Brands like Sandals, Wyndham and Hilton all planting a flag in Curaçao.Airlift to Curaçao is back in full swing for North American travelers.Curaçao’s entry requirements and safety protocols have adapted to coincide with the evolving travel environment. The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao has recently seen a surge of new and re-branded hotel developments backed by the world’s top hospitality brands, as well as expanded flight routes. From a fully renovated Marriott, to upscale all-inclusive options like Dreams and Sandals, as well as newly flagged properties like Trademark by Wyndham and Curio by Hilton Collection, Curaçao is proud to offer differentiated new accommodations that cater to an increased influx of North American travelers. Curaçao Booms with New Hotels, Expanded Flights for US and Canadian Travelers This has been a strong year for the island’s expansion with brands like Sandals, Wyndham and Hilton all planting a flag in Curaçao. In early 2021, Sandals Resorts International announced that it will transform the current Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort into Sandals® Royal Curaçao. Set to begin in late 2021, the transformation will initially include 350-luxurious rooms and suites stretched along the Spanish Water Bay and the Caribbean Sea, with further expansion planned in the coming years. Conceptual plans for the resort include adding key elements for the signature Sandals experience, including new expansive pools, a variety of dining options, lavish accommodations, and newly constructed River Suites. Guests will also have access to the neighboring 18-hole Pete Dye championship golf course, two onsite marinas and a 38,000-square-feet indoor and outdoor event and meeting space – the largest on the island upon completion. The Sandals® Royal Curaçao goes on sale Aug. 4, 2021 and is set to open fully on April 14, 2022. In May 2021, Kunuku Aqua Resort became a part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham portfolio, a collection of soft-branded upper-midscale and above hotels that maintain their independent spirit and individuality. The resort is currently undergoing exterior and interior upgrades, including all rooms and apartments, set to be completed in 2022. Finally, in June 2021, Hilton announced the signing of the newly opened Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao Resort as the newest property to join its Curio Collection by Hilton portfolio. Owned by Corendon Group, the all-inclusive resort is expected to convert in September 2021 and will re-establish Hilton’s presence on the island. In its next chapter as a Curio Collection property, Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao Resort will offer curated experiences for adventurous travelers, while also catering for those in search of a tranquil Caribbean retreat.

Since late 2012, China has been expanding its infrastructure investment in Tibet.The region has launched a total of 130 air routes, with 61 cities connected by flights.Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the largest airport in Tibet. Largest airport terminal in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region began operations today, after more than three years of construction. Tibet’s Largest Airport Terminal Begins Operations The new terminal of Lhasa Gonggar Airport looks like a lotus flower from above. It will help the airport meet the target of handling 9 million passengers and 80,000 tons of cargo and mail by 2025, according to the airport. Located in Gonggar County of Shannan City and close to the regional capital of Lhasa, Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the largest airport in Tibet. Since late 2012, China has been expanding its infrastructure investment in Tibet. The region has launched a total of 130 air routes, with 61 cities connected by flights. The number of passenger trips made through these airports totaled 5.18 million in 2020.

Organizers did not know what to expect of the event, but the aviation community spoke loudly – it was ready to come to Oshkosh.The event theme of “The Wait is Over” proved to be well chosen as indeed it was worth the wait.Joy and excitement permeated throughout the grounds, setting the stage for the return of AirVenture. “This was perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances we’ve ever faced as an organization to make the event happen. We went into this year not knowing what AirVenture would look like and how big of an event was possible. The aviation community spoke loudly, though – it was ready to come to Oshkosh and we were happy that we could welcome them. Our theme was ‘The Wait is Over,’ and indeed it was. The wait was worth it. There was joy and excitement throughout the grounds, and it set the stage for the return of AirVenture, making us very excited about the future,” said EAA CEO and Chairman, Jack Pelton. Permanent Secretary, BMOTA, Reginald Saunders, flanked by members of BMOTA team. L-R: Deckrey Johnson, Aram Bethell, Nuvolari Chotoosingh, Reginald Saunders, Permanent Secretary, Greg Rolle, Jonathan Lord, Jon Tonko, Banyan Air; and Nathan Butler, Bahamas Customs. Photo courtesy BMOTA. Based on statistics given by Pelton, some 608,000 persons, from 66 countries attended this year’s show, the third highest number in the show’s 68th year history. A total of 16,378 aircraft, including 3,176 show planes (a record 1,420 vintage aircraft registered, 1,089 homebuilt, 354 warbirds, 148 aerobatic aircraft, 112 seaplanes, 33 ultralights and 27 rotorcraft) participated. A total of 567 media professionals attended the event and more than 18.95 million social media impressions were generated. Echoing the sentiments shared by Pelton, Rolle said, “The world is still grappling with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, so we certainly did not expect the high level of interest shown in The Bahamas. Neither did we anticipate the remarkable level of success experienced at this year’s show, which was evident by the number of people who visited our booth and attended the business meetings and daily seminars, as well as the outcome of our networking efforts.” Networking with EAA International Federal Partnership (IFP) agencies, of which The Bahamas is a member, are air enforcement agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit, L-R: Nathan Butler, Bahamas Customs; Chris Doug, US Customs & Border Protection;  Reginald Saunders, Permanent Secretary, BMOTA;  John Cook, US Customs & Border Protection; Greg Rolle, Sr. Director, Verticals Market, BMOTA; Deckery Johnson, BMOTA and Aram Bethell, BMOTA. Photo courtesy BMOTA. “No doubt, there is great interest in The Bahamas and a pent-up demand to visit our country – be it from visitors, private pilots or business operators. We have generated vast amount of business opportunities and group leads for fly out to our islands, from this show,” Rolle asserted.

Nordwind Airlines will also launch a flight to Hannover from August 18.Nordwind Airlines will launch a flight to Frankfurt am Main from August 19.Flights to Hannover will be made weekly on Wednesdays and to Frankfurt am Main on Thursdays. Northern Capital Gateway, the management company of Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia announced that Russian leisure carrier Nordwind Airlines will launch direct flights from the Pulkovo Airport to Germany’s Stuttgart starting on August 22, 2021. Nordwind Airlines Restarts Direct Flight From St. Petersburg To Stuttgart “The air service between St. Petersburg and Stuttgart will open from August 22 on Sundays. The flight time will be about three hours,” the company said. This is a new destination for the airport since the time when coronavirus-related restrictions were introduced, the press service of Northern Capital Gateway said. Nordwind Airlines will also launch two more scheduled flights to Germany, to Hannover from August 18 and to Frankfurt am Main from August 19. Flights to Hannover will be operated weekly on Wednesdays and to Frankfurt am Main on Thursdays.

