Aeroflot receives permits from German aviation authorities to fly to GermanyS7 Airlines also received all the necessary permitsLufthansa announced that it received all the necessary permits for Russia flights The CEO of Russia’s Aeroflot Group said that Aeroflot has received permits from the German aviation authorities to operate flights between Russian Federation and Federal Republic of Germany. “Everything is fine, we got the permits,” Aeroflot Chief Executive said, adding that it concerns about 28 flights per week as part of the summer timetable. Meanwhile the press service of the second largest carrier in Russia, the S7 Airlines, said that the airline also received all the necessary permits. “S7 Airlines has received a permit from the German authorities to operate flights. Flights to Germany will be operated as planned,” S7 announced. Earlier Lufthansa announced that it received all the necessary permits for Russia flights from the Russian aviation authorities. Previously, Russian and German airlines experienced difficulties in obtaining permits to fly between countries. The carriers even had to cancel flights. According to German officials, the problem is related to the fact that Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency did not timely grant permission for flights of German companies in June. On the basis of reciprocity, the German aviation authorities did not allow flights of Russian companies.

Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the lowest levels of international tourist activityEurope recorded the second largest decline in international tourism with -83%International travel recovery prospects for the May-August period improving slightly Between January and March 2021 destinations around the world welcomed 180 million fewer international arrivals compared to the first quarter of last year. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the lowest levels of activity with a 94% drop in international arrivals over the three-month period. Europe recorded the second largest decline with -83%, followed by Africa (-81%), the Middle East (-78%) and the Americas (-71%). This all follows on from the 73% fall in worldwide international tourist arrivals recorded in 2020, making it the worst year on record for the sector. The latest survey shows prospects for the May-August period improving slightly. Alongside this, the pace of the vaccination rollout in some key source markets as well as policies to restart tourism safely, most notably the EU Digital Green Certificate, have boosted hopes for a rebound in some of these markets. Overall, 60% expect a rebound in international tourism only in 2022, up from 50% in the January 2021 survey. The remaining 40% see a potential rebound in 2021, though this is down slightly from the percentage in January. Nearly half of the experts do not see a return to 2019 international tourism levels before 2024 or later, while the percentage of respondents indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 has somewhat decreased (37%), when compared to the January survey. Tourism experts point to the continued imposition of travel restrictions and the lack of coordination in travel and health protocols as the main obstacle to the sector’s rebound. The Impact of COVID-19 on tourism cuts global exports by 4% The economic toll of the pandemic is also rather dramatic. International tourism receipts in 2020 declined by 64% in real terms (local currencies, constant prices), equivalent to a drop of over US$ 900 billion, cutting the overall worldwide exports value by over 4% in 2020. The total loss in export revenues from international tourism (including passenger transport) amounts to nearly US$ 1.1 trillion. Asia and the Pacific (-70% in real terms) and the Middle East (-69%) saw the largest drops in receipts.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) concluded that vaccinated travelers are no longer significant in the spread of the diseaseThe Canadian Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel recommends that vaccinated travelers do not need to be quarantinedA Public Health England study has concluded that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against COVID-19 variants of concern The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to make data-driven decisions to manage the risks of COVID-19 when reopening borders to international travel. Strategies without quarantine measures can enable international travel to restart with a low risk of introduction of COVID-19 to the travel destination.  “Data can and should drive policies on restarting global travel that manage COVID-19 risks to protect populations, revive livelihoods and boost economies. We call on the G7 governments meeting later this month to agree on the use of data to safely plan and coordinate the return of the freedom to travel which is so important to people, livelihoods and businesses,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Vaccinated Travelers Evidence continues to show that vaccination protects travelers from serious illness and death, and carries a low risk of introducing the virus into destination countries:  The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) 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. The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) issued interim guidance on the benefits of full vaccination stating that “the likelihood of an infected vaccinated person transmitting the disease is currently assessed to be very low to low.”The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) stated that “with a 90% effective vaccine, pre-travel testing, post-travel testing, and 7-day self-quarantine provide minimal additional benefit.”The Canadian Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel recommends that vaccinated travelers do not need to be quarantined.A Public Health England study has concluded that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against COVID-19 variants of concern.  Testing for Unvaccinated Travelers A challenge is the potential of barriers to travel for unvaccinated people which would create an unacceptable exclusion. Data from the UK NHS regarding international travelers arriving in the UK (with no reference to vaccination status) shows that the vast majority of travelers pose no risk for the introduction of COVID-19 cases after arrival. Between 25 February and 5 May 2021, 365,895 tests were conducted on arriving passengers to the UK. These were PCR negative before travel. Only 2.2% tested positive for COVID-19 infection during universal quarantine measures after their arrival. Of these, over half were from “red list” countries, which were considered very high risk. Removing them from the statistics would result in test positivity of 1.46%.Of the 103,473 arrivals from the EU (excluding Ireland), 1.35% tested positive. Three countries, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania, accounted for 60% of the positive cases.

