrawals as quickly as possible.

Russian civil aviation regulator authorizes 9 airline to launch Egypt resort flights.Scheduled flights to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheik to launch in a week or two.Airlines will need at least a week to launch sales and form a network of flights. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency announced today that 9 Russian air carriers will be authorized to start regular scheduled flights from Russia to Egyptian Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. “Airlines will be given the right to operate one flight a week on each route to Hurghada and Sharm EL Sheikh. Also on the routes Moscow – Hurghada and Moscow – Sharm El Sheikh, the number of flights increases from 5 to 15 flights per week,” Russian civil aviation regulator said. Aeroflot and S7 airlines will launch flights from Moscow, Rossiya, which is already flying to Egypt, will increase the frequency of flights. Ural Airlines, Azur air, Nordwind, Ikar, Red Wings, S7, and Yamal will launch flights from the regions. However, Russian airlines will need at least a week to launch new flights to Egypt. Carriers will need time to launch sales and form a network of flights. “Russian airlines will not open new flights to Egypt in the near future, quotas were distributed only yesterday – carriers will need at least a week to start sales and form a schedule,” the agency’s official said. Along with proposing to increase the number of regular flights to Egypt, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency also advocates the start of charter flights to the country. “The agency is working with interested federal executive authorities to submit proposals to the operational headquarters to increase the number of regular and start charter flights to the resort cities of Egypt, both from Moscow and from other regions of the country,” the agency’s statement said.

Daily flights as of 16 September in cooperation with Singapore Airlines.Quarantine-free entry to Singapore only if travel begins in Germany.The quarantine exemption applies to specific flights, known as Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights. Entry into Singapore from Germany for fully vaccinated travelers will be possible again as of 8 September. A previously imposed quarantine upon arrival in Singapore will no longer be required from this point on. Germany is the first country with which the mega city in Southeast Asia has signed an agreement to this effect. The quarantine exemption applies to specific flights, known as Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights. Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines will jointly offer one of these VTL flights every day, either from Frankfurt or Munich, beginning on 16 September. Bookings are already possible. Customers will also be able to register for VTL flights on a Singapore government website beginning on 1 September. “Singapore opening up not only enables people to visit friends and family or meet business partners again, but also sends an important signal to other countries in the region,” says Elise Becker, Head of Sales for Lufthansa in Asia-Pacific. “It is more important than ever that countries work together to find solutions to restore international air travel as well. Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are making a significant contribution to this development.” Since the announcement by the Singaporean government, demand for flights between Germany and Singapore has tripled. The following criteria qualify travelers for a VTL flight to Singapore: a full vaccination carried out in Germany or Singapore with Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna, or another WHO EUL vaccine. stay in Germany and/or Singapore for at least 21 consecutive days prior to departure for Singapore. VTL travelers do not have to have German citizenship. a Covid-19 PCR test with a negative result taken at most 48 hours before departure and a second PCR test upon arrival in Singapore. Until the negative result of this text is received, travelers must stay in their specified hotel or accommodation in Singapore. Depending on the duration of the trip, a maximum of two additional PCR tests may be required in Singapore. flight booking on a designated VTL flight.

Dominican Republic, Czech Republic and South Korea are the first three countries, to which Russia has fully resumed flights.Flights to Prague are performed by Rossiya from St. Petersburg, and Aeroflot and Czech Airlines from Moscow. Flights to the Dominican Republic were opened in August, with only Azur Air performing charter flights there. Russian civil aviation authorities and anti-coronavirus crisis center announced that all existing restrictions on flights to the Dominican Republic, South Korea and the Czech Republic have been lifted starting Friday, August 27. Dominican Republic, Czech Republic and South Korea are the first three countries, to which Russia has fully resumed flights since restrictions were started to be imposed amid the pandemic, with the remaining countries still covered by the mechanism of flight quota arrangement. Moreover, the center has decided to increase quotas for regular flights to Egypt starting Friday. As of now no Russian or foreign air carrier has reported additional flights opened to those countries. Flights to Prague are performed by Rossiya from St. Petersburg, and Aeroflot and Czech Airlines from Moscow. The Czech Republic remains closed for tourists as only passengers with citizenship or residence permit, or those arriving for studies or medical treatment can enter the country. South Korea is also fully closed for tourists. All those entering the country (only citizens or passengers holding residence permits) will be required to be quarantined for 14 days. Moreover, last April the country abandoned visa-free travel with Russia and suspended visas issuing. Only Aeroflot performs flights to the country. Flights to the Dominican Republic were opened in August, with only Azur Air performing charter flights there. Aeroflot has also announced its interest in the destination, though the company has not yet announced the exact date of the beginning of flights.