There is a growing demand among U.K. travelers seeking a tropical, Bahamian escape.Virgin Atlantic’s upcoming flights commence on Saturday, November 20 of this year.This is the perfect time to plan an escape to the sunny and warm Bahamas from the upcoming cold fall season in the United Kingdom. With travel restrictions easing around the world, The Bahamas looks forward to continuing welcoming guests back to its shores. “We are incredibly thrilled about Virgin Atlantic’s new, twice-weekly airlift services from London’s Heathrow Airport,” said Minister of Tourism & Aviation, the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar. “There is a growing demand among U.K. travelers seeking a tropical, Bahamian escape. We look forward to welcoming them to our beautiful shores to experience what makes our country a unique Caribbean destination unlike any other.” Travelers on Virgin Atlantic’s upcoming flights—commencing November 20—can expect the very best of what The Bahamas has to offer. While on island, wanderlusters will find ultimate relaxation and exhilarating adventure through the destination’s rich culture, decadent sea-to-table dining and beautiful natural wonders. From secret sandbars and secluded pink-sand beaches, to deep blue hole diving and swimming with the pigs, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. Not to mention, Downtown Nassau offers 20 square blocks of monuments, murals, and museums for those looking to immerse themselves in The Bahamas centuries-old history.  Flights will go on sale August 11, 2021, with return Economy flights starting at $990. Those looking to book their next vacation, whether in Nassau or island hopping throughout the Out Islands, can head to www.bahamas.com/deals-packages or check with their hotel representatives to learn more about the deals and packages available in the coming months.   #rebuildingtravel

Lockdowns and state border closures set to weaken and slow down the domestic travel recovery.Qantas airline standing down its staff signals the prospect of a longer road to recovery.The rise in infections lead to a blow to the tourism businesses. With Australia battling a rise in COVID-19 cases, domestic travel has reduced drastically. While Australia’s domestic recovery was strong in H1 2021, the reintroduction of lockdowns and state border closures will serve as a blow, and set to weaken and slow down the domestic travel recovery. Additionally, Qantas airline standing down its staff signals the prospect of a longer road to recovery. Australia’s Lockdowns Deal a Blow to Domestic Travel Recovery Quick domestic recovery in Australia could be in jeopardy with the cases spiking, and border closures getting extended, despite strengthening the domestic demand in H1 2021. The latest industry forecast expects the domestic travel to rebound to 93.8 million trips in 2021, returning to 80.4% of pre-COVID trips (2019), but the delta variant could hinder this expected strong recovery. Australia has been a leader in keeping COVID-19 under control with extremely low infection rates and strict international travel restrictions, kept cases at bay. The rise in infections lead to a blow to the tourism businesses, currently reliant on domestic travelers until at least mid-2022, when international borders may reopen. If lockdowns persist and traveler confidence drops, demand may dampen, and Australia’s domestic recovery could be prolonged. The recent restrictions have starved Australia’s tourism industry of trade, and the country’s biggest airline – Qantas – is beginning to feel the bite by standing down 2,500 employees. Qantas’ recovery has focused on domestic routes with international borders largely closed. The carrier was beginning to experience meaningful recovery, although the rise in cases has become problematic. The sudden decline in domestic travels and expected extension of lockdowns has lowered the carrier’s hopeful outlook. Qantas’ quick actions will reduce the financial burden from the loss of traffic and should help protect the future viability of the airline. However, recovery could now be dampened once restrictions lift as it takes time to return employees and could slow the expansion efforts. Australia has been slow to vaccinate its citizens due to low case rates. However, this poses a challenge and could delay the rebound in passenger demand if traveler confidence begins to take a hit. The vaccine has provided a confidence boost to other nations and is beginning to underpin travel recovery. With limited vaccination progress, Australia is behind other countries. With low vaccination rates, travelers could be reluctant to travel without the vaccine as the risk has now increased. Therefore, recovery could now be delayed until the vaccination program gathers pace and Australian travelers become confident once again.

Wizz Air aims to operate at pre-pandemic capacity throughout August.Low-cost flights are set to be in demand.Wizz Air could be a European powerhouse this summer. Wizz Air’s bet on a European traffic rebound could pay dividends for the carrier. Low-cost flights are set to be in demand, and the ultra-low-cost carrier could be a European powerhouse this summer. Wizz Air Capacity Ramp-Up Could Bear Fruit Wizz Air’s low fares will be in demand as it aims to operate at pre-pandemic capacity throughout August. Recent poll highlighted low-cost carriers’ strong position to capture pent-up demand, as 52% of global respondents rated price/value as the top factor when selecting an airline brand. Wizz Air’s low fares and extensive network will make it one of the most attractive operators this summer. With most European countries allowing unrestricted entry for fully vaccinated travelers, the continent is set for heightened demand as short-haul travel confidence builds, which is great for the European centric airline. The latest consumer survey (Q2 2021) has shown only a 2% fall in consumer financial concerns, with 85% of global respondents still ‘extremely’, ‘slightly’, or ‘quite’ concerned about their personal financial position, compared to 87% in the Q1 2021 survey. Across H1 2021, many travelers’ financial positions remained unchanged. Travelers will be more likely to seek the cheapest travel option in the near term to save cash as budgets remain tight. Wizz Air’s strong return will likely bear fruit. By returning to near-full capacity, travelers will be spoilt for choice, and Wizz Air will become a carrier known for its extensive network this summer. Many competitors, including Alitalia and Norwegian Air Shuttle, have reduced flights, and pulled out of markets, leaving gaps that offer Wizz Air a prime opportunity to build brand recognition and become a pandemic winner.

Warning issued about potential fire suppression issue in Boeing 737 MAX.Boeing 737 MAX jets and some other 737 models are affected by the safety directive.The order affects some 2,204 planes globally. The problems just don’t seem to end for troubled Boeing 737 MAX. While the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reversed its original order grounding all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in November, more than 100 of the seemingly cursed planes were grounded again in April over issues with the electrical system. Boeing’s newest model, the 737 MAX 10, took off for the first time in June and is expected to enter service in 2023. FAA Issues New Boeing 737 MAX Warning But in a new order, issued today, FAA restricted Boeing 737 Max & NG aircraft ability to transport flammables, noting the planes may have an issue with air flow control into and out of the cargo hold. Boeing 737 Max airplanes and some other 737 models are affected by the safety directive, which requires operators to verify that all objects in the cargo hold are nonflammable and noncombustible. Affected planes are suspected to have a “failed electronic flow control of the air conditioning packs that vent air into the cargo hold from other areas of the plane,” according to the FAA. The order affects some 2,204 planes globally, 663 of which are registered in the US. Boeing’s 737 Max model has been largely grounded since March 2019 after two deadly crashes which killed all 346 people on board revealed a problem with the onboard computer systems. Further investigation has only turned up more safety issues, and not just in the 737 model. Boeing’s 777s and 787s have also been scrutinized for safety flaws. The company itself urged airline carriers to suspend flights of some 777 models in February after multiple engines exploded in midair, while that same month, the FAA demanded the inspection of 222 Boeing 787s over concerns about decompression panels. Manufacturing concerns about “foreign object debris” left in new planes have brought the mega-liner under further scrutiny.