The vaccination roll-out in Hungary is currently one of the best among EU countriesWizz Air has confirmed an increase to 3,420 weekly seats to the latest destinationsBudapest Airport is prioritizing the return of passenger traffic at safe and steady levels This week Budapest Airport re-opened four further important routes with home-based carrier Wizz Air. Welcoming the return of links to the cities of Basel, Malmo, Milan and Rome, the ultra-low-cost carrier has confirmed the initial re-introduction of another 1,440 weekly seats in early June. Already set to more than double by July, the carrier has confirmed an increase to 3,420 weekly seats to the latest destinations returning to the airport’s network. “Wizz Air has brought back ideal destinations for both business and leisure passengers alike – Basel, the cultural capital of Switzerland; Malmo, the stunning coastal city in Southern Sweden; Milan, the global capital of fashion and design; and Rome, the infamous historic and capital city of Italy. All magnificent metropolises which we are very happy to see return to our weekly schedule,” says Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “Continuing to experience regrowth, Budapest is prioritizing the return of passenger traffic at safe and steady levels. With the help of our airline partners, we are able to realize the airport’s redevelopment as well as welcoming back visitors to enable Hungary’s tourism to return,” adds Bogáts. While services to Malmo will remain as twice-weekly flights, by July Wizz Air’s frequency to Basel will become five-times weekly. By August, the airline’s operations to Milan Malpensa will be a daily frequency and Rome will gradually increase to five-times weekly. “The vaccination roll-out in Hungary is currently one of the best among EU countries, in relation to population,” explains Bogáts. “With more than half the country having already received the vaccination, we are confident the road to recovery will continue and our airport will once again be a key contributor to the redevelopment of tourism in Hungary.”

It has been 20 years since the airline’s last flight, which was to the South Africa, before it was originally liquidated in 2001.The South African High Commissioner to Uganda, Her Excellency Ms. Lulu Xingwana, flagged the maiden flight in Entebbe.The aircraft, a Mitsubishi CRJ 900, was welcomed with the traditional water salute. Speaking at the launch, Xingwana urged Ugandans to explore more investment opportunities in South Africa other than tourism and that South Africans reciprocate now that a direct flight has been established that everyone has been waiting for, for quite some time, she said. On board the flight were Head of Public Service and Secretary to The Cabinet, Dr. John Mitala; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Waiswa Bageya; The High Commissioner of Uganda to South Africa, Her Excellency Barbara Nekesa; stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry; and the media. Nekesa echoed the words of her counterpart saying that there are a number of Ugandans who have been doing a lot of business and working in Entebbe and South Africa, and this is a sigh of relief which will go a long way to help them reach each other’s capitals in record time. Several South African companies have invested in Uganda in the last 20 years including MTN Mobile Telecom Network, Game Stores, Shoprite Supermarket, and Eskom Power. “We should have done 18 routes by now, but because of the COVID lockdown, we’ve been held back, so launching this route is in tandem with our business plan,” said Jennifer Banaturaki, Acting CEO, Uganda Airlines. She added that the airline is projecting June 30, 2021, for the Airbus Neo 300-800 series to be included on the Air Operators Certificate which shall then start flights to Dubai.

S7 Airlines had to cancel today’s S7 3575 Moscow-Berlin flightS7 Airlines had to cancel today’s S7 3576 Berlin-Moscow flightS7 flights cancelled due to absence of permission from German authorities The press service for Russia’s S7 Airlines announced today that German aviation officials denied permission for two S7 cargo & passenger flights scheduled for June 1. “S7 Airlines had to cancel today’s S7 3575 Moscow-Berlin and S7 3576 Berlin-Moscow flights due to the absence of permission from the German authorities,” airline’s statement read. “The air carrier has been performing cargo-and-passenger flights to Germany since October 2020, in accordance with the permission from Russia’s civil aviation watchdog Rosaviatsiya. No problems emerged up to this day,” S8 press service said. “S7 Airlines plans to settle the current permission problem in the regular course of business.” All passengers of the canceled flights will get a full refund, the airline added.

Travelers should avoid all travel to BrazilIf you must travel to Brazil, get fully vaccinated before travelForeigners need to provide negative PCR test for COVID-19, made no later than 72 hours before departure Brazilian authorities announced that the foreign nationals are allowed to enter the country by plane only. According to the reports, the restrictions were introduced at the request of Brazil’s National Sanitary Inspection Agency (Anvisa) in connection with the potential epidemiological consequences of the spread of new variants of the coronavirus in the country. The decree states that foreigners will need to provide a negative PCR test for COVID-19, made no later than 72 hours before departure, to be allowed entry to Brazil. Earlier, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appealed to the country’s Federal Supreme Court with a request to declare unconstitutional the restrictions imposed due to the new COVID-19 variants threat. Last July, Bolsonaro suffered a COVID-19 infection for the first time. After recovering, he stated that there was no need to be afraid of the coronavirus, since almost everyone would someday be infected with it. In May 2021, he said that he may have been re-infected. According to CDC guidelines, that currently classify Brazil as ‘Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19‘ : Travelers should avoid all travel to Brazil.Because of the current situation in Brazil even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Brazil.Travelers should follow recommendations or requirements in Brazil, including mask wearing and social distancing.If you must travel to Brazil, get fully vaccinated before travel.

