Slow travel mainly refers to the speed of which a trip is takeSlow travel also means tourists staying longer, connecting with local people, culture, food and musicSustainability is also at the forefront of consumers’ decisions Pent-up demand for immersive travel experiences with no set time limit could help ‘slow travel’ become the next big tourism trend. With tourists opting for longer stays due to many being able to work remotely, and sustainability featuring more heavily in travel decisions, it is clear that slow travel could be a global phenomenon in the next few years. Slow travel mainly refers to the speed of which a trip is taken, where travelers take a train through Europe instead of flying, for example. However, it also has a broader meaning of tourists staying in destinations for longer, emphasizing a connection with local people, culture, food and music. This means that slow travel is also more sustainable for local communities and the environment. Various consumer trends already suggest that slow travel could take off post-pandemic. A trip longer than ten nights is more highly desired (22%) than a day visit (10%) or short break away from one to three nights (14%) according to the latest industry poll. The added hassle and cost of additional COVID-19 related travel requirements such as PCR tests and potential quarantine periods means that short trips lose value, justifying a longer trip. There is also a larger remote workforce across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 70% of global respondents opted to work remotely full time or have a mixture of both remote and office work in another poll. Many offices are likely to be more flexible regarding working hours and the location of an employee as a result of the pandemic, meaning blending work and leisure will be easier for employees. Sustainability is also at the forefront of consumers’ decisions. ‘Supporting social causes’ was identified as a key driver in product purchases for 25% of global respondents in the industry’s 2021 consumer survey and for 45% this was ‘nice to have’. Preference for products can reflect on service trends and this identifies that consumers may feel more inclined to support local communities post-pandemic, which is a gap that ‘slow travel’ can fill. Competition is already intensifying between both niche and major travel intermediaries, suggesting that slow travel is sure to make its mark in post-pandemic travel. Travel intermediaries that offer ‘slow travel’ holidays range from niche operators such as Intrepid Travel and Responsible Travel to more mainstream providers such as Airbnb and Expedia Group. This niche trend reflects consumers’ growing desire for more experiential forms of travel, going above and beyond the hordes of tourists gathered for sun, sea and sand. Its potential growth could further rival the concept of mass tourism and the all-inclusive package holiday concept in travel’s recovery post COVID-19.

Only 4,564 visitors traveled to Hawaii in April 2020Visitor arrivals in April 2021 were down 43.0 percent from the April 2019 countVisitor spending was down 38.4 percent from $1.32 billion spent in April 2019 According to preliminary statistics released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), a total of 484,071 visitors arrived by air service to the Hawaiian Islands in April 2021, compared to only 4,564 visitors who traveled to Hawaii in April 2020 when tourism to the islands virtually ceased due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Total spending for visitors arriving in April 2021 was $811.4 million. Prior to the pandemic, Hawaii experienced record-level visitor expenditures and arrivals in 2019 and in the first two months of 2020. When compared to 2019, visitor arrivals in April 2021 were down 43.0 percent from the April 2019 count of 849,397 visitors (air and cruise), and visitor spending was down 38.4 percent from the $1.32 billion spent in April 2019. April 2020 was the first full month of travel restrictions to keep the community safe, following the State of Hawaii’s 14-day mandatory travel quarantine for all passengers (effective March 26, 2020). During this time, exemptions included travel for essential reasons like work or health care. The state’s four counties enforced strict stay-at-home orders and curfews in April. Nearly all trans-Pacific flights and interisland flights were cancelled. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enforced a “No Sail Order” on all cruise ships. On October 15, 2020, the State initiated the Safe Travels program, which then allowed trans-Pacific travelers to bypass the quarantine if they had a valid negative test for COVID-19. A year later in April 2021, the Safe Travels program was still underway, with most passengers arriving from out-of-state and traveling inter-county able to bypass the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine with a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT test result from a Trusted Testing Partner prior to departure. Kauai County rejoined the Safe Travels program on April 5, 2021. The counties of Hawaii, Maui and Kalawao (Moloka‘i) also had a partial quarantine in place in April. The CDC continued reduced restrictions through a “Conditional Sail Order” on all cruise ships. In April 2021, 352,147 visitors (versus 3,016 visitors in April 2020) arrived from the U.S. West and 119,189 visitors (versus 1,229 in April 2020) were from the U.S. East. In addition, 1,367 visitors (versus 13 visitors in April 2020) came from Japan and 527 visitors (versus nine visitors in April 2020) were from Canada. There were 10,842 visitors (versus 298 in April 2020) from All Other International Markets. Many of these visitors were from Guam, and a small number of visitors were from Other Asia, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Philippines and Pacific Islands. U.S. West visitors spent $573.2 million. U.S. East visitors spent $233.7 million. Visitors from Japan spent $4.5 million. Visitor spending data from other markets were not available. A total of 3,614 trans-Pacific flights serviced the Hawaiian Islands in April, compared to 426 flights a year ago. This represented a total of 727,980 air seats, up from 95,985 seats. There were significantly more scheduled seats from U.S. West (623,611, +703.7%) and U.S. East (80,172, +3,646.4%). Air service from Japan (8,798 seats, +1,082.5%), Other Asia (2,224 seats, +920.2%) and Canada (716 seats, none in April 2020) remained limited but there were more scheduled seats compared to a year ago. There continued to be no direct air service from Oceania. Scheduled seats from Other countries (Guam, Manila, Majuro) decreased (8,589, -10.4%).

Spirit Airlines launches Tampa flights from LouisvilleSpirit Airlines launches Fort Myers route from LouisvilleSpirit flight 1227 will be airline’s first departure from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Louisville lit up the sky in yellow to signal that Spirit Airlines was on its way, and now Spirit’s bright yellow planes are touching down for the first time as the airline celebrates its inaugural flight. The first landing is a milestone years in the making, but Spirit Airlines is taking the festivities a step further by announcing the addition of two new, nonstop routes from the Derby City to Tampa (TPA) and Fort Myers (RSW) on Florida’s Gulf Coast starting later this year.  “It’s a beautiful day when we get to bring the best value in the sky to a vibrant city like Louisville and announce plans for even More Go on day one,” said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning for Spirit Airlines. “I’ve seen so much enthusiasm across the whole Spirit Team as we prepared to welcome Guests onboard in Louisville, and we’re off to a great start serving this incredible community. We look forward to everyone experiencing our unbeatable combination of service, reliability, new planes and low fares when they take their next trip.” Spirit flight 1227 will be the airline’s first departure from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). Plans call for it to leave under a water cannon salute with nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale. The rest of the day’s schedule calls for flights to and from Orlando, Las Vegas and Los Angeles with service to Pensacola following in June. Thursday’s announcement means SDF travelers will be able to catch nonstop flights to seven cities—and connections throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean—while enjoying Spirit’s famous low fares, Signature Service and on-time performance. “When Spirit first announced they were coming to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, we said it was a great day, and it keeps getting better. Spirit is a fantastic addition to our community, and we appreciate the continued investment with two new, convenient nonstop routes since their initial announcement,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “We look forward to a vibrant future with even more options for more travelers to visit our city, along with additional opportunities to travel around the country and the world.” Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando are three of Spirit’s biggest cities, which means nonstop flights from SDF come with easy connections throughout the United States. Fort Lauderdale is also Spirit’s largest gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, providing access to 16 countries. Flights from Louisville (SDF)Destination:Flights Available:Launch Date:Fort Lauderdale (FLL)DailyMay 27, 2021Las Vegas (LAS)DailyMay 27, 2021Los Angeles (LAX)DailyMay 27, 2021Orlando (MCO)DailyMay 27, 2021Pensacola (PNS)3X WeeklyJune 10, 2021Fort Myers (RSW) NEW4X WeeklyNov. 17, 2021Tampa (TPA) NEW3X WeeklyNov. 18, 2021

Qatar Airways will be increasing frequencies to Boston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and SeattleQatar Airways offers 12 gateways connecting seamlessly with hundreds of domestic destinations via its strategic partners and onwards globallyHamad International Airport is the only 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rated Airport in the Middle East Qatar Airways’ resumption of four-weekly Atlanta flights on 1 June marks the full return of the airline’s pre-pandemic U.S. network increasing its gateways to 12, two more than it operated before COVID-19. The airline will also be increasing frequencies to Boston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle offering more flexible travel options for its passengers with more than 85 weekly flights across the United States. These increased services will provide enhanced connectivity to several of the airline’s global leisure destinations including Cape Town, Maldives, Seychelles and Zanzibar, along with other key traffic flows in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Qatar Airways has remained committed to its passengers and trade partners in the United States, maintaining continuous services while rebuilding its U.S. network and launching two new destinations – San Francisco and Seattle. We have also strengthened our presence in the U.S. through strategic partnerships with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue that have enabled us to connect to more points in the United States than any other airline, providing U.S. travelers the most convenient way to travel internationally this summer. “As more of our passengers return to the skies, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with our state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. We are proud to have lead the industry during this difficult period, setting the benchmark for innovation, safety and customer service, and look forward to welcoming our customers back on board as they plan their summer travels.” Americas Network Enhancements: Atlanta – Four weekly flights resuming 1 JuneBoston – Increasing to four weekly flights from 3 JulyMiami – Increasing to five weekly flights from 7 JulyNew York – Increasing to double daily flights from 21 JulyPhiladelphia – Increasing to five weekly flights from 2 JulySao Paulo – Increasing to double daily flights from 6 AugustSan Francisco – Increasing to daily flights from 2 JulySeattle – Increasing to daily flights from 8 July

Space travel’s extremely high price point that could impact its viability beyond the short-termSpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have a target market which consists of roughly 0.7% of the global populationThere could be a lack of demand after the initial rush for tickets has been satisfied While 2021 is set to be a breakthrough year for commercial space travel, the viability of this hyper-premiumized and ultra-exclusive experience remains unknown. The concept of commercial space travel is no doubt exciting, and this is reflected by high demand for the extremely limited capacity available for upcoming voyages into – and on the edge of – space. Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft Unity has garnered 600 reservations for tickets on future voyages, sold at prices between US$200,000 and US$250,000. Additionally, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is currently open for bids for a seat on its New Shepard flight in 2021, with the highest bid currently US$2.8m (as of 20 May 2021). It is actually space travel’s extremely high price point that could impact its viability beyond the short-term. Until companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin can scale their technology to make it accessible to non-millionaires, these companies will have a target market which consists of roughly 0.7% of the global population. When considering that many high-net-worth individuals will find the idea of space travel too alienating, this minute percentage will decrease even further. This means that there could be a lack of demand after the initial rush for tickets has been satisfied. Scaling the technology to increase accessibility will be a hurdle in years to come. Initially, space transportation companies will gain a competitive edge through differentiation rather than price. For example, length of trip, service, comfort, and viewpoints will decide which company will lead in the space travel industry in the short-term. However, when the growth stagnates in the luxury market, these companies will have to make their offerings more affordable. One way of doing this is through collaboration and consolidation, but with high profile business magnates at the helm of the most talked about space travel companies, this seems unlikely. The impact of the pandemic on the global economy could also negatively affect the viability of space travel. According to latest data, gross disposable income dropped by 4.3% year-on-year (YOY) in the US in 2020, which is the nation with the most millionaires. This shows that even luxury consumers from wealthy nations may have to refrain from premiumized experiences in the coming years as their financial positions have weakened. The buzz around space travel is understandable. A combination of experiencing world-class engineering in motion and the Earth from a bird’s-eye view will be highly sought after in the short-term. However, demand could stagnate as the years go by if price does not decrease and scaling issues are not addressed.