Indian civil aviation regulator ungrounds Boeing 737 MAX jets.SpiceJet expects to start Boeing 737 MAX operations next month.India grounded 737 MAX jets on March 13, 2019. India’s civil aviation regulator announced today that Boeing 737 MAX aircraft were allowed to operate in Indian airspace again. All Boeing 737 MAX jets were grounded globally in March 2019 after two crashes within 5 months. India had banned all MAX aircraft from flying to, from, within and over Indian airspace on March 13, 2019. Recently, these aircraft were allowed to fly again by civil aviation regulators in the US, EU, UAE and other countries – after carrying out the required safety modifications and undergoing required hardware and software updates for safety. India’s SpiceJet Ltd said on Thursday it expects Boeing Co’s grounded 737 MAX jets in its fleet to return to service at the end of September following a settlement struck with lessor Avolon on leases of the aircraft. SpiceJet — the only Indian carrier with B737 Max in India — entered into a settlement with Avolon, a major lessor of MAX aircraft, paving the way for the airline’s 737 MAX aircraft to start to return to service… around the end of September 2021, “subject to regulatory approvals.” In all, there were eighteen Boeing 737 Max aircraft in India — five ex-Jet and 13 of SpiceJet — at the time of grounding. Indian billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala also plans to launch a new low-cost airline by early next year with a B737 Max fleet. Ex-Jet Max have been flown out by lessors. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Arun Kumar issued an order rescinding the March 2019 grounding of B737-8/9 MAX today. “This rescission enables operation of Boeing Company Model 737-8 and Boeing Company Model 737-9 (MAX) airplanes only upon satisfaction of applicable requirements for return to service,” Kumar said. Earlier in April, the DGCA had allowed foreign-registered Boeing 737 Max aircraft that was grounded in India to be flown out of the country. It had also allowed overflying of modified Max over Indian airspace. Following this, some foreign registered aircraft grounded at various airports in India were able to undertake RTS. So far, 175 out of 195 countries have lifted restrictions on Max, and over 30 operators have returned the plane to service. In a statement, Boeing said: “The DGCA’s decision is an important milestone toward safely returning the 737 MAX to service in India. Boeing continues to work with regulators and our customers to return the airplane to service worldwide.”

Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited had been a victim of cybersecurity attack.Attack resulted in unauthorized and unlawful access to airline’s information system.The incident has been reported to the Royal Thai police as well as providing notification to the relevant authorities. On August 23, 2021, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited discovered that the company had been a victim of cybersecurity attack which resulted in unauthorized and unlawful access to its information system. Upon such discovery, Bangkok Airways immediately took action to investigate and contain the event, with the assistance of a cybersecurity team. Currently, the company is investigating, as a matter of urgency, to verify the compromised data and the affected passengers as well as taking relevant measures to strengthen its IT system.  An initial investigation of the incident appeared to confirm that some of the personal data may have been accessed which are, passenger name, family name, nationality, gender, phone number, email, address, contact information, passport information, historical travel information, partial credit card information, and special meal information. The company however, confirms that the incident did not affect the company’s operational or aeronautical security systems. This incident has been reported to the Royal Thai police as well as providing notification to the relevant authorities. For primary prevention measures, the company highly recommends passengers to contact their bank or credit card provider and follow their advice and change any compromised passwords as soon as possible.   In addition to that, the company would like to caution passengers to be aware of any suspicious or unsolicited calls and/or emails, as the attacker may be claiming to be Bangkok Airways and attempt to gather personal data by deception (known as ‘phishing’). The company (Bangkok Airways) will not be contacting any customers asking for credit card details and any such requests. In case of such event occurs, passengers should take legal actions. 

Air Astana’s entire Airbus A321LR fleet is leased from Air Lease Corporation.The Airbus A321LR is equipped with the latest generation Pratt & Whitney engines.The Airbus A321LR fleet operates across Air Astana’s international network. Air Astana’s sixth new Airbus A321LR arrived at Nur- Sultan International Airport directly from the Airbus plant in Hamburg, Germany today. The entire Airbus A321LR fleet is leased from Air Lease Corporation, with the first aircraft arriving in September 2019 and one more of the type is due for delivery before the end of 2021. The Airbus A321LR is equipped with the latest generation Pratt & Whitney engines, which reduce fuel consumption by 20%, maintenance costs by 5%, carbon emissions by 20% and noise levels by 50% compared with previous generation of aircraft. The cabin is configured with 16 lie-flat seats in Business class and 150 seats in Economy class, with all seats equipped with individual screens. The Airbus A321LR fleet operates across the airline’s international network, with destinations including Dubai, Frankfurt, London (from September 2021), Istanbul, Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) and Podgorica (Montenegro). The Air Astana group operates a fleet of 35 aircraft comprising 15 Airbus A320/A320neo, 12 Airbus A321/A321neo/A321LR, three Boeing 767 and five Embraer E190-E2, with the total including nine A320 and one A320 neo with LCC division, FlyArystan.  The average age of Air Astana’s fleet is only three years, making it one of the youngest in the world.