The Trevor Project: The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young peopleThe Human Rights Campaign: An organization that works to create a world where LGBTQ+ people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every communityStartOut: A non-profit with a mission to increase the number, diversity and impact of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community In celebration and support of Pride Month, United Airlines, Chase and Visa are collaborating to reward United Visa Cardmembers who donate to non-profit LGBTQ+ organizations. Between June 1 and June 30, 2021, eligible United MileagePlus Visa Cardmembers will receive five total miles for every dollar up to $1,000 in donations per eligible card made to the following organizations: The Trevor Project: The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.The Human Rights Campaign: An organization that works to create a world where LGBTQ+ people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.StartOut: A non-profit with a mission to increase the number, diversity and impact of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. “This Pride Month, United is celebrating our year-round mission of advocating and supporting our LGBTQ+ employees and customers by spotlighting organizations that share our commitment for uplifting the LGBTQ+ community,” said Suzi Cabo, United’s managing director, global community engagement.  “We’re proud to partner with Chase and Visa to offer our valued United Visa Cardmembers a special opportunity to give back and earn rewards from us for their contributions.” Customers will receive five total miles per dollar donated from the following cards: United GatewaySM Visa Card, UnitedSM Explorer Visa Card, United QuestSM Visa Card, United ClubSM Infinite Visa Card, United ClubSM Visa Card, UnitedSM Business Visa Card and United ClubSM Business Visa. United has an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ equality which includes a proud history of firsts.  United was the first U.S. airline to fully recognize domestic partnerships in 1999 and the first U.S. airline to offer non-binary gender options throughout all its booking channels. United also was the first public company to be inducted into Pride Live’s Stonewall Ambassador program in recognition of the airline’s commitment to LGBTQ+ equality in 2019. Through EQUAL, the airline’s LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group, more than 2,600 members work together to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, working with members and leaders companywide to develop ways to deliver resources, education and advocacy. “To celebrate Pride Month, we wanted to reward cardmembers who donate to organizations that serve and advocate for our LBGT+ employees, cardmembers and their families: The Trevor Project, The Human Rights Campaign, and StartOut,” said Brad Baumoel, global head of LGBT+ Affairs for JPMorgan Chase. “We are thrilled to join Visa and United to offer miles for donations that support the LBGT+ community.” “Visa believes economies that include everyone, everywhere uplift everyone, everywhere,” said Kirk Stuart, senior vice president and head of North America merchant sales and acquiring at Visa. “We are committed to using the power of our network to support the LGBTQ+ community and other diverse populations in their recovery from the global pandemic and beyond. Driving engagement through strategic partnerships is an important part of our strategy to help local communities recover and thrive.”

TAROM relaunches three-times weekly service to Bucharest from BudapestTAROM uses 72-seat ATR72s on Budapest-Bucharest routeBudapest will once again be able to offer flights to the commercial center of Romania As Budapest Airport continues along the path of re-opening its route network, the latest link to make a welcome return is TAROM’S three-times weekly service to Bucharest. Using the flag carrier’s fleet of 72-seat ATR72s on the 616-kilometer sector, Budapest will once again be able to offer flights to the commercial center of Romania. “It’s fantastic that TAROM is back offering flights to Romania’s capital city,” enthuses Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “As travel restrictions start to ease, we’re witnessing an increase in demand for the variety of destinations our network is known for. We’re proud to work with our airline partners to reunite with all the destinations we have previously been connected with, in a safe and secure environment.” TAROM is the flag carrier and oldest currently operating airline of Romania, based in Otopeni near Bucharest. Its headquarters and its main hub are at Henri Coandă International Airport.

Airline will operate four weekly flights starting July 1Route will be operated by the airline’s modern and sustainable Boeing 787 DreamlinerQatar Airways will offer offering 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class on Phuket flights Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the rebound of international leisure travel with the resumption of four weekly flights to the famed holiday destination of Phuket, Thailand, starting 1 July. In addition to its 12 weekly Bangkok flights, the airline will operate a total of 16 weekly flights to Thailand, providing seamless connectivity for its passengers travelling from Europe, the Middle East and United States. As Thailand reopens to holidaymakers from around the world, fully vaccinated travelers will soon be able to visit once again whilst also enjoying the hospitality and service available on Qatar Airways and at its hub, Hamad International Airport, the first and only 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rated Airport in the Middle East. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “With the resumption of flights to Phuket, Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the recovery of international tourism. We are proud to have lead the industry, setting the benchmark for safety, innovation and customer service throughout the pandemic. “We know many of our customers are eager to get back flying and return to some of their favorite holiday destinations, such as Phuket. Famed for its many exotic beaches, family friendly atmosphere, turquoise waters and delicious local cuisine, Phuket is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. We look forward to working with our partners in Thailand to support the recovery of their tourism sector.” Launched in 2010, Phuket became Qatar Airways’ 93rd destination at the time. The resort destination is a magnet for holidaymakers, particularly from Europe, the Middle East and United States. The route will be served by the airline’s modern and sustainable Boeing 787 Dreamliner with seating for 22 passengers in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class. Phuket schedule starting 1 July: Doha (DOH) to Phuket (HKT) QR 840 departs 02:55 arrives 13:30 (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Phuket (HKT) to Doha (DOH) QR 841 departs 02:30 arrives 05:30 (Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)