Russia refused to approve new route avoiding Belarusian airspaceAir France Flight AF1155 from Moscow to Paris was cancelled as wellAir France had offered passengers to choose a new travel date or to get a refund for the cancelled flight French flag carrier Air France announced to day that it has cancelled its scheduled flight from Paris to Moscow after Russian authorities refused to approve the route that would allow French airline to avoid Belarusian airspace. According to Air France’s spokesperson, Flight AF1154 was cancelled “for operational reasons linked to the bypassing of Belarusian airspace, requiring a new authorization from the Russian authorities to enter their territory.” Air France added that Flight AF1155 from Moscow to Paris was cancelled as well. French carrier said that it had offered passengers to choose a new travel date or to get a refund for the cancelled flight. According to some reports, Air France still “planned to run its next scheduled Moscow flight on Friday, subject to Russian approval of a flight plan that would allow it to avoid overflying Belarus.” After Belarus hijacked a Ryanair jetliner, the European Union leaders banned Belarusian airlines from all EU airports and EU airspace and called on all European airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace. A passenger jet belonging to Ryanair, an Irish low-cost airline, performing a flight from Athens to Vilnius on May 23 was forced to make a landing at Minsk International Airport after Belarusian security forces staged a fake bomb threat under and dispatched MiG-29 fighter jet to force Irish passenger airliner to land in Belarus. Upon landing in Minsk, Belarusian security agents searched the plane and its passengers and arrested an independent journalist and a co-founder of Nexta Telegram channel Roman Protasevich, who had been among the flight’s passengers. He was immediately detained by Belarusian KGB agents and transported to Minsk’s notorious central Detention Center No. 1, famous for brutal torture of the opponents of the country’s brutal regime.

Finland bans Belavia airline from its airspacePermit for flights of state-owned Belarusian Belavia to Finland revoked These measures followed the hijacking of the Ryanair’s passenger jet by Belarus on May 23 Finnish transport and communications agency (Traficom) announced today that is had revoked Belarusian Belavia airline’s permit for flights to Finland. “Traficom canceled the permit for flights of state-owned Belarusian company Belavia to Finland,” the regulator said. According to Finland’s regulator, such decision was made based on the Traficom’s assessment that “Belarus cannot support air traffic and passenger safety in its [air] space”. The European Union summit held on Monday announced the ban on flights of Belarusian air carriers to EU airports and over the EU airspace and advised all European carriers to refrain from flights in Belarusian airspace. These measures followed the hijacking of the Ryanair passenger jet by Belarus on May 23.

66% would like to have their airline, hotel, or travel company in their phone contacts, jumping to 81% among those 18 to 2358% would like to have a direct line to their airline, hotel, or travel company on social media, with those 18 to 23 landing at 68%66% would like the option to message when they go to their airline, hotel, or travel company’s website, reaching 76% among those 18 to 23 A survey of 2,000 Americans found that nearly three-fourths of consumers (73%) prefer messaging to calls when making airline, hotel, or other travel-related reservations. Among 18- to 23-year-olds, the number reaches a whopping 90%. According to the April 2021 survey, messaging options — including SMS, WhatsApp, Apple Business Chat, Facebook Messenger, and brand websites and apps — are viewed as a convenient, preferred method for travelers to engage with their favorite travel brands.  Nearly as many (71%) are comfortable having their airline, hotel, or travel company reach out and text them directly, especially if deals or upgrades are on offer. This number increases to 80% among 18- to 23-year-olds, underscoring an advantage for brands that offer messaging to this coveted demographic and deliver on the type of services that will help future-proof the travel industry. Additional findings from the survey include: 66% would like to have their airline, hotel, or travel company in their phone contacts, jumping to 81% among those 18 to 2358% would like to have a direct line to their airline, hotel, or travel company on social media, with those 18 to 23 landing at 68%66% would like the option to message when they go to their airline, hotel, or travel company’s website, reaching 76% among those 18 to 23 Delta is leading the way in messaging experiences for travelers by empowering them to begin conversations with Delta directly from Apple Business Chat, SMS, the Fly Delta app, IVR deflection, and even QR codes within airports. These conversations allow customers to engage with the airline quickly and easily. Delta also uses the power of conversational AI to support its agents and help more customers faster than ever, as well as its in-message payment capabilities to help customers book travel and make purchases without ever leaving the conversation. Delta held 2.45 million conversations on Conversational Cloud in 2020, with 925,000 conversations assisted by AI. Of those AI-orchestrated conversations, 37% were fully handled by a blend of brand-built bots and conversational AI. Customer satisfaction scores for these experiences were extremely high (92 CSAT). Delta also plans to use the Conversational Cloud to engage with customers over Facebook Messenger and Twitter DMs. With 90% of young Americans reporting they prefer to message with travel companies, it’s clear that the future of travel will be dominated by brands that adopt and scale messaging experiences for sales, marketing, and customer care.

Ash plume from the Great Sitkin volcano eruption was as high as 15,000ft (4,600m)The eruption had been preceded by increased volcanic-seismic unrest over the previous 24 hoursThe volcano has had a few short-lived eruptions over the past 100 years The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a statement today announcing that volcanic activity on Great Sitkin Island had been confirmed by geophysical data. The volcano started erupting at 9:04pm on Tuesday, with an explosion that lasted a couple of minutes, and was continuing to erupt at the time of its latest update.  The eruption prompted the USGS and the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) to issue a joint ‘red warning’ to aviation after observations suggested the ash plume from the Great Sitkin volcano eruption was as high as 15,000ft (4,600m). “Since that explosion, seismicity has decreased, and satellite images show that the ash cloud has detached from the vent and is moving towards the east,” the Alaska Volcano Observatory said in the latest update.  A number of photos on social media, some unverified, appear to show the ash cloud suspended over the sea and a number of remote islands. One image (featured), probably taken from the community of Adak, approximately 26 miles (43km) west of the volcano, highlights the size of the discharge. The eruption had been preceded by increased volcanic-seismic unrest over the previous 24 hours, and elevated surface temperatures and sulfur dioxide had been detected over the past week. Great Sitkin is one of the Aleutian Islands, most of which belong to the US state of Alaska. The volcano, of which there are many among the Aleutian Islands, has had a few short-lived eruptions over the past 100 years, the latest being small steam explosions in 2019. 

In 2021 global passenger numbers are expected to recover to 52% of pre-COVID-19 levelsIn 2023 global passenger numbers are expected to surpass pre-COVID-19 levelsBy 2030 global passenger numbers are expected to have grown to 5.6 billion The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Tourism Economics released a long-term view for post-COVID-19 passenger demand recovery which demonstrates that people remain eager to travel in the short and long-term. To ensure that aviation can sustainably deliver its social and economic benefits as it meets this long-term demand, it is critical that governments step-up their support for more efficient operations and foster an effective energy transition. Forecast highlights include  In 2021 global passenger numbers are expected to recover to 52% of pre-COVID-19 levels (2019)In 2022 global passenger numbers are expected to recover to 88% of pre-COVID-19 levelsIn 2023 global passenger numbers are expected to surpass pre-COVID-19 levels (105%)By 2030 global passenger numbers are expected to have grown to 5.6 billion. That would be 7% below the pre-COVID-19 forecast and an estimated loss of 2-3 years of growth due to COVID-19Beyond 2030 air travel is expected to slow, due to weaker demographics and a baseline assumption of limited market liberalization, giving average annual growth between 2019 and 2039 of 3.2%. IATA’s pre-COVID-19 growth forecast for this period was 3.8% The recovery in passenger numbers is slightly stronger than the recovery in demand measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), which is expected to grow by an annual average of 3% between 2019 and 2039. This is owing to the expected strength of domestic markets like China with large passenger numbers and shorter distances. “I am always optimistic about aviation. We are in the deepest and gravest crisis in our history. But the rapidly growing vaccinated population and advancements in testing will return the freedom to fly in the months ahead. And when that happens, people are going to want to travel. The immediate challenge is to reopen borders, eliminate quarantine measures and digitally manage vaccination/testing certificates. At the same time, we must assure the world that aviation’s long-term growth prospects are supported with an unwavering commitment to sustainability. Both challenges require governments and industry to work in partnership. Aviation is ready. But I don’t see governments moving fast enough,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Pre-COVID-19, passengers, on average, spent about 1.5 hours in travel processes for every journeyCurrent data indicates that airport processing times have ballooned to 3.0 hours Without process improvements, the time spent in airport processes could reach 5.5 hours per trip The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned of potential airport chaos unless governments move quickly to adopt digital processes to manage travel health credentials (COVID-19 testing and vaccine certificates) and other COVID-19 measures. The impacts will be severe: Pre-COVID-19, passengers, on average, spent about 1.5 hours in travel processes for every journey (check-in, security, border control, customs, and baggage claim)Current data indicates that airport processing times have ballooned to 3.0 hours during peak time with travel volumes at only about 30% of pre-COVID-19 levels. The greatest increases are at check-in and border control (emigration and immigration) where travel health credentials are being checked mainly as paper documentsModelling suggests that, without process improvements, the time spent in airport processes could reach 5.5 hours per trip at 75% pre-COVID-19 traffic levels, and 8.0 hours per trip at 100% pre-COVID-19 traffic levels “Without an automated solution for COVID-19 checks, we can see the potential for significant airport disruptions on the horizon. Already, average passenger processing and waiting times have doubled from what they were pre-crisis during peak time—reaching an unacceptable three hours. And that is with many airports deploying pre-crisis level staffing for a small fraction of pre-crisis volumes. Nobody will tolerate waiting hours at check-in or for border formalities. We must automate the checking of vaccine and test certificates before traffic ramps-up. The technical solutions exist. But governments must agree digital certificate standards and align processes to accept them. And they must act fast,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Over the past two decades air travel has been reinvented to put passengers in control of their journeys through self-service processes. This enables travelers to arrive at the airport essentially “ready to fly”. And with digital identity technology, border control processes are also increasingly self-service using e-gates. Paper-based COVID-19 document check would force travelers back to manual check-in and border control processes that are already struggling even with low volumes of travelers. Solutions If Governments require COVID-19 health credentials for travel, integrating them into already automated processes is the solution for a smooth restart.  This would need globally recognized, standardized, and interoperable digital certificates for COVID-19 testing and vaccine certificates.

Flights for the summer will run 2 times a week between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Anguilla,The Anguilla Tourist Board will be partnering with stakeholders on island and with travel advisors in-market to promote the air service.Resuming these flights is an important step in reopening Anguilla to international travel. The summer flights will operate twice weekly between the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in Anguilla through August 6, 2021. Silver Airways is the parent company of Seaborne Airlines. Seaborne has operated in Anguilla for many years.   “I am proud to have been a part of the initial negotiations with Seaborne Airlines in 2014 that culminated in regular service to Anguilla. We are delighted to welcome Silver Airways to Anguilla after this lengthy hiatus caused by the pandemic,” said the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes. “Silver/Seaborne has been our valued partner for many years, and the San Juan gateway is vital to the growth of our industry. Maintaining and expanding access to Anguilla is essential for tourism development, and the restoration of this service is an important step as we reopen our island to international travelers,” he continued. “We are honored to service Anguilla, which has long been one of our most popular routes,” declared Captain Steven Dowda, Vice President of Caribbean Operations for Silver Airways and Seaborne Airlines. “Anguilla’s tourism product is exceptional, and our relationship with Anguilla is a strong and mutually beneficial one. We look forward to working closely with our tourism partners here to grow arrivals to the island and increase service this winter.” The Silver Airways service will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, with two rotations each day for a total of four flights per week.