Domestic holidays are set to be the most popular in UK in the coming 12 months.Large spike in cases across the UK could reduce some travelers’ confidence.Travel businesses preparing for a busy summer could experience a wave of cancelations or postponements. Despite staycation demand in the UK being strong, the rise in COVID-19 infections and the requirement to self-isolate if ‘pinged’ could jeopardize summer plans, and tourism operators could miss out on much-needed revenue this summer. COVID-19 case spike could jeopardize UK domestic travel recovery this summer According to a recent poll, domestic holidays are set to be the most popular in the coming 12 months, with 30% of UK respondents opting for this type of trip, marginally lower than the 32% of global respondents preferring domestic travel. With restrictions continuously changing for international travel, domestic holidays seem a safer bet in the immediate term. Despite high demand, the large spike in cases across the UK could reduce some travelers’ confidence. With cases rising, travelers are more likely to adopt a cautious approach towards summer travel. Travel businesses preparing for a busy summer could experience a wave of cancelations or postponements as some shy away from crowded tourism areas as cases rise, despite restrictions easing. The ‘pingdemic’ has hit the UK hard, with 618,903 people receiving a notification to self-isolate in the period between July 8 and 14. This is a 17% rise from the previous week. With a record number pinged, travel is likely to experience disruption this summer. A period of isolation is on the cards for those pinged, and being restricted to home quarantine will impact holiday bookings. Pinged individuals with imminent bookings are likely to cancel as they can no longer travel. With cases increasing due to the highly transmissible Delta variant and more being instructed to isolate, travel looks set for a bumpy season. Despite restrictions easing and the hope for a summer revival being high, the ‘pingdemic’ has the potential to restrict travel and inhibit the UK’s domestic recovery. To bolster bookings many operators introduced generous refund policies and could be facing the prospect of refunding travelers if cases rise, and travel bookings are impacted. Attractive refund policies have driven increased sales for many operators, however, the rise in COVID-19 cases could begin to impact operator’s revenue. Cash flow could dry up for operators impacted by a high volume of cancelations, income could fall, and financial struggles could continue.

Ryanair confirms Budapest route expansion.New flight provides an important addition to the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Ireland.New service will be important in enhancing Budapest’s connectivity across Ireland. This winter Budapest Airport will increase its Irish network with Ryanair, as the ultra-low-cost carrier has confirmed a new connection to Shannon. Ryanair beefs up Budapest route with new Shannon connection The twice-weekly link launches on 1 November and will mean the Irish airline operates 81% of Budapest’s services to Ireland. It also provides an important addition to the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Ireland, with Shannon at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way tourism trail on the country’s west coast. Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport comments: “Ryanair’s confirmed expansion of our route map completely supports our forward-looking focus to not only re-establish our network, but also further develop tourism and business links alike.” Bogáts adds: “Joining our popular operations to Dublin, this service will be hugely important in enhancing our connectivity across Ireland.”

Paris-Rovaniemi route is a significant opening for travel in tourism recovery.French travelers have been the second largest international group in Rovaniemi accommodations.Route opening ensures future growth for Rovaniemi and Lapland international tourism. Air France has announced direct flights from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to Rovaniemi in early December. Air France Opens Flights To Official Hometown Of Santa Claus Air France has announced two weekly flights starting from December 4, 2021. The winter route will offer flights till March 5, 2022. “We are glad for the newly announced route by Air France. This new connection will produce more travel for Lapland and indicates the return of flight connections for Finland and Europe,” stated Petri Vuori in charge of Sales and Route Development at Finavia. Paris – Rovaniemi route is a significant opening for travel in tourism recovery and to ensure future growth for Rovaniemi and Lapland international travel. “Statistically the French travelers have been the second largest international group in Rovaniemi accommodations. The newly announced direct route is believed to serve well those individual travelers and tour operators, who already have established Rovaniemi as popular and magical winter destination,” states Sanna Kärkkäinen The Managing Director of Visit Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the “official” home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It’s home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

Hawaii Governor Ige refuses to respond to eTurboNews and Hawaii News Online.Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is quiet, isolating himself from uncomfortable questionss by eTurboNews.Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO John De Fries and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association CEO Mufi Hannemann have been avoiding questions ever since COVID-19 became an issue for the Hawaii visitor industry. COVID-19 is out of control in Hawaii, but tourism goes with the flow. Tourism leaders have nothing to say to visitors. Such visitors should be getting more worried by the day. This worry is met with silence by those that had been elected to lead. Silence is a face-saving response known in Asian cultures, which means PR business is as usual in Hawaii. Six days ago, this publication reported the record number ever recorded of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii. This number is now the second-highest increase, and a new record today means another victory for the virus. Considering 53.7% of the population in Hawaii are now fully vaccinated, and 71.7% received at least one shot of Pfizer or Moderna, the new infections are even more alarming since almost all are among the 46.3% not yet fully vaccinated people. Even during the worst time of the pandemic, such numbers were not seen in the state. Even when tourism and the economy came to a halt before October 15 last year, such infection numbers were not even close to what Hawaii is experiencing now. One can argue only 8 cases could be associated to travel yesterday, but what is not communicated is that only 61 cases could be associated with community outbreaks, but the hundreds of additional cases, making the majority of all cases are of unknown reason. As it has been throughout the crisis, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is quiet, and now this silence is echoed by Governor Ige, the Mayors, and everyone else in charge. Close to 30,000 visitors are arriving in Hawaii every single day, restaurants are open, masks and social distancing seem to be less important. Ironically, one could say the economy took the lead over health, but the Hawaii Tourism Authority has been busy finding ways to discourage mass tourism. The reason for that is not COVID-19 but the protection of cultural issues and climate change. In the latest COVID-19 cases report from the Government of the Aloha State, 655 new Hawaii COVID-19 cases bring the total to 44,617 (up 1.4% from the previous day). This is the highest number of cases recorded in one day yet. According to Lt. Gov. Josh Green, this surging is due to the Delta Variant. As a direct result, hospitalizations are growing as well with today finding 166 being treated in a hospital, a positivity rate of 6.89%. To date, 1,883,809 COVID-19 tests have been conducted with 42,439 resulting in a positive reading and marking today’s positivity rate at 6.9%. Currently, the average daily case is 437.6. There were a total of 4,391 cases reported in the past 14 days. Total deaths to date are 538 (1.2%). The breakdown of today’s cases are: Oahu: 428 Hawaii County: 131 Maui County: 69 Kauai County: 7 So far the world is all in order. Beaches, hotels, and flights are full. Visitors are not often seen wearing masks and are having a great time on the beach, in restaurants, the pool, nightclubs, and attractions. Anyone residing in the Waikiki region hears ambulance sirens now constantly 24/7, hospital beds are filling up, but due to the large number of vaccinated people, the death rate, fortunately, remains fairly low. WIll there be any restrictions in the pipeline? Not likely, according to indications by Governor Ige.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, companies are looking for ways to cut back on their expenses.Pre-pandemic, corporate travelers represented about half of all major airline revenue.Airline travel for business is expected to shrink permanently by 19 percent. With revenues hit due to the COVID-19 outbreak, companies are looking for ways to cut back on their expenses. This has brought attention to corporate air travel. Pre-pandemic, corporate travelers represented about half of all major airline revenue, amounting to 1.7 percent of the global GDP. However, owing to the ongoing crisis, airline travel for business is expected to shrink permanently by 19 percent. Slow Recovery For Post-COVID Corporate Air Travel When travel restrictions were imposed worldwide, businesses replaced direct meetings with virtual ones to contain the pandemic’s spread. Many businesses adapted to virtual meetings and have realized that not all meetings must be in-person. Businesses have also realized huge cost savings on air travel spend. In the future, airline travel will be a more mindful and thought-out way of traveling, allowing employees to have a better life balance and employers to have a better return on investment. Companies are organizing virtual meetings and this model has become more preferred for many of them. They have realized that in-person meetings are not always required. The post-pandemic hybrid work model that combines face-to-face and virtual setups can make businesses successful while limiting the company’s travel costs. Employees should travel only when it is of utmost necessity. Here are some of the measures being taken by companies to reduce airline business travel and bolster revenue: Cost management: Almost every industry is facing difficulty due to the pandemic to varying levels. In that, the companies are actively looking at revenue-generating measures wherever possible. Restricting business travel is at the top of their list, wherein they are canceling all non-essential travels.