Ryanair is back at Belfast City Airport and has today commenced its summer schedule which will connect passengers to Europe following the easing of travel restrictions in Northern Ireland.Flights taking off this week to five destinations will allow passengers to enjoy the sun and fun in both Portugal and Spain, with flights to Italy to follow at the beginning of July.Ryanair will operate up to 14 flights per week to Faro in Portugal, while passengers will be able to travel to Alicante, Malaga, and the popular Balearic island of Mallorca up to 14 times per week, as well as Barcelona up to ten times per week throughout the summer season. Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, said: “With travel restrictions easing, we are seeing an increase in demand from passengers keen to return to flying and travelling internationally. “Welcoming Ryanair’s first flights today is significant as it marks the start of a busy summer schedule from Belfast City Airport.” The inaugural flights mark the return of Ryanair to Belfast City Airport following an eleven year absence. The airline will commence further flights to Valencia, Ibiza, and Milan taking off on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd July respectively. Katy continued: “Ryanair’s low fares and hassle-free service appeal to a wide range of passengers and it’s great to have the airline back flying from Belfast City Airport once again.” Ryanair’s Director of Marketing, Dara Brady said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Belfast City Airport this summer, offering the lowest fares to our customers holidaying in popular European hotspots. “The successful rollout of the UK vaccination programme coupled with the easing of travel restrictions has given a much-needed boost to consumer confidence and we look forward to welcoming our customers on flights to Spain, Portugal & Italy this summer.” Find flights and fare information for Ryanair’s eight new sunshine routes from Belfast City Airport at ryanair.co.uk For the latest travel advice, visit nidirect.gov.uk and Belfast City Airport’s dedicated webpage. Passengers should also consult the latest entry requirements for the country they are travelling to for their dates of travel.

FlyArystan launches new international route to KyrgyzstanFlyArystan to fly from Kazakhstan to Bishkek twice a weekFlyArystan to use Airbus A-320 aircraft on new route The the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan announced that Kazakhstan’s low-cost carrier FlyArystan has inaugurated a new international route with launch of Turkestan to Bishkek flights. FlyArystan will fly Turkestan, Kazakhstan-Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan flight twice a week using the Airbus A-320 aircraft. The first flight’s average seat occupancy has been estimated at over 60% on May 31. The objective of the new route is to link the cultural capital of the Turkic world – the city of Turkestan as a tourism development center on the Great Silk Road with foreign countries, Kazakh aviation officials said. The flights will be performed in strict accordance with sanitary epidemiological rules and according to the schedule on the airline’s website. FlyArystan is a low-cost airline based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is the wholly owned low cost subsidiary of Air Astana, the country’s leading airline. FlyArystan’s foundation was approved by Air Astana’s joint shareholders, Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and BAE Systems PLC, and was endorsed by Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 2 November 2018. The company slogan is Eurasia’s Low Fares Airline.

Green color assigned to EU countries and countries with high vaccination rate and favorable epidemiological situationsRed color assigned to the countries with unfavorable epidemiological situationsBlack color assigned to the countries to which the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry doesn’t recommend that people should travel Slovakian officials announced that as of 6am today, quarantine requirements for travelers entering Slovakia have changed in line with a ‘travel traffic lights’ scheme, as stipulated in a Public Health Authority (UVZ) regulation. Countries have been assigned colors based on their levels of infection risk – green, including European Union countries and countries with high vaccination rate and favorable epidemiological situations; red – i.e. countries with unfavorable epidemiological situations; and black – countries to which the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry doesn’t recommend that people should travel. Upon arriving from a green country, travelers must undergo 14 days of quarantine, which can be eliminated by a negative PCR test taken on arrival. Travelers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, who have overcome the disease within the past 180 days and children up to 18 years are exempted from mandatory self-isolation. Travelers coming from a red country will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine that can be ended by a negative PCR test, but not earlier than on the eighth day. Travelers entering from a black country will have to stay in quarantine for 14 days regardless of the result of the test. In addition to EU countries, the list of green countries includes Australia, China, Greenland, Iceland, Israel, Macao, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Red countries include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the USA and Uzbekistan. All other countries found neither on the green, nor the red list, have been defined as black. These countries have been affected by dangerous coronavirus variants or are linked with unavailable, non-credible or poor-quality data.

Russian Federation relaunches UK air connectionRegular flights between Moscow and London will resumed from June 2Russia suspended regular air service with the United Kingdom in December 2020 Russia’s national anti-coronavirus crisis center announced today that the Russian Federation will resume regular scheduled air service with the United Kingdom starting on June 2, 2021. “In view of the improved epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom, the crisis center has taken a decision not to extend the suspension of air service. Regular flights between Moscow and London will resumed from June 2. Three flights a week will be made on a reciprocal basis,” Russian regulators said. Russia suspended regular air service with the United Kingdom in December 2020 due to a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in that country. Russia also has decided to resume a limited number of regular flights to other countries, including Austria, Hungary, Lebanon and Croatia. Russian officials also announced that Turkey and Tanzania flight bans will be kept in place until June 21.

This KATA led initiative is part of the association’s strategic role within the African Continental Free Trade AreaKenya and Tanzania are some of the fastest growing economies in Sub-Saharan AfricaIn the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, there have been calls for African countries to focus on intra-African travel On Thursday 27th May 2021, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) CEO, Agnes Mucuha led a delegation of Kenya’s travel and tourism industry representatives to a meeting with High Commissioner of Tanzania to Kenya Dr. John Simbachawene at the Tanzania High Commission in Nairobi to discuss strategies for mutual collaboration and partnership with Tanzania in promoting outbound tourism to Tanzania. This strategic meeting comes at a time when KATA has shifted its focus to promotion of outbound tourism to EAC countries in bid to help its members expand their horizon of business as well as well as improving bilateral ties with the countries to get more tourists to Kenya and simultaneously send tourists from Kenya to those destinations. This KATA led initiative is part of the association’s strategic role within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote outbound travel and tourism operations within the East African Community (EAC) member states with an intent to develop a model or cross-border tourism. In March 2018, African leaders signed three separate agreements: the African Continental Free Trade Agreement; the Kigali Declaration; and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. The three agreements work with the aim of reducing bureaucracy, harmonising regulations and avoiding protectionism in several sectors including aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality. The association invited stakeholders from Kenya Association of Tour Operators, East African Tourism Platform, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre – East Africa and other stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism sector to discuss how to strengthen the trade-in travel and tourism services between the two countries. The meeting brought to the fore issues that need to be tackled such as the current trade barriers between Kenya and Tanzania that affects travel and tourism industry, handover of tourists at boarder points, increased costs of safaris, work permit challenges for tour drivers, extra fees for vehicle crossing to Tanzania, and limitations of access points into Tanzania. The trade barriers in travel and tourism are predicated upon the 1985 agreement that was signed by both states with a view of creating a platform for the flow of tourists between the two states. The agreement was driven by a market protectionism mind-set that is no longer viable today, and there was failure to adopt the EAC common market protocol that promotes mutual collaboration and cooperation.