Málaga is a firm favorite with holidaymakers around the worldSpain has always been a strategically important country for Qatar AirwaysMálaga became the third Spanish destination for Qatar Airways network in June 2018 The key holiday destination of Málaga returns to Qatar Airways’ route network as Spain begins to ease travel restrictions for tourists. Málaga is a firm favorite with holidaymakers around the world, and fully vaccinated travelers will soon be able to visit once again with Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “As the world begins to open  up again, we at Qatar Airways stand ready to take the lead in supporting the global economic and social recovery as demonstrated by our support for tourism in Spain. Spain has always been a strategically important country for our airline, as reflected by our deep partnership with Iberia and steady rebuild of our Spain network. “Our global network continues to rebuild and expand even in these challenging times.  Passengers booking with Qatar Airways can do so with complete confidence that they can make changes to their booking should factors outside their control disrupt their travel plans.” Málaga is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city nestled along Spain’s Costa del Sol in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia. The city offers a wide variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, such as exploring the historic Roman fort, basking on one of Málaga’s wonderful Mediterranean beaches or visiting one of its many museums. Many travelers also combine a trip to Malaga with a visit to the Southern Spain hotspots of Marbella and Puerto Banus. Málaga became the third Spanish destination for Qatar Airways network in June 2018 and will be served by flights on Friday and Sunday from Doha, utilizing one of the airline’s modern, sustainable and young Airbus A350-900 aircraft with seating for 36 in Business Class and 247 in Economy Class. The seasonal service will operate from 2 July to 12 September. Qatar Airways operates a total of 19 weekly flights to and from Spain, with daily Barcelona flights, ten weekly Madrid flights and the soon to resume two weekly Málaga flights. Qatar Airways recently expanded its strategic partnership with fellow oneworld member, Iberia. The expanded commercial cooperation will increase the number of destinations available to Iberia passengers from 29 to 36 on Qatar Airways’ network, including new destinations in Angola, Australia, Mozambique, New Zealand and South Africa. Qatar Airways passengers will also benefit from additional connectivity, with the ability to book travel to and from an additional four destinations on Iberia’s network in Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala and Senegal.  As oneworld alliance partners, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Iberia Plus members are ensured recognition of their tier status with benefits including access to lounges worldwide, through check-in, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding plus accrual and redemption of miles, across the partner carriers’ networks. Málaga schedule starting 2 July (Friday and Sunday): Doha (DOH) to Malaga (AGP) QR 155 departs 08:00 arrives 14:40 Malaga (AGP) to Doha (DOH) QR 156 departs 15:55 arrives 23:55

Irish ultra-low-cost carrier relaunches flights from Budapest AirportIt is crucial that flights and customers return to Budapest as soon as possibleReturn of Ryanair’s connections to popular destinations is a hugely positive sign for the airport and for the airlines Budapest Airport marks the return of significant links with Ryanair as the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) relaunches flights to Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, and the Canary Islands all in one week. Initially returning with a total of six-weekly flights, the Irish carrier will boost the Hungarian gateway’s frequency up to 19-weekly operations by July – Barcelona, five-times weekly; Berlin, six-times weekly; Brussels, daily; and Las Palmas, weekly. “The return of Ryanair’s connections to these popular destinations is a hugely positive sign for all – for the airport, for the airlines and, ultimately, for our passengers,” explains Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “It is crucial that flights and customers return to Budapest as soon as possible, and with the return of such links as Ryanair’s we are looking forward to a summer of revival.” Ryanair DAC is an Irish ultra low-cost airline founded in 1984. It is headquartered in Swords, Dublin, with its primary operational bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports. It forms the largest part of the Ryanair Holdings family of airlines, and has Ryanair UK, Buzz, and Malta Air as sister airlines. Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and still commonly called just Ferihegy, is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and by far the largest of the country’s four commercial airports. 

The Airline offers direct connections from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Porto Alegre to Nassau, and The Bahamas.Travelers staying 14 days or more in The Bahamas can return through the United States, provided they comply with all protocols and visa requirements of the country.The Bahamas follows strict health and safety protocols, in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among visitors and residents. “At Copa Airlines, we are excited to offer alternatives for Brazilian tourists to reach the Islands of The Bahamas. We believe that in Nassau you can enjoy wonderful days of rest and live an unforgettable holiday, thanks to its wide range of different experiences, ready to be discovered. In addition, each island in The Bahamas has its own attractions, with beautiful landscapes, gastronomy and immensely white sandy beaches,” said Christophe Didier, Vice President of Sales at Copa Airlines. Travelers staying 14 days or more in The Bahamas can return through the United States, provided they comply with all protocols and visa requirements of the country. Some hotels and resorts in The Bahamas are offering special promotions for those staying more than 14 days, such as Grand Isle in The Exumas and Margaritaville Resort in Nassau. This opportunity is ideal for tourists who plan on a long vacation in The Bahamas or want to continue on to the United States. “In The Islands of The Bahamas, there are countless opportunities for that long-awaited dream vacation, and the warm, hospitable people of The Bahamas look forward to welcoming visitors from Brazil. Resorts, hotels and other tourism related companies follow strict health and safety protocols, which have been implemented to ensure our visitors a safe, carefree, enjoyable vacation experience,” said the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, the Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation.

FAA action pertains only to AFAC, and this is not an assessment of Mexican carriersVolaris’ safety profile remains unchanged and is in line with best industry standards from both safety and security standpointsVolaris’ codeshare partner Frontier will remove its code from flights operated by Volaris Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (Volaris) – an ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States of America and Central America, informs that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America (FAA) has today determined that the safety oversight applied by Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Authority (AFAC) does not fully adhere to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and has downgraded the country’s safety rating from Category 1 to Category 2. Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the FAA audits peer aviation authorities to determine whether their oversight programs comply with ICAO annexes. The FAA action pertains only to AFAC, and this is not an assessment of Mexican carriers. Volaris‘ safety profile remains unchanged and we believe it is in line with best industry standards from both safety and security standpoints. Volaris is committed to the safety of our passengers. Current Volaris services will remain in place. However, during the period in which AFAC addresses the FAA findings, new services and routes cannot be added, and Volaris will be unable to add new aircraft to its FAA operations specifications. However, Volaris’ fleet may continue to grow, as the FAA action does not limit Volaris from incorporating any additional aircraft into its Mexican Air Operators Certificate, nor does it preclude Volaris from deploying such aircraft to Mexican and Central American markets. Additionally, our codeshare partner Frontier will remove its code from flights operated by Volaris, although customers will still have the option to purchase flights from Volaris and Frontier through the companies’ websites. Volaris understands that AFAC has been working closely with the FAA to remedy any technical or regulatory issues. Volaris will support the efforts of both regulatory authorities with the objective of restoring Mexico’s safety rating to Category 1.

Emirates will be celebrating Jordan’s 75th Independence Day in style this yearCustomers checking in to their Emirates flights at Queen Alia International Airport will find patriotic designs across their ticket sleevesEmirates today operates a daily flights between Amman and Dubai utilizing the iconic A380 Emirates has revealed that it will be celebrating Jordan’s 75th Independence Day in style this year, as the country marks its milestone anniversary. Customers boarding their Emirates flights from 24-26 May can expect thoughtful touches at every step of their journey, from locally inspired dishes onboard, to an on ground commemoration of the occasion at check-in, and much more. Customers flying during the Independence Day period will be able to savor mansaf as one of the main dishes being served onboard across all classes. To round off their meal, cream-filled knafe will be served onboard, for the perfect sweet punctuation to their local culinary experience. Cabin Crew will also be sharing a special announcement onboard services on the 25th of May. Customers checking in to their Emirates flights at Queen Alia International Airport will find patriotic designs across their ticket sleeves as well as at check-in screens. Mohammad Lootah, Area Manager Jordan said: “We are delighted to celebrate Jordanian Independence Day with our customers, and we have worked hard to make the experience extra special for them this year. We are part of every community we serve, and Emirates is proud to have played a role growing businesses, changing lives and generating opportunities in Jordan by providing improved connectivity and a superior product. Emirates has deep roots here in Jordan and we’re always looking for new ways to serve one of the region’s most dynamic markets.” Emirates has been flying to Jordan since 1986, and will be celebrating its 35th anniversary this year in the country. Emirates has developed its operations in Jordan, providing more connectivity for its customers and boosting its services to the country, and today operates a daily flights between Amman and Dubai utilizing the iconic A380, and will be boosting flights to a double daily operation starting from July.

Flights from Nur-Sultan are scheduled to depart at 09:00 and arrive in Podgorica at 10:5Flights from Almaty will depart at 07:30 and arrive in Podgorica at 10:25Passengers are required to have a negative PCR certificate issued not later than 72 hours before departure Air Astana will inaugurate new services between Kazakhstan and Montenegro on June 9, with flights to Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital,  operating from Nur-Sultan on Wednesdays and Saturdays and from Almaty on Thursdays and Sundays. All flights will be operated by new Airbus A321LR aircraft. Flights from Nur-Sultan are scheduled to depart at 09:00 and arrive in Podgorica at 10:55, with return from Podgorica at 12:00 and arrival in Nur-Sultan at 21:20. Flights from Almaty will depart at 07:30 and arrive in Podgorica at 10:25, with return from Podgorica at 11:30 and arrival in Almaty at 21:25.  All times local. Passengers are required to have a negative PCR certificate issued not later than 72 hours before departure in order to enter Montenegro. A certificate is not required for children under 5 years of age, passengers with a positive result of IgG antibody test issued not later than 30 days, and passengers who have completed a full course of coronavirus vaccination, approved in Montenegro. Air Astana is the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, based in Almaty. It operates scheduled, domestic and international services on 64 routes from its main hub, Almaty International Airport, and from its secondary hub, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

Wizz Air relaunches flights to Malaga and Dortmund on 21 and 23 MayWizz Air is using its fleet of A321neos on the Spanish linkWizz Air is using A320s to connect to Germany Budapest Airport welcomed the return of Wizz Air’s flights to Malaga and Dortmund, on 21 and 23 May, respectively. Using its fleet of A321neos on the Spanish link, and A320s to connect to Germany, the ultra-low-cost carrier will introduce 838 weekly seats (June) to its re-expanding network from the Hungarian capital. Wizz Air has launched the operations as weekly services to both destinations for the remainder of May, already confirming a frequency boost in June to twice-weekly links. “We’re delighted to already see seat capacity growing on both routes, providing choice for passengers to travel between each country,” explains Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “Wizz Air will once again allow us to offer a variety of connections, the first selection being fantastic destinations. As one of Southern Spain’s most popular regions, Malaga epitomizes Andalusian lifestyle, while Dortmund is renowned as a commercial and cultural center in Germany – both possibilities in huge demand from our airport,” adds Bogáts.