Paris-Rovaniemi route is a significant opening for travel in tourism recovery.French travelers have been the second largest international group in Rovaniemi accommodations.Route opening ensures future growth for Rovaniemi and Lapland international tourism. Air France has announced direct flights from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to Rovaniemi in early December. Air France Opens Flights To Official Hometown Of Santa Claus Air France has announced two weekly flights starting from December 4, 2021. The winter route will offer flights till March 5, 2022. “We are glad for the newly announced route by Air France. This new connection will produce more travel for Lapland and indicates the return of flight connections for Finland and Europe,” stated Petri Vuori in charge of Sales and Route Development at Finavia. Paris – Rovaniemi route is a significant opening for travel in tourism recovery and to ensure future growth for Rovaniemi and Lapland international travel. “Statistically the French travelers have been the second largest international group in Rovaniemi accommodations. The newly announced direct route is believed to serve well those individual travelers and tour operators, who already have established Rovaniemi as popular and magical winter destination,” states Sanna Kärkkäinen The Managing Director of Visit Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the “official” home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It’s home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

The overnight flight departs San José at 10:55 PM (PST), arriving in Atlanta approximately 4.5 hours later at 6:30 AM.Delta Air Lines to use Boeing 757 aircraft on San José-Atlanta flights.Delta Air Lines suspended service between SJC and ATL in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning tonight, travelers will enjoy even more access and ease when flying from San José to Atlanta. Officials at Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) announced today that daily nonstop service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) resumes on Delta Air Lines this evening. Delta Resumes Nonstop Atlanta-San José Flights The overnight flight departs San José at 10:55 PM (PST) aboard a Boeing 757 aircraft, arriving in Atlanta approximately 4.5 hours later at 6:30 AM (EST). Airport officials indicate that strong summer traffic, returning flights, and re-opened restaurants, shops, and concessions demonstrate resilience for SJC and its business partners. While the State of California has removed some COVID-19 requirements, travelers are still required to wear masks, and the Airport continues to encourage social distancing. “Returning service to Atlanta represents a milestone in travel recovery,” said John Aitken, Director at Mineta San José International Airport. “It is Delta’s second resumption in as many weeks, and they have done a great job of planning and re-introducing key markets in tandem with increasing passenger volumes. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the busiest airport in the world, and we are pleased to reconnect with both the city of Atlanta and the worldwide network of destinations that it reaches.” Atlanta returns to Delta’s air service roster at SJC following the resumption of nonstop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) from SJC on July 19. Delta Air Lines suspended service between SJC and ATL in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel declines.

The safety and security of its passengers remains Qatar Airways’ primary concern.Qatar Airways is cooperating with all the leasing companies affected by this A350 grounding.Qatar Airways has already taken action to return its A330 fleet into service. In addition to its regular checks to ensure the continued safety and security of its passengers and aircraft, Qatar Airways continues to closely monitor the significant condition across its Airbus A350 fleet in which the fuselage surface below the paint is degrading at an accelerated rate. The airline is working with its regulator to ensure the continued safety of all passengers and on this basis, and following the explicit written instruction of its regulator, thirteen aircraft have now been grounded, effectively removing them from service until such time as the root cause can be established and a satisfactory solution made available to permanently correct the underlying condition. Qatar Airways Grounds a Quarter Of Its Airbus A350 Fleet The safety and security of its passengers remains Qatar Airways’ primary concern. The airline will do all it can to also ensure that its passengers are not inconvenienced by the mandated removal of these aircraft from service and will endeavor to find alternative solutions to offer the usual high standard of service to all passengers. Qatar Airways has already taken action to return its A330 fleet into service with immediate effect to offset some of the impact of the grounded A350 aircraft and is presently looking at other solutions too. In addition to the airline’s focus on protecting its reputation for offering the highest levels of customer experience, Qatar Airways is cooperating with all the leasing companies affected by this A350 grounding who have started to inspect their impacted aircraft. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “With this latest development, we sincerely expect that Airbus treats this matter with the proper attention that it requires.  Qatar Airways will not accept anything other than aircraft that continue to offer its customers the highest possible standard of safety and the best travel experience that they deserve.  Qatar Airways expects Airbus to have established the root cause and permanently corrected the underlying condition to the satisfaction of Qatar Airways and our regulator before we take delivery of any further A350 aircraft.”