The resumption will be gradual with two aircraftsNew reservation system is available since May 31New passenger service system will make the company more agile Cabo Verde Airlines will officially restart its operations on June 18 with a weekly flight on Fridays between Sal Island and Lisbon. The resumption will be gradual, connecting the archipelago through the hub in Sal. From June 28 2021 until March 28 2022, Cabo Verde Airlines will make four weekly flights between Praia/Sal and Lisbon on Fridays and Mondays; a weekly flight to and from Sal/Praia/Boston on Tuesdays with return on Wednesdays and a weekly flight to and from Sal/São Vicente/Paris on Saturdays with return on Sundays. Cabo Verde Airlines also informs that, depending on the rate of vaccination and the unblocking of international borders, it expects to launch new frequencies and additional destinations, if pandemic conditions will permit it. The airline informs that it has a new passenger service system, named HITIT, a modern platform with an integrated sales, operations and accounting solution, a new technology that will increase the efficiency and reliability of customer service. Erlendur Svavarsson, CEO of Cabo Verde Airlines says, “We are excited that we can finally resuscitate the airline from the ashes of the pandemic. The beaches of Sal, the unique restaurants and the warm and hospitable cape verdean people will welcome guests back to a destination truly different from all others. This is just the beginning, and we are looking forward to creating a better future”, he adds. Note that Cabo Verde Airlines has been stopped since March 2020, took advantage of this forced stop of the pandemic to reorganize itself, train its teams and implement a new sales system that allows it to automatically notify passengers of all flights in progress, a huge investment in customer experience that is expected to be fruitful to make the company more agile and reliable. The company will also have a rebate program for unpaid flights vouchers, which allows travel to be scheduled up to three years after the issue, a program that aims to compensate all passengers for canceled flights, as a result of the sudden pandemic that has plagued all airlines.

Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge in Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport reopens on June 1At present, food and beverage consumption is only permitted outside of the loungePopular “á la carte” service will also be resumed as soon as official regulations allow As summer approaches, the desire to travel continues to grow: Declining infection rates and the easing of travel restrictions are making more people want to fly again. In response to the rising booking figures, Lufthansa is using this as an opportunity to reopen the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport starting on 1 June. Relaxing while waiting for departure The lounge offers an exclusive and comfortable place to relax, while travelers are waiting for their departure. The range of products offered in the lounges have been adjusted to meet current regulations. At present, food and beverage consumption is only permitted outside of the lounge. A take-away offer is available in the First Class Lounge, with a good selection of food and beverages. The popular “á la carte” service will also be resumed as soon as official regulations allow us to do so. First Class guests can now also enjoy the usual personal service. The First Class Lounge is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Lufthansa lounges open their doors to guests Lufthansa guests can already access some of the lounges in Germany as well as abroad, such as New York. In the upcoming weeks, additional Lufthansa lounges will gradually be re-opening for customers. Soon, the First Class Terminal and the associated limousine service will also be made available again. A variety of measures, such as maintaining distance and wearing a mouth and nose covering, ensure that the lounge stay meets high safety and hygiene standards.  

European Commission is proposing that Member States gradually ease travel measuresThe Commission also proposed an “emergency brake” system to border travelMember states would work together using the vaccine certificate system to make freedom of movement possible again It is time for EU member countries to start relaxing their border restrictions for the citizens and residents of the block who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the European Commission said on Monday. “As the epidemiological situation is improving and vaccination campaigns are speeding up all over the EU, the Commission is proposing that Member States gradually ease travel measures, including most importantly for the holders of the EU Digital COVID Certificate,” the European Commission announced today. The Commission also proposed an “emergency brake” system to border travel should new variants of COVID-19 start to rise, which would quickly reintroduce restrictions “if the epidemiological situation deteriorates rapidly.” The commission advised that those with a “vaccination certificate” – more commonly known as a “vaccine passport” – should be exempt from “travel-related testing or quarantine 14 days after having received the last dose.” European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders noted that the past several weeks “have brought a continuous downward trend in infection numbers, showing the success of the vaccination campaigns across the EU,” and expressed his hope that the member states would work together using the vaccine certificate system to make freedom of movement possible again. European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides also praised freedom of movement between states as one of the EU’s “most cherished rights,” adding, “We need coordinated and predictable approaches for our citizens that would offer clarity and avoid inconsistent requirements across Member States.” Freedom of movement in the European Union allows residents in one member state to easily travel, work, and live in another state. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, over 234,000,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the European Union and European Economic Area, with Germany, France, Italy, and Spain receiving the most doses from manufacturers. 32,364,274 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the European Union and Economic Area since the start of the pandemic, with 720,358 deaths.