48 airlines ready to start at Terminal 2 Sky Line people mover and bus services to shuttle between both terminals againDowntime effectively used for modernization and extensive repairs Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 2 will open it’s doors again on Tuesday, June 1. Terminal 2 parking facilities and the Sky Line and bus transfer connections to Terminal 1 will also be providing regular service again. Consequently, passengers departing from Frankfurt Airport on or after June 1 should check in advance which terminal their flight will leave from. “We’re very pleased to announce that, after more than a year, Terminal 2 will finally be reopening,” says Sascha König, who heads Fraport AG’s terminal resource management department. “This will put us in an excellent position for handling the predicted increase in passenger volumes during the upcoming summer months. Of course, we’re also doing everything possible to prevent infection and safeguard the health of our passengers and employees at Terminal 2.” Comprehensive health measures have been implemented to thoroughly prepare Terminal 2: including a total of 3,000 floor markings, 480 see-through partitions installed at the check-in counters, blocking off every other seat in the waiting areas,  and installing 30 disinfectant dispensers. “It’s naturally up to each individual to comply with the rules for preventing infection,” stresses König. Effective June 1, the Terminal 2 parking facilities will also be fully operational and available for use. Because more passengers are now driving to the airport in their own cars due to the ongoing pandemic, it is strongly recommended to book a parking space in advance. Important notice: Passengers who are already booked to parking Terminal 1, but who will now be flying from Terminal 2, do not need to take any action. The QR codes they have already received can be used to drive into the P8 and P9 underground parking garages at Terminal 2. Coinciding with the terminal’s reopening, some restaurants and other services will also once again be serving passengers and visitors. Like at Terminal 1, these retail and food outlets will be subject to the current legal requirements, focusing initially on meeting travelers’ basic needs. A supply of food and beverages will be ensured, but only on a takeaway basis until further notice. Food and beverages may be consumed everywhere. However, when removing their facemasks for eating or drinking, passengers and visitors are asked to keep a sufficient distance from others. In addition to restaurants and food stands, shops selling magazines and newspapers, will be open. In the transit area, guests can enjoy Duty Free and Travel Value shopping. Hygiene products can be purchased in shops and via vending machines. Other services available include a pharmacy, currency exchange, tax refund, customs, as well as car rental services. A list (updated daily) of the shops and restaurants open at Terminal 2, including information on their business hours and “click & collect” opportunities, can be found on FRA’s airport website. The Visitors’ Terrace at Terminal 2 will remain closed for the time being. Frankfurt Airport is getting ready to reopen this popular viewing platform in August.  Terminal 2 has been closed to traffic since March 2020, due to the decrease in flights caused by the pandemic. Fraport, the airport’s manager, has effectively used this time to carry out extensive upgrades, repairs, and modernize projects in the Terminal 2 complex, which was inaugurated in 1994. The spacious terminal hall now also shines in a new light, thanks to installation of 3,136 new glass panes in the five skylights of the terminal roof. By the end of this year, 5,550 m² of asphalt roofing and 2,440 m² of concrete dividers will also be replaced. All of the terminal technical systems, cables, and electrical systems have also been optimized.

Tourism is among key economic areas which African countries are looking to develop, market, and promotefor the continent’s prosperity.The 2 heads of state have jointly agreed to eliminate barriers hindering smooth flow of trade and people.East African countries have resolved to advance regional tourism cooperation to help unlock potential in the region. A move by these 2 African countries to cooperate in trade and tourism was taken 2 weeks before African nations celebrated Africa Day on May 25, 2021, to commemorate the foundation of the African Union Organization of African Unity (OAU) on the same date in 1963. Tourism is among key economic areas which African countries are looking to develop, market, and promotefor the continent’s prosperity. Tanzania President Samia Suluhu made a 2-day State visit to Kenya a few weeks ago, then held talks with Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta targeting the development of trade and movement of people between the 2 neighboring states. The 2 heads of state have jointly agreed to eliminate barriers hindering smooth flow of trade and people between the 2 East African nations. They later instructed their respective officials to initiate and conclude trade talks to bridge significant differences between the 2 countries, reports from Kenyan capital Nairobi said. Movement of people also include local, regional, and foreign tourists visiting Kenya, Tanzania, and the entire East African region.

The flight from Moscow to Split will be operated on Fridays starting from June 2The flight from Moscow to Zadar will be operated on Saturdays starting from June 26In April 2021, S7 also resumed weekly flights to Pula, Croatia Russia’s S7 Airlines announced today that it will launch cargo-passenger flights to the cities of Split and Zadar in Croatia in June of this year. Currently, regular flights between Russia and Croatia are suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, airlines can operate specific cargo and passenger flights. “S7 Airlines has launched the sale of air tickets for direct flights from Moscow to Croatian cities of Split and Zadar. The flight from Moscow to Split will be operated on Fridays starting from June 25. The flight from Moscow to Zadar will be operated on Saturdays starting from June 26,” S7 said in the statement. Croatia is currently open for travel, but foreign tourists need to present their paid hotel reservation upon entry. They also need to present a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours prior to the travel date or a certificate of vaccination. In April 2021, S7 also resumed weekly flights to Pula (Croatia). Earlier, the airline launched flights from Moscow to France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus.

Belarusian airlines to be barred from carrying out flights to EU airportsBelarussian carriers to be banned from flying in EU airspaceEuropean airlines advised to suspend all flights in Belarusian airspace European Union leaders decided at the summit on Monday to ban Belarusian airlines from carrying out flights to EU airports and flying in EU airspace after the Belarussian state-sponsored hijacking of the Ryanair flight over Belarus, that was forced to land in Minsk. “This act of state piracy cannot go unpunished,” Clement Beaune, France’s Minister of State for European Affairs, said on Monday. “We will continue imposing sanctions to primarily ensure the security of our own citizens,” Beaune vowed. European airlines were also advised to suspend all flights in Belarusian airspace. The summit “calls on all EU-based carriers to avoid overflight of Belarus; calls on the Council to adopt the necessary measures to ban overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to EU airports of flights operated by such airlines,” according to the statement. This decision does not go into effect yet and needs to be approved by the Council at the ministerial level. The United States has also resolutely condemned the hijacking the Ryanair flight in the airspace over Belarus on Sunday and demanded an immediate release of Roman Protasevich, who was detained after a forced landing of the aircraft in Minsk, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “The United States strongly condemns the forced diversion of a flight between two EU member states and the subsequent removal and arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich in Minsk,” Blinken stated. “We demand his immediate release.” “This shocking act perpetrated by the [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko regime endangered the lives of more than 120 passengers, including U.S. citizens,” the US state official said.

Three-day event opens under the theme “A news dawn for travel and tourism.”President of Emirates believes demand for air travel could come back at a staggering rate by Q4 2021 if the vaccine program beats the virus.Aviation, regional tourism, destinations, and technology are some of the key topics discussed on the first day of ATM Virtual 2021. Under the same theme of “A new dawn for travel & tourism,” the three-day event, which was specifically designed for those industry professionals unable to attend the in-person ATM event, kicked off this year with Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, who gave a candid outlook about the recovery of the aviation industry. During a virtual conversation with top aviation consultant, John Strickland, who conducted the interview from London, Sir Tim initially gave his opinion on the recovery timescale of the aviation sector. “The ideal situation is that the vaccine program beats the virus by Autumn of this year and we get some relief then demand will come back at a staggering rate. Low cost (airlines) will benefit from intra-European travel, the US domestic market, China’s domestic market and international travel will (also) return in large numbers,” said Sir Tim. “But the problem (with this scenario) will be twofold. The ability of airlines to meet the demand when it comes and two, the conditionality of country access requirements,” he added.

Uzbekistan airline relaunches Russia serviceFlights between Tashkent and Moscow resume in JuneUzbekistan Airways restarts flights from Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport The press service of Uzbekistan’s flag carrier airline announced today that Uzbekistan Airways will resume flights from Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport on June 15, 2021. “Uzbekistan Airways will resume flights from Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport from June 15, 2021,” the press service says. The decision to restart flights was driven by provision of comfort and service level improvement for passengers on the Uzbek flag carrier flights. The partnership with the Domodedovo Airport will make possible to create comfortable conditions for dynamic development of tourism in Uzbekistan, the press service said. JSC Uzbekistan Airways is the flag carrier airline of Uzbekistan, headquartered in Tashkent. From its hub at Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport, the airline serves a number of domestic destinations; the company also flies international services to Asia, Europe and North America.

Critical infrastructure facilities have become increasingly viable threat targetsAfrica is expected to be the fastest-growing region, followed closely by Asia-PacificMiddle East will remain the largest market and will continue to fortify its cyber defenses The latest industry analysis finds that while corporate and consumer businesses remain popular marks for cyberattacks, critical infrastructure facilities have become increasingly viable threat targets. They are highly vulnerable to major operational disruptions and cyber incidents that can lead to real-world peril. Despite the ever-increasing threat landscape and their incredibly high-risk profile, critical infrastructure organizations remain far behind where they should be in their cyber maturity and digital resilience strategies, necessitating a rapid push to fortify cyber defenses and manage their cyber-risk profiles. The global critical infrastructure cybersecurity market—which is segmented into oil and gas facilities, utilities (electric and water), maritime (ports and entry points), and airports—is estimated to reach $24.22 billion by 2030 from $21.68 billion in 2020. While oil and gas facilities will continue to remain the largest segment investing in cybersecurity solutions, airports will prove to be the fastest-growing one, with a CAGR of 10.1%. Spending is expected to reach $1.87 billion by 2030. This is driven by the ongoing construction of new facilities, significant digitalization upgrades within existing airports, and the incremental updates being made to cybersecurity systems to keep up with the changing cyber-threat landscape and improve detection capabilities. Africa is expected to be the fastest-growing region, followed closely by Asia-Pacific. Much of the investment in both regions is from new facilities being built, renovated, or expanded that require new cybersecurity systems installed, as well as changing consumer awareness of their cybersecurity risks. The Middle East will remain the largest market and will continue to fortify its cyber defenses and protect against prevalent cyber-threats. Market participants should focus on the following to tap into lucrative growth prospects: Data traffic monitoring for operational technology systems: Vendors must ensure that their monitoring solutions can detect the actions of active and passive assets and all data traffic types, then decide how best to analyze the data.Network topology solutions for vulnerability and risk assessment: Market participants seeking to provide network topology capabilities need to ensure that they can identify and discover the variety of information technology (IT), Internet of Things (IoT), and operational technology (OT) devices within an organization’s network architecture to begin building the topological model.Continuous discovery for organizational assets: For security vendors, emphasizing continuous monitoring and automatic discovery tasks will help attract new customers and improve their market share.Predictive analytics and threat intelligence for incident detection: Cybersecurity solutions providers must emphasize automatic and predictive capabilities in their system tests and proofs of concept with customers to show how these systems will not overwhelm their existing security functions.Secure-by-design initiatives for operational technology assets and systems: Security operators that want to update older OT assets and devices should look at any components that are not engineered via secure-by-design manufacturing.

How safe is it for commercial airlines to fly over certain countries, including Belarus? Hopefully, Belarus is not setting a new trend for state-sponsored hijacking and terrorism.A commercial flight operated by Ryanair was on a route to fly from the capital of one EU member country Greece to another member country Lithuania, from Athens to Vilnius. All passengers went through European strict security checks. They took off shoes, had their lap-tops scanned separately from their hand luggage, and bringing liquid was illegal. Ryanair is an airline based in another EU Country Ireland and operated its scheduled flight. FR 4978 was leaving its cruising altitude of 39,000 feet to land in Vilnius after a 3-hour flight from Athens when Belarus aviation authorities warned the captain of a possible bomb on board. Instead of continuing to the closest airport at that time, what would have been the destination airport Vilnius, Belarus authorities instructed the pilot to make a U-turn just two miles from the border and revert thje Boeni Belarus capital city of Minsk. There was an emergency for Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko. One of his enemies was a passenger on this plane. His name is Roman Protasewitsch, a journalist and blogger critical to Belarus ruler. Once the plane touched down in Minsk authorities stormed the plane and arrested the blogger and two of his friends. In addition two other passengers, who may have been KGB agents left the plane. The bomb was no longer an issue at that time, but to keep up the show bags were unloaded and sniffer dogs tried to find bombs. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who is in exile, told Sky News that she was afraid for Protasevich’s life. He is a high-profile opponent of President Lukashenko. “We don’t just worry about his freedom, but about his life,” The EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell, on behalf of all 27 EU countries, called for the Belarusian journalist to be released immediately. His arrest is another obvious attempt by the Belarusian authorities to silence all opposition voices. With the forced landing in Minsk, the Belarusian authorities would have endangered the safety of the passengers and the crew, said Borrell. The incident must lead to an international investigation. “Measures against those responsible” should be discussed at the EU special summit, which begins in Brussels in the evening.” Also the United States demanded the immediate release of the journalist and said 100 passengers and crew, including US citizens were put in danger by Belarus. In 2013 the United States and Austria were accused to force a private airplane on a flight originating in Russia forced to land overflying Austria. The reason was Edward Snowden was thought to be a passenger onboard this Bolivian jet carrying the Bolivian president. Edward Snowden was a former U.S. intelligence worker who leaked secret data. The situation here was different since the plane was unable to continue its route since France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy reportedly refused permission to fly over their territories giving in on pressure from the United States. How can the international aviation industry protect itself from countries to engage in state sponsored hijacking of passenger flights?