EU Digital COVID Certificate has the flexibility to be used in both paper and digital format.EU Digital COVID Certificate QR code can be included in both digital and paper format.EU Digital COVID Certificate is implemented in the 27 EU Member states. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) commended the European Commission for its leadership and speed in delivering the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) and urged states to make it their global standard for digital vaccine certificates.  Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Deputy Director General “The DCC was delivered in record time to help facilitate the reopening of EU states to travel. In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccine certificates, it should serve as a blueprint for other nations looking to implement digital vaccination certificates to help facilitate travel and its associated economic benefits,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Deputy Director General. The EU DCC meets several key criteria which have been identified as important if a digital vaccination certificate is to be effective:  Format: the DCC has the flexibility to be used in both paper and digital format. QR code: The DCC QR code can be included in both digital and paper format. It contains essential information as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.  Verification and authentication:  The European Commission has built a gateway through which the encrypted data used to sign DCCs and required to authenticate certificate signatures can be distributed across the EU. The gateway can be also used to distribute encrypted data of non-EU certificate issuers other issuers. The EU has also developed a specification for machine readable Validation Rules for cross-country travel. The EU DCC is implemented in the 27 EU Member states and a number of reciprocal agreements have been agreed with other states’ own vaccination certificates, including Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccination certificates, up to 60 other countries are looking to use the DCC specification for their own certification. The DCC is an excellent model as it is consistent with the latest World Health Organization Guidance and is fully supported by IATA Travel Pass. Another benefit of the DCC is that it enables holders to access non-aviation sites in Europe that require proof of vaccination, such as museums, sporting events and concerts. IATA wishes to offer its collaboration to EU Commission and any other interested state to further integrate the DCC into airline processes for a secure and seamless passenger experience, such as support for selective disclosure of personal data.

Explosions rock Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.The blasts appear to be suicide bombing attacks.According to Taliban, 13 people died in first explosion. Two bombings near Kabul airport today resulted in “a number of US & civilian casualties”, the Pentagon said. An explosion earlier today near the Abbey Gate of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, has been confirmed by the US Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby, who said that the blast resulted “in an unknown number of casualties.” According to Taliban spokesperson, the apparent suicide bombing attack killed at least 13, including children and Taliban guards. A second blast has been reported at the Baron Hotel area near Kabul airport following a major explosion as military evacuation continues. Shortly before the second explosion, France’s Ambassador to Afghanistan warned civilians to “take cover” away from the gates to the Kabul airport, saying a second bombing may be imminent after confirmed reports of a major blast as military evacuation continues. Ambassador David Martinon tweeted an “urgent” warning to “all our Afghan friends” on Thursday, warning that a “second explosion is possible.” US officials have said the first blast was likely the work of a suicide bomber outside the airport. The scene at Hamid Karzai International Airport was already chaotic before the explosion, as thousands of Afghans, Americans and others seek safe passage out of the country before the August 31st deadline. Intelligence reports had surfaced earlier this week warning of “imminent” terrorist attacks on the Kabul airport by ISIS-K – an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan. 

Vaccines were hailed as a travel enabler and a glimmer of hope for the industry.Fragmented rules and a lack of mutual agreements continue to restrict travel.Travelers have been left confused over how to provide their vaccination status. The lack of an internationally recognized vaccine certification system could hamper travel recovery as many travelers are left confused about quarantine requirements and travel restrictions. With varying rules, some may opt for domestic trips, dealing a blow to destinations that are dependent on international visitation. Confusion over vaccine certificates could hinder travel recovery Vaccines were hailed as a travel enabler and a glimmer of hope for the industry. However, fragmented rules and a lack of mutual agreements continue to restrict travel, with travel restrictions being the second biggest deterrent to travel for 55% of respondents in a recent industry poll. Travelers have been left confused over how to provide their vaccination status with varying rules across destinations. For some destinations, travelers need to jump through several hoops to prove their status, and if traveling to numerous countries, the process often differs. Even though it appears restrictions have eased, the complexity of proving vaccination will continue to be a barrier. Different nations dictate varying rules to show proof of vaccination, from paper to digital records. Digital records are not easy to obtain in some nations, and will add a layer of complexity for travelers, which could cause them to rethink their plans. Proof of vaccination seems to be an afterthought of the vaccine rollout. The lack of digitalized records in some countries, including the US, makes proving vaccinated status laborious. IATA’s travel pass was hailed as an industry solution but uptake has been poor, and there has been limited government integration. With other providers entering the space, it has created a fragmented system requiring travelers to upload proof themselves to generate a digital pass. Travelers could pivot to destinations with easier rules or opt for domestic trips as a result causing destinations to miss out on visitors. Travelers want simple solutions that require little effort. The industry must work together to integrate a solution that works for all industry stakeholders. Until then, some will shy away from travel due to the complicated nature of proving vaccination status. Unless steps are taken soon, it could potentially suppress international demand as rules could be too difficult to understand and destinations’ recovery may stall as a result.