US government developing international travel reopening plan.Foreign travelers entering US will have to have vaccination proof.Only vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry to the USA. According to a White House official, US Government is working on a plan to require almost all foreign visitors to the United States to show a proof of having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when travel restrictions, that ban travelers from most of the world from entering the country, are finally lifted. Only Vaccinated Foreign Visitors Will Be Allowed To Enter US An unnamed official said that the White House wants to re-open travel, which would boost business for the airlines and tourism industry, but travel restrictions that are currently barring visitors from many countries from traveling to the US wouldn’t be struck immediately, given the rise of the highly transmittable Delta variant of the virus. The Biden administration has interagency working groups working “to have a new system ready for when we can reopen travel,” the official said, adding it includes “a phased approach that over time will mean, with limited exceptions, that foreign nationals traveling to the United States (from all countries) need to be fully vaccinated.” The extraordinary U.S. travel restrictions were first imposed on China in January 2020 to address the spread of COVID-19. Numerous other countries have been added, most recently India in May. The official’s comments were the strongest signal to date that the White House sees a path to unwinding those restrictions. The White House official did not immediately answer questions about whether the administration is developing plans to also require visitors arriving from Mexico and Canada to be vaccinated before crossing land borders. Currently, the only foreign travelers allowed to cross by land into the United States from Mexico and Canada are essential workers such as truck drivers or nurses. The United States currently bars most non-U.S. citizens who within the last 14 days have been in the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.

Boeing sees a chance to improve its position in India.Indian billionaire announces new ultra-low-cost carrier.New venture is already moving forward, US plane maker Boeing could get a chance to regain lost ground in India with billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala announcing plans to launch new Indian ultra-low-cost airline. New Indian Ultra-Low-Cost Airline Could Be a Boon For Boeing Boeing’s Indian market standing was hurt by the fall of one of its biggest customers, Jet Airways, two years ago. Jhunjhunwala, known as “India’s Warren Buffett” for his successful stock investments, plans to team up with the former CEOs of IndiGo, the country’s biggest carrier, and Jet Airways to tap into demand for domestic air travel. While Jhunjhunwala’s proposed Akasa Air comes at a time when India’s aviation industry is reeling from the impact of the COVID pandemic, which has seen airlines losing billions of dollars, the sector’s long-term prospect makes it a hot market for plane makers Boeing and Airbus. One industry source said the new venture was already moving towards what could be one of the biggest deals of the year outside the United States to acquire purchased or leased 737s. For Boeing, this is a great opportunity to step in and up their game, considering they don’t have any other major operator for their 737 aircraft in India apart from SpiceJet. Boeing did not comment on Akasa’s plans but said it always seeks opportunities and talks to current and potential customers about how it can best support their fleet and operational needs. Jhunjhunwala, who is considering investing $35m and would own 40 percent of the carrier, expects to get a no-objection certificate from India’s aviation ministry in the next 15 days, he said. The ultra-low-cost airline’s team is looking at building a fleet of 70 180-passenger planes within four years, he said. Akasa’s other cofounders are Aditya Ghosh, who spent a decade with IndiGo and was credited with its early success, and Vinay Dube, former CEO of Jet who has also worked with Delta. Indian skies are dominated by low-cost carriers (LCCs) including IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoFirst and AirAsia India, the majority of them operating a fleet of Airbus narrow-body planes. Boeing dominates India’s wide-body market of 51 planes but fare wars and high costs have led to casualties among full-service carriers, including Kingfisher Airlines in 2012 and Jet Airways in 2019, making LCCs and Airbus even more dominant. Boeing’s share of India’s 570 narrow-body planes fell to 18 percent after Jet’s demise from 35 percent in 2018, data from consultancy CAPA India shows. Jet was recently rescued from bankruptcy and is expected to fly again. Indian carriers have more than 900 planes on order, of which 185 are Boeing 737 aircraft and 710 are Airbus, which counts IndiGo as one of its biggest customers globally.

Passenger was starting to get aggressive and basically attacked the male flight attendant.Unruly passenger was yelling about his parents being rich and having $2 million.Frontier suspended the crew for duct taping the passenger to his seat as they landed in Miami. Frontier Airlines launched an investigation into a midair incident with unruly passenger being subdued by the crew. Rowdy Frontier Airlines Passenger Duct-Taped to Seat A video of an out-of-control passenger being duct-taped to his seat mid-flight after allegedly punching and groping flight attendants has gone viral on social media, and that has prompted the airline to investigate. The video made waves on Tuesday as it found its way onto social media. In the clip, a flight attendant can be seen taping a passenger to their seat, even placing the tape across their mouth, while others on the plane cheer.  Frontier Airlines released a statement about the incident, alleging that the man had punched one male flight attendant and groped two female flight attendants.  “During a flight from Philadelphia to Miami on July 31, a passenger made inappropriate physical contact with a flight attendant and subsequently physically assaulted another flight attendant,” the airline said in a statement. “As a result, the passenger needed to be restrained until the flight landed in Miami and law enforcement arrived.” The passenger, Maxwell Berry, was taken into custody by Miami police and is facing three counts of battery. Berry, 22, allegedly brushed a cup along a flight attendant’s backside and later emerged from the bathroom shirtless, requiring staff to find him a new shirt in his luggage. Berry later groped two female attendants’ chests and punched a male flight attendant in the face, police say. The footage was quickly and widely spread on social media, with few showing sympathy for the restrained passenger. In a separate video allegedly featuring Berry, he is yelling about his parents being rich and having $2 million. Despite the public support for the flight attendants, Frontier has suspended them from flying duties until a full investigation can be conducted.  “The flight attendants will be, as required in such circumstances, relieved of flying pending completion of investigation of the events,” the airline said.

Sheremetyevo is among the Top 5 airport hubs in Europe.Sheremetyevo is the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.In 2020, Sheremetyevo served 19 million 784 thousand passengers. Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport was recognized as the most punctual airport in Europe and the second most punctual in the world in the Global Airports category. Moscow Sheremetyevo Named the Most Punctual Airport in Europe Thanks to effective cooperation between the airport, airlines and air-traffic control agencies, the Sheremetyevo aerodrome has maintained high capacity and ensured a high level of punctuality of flights. Sheremetyevo was the first airport in Russia to develop and implement a system of joint decision-making with airlines, using its own innovative Synchron database. The most punctual air carriers at Sheremetyevo in May and June 2021, based on landings, departures from the parking area and takeoffs, were: Russian airlines: AeroflotRussia Severstal European airlines with more than 200 passenger flights: Air FranceKLMAir Serbia European airlines with less than 200 passenger flights: FinnairLOTBelavia Asia-Pacific Airlines: Japan AirlinesKorean AirAir India Airlines with more than 500 cargo flights: AviastarAeroflotAirBridgeCargo Airlines with fewer than 500 cargo flights: Air ChinaEmiratesCargoLogic Germany

Aer Lingus restores Budapest-Dublin air link.Aer Lingus will operate a three-times weekly service on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.Aer Lingus’ return will boost Budapest’s market by nearly 2,500 monthly seats. Last week saw Budapest Airport witness the return of its long-standing partner Aer Lingus. Serving the Hungarian gateway since 2004, the Irish flag carrier is welcoming customers back on board its flights between Budapest and Dublin for the first time since the pandemic began. Aer Lingus Resumes Dublin Flights from Budapest Airport Aer Lingus will operate a three-times weekly service to Ireland’s largest city on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Using its fleet of A320s on the 1,912km sector, the airline will boost Budapest’s market by nearly 2,500 monthly seats. Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport comments: “Every airline to return to our Tarmac is a reason to celebrate and a sign of our movement forward. Aer Lingus’ resumed schedule of links to the Irish capital makes for a perfect long-weekend to a destination renowned for its culture and welcoming nature.” Peter O’Neill, COO, Aer Lingus says: “We are delighted to recommence flights from Budapest and welcome back customers on board now that travel restrictions have been relaxed.” O’Neill adds: “We are delighted to once again be able to do what we do best for more customers – deliver safe international travel.’’