Air Astana will launch a direct service from Almaty to the ancient city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on 9th June 2021, with flights operated using Airbus A321 aircraft on Wednesdays and Sundays.On Wednesdays, the flight will depart from Almaty at 15.40 and arrive in Samarkand at 16.15, with the return flight departing at 17.45 and arriving in Almaty at 20.20. On Sundays, the flight will depart from Almaty at 11.20 and arrive in Samarkand at 11.55, with the return flight departing at 13.25 and arriving in Almaty at 16.00. All times local.Samarkand will become Air Astana’s second destination in Uzbekistan, with direct flights to Tashkent, the country’s capital, having been operated since 2010. Samarkand is a city in Uzbekistan known for its mosques and mausoleums. It’s on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean. Prominent landmarks include the Registan, a plaza bordered by 3 ornate, majolica-covered madrassas dating to the 15th and 17th centuries, and Gur-e-Amir, the towering tomb of Timur (Tamerlane), founder of the Timurid Empire. Return airfares including fees, start from US$163 in economy class and from US$518 in business class. Tickets are available on the Air Astana website and at sales offices, as well as accredited travel agencies. Passengers are advised to familiarize themselves in advance with entry and transit requirements for travel between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at www.airastana.com

Emirates in rough waters over suspended flights to India flights, the main feeder and transit market for the Dubai based carrier. The airline may have contemplated government bailouts is the rumor.Emirates will resume flights between Dubai and Venice from 1 July According to HRH Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates, these flights will Increase trade and tourism connectivity between the UAE and Italy. The airline will also increase services to Milan from 8 to 10 weekly flights in July. This will comprise of a daily service on the Dubai-Milan-New York JFK route, and a 3-weekly return flights between Dubai and Milan. Together with Emirates’ 5 weekly flights to Rome and 3 weekly flights to Bologna, this will take the airline’s total services to Italy to 21 weekly flights to 4 cities in July. Emirates will serve Venice, Milan, Rome and Bologna with its modern and comfortable widebody Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates’ expansion of flight services in Italy follows the start of “Covid-Tested flight”arrangements, which allow its passengers to travel to Italy without quarantine on arrival. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said: “We welcome the Covid-Tested flight arrangements and would like to thank the Italian and UAE authorities for their ongoing efforts to ease and facilitate international travel. The UAE has a strong and longstanding relationship with Italy and the safe return of air connectivity will help boost mutual trade and tourism. As a global commercial hub, and home to people from more than 200 nations, Dubai and the UAE have spared no effort to keep communities safe from the pandemic – from our world-leading vaccination programme to our bio-safety protocols across all sectors including recreation and entertainment facilities, to schools, businesses and airports. We hope that more countries will consider similar arrangements to facilitate quarantine-free travel.” Effective 2 June, Emirates customers travelling to Italy aged 2 years and above, are required to hold a negative COVID-19 PCR-RT or Rapid Antigen test result valid for 48 hours prior to departure. Travellers must also take a Rapid Antigen swab test on arrival in Italy, at their own cost. For more details on entry requirements to Italy, customers can check the travel requirements page on emirates.com. With missing connectivity between Dubai and many Indian cities, Emirates is in a difficult position with such missing transit travel. India has been hit by a strain of COVID-19 infections, promoting Emirates to suspend operation to this country of more than 1 billion people until June 30. Emirates remains focused on taking various steps to ease travel and has been a leader in introducing initiatives in cooperation with health authorities and organisations to protect the health of customers and to ensure their safety. Emirates introduced measures on the ground throughout all touchpoints and onboard to provide its passengers with the highest safety and hygiene standards at every step of the journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technologyto ease the customer journey through Dubai airport. Knowing their safety and wellbeing is looked after, customers across all classes can enjoy more than 4,500 channels of entertainment on ice, the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system, along with regionally inspired gourmet meals. Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services that address traveller needs during a dynamic time. Recently the airline took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, an extension of its multi-risk insurance cover, and helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

2019 U.S-Belarus Air Services Agreement suspendedFAA recommended US air carriers to “exercise extreme caution” when flying in Belarusian airspaceThe actions of the Belarusian government were condemned worldwide as state-sponsored terrorism and air piracy. The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement announcing that the United States of America will suspend an air service agreement with Belarus following the state-sponsored hijacking of Ryanair plane. “The United States will suspend its discretionary application of the 2019 U.S-Belarus Air Services Agreement,” the statement said. Yesterday, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommended the US air carriers to “exercise extreme caution” when flying in the Belarusian airspace. The agency, however, stopped short of banning air carriers from entering the airspace of Belarus. On May 23, a Vilnius-bound Ryanair plane that took off from Athens was forced to land at Minsk International Airport after Belarusian authorities “reported” a fake bomb threat and scrambled A MiG-29 fighter jet to make sure the plane lands in Belarus. Immediately upon forced landing, Belarusian security agents arrested opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, one of the co-founders of the Nexta Telegram channel, and his companion, Russian national Sofia Sapega, who were among the passengers of Ryanair flight. Needless to say, no bomb was found inside the plane. The actions of the Belarusian government were condemned worldwide as state-sponsored terrorism and air piracy.