Delta to charge unvaccinated employees extra for health benefits.Delta’s new health insurance policy kicks in on November 1.Average hospital stay for COVID-19 has cost Delta $50,000 per person. Delta Air Lines announced today that all airline employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will have to pay extra $200 per month for health insurance coverage. Delta Air Lines CEO’s memo to staff said the “surcharge will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company.” According to Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian , the “average hospital stay for COVID-19 has cost Delta $50,000 per person” and “in recent weeks since the rise of the B.1.617.2 variant, all Delta employees who have been hospitalized with COVID were not fully vaccinated.” Although 75% of Delta Air Lines employees are vaccinated against the virus, Bastian argued that the “aggressiveness” of COVID-19’s Delta variant “means we need to get many more of our people vaccinated, and as close to 100 percent as possible.”  The changes will come into effect from November 1, while, from September 12, unvaccinated employees will also have to take weekly COVID-19 tests. Unvaccinated employees must additionally wear face masks indoors. Public and industry reaction to the airline’s decision was mixed. Some praised Delta’s decision, saying it was an “appropriate” way to encourage vaccination and could make “a real difference.” Others, however, warned that it could set a bad precedent claiming that the decision was ultimately based on financial greed, not concern for the public. Other airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada and Australia’s Qantas, are making vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for employees. Earlier this month, United CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart told staff that, while they know some employees would disagree with the decision, “everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.” 

What part of “Hawaii is not safe for visitors” do tourists not understand when they are crowding Hawaii’s beaches with towels next to towels, making social distancing impossible?What part of “Hawaii is not safe for visitors” don’t they get when hour-long lines to restaurants are the norm?What part of “Hawaii is not safe visitors” is not understand when tourists are no longer welcome, hospitals are running at 125% capacity, and the famous Aloha Spirit has disappeared? Tourism remains booming on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, and the Big Island of Hawaii, even though Hawaii Governor Ige, Lt. Governor Green, the head of the CDC, and John De Fries, CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, are pleading with visitors not to travel to the Aloha State at this time. The clear message to both locals and visitors is “Essential travel only!” The death rate today is the highest ever recorded in Hawaii during the COVID-19 crisis. Coranavirus Cases in Hawaii On August 24, 2020, the State of Hawaii registered 169 new COVID-19 cases in one day, causing severe restrictions and lockdowns.On August 25, 2021, the State of Hawaii registered 625 new COVID-19 cases in one day. Only some minor restrictions and no lockdowns are in place. COVID-19 Deaths in Hawaii On August 24, 2020, no one died in Hawaii of COVID-19. This was during the peak of the pandemic. On August 25, 2021, 8 people died of COVID-19 in Hawaii, the highest number ever recorded in one day since the outbreak of the pandemic. Air Traffic Arrivals On August 23, 2019, 21,475 people arrived at Hawaii’s airports from US Domestic destinations. On August 23, 2020, the arrival number went down to 1,700. No one was vaccinated.On August 23, 2021, a record total of 23,548 travelers landed at Hawaii’s airports from the other 49 US states. Counted are trans-Pacific domestic passengers from the rest of the United States arriving in Honolulu, Kahului, Lihue, Hilo, and Kona. Vaccination In August 2020 no one was vaccinated.In August 2021 more than 70% in Hawaii received at least one dose of the Vaccination. According to Lt. Governor Green, the hospital occupancy rate in the State of Hawaii is now 125%. People with heart attacks and other serious illnesses no longer have access to ICUs due to the high number of Coronavirus patients. Hawaii is sick. Hawaii is much sicker than countries like the Bahamas for example that are under a Tier 4 US travel warning saying: DO NOT TRAVEL AT THIS TIME ! Visitors should show some ALOHA to the people of Hawaii and stay home. Tourism Economy Tourism is the largest single source of private capital for Hawai’i’s economy. In 2019, Hawai’i’s tourism economy has recorded: ➢ State Tax Revenue: $2.07 billion (+1.4%,+$28.5 million YOY versus 2018). ➢ Visitor Arrivals in 2019: 10,424,995. Economy vs. Health The clear winner seems to be the tourism economy in Hawaii. Maybe this is what anti-vaccination protesters have in mind when they demonstrate in front of Lt. Governor Green’s home.