This incident affected around 4,500,000 data subjects in the worldCredit card data was compromised but CVV/CVC numbers were not held by Air India’s data processorAir India also said that no passwords were affected India’s national carrier and largest international airline informed the its customers of a data security breach that took place between August 26, 2011 and February 3, 2021. Air India has said the personal data of millions of passengers was compromised as the result of a cyberattack. The stolen information included credit card and passport details.  “This incident affected around 4,500,000 data subjects in the world,” Air India said in a statement. The stolen data included passengers’ names, dates of birth, contacts, passport details, and ticket information. The credit card data was also compromised, but Air India said that CVV/CVC numbers were “not held by our data processor.” Air India also said that “no passwords were affected.” It added that “external specialists” had been brought in to help secure the compromised servers. A number of major airlines, including British Airways and EasyJet, as well as airline service providers, have fallen victim to successful cyberattacks in recent years. British Airways was fined £20 million ($28 million) by the UK’s data protection regulator last year after the personal information of more than 400,000 customers was stolen.

Dan joins Delta from General Electric, where he is currently the Senior Vice President and CEO of GE Power PortfolioDan Janki will also join the Delta Leadership CommitteeDan is known for his close working relationship with his teams and a strong customer focus Delta Air Lines continues to build out its leadership team as it flies into the recovery, with Dan Janki joining the airline as its new E.V.P. and Chief Financial Officer. As Delta Air Line’s top leader in finance, Dan will oversee financial reporting, the controller organization, corporate audit, financial planning, fleet and TechOps supply chain, fuel management, including Delta’s refinery, investor relations, supply chain management and treasury. In addition, corporate strategy will report to Dan.  He also will join the Delta Leadership Committee. Dan joins Delta from General Electric, where he is currently the Senior Vice President and CEO of GE Power Portfolio. He has more than 25 years of experience at GE in a wide variety of senior roles. “Dan is known for his close working relationship with his teams and a strong customer focus,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to employees. “He shares our spirit of innovation and collaboration, and our values of servant leadership, honesty, integrity and respect for all.” “I’m thrilled to join Delta’s talented team, renowned for its innovative, collaborative and people-centric culture. As a longtime frequent flyer and corporate business partner, I have a deep appreciation for Delta’s strong commitment to its customers, and its reliable and trusted service,” Dan said. “I’m also immensely grateful to my colleagues and friends at GE, and I wish them continued success as I look forward to getting to know my new colleagues at Delta.” In his memo, Ed thanked Gary Chase and Bill Carroll for their exceptional leadership as interim co-CFOs. “Their collaboration and support of our world-class Finance organization has been instrumental in our progression through the recovery,” he said. “I’m proud of the great work of our finance team throughout the pandemic and how they have positioned Delta to emerge stronger.” Dan, who lives in Atlanta with his wife, Terri, and three children, will join Delta effective July 12, 2021.

United will increase flights between New York/Newark and Rome to daily in JulyUnited will increase flights between New York/Newark and Milan to daily in JulyUnited will resume 5x weekly service between New York/Newark and Barcelona beginning in July United Airlines applauds Spain following its decision to reopen travel to vaccinated visitors beginning June 7. The announcement comes following the European Union Council’s formal recommendation that EU Member States can reopen to fully vaccinated tourists and United looks forward to welcoming back customers on over 30 daily flights to 16 destinations in Europe this summer, including service between New York/Newark and Barcelona and Madrid. United Airlines is also making traveling to and from these countries easier with its industry-leading Travel-Ready Center which allows customers to view COVID-19 entry requirements, find, schedule and receive uploaded test results from local providers and upload any required testing and vaccination records for domestic and international travel, all in one place. United is the first and only U.S. airline to integrate all these features into its mobile app and website. “The EU Council’s recommendation represents the turning of the page in the pandemic for our customers, employees and residents of the EU, and brings us all closer to reuniting the world,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances at United. “In addition to offering service to more destinations in Europe than any other U.S. carrier, only United allows customers to easily upload vaccine records and testing results to our app making international travel much easier.” United also recently announced a new collaboration with Abbott and became the first U.S. carrier to set up an easy way for international travelers to bring a CDC-approved test with them, self-administer while abroad, and return home through an innovative collaboration with Abbott. This summer, United is expanding its service to Europe including recently announced new routes to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Reykjavik, Iceland and Athens, Greece as well as adding more flights into Frankfurt, Munich and Brussels that provide broad connectivity throughout the region. United is increasing flights across Europe and will operate the following routes to European countries which have recently announced plans to welcome tourists who meet the destination requirements: Italy: United will increase flights between New York/Newark and Rome to daily in JulyUnited will increase flights between New York/Newark and Milan to daily in JulyUnited’s flights from New York/Newark and Rome and Milan are part of Italy’s COVID-tested flights program – customers traveling on these flights may avoid self-isolation and must present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result, performed no more than 48 hours prior to departure and a negative antigen test on arrival. Spain: United will resume 5x weekly service between New York/Newark and Barcelona beginning in JulyUnited will resume 6x weekly service between New York/Newark and Madrid beginning in July

Executive Order which modifies travel restrictions goes into effect on Monday, May 24Executive Order eliminates negative COVID-19 PCR molecular test requirements for fully vaccinated travelers on domestic flightsExecutive Order lifts local curfew that was established in March 2020 Discover Puerto Rico, the Island’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), is sharing updates for U.S. inbound travelers stemming from the local government’s latest Executive Order, announced yesterday. The order, which goes into effect on Monday, May 24, includes modified restrictions such as the elimination of negative COVID-19 PCR molecular test requirements for fully vaccinated travelers on domestic flights and the lifting of the local curfew, which was established in March 2020. “Puerto Rico has prioritized health and safety from the onset of the pandemic, becoming the first U.S. destination to implement an Island-wide curfew, among other measures developed to safeguard residents and visitors. As restrictions loosen, we look forward to welcoming travelers seeking to responsibly explore our Island, immerse themselves in unforgettable culture, unique natural wonders and delicious cuisine, while taking advantage of the ease of travel that comes with Puerto Rico being a U.S. territory, including no need for a passport for U.S. citizens,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. Additional reduced restrictions include increased capacities for businesses, raised from 30 to 50 percent; the removal of a mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals in parks and beaches; and permission to consume alcoholic beverages in pools and beaches. The reopening of the Island’s coliseums, popular for entertainment experiences, will also be permitted at 30 percent capacity, with all attendees required to present either a vaccination card, or negative antigen test to gain admission. A full overview of the revised measures and arrival requirements is available in Discover Puerto Rico’s travel guidelines. For those travelling to Puerto Rico, the Island offers a wide array of unique attractions, with no need for a passport, currency exchange or phone plan adjustments for U.S. citizens. From a unique history infused with Spanish, Taino, and African heritages, to a booming coffee culture, and unparalleled offerings in nature including El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S Forest Service; three of the world’s five bioluminescent bays and stunning pink salt flats – Puerto Rico has a plethora of one-of-a-kind experiences. Exciting updates on the Island include the recent reopening of El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo and the opening of the highly anticipated Distrito T-Mobile, which is destined to be the most vibrant and popular setting for events, conventions and performances in the Caribbean region, coming later this year.

Canada’s approach to border management includes entry and flight restrictionAir passengers who depart India or Pakistan to Canada, via an indirect route, must obtain COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third countryMandatory pre-arrival, on-arrival, and post-arrival testing requirements; mandatory hotel stopover for air travelers; and mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers The Government of Canada takes a prudent and responsible approach at the border, by continually monitoring and reviewing available data and scientific evidence to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Today, the Government of Canada is extending the temporary travel measures restricting entry into Canada by foreign nationals until June 21, 2021. To continue managing the elevated risk of imported COVID-19 cases into Canada, the Government of Canada has extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India and Pakistan until June 21, 2021 at 23:59 EDT. The government is also extending the requirement for air passengers who depart India or Pakistan to Canada, via an indirect route, to obtain a COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada. Canada’s approach to border management includes entry and flight restrictions; mandatory pre-arrival, on-arrival, and post-arrival testing requirements; mandatory hotel stopover for air travelers; and mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers. The Government of Canada is also extending those measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians. As the science and evidence evolve and knowledge of the virus and variants increases, the policies to keep Canadians safe will evolve as well. Current data shows that Canada’s pre-arrival, on-arrival, and post-arrival testing requirements, as well as mandatory hotel stay for air travelers, are working. The Government of Canada’s response will continue to prioritize protecting the health and safety of Canadians, while also ensuring the safe flow of goods and services that are necessary for the Canadian economy. Quotes “As the number of COVID-19 cases remain disproportionally high in India and Pakistan, we have extended our flight restrictions and third country pre-departure testing requirements for these countries. These ongoing measures are in place to help protect Canadians, and manage the elevated risk of imported cases of COVID-19 and variants of concern into Canada during a time of increasing pressure on our health care system.” The Honorable Omar AlghabraMinister of Transport “We are extending the testing and quarantine measures at the border because they protect Canadians. As our health care system grapples with the third wave of the pandemic, our government will continue to adjust its response to COVID-19. I encourage all Canadians to get vaccinated when it’s their turn, and to keep following local public health measures.” The Honorable Patty HajduMinister of Health “Throughout the pandemic, we have taken strong action at our borders to protect Canadians while maintaining the flow of essential goods. We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Canadians as we adapt to the changing reality of the pandemic.” The Honorable Bill BlairMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Quick Facts To address unique situations along the Canada-U.S. border, residents of Alaska who transit through Yukon by car to get to another part of Alaska, and residents of Northwest Angle, Minnesota, travelling by car through Canada to mainland U.S., will be exempt from pre- and post-arrival testing.Travelers must continue to use ArriveCAN to provide COVID-related information, but must enter it within 72 hours prior to their arrival to Canada. In addition, travelers must submit their travel history for the 14 days before entering Canada. This information will help identify and monitor countries with high importation rates of COVID-19 and variants of concern.Positivity rates for those arriving by air (1.7%) and land (0.3%) remain very low. The measures have resulted in 96% less air traffic and a 90% drop in non-commercial traffic entering Canada by land, compared to pre-pandemic volumes.All travelers entering Canada must submit their information, including details of their 14-day travel history, electronically using ArriveCAN. This information must be entered into ArriveCAN within 72 hours before a travelers’ arrival to Canada to ensure accuracy and to help monitor importation of COVID-19.Violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to travelers by a screening officer or quarantine officer when entering Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to series penalties, including 6 months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.The Government of Canada currently contacts more than 5,500 travelers each day through live-agent or interactive automated phone calls, which verify their compliance with the mandatory isolation order.As of May 18, 2021, 97% of the 90,044 interventions by law enforcement have resulted in compliance by travelers. However, in a minority of cases, verbal warnings, written warnings, tickets, and charges have been issued.As of May 20, 2021, there have been 1,577 reported contraventions tickets issued for offences under the Quarantine Act.