The India international travel ban has been extended for over another month until June 30, 2021. Since the international travel ban, limited flights have been allowed into India under various schemes.The Vande Bharat Mission brought home stranded Indians from foreign destinations after the coronavirus struck shutting off borders.Air travel bubble agreements have been signed with 27 countries around the globe. Initially, the international travel ban was implemented in India on March 23, 2020, when COVID-19 emerged around the globe. Since then, limited flights have been allowed into the country under various schemes including Vande Bharat Mission flights and air travel bubble agreements. The Vande Bharat Mission was started to bring back stranded Indians from foreign destinations after suspension of regular international flights. The Indian Government launched the Mission, considered to be the world’s largest expatriation exercise. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the regulatory body of civil aviation in the country, issued a statement today, Friday, May 28, 2021, that cargo flights and those with special permission will be allowed to operate but regular scheduled commercial services will continue to be suspended through the end of next month in June.

Belavia cancels its regular flights to Belgrade, SerbiaBelavia cancels its regular flights to Budapest, HungaryBelavia cancels its regular flights to Chisinau, Moldova Troubled Belarusian national flag carrier Belavia announced on its website today that it has canceled its regular flights to Belgrade, Serbia, Budapest, Hungary and Chisinau, Moldova from May 29 through June 30 (for the time being) because it had been banned by the European Union and Ukraine from using their airspace. “Due to the ban by EU and Ukrainian aviation authorities to use the airspace and the impossibility to perform flights, regular service to Belgrade, Budapest, Chisinau is suspended for the period from May 29, 2021, to June 30, 2021,” Belavia’s statement said. Belavia also said that it is “calculating possible route variants for regular and charter flights affected by the introduced restrictions in order to determine their viability.” The airline announced that in order to detour the airspace of several countries, regular flights to Istanbul and Larnaca would follow an altered schedule. Belavia also canceled all flights to Tallinn, Estonia from May 28 through August 28. On Monday, following Belarus state-sponsored hijacking of a Ryanair flight, EU leaders decided to block Belarusian airlines from landing at EU airports and flying over the EU, also advising European carriers to suspend flights in the country’s airspace. A number of countries have already closed their airspace to the Belarusian air carrier, including the UK, France, Latvia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia.

United Airlines’ Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist has been named airline’s newest Executive VPEnqvist has been in the airline industry for more than 25 years, joining Continental in 1996The promotion is effective immediately United announced today that Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist has been named the airline’s newest executive vice president. Enqvist was promoted yesterday by the United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors. The promotion is effective immediately.  “Toby leads with the unwavering purpose of being United’s top customer advocate and this promotion reflects not only his success in caring for our customers but also our continuing commitment to delivering the best possible experience for all those we fly,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.  “With Toby’s vision and direction, we are truly leading the industry in finding ways to innovate which is essential as we strive to become the best airline in the history of aviation.” As EVP and chief customer officer, Enqvist continues his oversight of the airline’s Inflight Services, Corporate Real Estate, Contact Centers and Customer Care, Customer Strategy and Innovation, and Customer Experience and Analytics. In addition, Enqvist is responsible for developing and providing United’s employees with the leadership support needed to best serve the airline’s customers. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside my talented and dedicated team to keep moving us forward with industry leading innovation that will offer our customers the best experience whenever and wherever they fly United,” said Enqvist. Enqvist has been in the airline industry for more than 25 years, joining Continental in 1996.  Throughout this career, he has held several senior leadership positions within operations and finance, including senior vice president of Network Operations and Customer Solutions for United. A native of Sweden, Enqvist moved to the U.S. to attend Ouachita Baptist University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He also holds an MBA degree from Southern Methodist University. He is married and has a daughter.

Airbus confirms an average A320 Family production rate of 45 aircraft per month in Q4 2021A330 production remains at an average monthly production rate of two per monthA350 current average production rate is five per month, expected to  increase to six by autumn 2022 Airbus continues to expect the commercial aircraft market to recover to pre-COVID levels between 2023 and 2025, led by the single-aisle segment. The Company is therefore providing suppliers with an update of its production plans, giving visibility in order to schedule necessary investments and secure long term capacity and production rate readiness, in line with the expected recovery. “The aviation sector is beginning to recover from the COVID-19 crisis”, said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. “The message to our supplier community provides visibility to the entire industrial ecosystem to secure the necessary capabilities and be ready when market conditions call for it. In parallel, we are transforming our industrial system by optimizing our aerostructures set-up and modernizing our A320 Family production facilities. All these actions are set in motion to prepare our future.” A320 Family: Airbus confirms an average A320 Family production rate of 45 aircraft per month in Q4 2021 and calls on suppliers to prepare for the future by securing afirm rate of 64 by Q2 2023. In anticipation of a continued recovering market, Airbus is also asking suppliers to enable a scenario of rate 70 by Q1 2024. Longer term, Airbus is investigating opportunities for rates as high as 75 by 2025. A220 Family: Currently at around rate five aircraft per month from Mirabel and Mobile, the rate is confirmed to rise to around six in early 2022. Airbus is also envisaging a monthly production rate of 14 by the middle of the decade. A350 Family: Currently at an average production rate of five per month, this is expected to  increase to six by autumn 2022.  A330 Family: Production remains at an average monthly production rate of two per month. Airbus is protecting its ability to further adapt as the market evolves.