1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2% compared to the 4.5 billion who flew in 2019.Industry-wide air travel demand (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers, or RPKs) dropped by 65.9% year-on-year.The decline in air passengers transported in 2020 was the largest recorded since global RPKs started being tracked around 1950. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the IATA World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) publication with performance figures for 2020 demonstrating the devastating effects on global air transport during that year of the COVID-19 crisis: Airline Industry: 2020 Was Worst Year on Record 1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2% compared to the 4.5 billion who flew in 2019 Industry-wide air travel demand (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers, or RPKs) dropped by 65.9% year-on-year International passenger demand (RPKs) decreased by 75.6% compared to the year prior Domestic air passenger demand (RPKs) dropped by 48.8% compared to 2019 Air connectivity declined by more than half in 2020 with the number of routes connecting airports falling dramatically at the outset of the crisis and was down more than 60% year-on-year in April 2020 Total industry passenger revenues fell by 69% to $189 billion in 2020, and net losses were $126.4 billion in total The decline in air passengers transported in 2020 was the largest recorded since global RPKs started being tracked around 1950

Passengers stranded at Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Houston and San Juan airports.Spirit Airlines cancelled 261 flights today.Spirit Airlines delayed 120 flights today. Thousands of passengers were stranded today at the airports in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Houston, and San Juan in Puerto Rico, after Spirit Airlines cancelled or postpones nearly 300 flights. Thousands Stranded as Spirit Airlines Cancels Almost 300 Flights According to airline’s statement, “a series of weather and operational challenges” have caused travel disruptions. Passengers reported waiting hours in line for refunds and other customer service help at airports. Some stranded travelers camped out. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA released a statement, saying that “schedule month change over,” and IT outages, along with the weather, may have contributed to the operational collapse of Spirit Airlines. US carriers have struggled to maintain staffing levels after COVID-19 decimated profits. Florida -based Spirit Airlines had canceled 261 flights and 120 flights had been delayed Monday as of 2:30 p.m. ET. Apparently, Spirit Airlines was far from the only airline to struggle yesterday and today.  American Airlines also cancelled more than 500 flights and another 782 were delayed due to weekend storms and “operational challenges.”

Russia’s obligation to participate in the ISS program ends at the end of 2025.In April, 2021, Russian Prsident approved plans for new Russian Orbital Service Station.Russian space chief suggest creation a separate space station module for tourists. Russian space agency officials have suggested constructing a special module for tourists on the proposed Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS), a Moscow-funded replacement for the aging International Space Station (ISS). Russia to add tourist module to its next space station According to the head of the Russian State Space Corporation (Roscosmos) Dmitry Rogozin, the Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council discussed the ROSS creation at its meeting on July 31. “I suggested that the project should include the creation of a separate module for visitors,” the Roscosmos chief said. With Russia’s obligations to participate in the ISS program coming to an end in 2025, there has long been speculation about the future of the planet’s only inhabited space station. Roscosmos will not engage in suborbital flights, Russian space official said, but Russian space agency will get involved in developing space tourism as part of the orbital piloted program. In April, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the plans for new Russian Orbital Service Station, signing off on a proposal for a space station with three to seven modules. If the decision is made to include a segment purely for tourists, it will continue a tradition of Russia’s participation in space tourism. In 2001, American engineer Dennis Tito became the first space tourist to fund his own trip into space, arriving in the Russian Soyuz TM-32 rocket.

Latest international airline to capitalize on PIT’s cargo speed.Hong Kong-based carrier will serve Pittsburgh International Airport through end of year.Planes will arrive on Mondays and Fridays and depart the next day. Cargo operations at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) will get another boost with the return of twice weekly flights from Cathay Pacific Airways. Cathay Pacific Airways Returns to Pittsburgh International Airport Cathay Pacific starts service on Aug. 2, 2021, with its Boeing 777-300ER passenger planes that have been converted for cargo, with plans to serve PIT through the end of the year. Planes will arrive on Mondays and Fridays and depart the next day. Cargo onboard the aircraft is for the garment industry. The aircraft will start their flights from Hanoi, Vietnam, stopping at Cathay Pacific’s Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport before flying nonstop to PIT. Cathay Pacific initially started cargo service to PIT in September 2020 with 20 flights. PIT’s ability to quickly unload cargo and get it on trucks for delivery is one of the reasons Cathay Pacific and freight forwarder partner Unique Logistics chose to return for their latest cargo venture. “Pittsburgh International Airport’s geographic location, community support, and operational efficiencies provide the ideal environment for us to operate service from Vietnam with Cathay Pacific to the Pittsburgh area,” said Marc Schlossberg, Executive Vice President of Unique Logistics. “Unique Logistics is contracted to operate around 120 such flights with several airlines from Asia into PIT and other airports in the United States for the remainder of 2021, adding valuable air cargo capacity for US importers.” “Additional flights could be added to PIT as the operation scales up,” added Schlossberg.

Partnership will leverage Qatar Airways’ global network.Qatar Airways’ access to African destinations will increase.The agreement will integrate Qatar Airways and RwandAir loyalty programs’ benefits. Qatar Airways passengers will be able to explore even more of Africa following its new partnership with Rwanda’s flag carrier, RwandAir via their hubs at Doha and Kigali. Qatar Airways and RwandAir Announce Interline Agreement As a part of the strategic partnership, the extensive interline agreement will give customers access to the networks of both airlines, providing a seamless travel experience and enhanced customer service including in the frequent flyers programs. Customers can pick and choose from over 160 destinations in the combined networks of both airlines, which are perfectly connected via their home hubs of Doha and Kigali. This latest cooperation comes hot on the heels of the airlines’ recent loyalty partnerships announcement, giving RwandAir Dream Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty members, access to each other’s destinations with the opportunity to ‘earn and burn’ points across their reciprocal route networks. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al-Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive said: “This partnership cements our commitment to giving travellers the widest choice of destinations, while providing a seamless, high quality travel experience, which is the goal of both Qatar Airways and RwandAir. “Africa is a hugely important market for us and this latest partnership will help support the recovery of international air travel and offer unrivalled connectivity to and from a number of new African destinations.” Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir CEO, said: “We’re really excited to be opening up more of the world to our customers through the new interline agreement with Qatar Airways.