Lufthansa is increasing its flight offerings to vacation destinations in Spain, Portugal and GreeceAdditional Lufthansa flights will take off to dream destinations such as Crete, the Algarve and the Balearic IslandsLufthansa is adding more flights to Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Ibiza, Faro, Lisbon and Heraklion Just in time for the long weekend over Corpus Christi, Lufthansa is now offering even more flights to attractive sun destinations. From June 3 to 6, the airline is increasing its flight offerings to vacation destinations in Spain, Portugal and Greece. Additional Lufthansa flights will take off from both Munich and Frankfurt to dream destinations such as Crete, the Algarve and the Balearic Islands. Lufthansa is adding more flights at short notice to Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Ibiza, Faro, Lisbon and Heraklion, for example. In total, beginning of June, passengers can choose from 20 additional flights. The flights are available for booking now, combined with attractive and flexible rebooking options. With more than 100 vacation destinations, Lufthansa and Eurowings are offering more vacation destinations this summer than ever before. For example, Lufthansa is flying non-stop from Germany to twelve dream destinations in Greece for the first time. Passengers can also choose from attractive long-haul offers to top vacation destinations such as Male (Maldives), Cancún (Mexico) or Punta Cana (Dominican Republic). Lufthansa always facilitates travel under the highest safety and hygiene regulations, taking into account the overall pandemic situation. Customers should observe the relevant current entry and quarantine regulations when planning their trip.

Qatar Airways became a member of oneworld in October 2013Mr. Al Baker will succeed current oneworld Governing Board Chairman Mr. Alan Joyce, Group CEO of Qantas GroupOneworld alliance continued its growth trajectory during recent challenging times with the addition of two new members The Governing Board of the oneworld global airline alliance has appointed Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker to serve as its Chairman. Mr. Al Baker will succeed current oneworld Governing Board Chairman Mr. Alan Joyce, Group CEO of Qantas Group. As Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, Mr. Al Baker will oversee the alliance’s governance, chair oneworld’s Governing Board meetings and work closely with oneworld CEO Rob Gurney and the alliance’s management team. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As we emerge from some of the most challenging times ever facing the global airline industry, I am honored to be chosen by my fellow board members to lead the Governing Board for oneworld, an alliance that has continued to expand since COVID-19 emerged, with the addition of two new members in Alaska Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. “I am also proud to lead an alliance that has set the benchmark for innovation, safety and customer service throughout the pandemic with many members, including Qatar Airways, taking the lead in trialing digital health passports. Qatar Airways has also enhanced bilateral relations with fellow oneworld members in the past 18 months, further demonstrating the strength of the partnerships between member airlines. “The pivotal role airlines and aviation play in the global economy has never been more evident than this past year, with both passenger and cargo operations in the spotlight, supporting international efforts to protect lives and livelihoods. We have collectively enabled mobilization of aid, medical supplies and key workers and I would like to pay tribute to all the teams who have worked tirelessly across the oneworld member airlines to support these efforts. “I look forward to serving as Chairman of the Governing Board and working with our alliance partners, oneworld CEO Rob Gurney and the oneworld team to provide more global connectivity, a seamless travel experience and more valuable loyalty offerings for our passengers.”

Sustainable Skies Act introduced by Reps. Brad Schneider, Dan Kildee and Julia BrownleyGoal of eliminating net carbon emissions by 2050 builds on the U.S. airline industry’s strong record of sustainabilityThe legislation would establish a blender’s tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, applauds the introduction of the Sustainable Skies Act by Reps. Brad Schneider (IL), Dan Kildee (MI) and Julia Brownley (CA). The legislation would establish a blender’s tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which will spur the production of SAF and help the U.S. airline industry reach its goal of eliminating net carbon emissions by 2050 while also supporting U.S. jobs and energy security. “A4A’s goal of eliminating net carbon emissions by 2050 builds on the U.S. airline industry’s strong record of sustainability. The Sustainable Skies Act would go a long way toward improving the cost-competitiveness of sustainable aviation fuel, which is crucial to rapidly expanding its deployment by U.S. carriers,” said Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “The U.S. airline industry has set an ambitious mid-term goal of making 2 billion gallons of SAF available for U.S. carriers to use in 2030, and supportive measures like the Sustainable Skies Act will enable us to achieve that goal.” SAF currently results in up to 80 percent less carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel, but it costs three to times as much and is currently only available in limited quantities. The Sustainable Skies Act calls for a performance-based $1.50 – $2 per gallon blender’s tax credit for SAF, which will encourage producers to make more of it and enable U.S. airlines to use more of it. The credit will increase from $1.50 per gallon by one cent for each additional percentage of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions savings demonstrated above 50 percent, further incentivizing the development and deployment of SAF providing higher emissions reductions. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, U.S. airlines were transporting a record 2.5 million passengers and 58,000 tons of cargo per day while contributing less than 2 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions. For decades, U.S. passenger and cargo carriers have been investing in increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft and operating them in more efficient ways, improving overall fuel efficiency by more than 135 percent since 1978 and 40 percent just since 2000.

Directly from Munich to Punta Cana, Cancún and Las VegasFour additional destinations from Frankfurt: Fort Myers, Panama City, Salt Lake City and KilimanjaroAll destinations for summer 2022 bookable as of May 26 The Lufthansa Group now already offers exciting vacation destinations on long-haul tourist routes for summer 2022. In addition to four more routes from Frankfurt, the Munich hub will again be integrated more strongly into the Lufthansa Group’s long-haul tourist offering. From March 2022, flights will once again depart from Munich to the sunny destinations of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancún in Mexico. Each destination will be served twice a week. Moreover, there will be two flights per week from the Bavarian capital to Las Vegas in the United States. Departing from Frankfurt, travelers can look forward to four dream destinations. Back on the flight schedule: Starting in March 2022, the Lufthansa Group will offer three flights a week to Fort Myers in the sunny state of Florida as well as to Panama City in Central America. In addition, Salt Lake City in the western United States will be on the flight schedule for the first time starting in May 2022 – with three flights per week. The Lufthansa Group is also expanding its services to East Africa and will be flying from Frankfurt to Kilimanjaro twice a week for the first time from June 2022. This summer, the flight schedule already includes Mombasa (Kenya) with onward flights to the dream island of Zanzibar (Tanzania). The flights will initially be published with Lufthansa flight numbers next week (May 26). They will be operated by Eurowings Discover in summer 2022. The new Lufthansa Group airline is specialized in tourist travel from the Frankfurt and Munich hubs.

First airline from the CIS and Southeast Asia successfully passes APEX auditThe Audit evaluated compliance of mandatory sanitary rulesAir Astana flight attendants replace their face masks every 2 hours, sanitize hands before and during inflight service and ensure passengers do not change seats Air Astana is the first airline from the CIS and Southeast Asia to successfully pass an APEX audit, with Diamond status being awarded for minimizing and preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus during flights. The APEX audit was developed in collaboration with SimpliFlying and covers categories including pre-departure testing of passengers and crew, contact tracing of infected passengers, ground handling, precautions during a flight and the quality of preflight cleaning. The Audit evaluated compliance of mandatory sanitary rules. Air Astana flight attendants replace their face masks every two hours, sanitize hands before and during inflight service and ensure passengers do not change seats. Due to the pandemic, onboard cleaning has also changed dramatically, with every surface in the cabin and in the galley now decontaminated prior to every flight. In order to promote passenger health safety, SimpliFlying has established a working group consisting of medical and scientific staff, who will examine recent researches to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The airline in its turn going to review and, if applicable, implement changes in line with audit recommendations. “The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global air transport is without precedent and whilst airlines remain extremely safe to fly based upon governmental review and covid-19 requirements, this program provides a scientifically based evaluation to set industry standard. We are delighted to be the first airline in the CIS region to have achieved the Diamond status, the highest level attainable,” said Margaret Phelan, Vice-President, Inflight Services. Other airlines that have undergone the APEX audit include Turkish Airlines, Qatar, United, Delta, Etihad and Singapore Airlines.

Part of funding resources were rededicated to Corona emergency measures and additional fundraising activities startedNew annual report provides information on project impactsFocus of 2020 work was on projects in India The current situation in India and many other parts of the world shows the serious impact of the Corona pandemic, especially on the weakest and poorest. In densely populated slums, it is almost impossible to comply with distance and hygienic rules. Furthermore, access to clean drinking water or medical care is impossible for many. As a globally active aid organization, help alliance therefore sees it as a very urgent responsibility to emphatically support the people most affected by the global crisis and to mitigate negative consequences as much as possible. The Lufthansa Group NGO reacted quickly to the changed situation caused by the Corona crisis and was able to continue its important work in the areas of education, work and income, prevention, health and food supply in its 39 projects in 2020. This year, seven additional projects will be funded, five in Europe. „We invested about 2.5 million euros in project work and were able to support over 40,000 people worldwide for the first time ever. Last but not least because we reallocated some of the funds for urgent Corona aid, like distributing food parcels and hygiene articles that enabled us to provide many people with additional emergency supplies”, is how Andrea Pernkopf, managing director of help alliance, summarizes the work of the aid organization in the organization’s annual report 2020, which was published today. Among other things, it contains detailed key numbers on project work impact – three exciting impact stories – donation highlights and the most important financial figures. Wide range of Corona emergency aid measures in 2020 In the reporting year 2020, help alliance educated more than 37,000 people about Corona and trained more than 30,000 people in need in hygiene measures. In the area of emergency care, the NGO provided around 18,000 people with masks and more than 10,000 people with food and hygienic products. Thanks to quickly implemented measures, around 20,000 children and young people were able to continue taking part in the aid organization’s educational programs – mostly digitally. Children need a future – fundraising for aid projects in India A key emphasis of help alliance’s work is aid projects in India: The proceeds generated for help alliance from the RTL Donation Marathon 2020 together with Mastercard will benefit neglected girls in the project “Education creates opportunities for street children.” Most of them live in a home in Dehradun, the capital of the state of Uttarakhand, which is far too small and in need of renovation. Thanks to donations, this will change. The successful fundraising campaign of the two companies Mastercard and Miles & More in the spring of 2021, which was held for the third year in a row, also raised around 200,000 euros. Donations will also be used for disadvantaged children and young people in three India projects run by help alliance. Help alliance is happy about every donation in favor of the Covid-19 prevention and emergency aid fund and guarantees that 100 percent of every cent donated goes to the project work.