The resumed service will operate once a week on Thursdays using Airbus A321 aircraftService between Atyrau and Amsterdam supplements the existing flight on Wednesdays between Atyrau to FrankfurtPassengers on these routes can connect with Air Astana partner airlines across Europe and North America Air Astana will resume direct flights from Atyrau in western Kazakhstan to Amsterdam on 3rd June 2021 following a suspension of a regular service due to restrictions introduced by the Dutch authorities earlier this year. The resumed service will operate once a week on Thursdays using Airbus A321 aircraft, with departure from Atyrau at 05:40 and arrival time in Amsterdam at 07:50 local time; and return flight departure from Amsterdam at 11:50 and arrival in Atyrau at 19:40. The outbound flight time is 5h10m and 4h 50m on the return to Atyrau. This service between Atyrau and Amsterdam supplements the existing flight on Wednesdays between Atyrau to Frankfurt. Passengers on these routes can connect with Air Astana partner airlines across Europe and North America. Passengers are advised to familiarize themselves in advance with entry and transit requirements for travel between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands at Air Astana’s website.

The change in the flight path must be approved by the authoritiesRussian officials refused to give their approval to Austrian AirlinesAs a result, Austrian Airlines was forced to cancel today’s flight from Vienna to Moscow Austrian Airlines has canceled today’s flight from Vienna to Moscow after Russia’s aviation authorities refused to accept Austrian Airlines’ alternative route bypassing Belarus airspace. “Austrian Airlines has suspended flights over Belarusian airspace until further notice based on the recommendation from the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). For this reason, it is also necessary to adjust the flight route from Vienna to Moscow. The change in the flight path must be approved by the authorities. Russian officials did not give their approval to us. As a result, Austrian Airlines was forced to cancel today’s flight from Vienna to Moscow,” Austrian Airlines representative said responding to a request to comment on Thursday’s cancellation of a flight from Vienna to Moscow. On May 25, Austrian Airlines said that the air carrier decided to suspend flights through Belarusian airspace and circumvent Belarus in connection with the EU’s decision in the wake of Belarusian state-sponsored hijacking of a Ryanair plane in Belarus on May 23. The flight from Vienna to Moscow, scheduled for May 27, was not supposed to fly over Belarus. On May 26, the Austrian Ministry of Transport said that the EASA issued a security information bulletin in which European airlines were advised to avoid Belarusian airspace. On Wednesday, Air France also had to cancel a flight from Paris to Moscow after Russia refused to approve the route avoiding Belarusian airspace.

Flights will initially operate Saturdays and Mondays and as of June 17 will operate Sundays and Thursdays.Passengers with a full vaccination certificate are exempt from negative PCR-RT COVID-19 test, if vaccinated at least 14 days before entry.Other passengers welcome by submitting negative PCR-RT COVID-19 test taken up to 5 days before their trip, applying online for a Health Visa, and completing a daily health questionnaire. As of June 5, Copa Airlines restarts flights from Panama, connecting with the main cities of Latin America, to Nassau, Bahamas. The flights will initially operate Saturdays and Mondays and as of June 17 will operate Sundays and Thursdays. “At Copa Airlines we are pleased to announce that on June 5, we will resume our regular operation to Nassau with 2 flights per week, so that tourists can enjoy wonderful days of rest and experience unforgettable holidays in The Bahamas, since this destination offers a lot of experiences, and each island has its own appeal, with beautiful landscapes, gastronomy and sandy beaches immensely white,” said Christophe Didier, Copa Airlines’ vice-president of Global Sales. As of May 1, passengers with a full vaccination certificate (including the second dose, if applicable) for Covid-19 of AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech immunizers are exempt from the negative PCR-RT COVID-19 tests requirement, as long as they have been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entry into The Bahamas.

Philip previously served as the chief operating officer of Partners in HealthPhilip has served as a United board member since 2016Philip brings nearly three decades of corporate leadership across several industries United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) today announced that Edward “Ted” Philip will assume the role of non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Philip has served as a United board member since 2016, and as lead director since May 2020. Philip brings nearly three decades of corporate leadership across several industries. “Ted’s storied career and leadership across the finance, technology and healthcare sectors have made him an invaluable member of the United board. His insights and financial expertise will be critical as we look ahead to United’s ‘return to new’ and focus on becoming the global leader in aviation,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. “I also want to express my gratitude to Oscar for his leadership and the groundwork he laid that enabled United to persevere through the most disruptive crisis in our history. He will be missed by the entire United team.” Philip succeeds Oscar Munoz, who has served as executive chairman of the board of directors since May 2020, when he assumed the role and committed to serving in it for one year. Philip previously served as the chief operating officer of Partners in Health, a global non-profit healthcare organization providing medical services to people in underserved communities around the world. Prior to joining Partners in Health, Philip served as managing general partner at Highland Consumer Fund. He was also one of the founding members of the internet search company, Lycos, Inc. During his tenure with Lycos, Philip held the positions of president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at different times. Before joining Lycos, he spent time as the vice president of finance for The Walt Disney Company and several years in investment banking. “I’m honored to be named non-executive chairman of United and am looking forward to continuing to work with the strongest leadership team in the industry,” Philip said. “I am eager to work with the United team to deliver value to all of our key stakeholders, and I thank Oscar for his leadership, especially his tremendous contributions this past year as executive chairman, and throughout his successful tenure as CEO.” Philip currently serves on the board of directors of Hasbro, Inc. and BRP, Inc. Mr. Philip received a Bachelor of Science in economics and mathematics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

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.