Only vaccinated Kuwaiti citizens allowed to travel abroad.Travel ban goes into effect on August 1.Children under 16 are exempt from the new rule. Kuwait authorities announced that only vaccinated Kuwaiti citizens will be allowed to travel abroad, effectively grounding a large part of the country’s 4.2 million population. Kuwait bans all unvaccinated citizens from foreign travel The blanket ban on foreign travel for the unvaccinated citizens was announced by government officials of the Gulf nation today. Starting from August 1, only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to go on foreign trips. However, the children under 16, people with medical conditions preventing vaccination, and pregnant women will be exempt from the new rule and will be allowed to travel if they obtain proper certification from the nation’s health ministry. The move effectively grounds a vast swath of Kuwait’s population under a foreign travel ban. According to the latest available data, Kuwait has administered over 2.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with around one million people so far – over 22% of the population – receiving two shots. While the announcement was not exactly clear in regards to this matter, it apparently implies that only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to travel after the measure takes effect next month. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kuwait has registered over 394,000 COVID-19 cases, with almost 2,300 people having died the disease.

Total demand for air travel in June 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 60.1% compared to June 2019.International passenger demand in June was 80.9% below June 2019.Total domestic demand was down 22.4% versus pre-crisis levels (June 2019). The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced passenger demand performance for June 2021 showing a very slight improvement in both international and domestic air travel markets. Demand remains significantly below pre-COVID-19 levels owing to international travel restrictions.  Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are to June 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in June 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 60.1% compared to June 2019. That was a small improvement over the 62.9% decline recorded in May 2021 versus May 2019.  International passenger demand in June was 80.9% below June 2019, an improvement from the 85.4% decline recorded in May 2021 versus two years ago. All regions with the exception of Asia-Pacific contributed to the slightly higher demand.  Total domestic demand was down 22.4% versus pre-crisis levels (June 2019), a slight gain over the 23.7% decline recorded in May 2021 versus the 2019 period. The performance across key domestic markets was mixed with Russia reporting robust expansion while China returned to negative territory.  “We are seeing movement in the right direction, particularly in some key domestic markets. But the situation for international travel is nowhere near where we need to be. June should be the start of peak season, but airlines were carrying just 20% of 2019 levels. That’s not a recovery, it’s a continuing crisis caused by government inaction,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

UK Travel & Tourism sector will get a huge boost from new regulation.The cruise industry will breathe a sigh of relief.It also throws a vital lifeline to airlines and businesses throughout the sector. Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, said: “The Travel & Tourism sector – and the UK economy – will get a huge boost following news that fully-vaccinated US and EU visitors will at last be able to travel quarantine-free to England. Fully-Vaccinated US and EU Visitors Will Be A Boon To UK Economy “The cruise industry will breathe a sigh of relief that the crucial relaunch of international cruise departures from England has been given the green light, giving hope to a sector which has struggled to stay afloat. “It also throws a vital lifeline to airlines and businesses throughout the sector, by helping to restore much-need transatlantic travel and essential links to the EU. “However, unless it’s reciprocal and the US responds with a similar move, we won’t see the full benefit.   “Research shows that before the pandemic US visitors to the UK contributed more than more than £4 billion to the economy in 2019, underlining the importance of transatlantic travel. “We urgently need internationally coordinated action to reopen borders to safe international travel for all visitors who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. “Harmonization would restore international mobility, ensure reduced protocols for vaccinated travelers, emphasize the importance of global vaccine recognition, and enable global use of ‘digital health passes’.”

International travel is an export industry, and the balance of travel trade historically has favored the United States.Closed borders have not eliminated the spread of the delta variant.Continued border closures have further delayed the return of American jobs and a greater economic recovery. U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the news that England would soon begin welcoming fully vaccinated Americans: US Travel: England Reopening A Wise Decision “British government leaders have made a wise decision in reopening England to vaccinated travelers from the United States. It’s time for U.S. leaders to do the same and set a timeline to reopen our national borders—and we encourage them to start with vaccinated travelers from the U.K., E.U. and Canada. The reality is there’s no difference between a vaccinated American and those vaccinated in the U.K., the E.U. and Canada. “International travel is an export industry, and the balance of travel trade historically has favored the United States. Closed borders have not eliminated the spread of the delta variant, while continued border closures have further delayed the return of American jobs and a greater economic recovery. “To U.S. government leaders we say: Let’s establish a plan—now—as the British and Canadian and other governments have done, to begin reopening international travel. “To all, we say: Heed the calls from health authorities and get a vaccine. It’s the fastest path to normalcy for all.”

Global demand for June 2021 was up 9.9% compared to June 2019. North American carriers contributed 5.9 percentage points to the 9.9% growth rate in June.Underlying economic conditions and favorable supply chain dynamics remain highly supportive for air cargo. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air cargo markets for June showing a 9.9% improvement on pre-COVID-19 performance (June 2019). This pushed first half-year air cargo growth to 8%, its strongest first half performance since 2017 (when the industry posted 10.2% year-on-year growth).  IATA: Strongest First Half-Year Air Cargo Growth Since 2017 As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons to follow are to June 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand for June 2021, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.9% compared to June 2019.  Regional variations in performance are significant. North American carriers contributed 5.9 percentage points (ppts) to the 9.9% growth rate in June. Middle East carriers contributed 2.1 ppts, European airlines 1.6 ppts, African airlines 0.5 ppts and Asia-Pacific carriers 0.3 ppts. Latin American carriers did not support the growth, shaving 0.5 ppts off the total. Overall capacity, measured in available cargo ton-kilometers (ACTKs), remained constrained at 10.8% below pre-COVID-19 levels (June 2019) due to the ongoing grounding of passenger aircraft. Belly capacity was down 38.9% on June 2019 levels, partially offset by a 29.7% increase in dedicated freighter capacity.  Underlying economic conditions and favorable supply chain dynamics remain highly supportive for air cargo: The US inventory to sales ratio is at a record low. This means that businesses have to quickly refill their stocks, and typically use air cargo to do so.The Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) – leading indicators of air cargo demand – show that business confidence, manufacturing output and new export orders are growing at a rapid pace in most economies. Concerns of a significant consumer shift from goods to services have not materialized. The cost-competitiveness and reliability of air cargo relative to that of container shipping has improved.  The average price of air cargo relative to shipping has reduced considerably. And scheduling reliability of ocean carriers has dropped, in May it was around 40% compared to 70-80% prior to the crisis.  “Air cargo is doing brisk business as the global economy continues its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. With first-half demand 8% above pre-crisis levels, air cargo is a revenue lifeline for many airlines as they struggle with border closures that continue to devastate the international passenger business. Importantly, the strong first-half performance looks set to continue,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.   