73% of global respondents said they plan to take their next major vacation before the end of 202123% of the respondents had made travel reservations in the past weekResponses came from approximately 6,300 LGBTQ+ travelers around the world The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, with support from the IGLTA Foundation, recently released the first findings from its 2021 LGBTQ+ Post COVID-19 Travel Survey. Responses came from approximately 6,300 LGBTQ+ travelers around the world, with the largest representation from the United States, Brazil, Mexico, India and the EU. One year into the pandemic, the desire to return to travel is stronger than ever. Nearly three-fourths (73%) of global respondents said they plan to take their next major vacation before the end of 2021Nearly one quarter (23%) of the respondents had made travel reservations in the past week, at the time of taking the survey “When we did our first LGBTQ+ post COVID-19 travel sentiment study last year, the pandemic was in its infancy and everything was uncertain. Still, the results were undeniable: LGBTQ+ travelers were anxious to return to travel as soon as it was safely possible,” said John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO. “We wanted to revisit this project a year into this challenging time to reinforce the resilience of LGBTQ+ travelers, and to champion the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in destination outreach.” The survey also focused on the likelihood of LGBTQ+ individuals choosing a variety of travel-related activities in the next six months, again showcasing strong willingness to travel and the diversity of the LGBTQ+ travel market.  58% are likely/very likely to stay in a hotel or resort68% are likely/very likely to take a domestic leisure trip45% are likely/very likely to stay in a vacation home, condo or rental apartment31% are likely/very likely to take an international leisure trip19% are likely/very likely to visit an amusement park25% are likely/very likely to take a group trip13% are likely/very likely to take a cruise50% are likely/very likely to take a short-haul flight (3 hours or less)36% are likely/very likely to take a medium-haul flight (3-6 hours)26% are likely/very likely to take a long-haul flight (6 hours or more)43% are likely/very likely to attend an LGBTQ+ Pride Event The IGLTA Post COVID-19 LGBTQ+ Travel Survey was conducted between 26 March and 9 April 2021 through the association’s global network, including members and media partners. The responses came from 6,324 individuals around the world who identity as LGBTQ+. An emphasis was placed on obtaining greater gender parity in this survey. 57% of respondents identified as gay; 19% lesbian; 17% bisexual70% of respondents are between the ages of 25 and 6463% of respondents are men; 31% are women, 1% are transgender, 4% identify as non-binary or preferred to self-describe

I am feeling super proud of our Arabian Travel Market team as we close the curtains today on ATM 2021 in Dubai, Exhibition Director Danielli Curtis posted to her Linkedin account.The feedback by exhibitors at the Arabian Travel Market is overwhelmingly positive and reflects a sign of hope and relief.UNWTO and WTTC did not show flag at ATM in Dubai, while WTN attended “We have had so much positive feedback already from everyone about the quality of the meetings and the innovative sessions that took place. Reuniting with you all was one of the most incredible achievements and we are privileged to have brought you the first travel and tourism event in 18 months”, was the response by Exhibition Director Danielle Curtis representing the UK organizer Reed Travel Expo. Her words are echoed by almost everyone attending this trend-setting event in Dubai. The Arabian Travel Market 2021 was smaller compared to previous editions, but in midsts of an pendemic, this was expected. Considering this was the first sign and opportunity for the world to come together in person, it was surprising all of the Americas, Australia, Africa, much of Asia, and Europe did not take the opportunity to exhibit at ATM. Some regions in the world, including India, Nepal, Brazil, or South Africa are experiencing dangerous COVID-19 situations and of course, were not expected to be seen. However ATM is a start and regardless of how many countries exhibited it remains a trend now set for the travel and tourism industry, and specifically for the Meeting and MICE sector. Besides an overwhelming presence from the Gulf Region, Germany and specifically Visit Berlin tried hard to be seen. It was the only country that had organized a press conference. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) just finished its global summit in Cancun, Mexico last month. WTTC had been communicating its approach to become a global template for events. The WTTC Summit has been seen as the icebreaker for global travel and tourism events. It was strange, that WTTC was absent from ATM. WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara had no comments on why the organization claiming to represent major private industry had no stand at the Dubai event. WTM Chairman meets members UNWTO, the World Tourism Organization was also absent. UNWTO and WTTC opened regional offices in Saudi Arabia. With Saudi Arabia taking a prominent role both at the Cancun WTTC summit and the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, UNWTO and WTTC missed an opportunity to show unity and leadership. Several members of the newly founded World Tourism Network (WTN) came together in Dubai. Chairman Juergen Steinmetz said: “It was good to catch up with members. ATM opened up opportunities for the travel sector. Arabian Travel Market told the World Tourism Network Chairman: ” Due capacity restrictions the ATM networking evening was far smaller than usual years so I am afraid we could not accommodate everyone that due to limits set by COVID-19 regulations and an invitation to ATM’s networking party was not possible.” Instead of shouting out to the world, the organizer was protective to not expose exhibitors and themselves to media questions. The only press conference eTurboNews was aware of, was the one organized by the German Tourism Board and Visit Berlin. German Press Conference ATM was a mix of showcasing and exhibiting. A number of panel discussions touched on aviation, hospitality, and investments. Jordan Stand

IATA supports unrestricted access to travel for vaccinated travelersMore than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travelersaccess to quarantine-free travel should be provided through COVID-19 testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests The International Air Transport Association (IATA) applauded the growing number of countries making data and evidence-driven decisions to open their borders to vaccinated travelers. The latest data collected by IATA, including its Timatic service, shows that more than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travelers. IATA supports unrestricted access to travel for vaccinated travelers. In cases where vaccination is not possible, access to quarantine-free travel should be provided through COVID-19 testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests. Germany is among the latest countries to make quarantine alleviations for vaccinated travelers. Vaccinated travelers are no longer subject to quarantine measures (except from certain high-risk countries). Germany has also removed quarantine requirements for travelers with a negative COVID-19 test result (except from certain high-risk countries).  The German government decision followed a review of scientific advice from the world-renowned Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which concluded that vaccinated travelers are no longer significant in the spread of the disease and do not pose a major risk to the German population. Specifically, it stated that vaccination reduces risk of COVID-19 transmission to levels below the risk from a false negative rapid antigen test. The implementation of this policy aligns Germany with recommendations from both the European Commission and the European Parliament, based on similar scientific advice from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). In its interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination, the ECDC said that “based on the limited evidence available, the likelihood of an infected vaccinated person transmitting the disease is currently assessed to be very low to low.” Similar conclusions are being reached on the other side of the Atlantic. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has noted that “with a 90% effective vaccine, pre-travel testing, post-travel testing, and 7-day self-quarantine provide minimal additional benefit.” “A safe opening of borders to international travel is the goal. And scientific evidence and data such as that presented by RKI, ECDC and USC CDC should be the basis for the decision-making needed to achieve that. There is increasing scientific evidence that vaccination is not only protecting people but also dramatically reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is bringing us closer to a world where vaccination and testing enables the freedom to travel without quarantine. Germany and at least 20 other countries have already taken an important step forward in re-opening their borders to vaccinated travelers. These are the best practice examples for others to quickly follow,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

COVID-19 has increased the race to deploy contactless processes, digital health passes and safely store customer dataMobile payments and online travel were in the top five themes mentioned in tourism company filings in 2020There is a lucrative opportunity and a growing need for a travel app that can encompass all elements of a trip into a one stop solution The desire for a ‘seamless’ travel experience will have heightened during COVID-19 with travelers searching for an easy-to-use platform, where they can be inspired and informed of where they can travel safely. COVID-19 has increased the race to deploy contactless processes, digital health passes and safely store customer data. Therefore, companies should be looking to re-model travel apps to more effectively service and manage the post-pandemic traveler. The desire for contactless technology is strong among consumers globally as apps that typically use contactless payment allows consumers to purchase at ease. This is influencing how tourism companies target their customers when it comes to booking a holiday. Industry analytics data shows that both mobile payments and online travel were in the top five themes mentioned in tourism company filings in 2020. Destination management organizations (DMOs) are looking to work towards more responsible tourism post-pandemic through better capacity management. All these areas suggest that travel apps are the way forward to benefit customer, company and destinations alike. Being proactive in developing an end-to-end service that inspires travel confidence, ensures safe travel and overall better management could prove highly lucrative and beneficial for all involved.  It now seems likely that some form of digital passport will be required to travel safely post-pandemic. There is a lucrative opportunity and a growing need for a travel app that can encompass all elements of a trip into a one stop solution, with omnichannel connectivity that covers everything from simplifying travel requirements to transactions. Anything that can help elevate the customer experience and inspire travel confidence should now be a key priority. Contactless payment systems are key. A higher number of respondents (55%) in recent survey selected they would only pay for products/services using their cards or mobile phones rather than cash. The same survey also revealed 60% aim to ‘start or continue’ making banking transactions online in the ‘new normal’ following the COVID-19 period. Reasons behind this likely relate to general ease of use alongside health and hygiene. However, there are growing opportunities for app integration in tourism. From a company perspective, apps provide opportunity to upsell any additional products and can lead to higher return on investment (ROI). With both mobile payments and online travel ranking highly on industry’s analytics database (theme mentions in 2020), this shows they are key areas of focus going forward. However, further developments need to be publicized and demonstrate the advantages of seamless app experiences to the end-user.  Other than displaying COVID-19 travel requirements, travel apps also offer overwhelming benefits for destinations. An app devised by a DMO for example could promote the experiences within a destination, while managing capacity at certain attractions/locations. Benefits can also be seen here for airports, whereby tourists can be redirected to different areas of the airport due to heavy footfall, ensuring social distancing measures are adhered to.

The Seychelles Tourism Board was present at the 4th Dong Luxury Travel Connection Workshop in China at the end of April. Founded in 2018 by Dong, a sister company of the 8 Continents Travel Agency, the trade event focused on the luxury tourism sector within China.As China slowly starts to function again, the workshop created the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the old and meet new luxury trade partners within the market and discuss the way forward in the new normal. The 2021 Connection Workshop witnessed the participation of nearly 200 buyers and suppliers across China and other countries including Seychelles. During the three-day event, the STB Team had 64 meetings, with 39% new buyers and trade partners within the market, updating them and sharing information about what the island destination has to offer to its potential guests. Although the pandemic has changed the travel world, Chinese travellers have not lost their passion for discovering far off places. The Labour Day holiday witnessed strong domestic demand for tourism resulting from the successful control of the pandemic and rising vaccination rate within China. According the official Chinese media’s reports, Chinese tourists made around 230 million trips over the past May holiday as domestic travel surpassed pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.“As Seychelles reopened its borders at the end of March, we have been working with our different partners in the Chinese market to welcome Chinese visitors back to the Seychelles. This has slowly been picking up, as we have been seeing overseas Chinese visitors travelling to Seychelles by booking their trips through our different trade partners within China.  This was also a hot topic during the Dong Luxury Roadshow, as the Chinese luxury travel trade have large networks of overseas Chinese clientele.”, said Mr Jean-Luc Lai-Lam, Director for the Seychelles Tourism Board in China. “The Chinese market is a tactical market and the Dong Luxury Roadshow gives us the opportunity to meet our luxury partners under one roof, keep the destination visible, promote our new niches (e.g., workcation), address any concerns and prepare for the reopening of the Chinese market when interest in overseas travel and revenge travelling is at their highest.”, added Mr Lai-Lam. According to Forbes’ recent April publication, 5 out of the top 10 cities in the world with the most billionaires are from China and these include Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Hangzhou.

IATA estimates domestic markets will start to recover during H2 2021Global regulations, passenger confidence and flexible airline propositions key to sector recoveryShort haul leisure travel to recover first – massive pent-up demandIndustry will fully recover by Q3 2024 During the Arabian Travel Market , the conference session entitled ‘Aviation – the key to rebuilding international travel, restoring confidence, global solutions and building business’, was moderated by TV and radio presenter Phil Blizzard, with guest panelists including, George Michalopoulos Chief Commercial Officer, Wizz Air; Hussein Dabbas, General Manager Special Projects for MEA region, Embraer and John Brayford, President, The Jetse Overall, the panel was bullish about the recovery citing pent-up demand, which could initially outstrip the availability of flights until airlines resume their regular pre-COVID scheduled services and routes, particularly on domestic and regional routes which they agreed would be the first to recover. “Domestic and regional leisure passenger traffic will recover first. This will be driven by massive pent-up demand, helped by relaxed ‘local’ restrictions and improved consumer confidence,” said Dabbas. “This trend will ultimately increase demand from airlines for smaller more cost-effective aircraft – a maximum of 120 passengers, on direct routes, with increased frequency of service,” he added. To illustrate his point, Dabbas pointed to the Air France-KLM pre-pandemic decision to order 30 A220 jets while announcing the retirement of their A380 fleet, in a bid to improve the airline’s fuel efficiency and costs. “IATA estimates that domestic markets could recover to 96% of pre-crisis levels in the second half of this year, a 48% improvement over 2020 and a return to pre-COVID levels in the third quarter of 2024,” said Dabbas. Talking about improving consumer confidence, the panel agreed that there had to be some form of global regulation, a collaboration between industry bodies, governments, airports and airlines, that would be easy to understand and universal. “As it stands the quarantine rules and other COVID regulations are confusing, they need simplifying. Governments should concentrate on PCR testing and vaccines. Passengers need a secure source of information covering the flight and the destination,” said Dabbas, “We are a one-world industry.” Michalopoulos added, “Vaccine passports are the way forward and it is also important that we communicate just how safe onboard air conditioning is. Some people think that recirculated air in planes is not safe, that simply isn’t true. Aircraft have filtering systems which are as efficient as hospital ICUs.” Looking to the future, Brayford an industry stalwart whose company The Jetsets is pioneering fractional ownership in private business jets, said that airlines would need a clear plan moving forward. “A niche today might become a mainstream trend tomorrow, so no opportunity should be overlooked, the way in which some airlines have supplemented reduced passenger numbers with cargo is a good example. Flexibility and managing costs will also be key.” Running through until today (Wednesday 19 May) at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this year’s event has 1,300 exhibitors from 62 countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesisa, Malaysia, South Korea, the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and the US, underscoring the strength of ATM’s reach. ATM 2021’s show theme is appropriately ‘A New Dawn for Travel & Tourism’ and spread across nine halls. This year, for the first time in ATM history, a new hybrid format will mean a virtual ATM running a week later, from 24-26 May, to complement and reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut last year, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries.

Demand for USA flights increases by up to 300 percentDemand also triples for European holiday destinationsTravelers continue enjoying full flexibility and booking security In many parts of the world, more and more people are being vaccinated. The number of infections is falling as travel restrictions are being lifted in many countries. German entry rules were also adjusted just a few days ago. For example, quarantine rules no longer apply to people who can present a negative Corona test when returning from a risk area. Now accepted are PCR tests valid for 72 hours and antigen tests valid for 48 hours. As a result, demand for Lufthansa Group airline tickets is increasing significantly. For example, in the past two weeks there has been much more demand for summer flights to the USA than in previous months. Connections to New York, Miami and Los Angeles have had booking increases of up to 300 percent. Therefore, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group are further increasing the number of flights to and from the USA as of June and are once again flying to attractive destinations such as Orlando and Atlanta. Harry Hohmeister, member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said: “People are craving for vacation and cultural exchange as well as reuniting with their families, friends and business partners – and, in this context, especially for flights between Germany and the USA. Because of the great significance of transatlantic air travel for the global economy, we now need a clear perspective on how travel between the USA and Europe can return on a larger scale. Lower number of infections and a rising rate of vaccinations allow for a cautious increase in transatlantic air travel. Since certain European countries have already made corresponding announcements, Germany also needs a plan for opening up transatlantic air travel.”

737 MAX was grounded globally for 20 months from March 2019 after the crashes in Indonesia and EthiopiaIn April, Boeing was forced to ground 100 of its 737 MAX planes due to electrical wiring issuesIn 2019, it was reported that tools and metal shavings had often been left inside completed 787s The head of the US House Committee on Transportation Peter DeFazio and his fellow Democrat, Representative Rick Larsen have asked US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing to turn over crucial documents relating to production issues with troubled Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 787 aircraft. In April, Boeing was forced to ground 100 of its 737 MAX planes due to electrical wiring issues, before the FAA, the US aviation regulator, approved the model’s return to service last week. The setback was the latest for Boeing’s commercial jet after two of the planes fatally crashed within five months of each other in 2018 and 2019. The 737 MAX was grounded globally for 20 months from March 2019 after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed all 346 passengers and crew on board the two flights. Boeing’s other model under scrutiny is its flagship 787 Dreamliner, which US lawmakers have requested information on in relation to electrical problems and the presence of so-called “foreign object debris” in new planes. The issues concern newly-manufactured aircraft and follow media reports the FAA has handled at least a dozen whistleblower complaints about manufacturing issues at Boeing. In 2019, it was reported that tools and metal shavings had often been left inside completed 787s, including near electrical systems, which can cause fires.

The demand for domestic holidays in the UK looks set to be unleashedDomestic demand will return at a quicker rate than international demandMost recent poll revealed that 43% of respondents will consider taking a domestic trip in the next 12 months With travelers hesitant towards international travel, demand for domestic holidays in the UK looks set to be unleashed. The roadmap for lockdown easing is progressing at speed and UK-based domestic operators are set to benefit. After months of a long, miserable winter lockdown, many brits will be desperate to escape, and domestic staycations will once again rule this year. Domestic operators will be set for a bumper summer as domestic demand will return at a quicker rate than international demand. The latest industry forecasts show that domestic demand will continue to rise in 2021, with visitation only down 17% on 2019 levels – compared to outbound travel, which is forecast to be down 47.7% on 2019. The strong desire of Brits to travel closer to home, and the wealth of experiences on offer across the UK, will contribute to the strong rebound in domestic travel this year, benefitting the financial position of many tourism companies that have a presence in Britain. Most recent poll revealed that 43% of respondents will consider taking a domestic trip in the next 12 months, higher than the 30% who would not consider traveling at all. As a result of consumer reluctance to travel internationally, some international operators and agents have trimmed or stopped selling capacity in the immediate term. On the Beach has extended its off-sale period from 30 June to the 31 August, citing that uncertainty is too high. Earlier this year, TUI also pulled some of its expected capacity, reducing its 2021 operations from 80% to 75% of 2019 levels, again due to high levels of uncertainty. With operators placing their bets on a summer of high domestic demand and international travel seeming uncertain for most this year, domestic vacations look set to drive tourism in Britain.

Company’s seasonal ready reserve job postings accounted for around 25% of total job postings in March and April 2021Seasonal ready reserve job postings are for customer service agents, ticket/gate agents, cargo service agents, baggage handlers, and ramp operatorsDelta Cargo team is looking to innovative and aggressively identify revenue growth opportunities for the EMEA region Delta Air Lines’ hiring accelerated from 101 job postings in January 2021 to 330 in April 2021. The company’s seasonal ready reserve job postings accounted for around 25% of total job postings in March and April 2021 as the airline prepares to ramp up operations. Ramping up hires with seasonal ready reserves hints at Delta Air Lines‘ preparedness to alleviate the high demand for travel. The company’s seasonal ready reserve job postings are for customer service agents, ticket/gate agents, cargo service agents, baggage handlers, and ramp operators, which indicates that Delta Air Lines expects more consumer demand in summer 2021 with an improved vaccination drive. The company’s recent hiring trend also suggests that the airline is focusing on its cargo arm and expansion in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The Delta Cargo team is looking to innovative and aggressively identify revenue growth opportunities for the EMEA region. The company is building joint venture partnerships with companies such as Air France-KLM group, Alitalia and Virgin Atlantic to maximize cargo profitability throughout EMEA. The company is also optimizing its internal logistics to reduce transportation costs around tech operations, in-flight services and cargo. Delta covers import and export for the US and 60 other countries and looks to comply with the overall corporate trade compliance program. Delta listed and closed jobs at a brisk pace in March and April 2021, with one such example being the job role for general manager – crew resources (flight operations analysis and performance), which was closed within seven days of posting, indicating that the company is no longer accepting applications. Key jobs include general manager, hospitality and service performance support; SkyMiles cobrand strategy, portfolio management; managing director, health analytics and innovation; and brand experience co-op Fall 2021; director, international HR; general manager, general manager, DLCC; trade compliance; portfolio management, and partnership strategy; and general manager, EMEA cargo sales, Amsterdam.

The average flight to a popular summer destination costs $293.73Florida, Oklahoma and Texas are home to the most top summer destinations in the U.S.Michigan and Pennsylvania have the largest numbers of the most unpopular summer destinations With the COVID-19 vaccine available to all Americans and the number of daily travelers passing through TSA checkpoints over 10 times higher than last year, travel industry analysts today released the report on 2021’s Best Summer Travel Destinations. To help travelers plan the perfect summer getaway, the experts compared 100 metro areas across 42 key indicators of budget- and fun-friendliness. The data set ranges from the cost of the cheapest flight to the number of attractions to COVID-19 cases. Top 20 Summer Travel Destinations1. Orlando, FL11. Washington, DC2. Honolulu, HI12. Springfield, MO3. New Orleans, LA13. San Antonio, TX4. Austin, TX14. Wichita, KS5. Atlanta, GA15. Tampa, FL6. Salt Lake City, UT16. Tucson, AZ7. Tulsa, OK17. Miami, FL8. Los Angeles, CA18. Riverside, CA9. Oklahoma City, OK19. Albuquerque, NM10. Little Rock, AR20. Raleigh, NC Best vs. Worst The average flight to a popular summer destination costs $293.73, lasts 3 hours and 44 minutes and has 0.3 connections. The Los Angeles metro area is the most attractive destination on the West Coast and the Atlanta metro area is the most attractive destination on the East Coast. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas are home to the most top summer destinations in the U.S., each with two metro areas in the top 15. Oppositely, Michigan and Pennsylvania have the largest numbers of the most unpopular summer destinations, each with two metro areas. The Orlando metro area has the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room, $32, which is 4.9 times less expensive than in Santa Rosa, the metro area with the highest at $157.    

The Group informed that two additional aircraft were added to the conversion plan of eight aircraft informed in MarchNew aircraft will bring the fleet to up to 21 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters by 2023LATAM Group will receive four converted aircraft between 2021 and 2022, plus six more aircraft between 2022 and 2023 LATAM Group announced the expansion of its freighter fleet growth under which it now plans to add 10 Boeing 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters over the next three years. This will bring the fleet size to up to 21 freighters by 2023.  The first aircraft will be expected to begin operations in December 2021.  The Group’s freighter fleet growth plan initially included four firm conversion orders with Boeing and another four conversion options. Two months after the initial announcement, LATAM Group has exercised the four options, eight planes, and the conversion of two additional Boeing 767-300ERs. This means that the freighter fleet will be comprised of up to 21 aircraft by the end of 2023. Upon completion of the plan the Group will have almost doubled its freighter capacity as well as reduced the average fleet age from 17 to 14 years. “The decision to expand our fleet is based on the attractive growth opportunities available, recent efficiency improvements and flexibility that the Boeing 767F  freighter offers. Thanks to these elements we believe we will grow profitably, even if facing conditions similar to those that we faced before the pandemic. This expansion will allow LATAM’s cargo subsidiaries to continue responding to our customers’ needs and supporting the region’s economic growth through increased and improved connectivity,” said Andrés Bianchi, LATAM Cargo CEO. Growing from 11 to 21 freighter planes will enable the LATAM Group’s cargo subsidiaries to expand and reinforce their capacity to, from and within South America, and positioning the Group as the main freighter operator group in the region. The first eight airplanes have been allocated to markets that are critical for key customer segments.  “In general terms, the majority of the plan focuses on improving connectivity between North and South America. In particular, capacity from Colombia and Ecuador will be strengthened to support the flower export industry. Additional flights to support Chilean salmon exports as well as import traffic into the country will also be reinforced. Capacity to and from Brazil will also go up as we add routes from North America and Europe, boosting both the export and import markets”, said Kamal Hadad, LATAM Cargo’s Network and Alliances Director. Hadad added that the freighter fleet flexibility will help LATAM assess a range of options. “For example, the two additional conversions could be used to refresh the current fleet or to begin new growth projects. The Group still has time to make the relevant decisions,” he concluded. LATAM also announced that it will use some of the 767-300ERs that are awaiting conversion under a hybrid format to benefit customers in the short term. The seats will be completely removed from three planes for this purpose in order to have a payload of up to 46 tons per flight. Two of these planes are already operational. The third one is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2021. Furthermore, LATAM is optimizing commonality across their fleet of 767-300 production and converted freighters to maximize capacity, including the ability to transport delicate goods.