European Transport Workers’ Federation appeals to the European Commission.Two illegal decrees issued by the Orban government.ETF strongly condemns interference from the Hungarian Government into the provision of air navigation services. The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) sent a letter to the European Commission (EC) President, Ursula von der Leyen, to the EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit and to the EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina VALEAN, asking for immediate action from the EC to stop what seems to be another case of breaching the rule of law by the Hungarian Government and also, a clear situation of union busting within this EU Member State. Hungarian Government Attacks on Air Traffic Workers Condemned Addressing the EC leaders, the ETF expresses its deep concerns regarding the difficult situation of the air traffic workers at Hungarian Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) – HungaroControl – which are now forbidden to organize any strike, on the basis of two illegal decrees issued by the Orban government. This is clear intimidation against the air traffic controllers from Hungary, ETF mentions in the letter addressed to the EU Commissioners. The decree not only dismisses the decision 2.Mpkf.35.080/2021/5 of the Hungarian Appeal Court but also violates Article 28 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. ETF strongly condemns such interference from the Hungarian Government into the provision of air navigation services and the creation of a hostile work environment that increases stress levels amongst air traffic workers and also poses a serious safety risk to passengers, workers and citizens.

German airline Condor Flugdienst GmbH renews its long-haul fleet.Condor will purchase of seven Airbus A330neo aircraft.Condor will lease nine more Airbus A330neo aircraft. German airline Condor Flugdienst GmbH has chosen the Airbus A330neo to renew its long-haul fleet with plans to introduce 16 aircraft of this new and more efficient type. The airline has signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of seven Airbus A330neo, and intends to lease a further nine. German Condor Airline Modernizes Fleet With 16 New Airbus A330neo Jets Condor is the latest airline to order Airbus’ state-of-the-art A330neo widebody aircraft, bringing a step-change in performance and economics. The airline will operate the A330neo on its international long-haul network to the Americas, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. “Condor excels in operating profitably many routes no other carrier is able to; we are proud to see a demanding airline such as Condor selecting our latest-technology A330neo as the aircraft of choice, building the future of their widebody fleet in the relentless pursuit of lowest operating costs and passenger comfort,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International. “By operating the A320 and A330neo aircraft side by side, the airline will benefit from all the commonality economics these two premium products offer, with the embedded flexibility to address new and existing markets with the right-sized, right-efficiency aircraft.” Christian Scherer added, “The A330neo has won a thorough competition yet again, as it has in the vast majority of competitive evaluations these last three years. The decision by Condor to modernize its long-haul fleet with A330neos will also set a new benchmark on the airline’s trajectory towards more sustainable flying. We thank and applaud Condor for confirming the competitive value of the A330neo.”

U.S. House of Representatives includes HR 3095, the Fair and Open Skies Act, as an amendment to the House Appropriations Bill.Teamsters commend the House for taking such action.International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents workers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The following is a statement from Teamsters Airline Division Capt. David Bourne regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ inclusion of HR 3095, the Fair and Open Skies Act, as an amendment to the House Appropriations Bill. Teamsters Praise Congressional Action On Fair And Open Skies Act “The Teamsters and our allies on Capitol Hill have been working extremely hard to ensure that ‘flag of convenience’ schemes don’t undermine commercial aviation in the United States. By including HR 3095 in the appropriations bill, the U.S. House of Representatives is stopping the exploitation of a regulatory loophole that threatens the livelihood of workers and safety of passengers throughout the airline industry. We commend the House for taking such action. Now it’s time for the Senate to retain this language in its own appropriations bill and pass it expeditiously.” Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million workers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

New Brunswick will welcome American travelers who have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine that is accepted by the Government of Canada. Starting August 9, fully vaccinated U.S. travelers are permitted to enter Newfoundland & Labrador.Beginning August 9, American visitors who qualify as fully vaccinated travelers are required to apply for entry to Nova Scotia. Four provinces of Atlantic Canada will open to fully vaccinated American travelers beginning August 9, 2021.  Atlantic Canada Opens to Vaccinated US Travelers Located just north of the U.S. border of Maine, Atlantic Canada is a crowd-free, coastal region made up of the four Canadian provinces New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. The mid-August border opening allows U.S. travelers to enjoy the late summer season in Atlantic Canada, which offers temperate weather, warm coastal waters, and outdoor adventure. The fall boasts colorful foliage and several world-class food and cultural festivals. Easily accessible from the Northeast, the region offers breathtaking coastlines, fresh seafood, wide-open outdoors spaces, land and water experiences, and so much more.    All travelers must use ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. In addition to adhering to Canada’s federal travel guidelines, each province within Canada has their own set of travel restrictions and requirements to protect residents from COVID-19. As protocols vary by each province, here is what travelers need to know about entry to each province to plan their next Atlantic Canada adventure.    New Brunswick Once the Canadian federal border opens on August 9, New Brunswick will welcome American travelers who have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine that is accepted by the Government of Canada.  Newfoundland & Labrador Starting August 9, fully vaccinated U.S. travelers are permitted to enter Newfoundland & Labrador and are required to submit a travel form within 72 hours of their expected travel date and follow public health guidelines during their stay. Fully vaccinated travelers are not required to self-isolate or be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival to the province.

Qantas dismissed more than 2,000 ground handlers during the pandemic.Qantas outsourced jobs to save money for the company.Qantas recorded AU$18 billion ($13.2 billion) in revenue in 2019. In a landmark decision, Australian federal court has sided with the Transport Workers Union in the case brought by TWU against Qantas Airways Limited. The union took Australian airline giant to court after the outsourcing scandal saw over 2,000 Qantas employees laid off amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Union Sues Qantas Airways Over Massive Pandemic Layoffs and Wins Qantas dismissed more than 2,000 ground handlers during the pandemic, whose roles were outsourced to save money for the corporation, which in 2019 recorded AU$18 billion ($13.2 billion) in revenue. Justice Michael Lee said he was not convinced of the evidence put forth by Qantas – Australia’s most dominating airline – that the laying off of thousands of employees was not, at least in part, motivated by their union membership. The TWU hired Josh Bornstein as its head lawyer to argue the airline’s actions contravened the Fair Work Act. The case was centered around claims that Qantas’s bullish moves – led by CEO Alan Joyce – were made to squash the union’s power in wage negotiations. “The Federal Court has found for the first time that a major employer has sacked over 2,000 workers because it was seeking to deprive them of the ability to collectively bargain with the company for a new enterprise agreement,” said Bornstein.