Tag Archives: air travel

JetBlue Is First Airline To Require Masks For Passengers

CNBC reports: Starting May 4, all JetBlue Airways passengers will be required to wear a face covering, the strictest policy so far in the U.S. and one that follows the New York-based airline’s requirement that flight attendants wear a mask or face covering while on duty. “Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those around you,” …

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Flight Attendants Union Calls For Stop To Leisure Travel

The New York Daily News reports: The nation’s largest flight attendants union called for a stop to all leisure travel as the death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic rises and airlines leave workers exposed. Sara Nelson, the powerful head of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said at least one flight attendant had died and more than 100 flight attendants …

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Trump To Postpone “Real ID” Deadline To Board Flights

The Washington Post reports: President Trump said Monday that he is pushing back the deadline for when Americans will be required to have the new Real ID credential to board domestic flights. At a White House briefing, Trump said he is postponing the Oct. 1 deadline, citing the coronavirus crisis and concerns of crowding at state departments of motor vehicles …

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Florida Governor To Order Self-Isolation For Anybody Arriving On Flights Out Of New York And New Jersey

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that he will sign an executive order that will force anyone who travels from New York or New Jersey to Florida to self-isolate for two weeks immediately after they land in the state. While speaking Monday about whether he will lock down the state of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said …

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US Organizes Repatriation Flights For Stranded Citizens

Politico reports: The State Department is beginning to put together charter flights for Americans stranded overseas during the coronavirus pandemic, with Morocco and Peru scheduled soon — even as others stuck in Guatemala took matters into their own hands. The rush to bring Americans home comes after the State Department announced a level four travel advisory Thursday, and amid reports …

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EU Rule Suspension Will End “Ghost Plane” Flights

Agence France-Presse reports: The EU agreed on Friday to suspend requirements that oblige airlines to use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots in order to keep them the following year until Oct. 24 due to the aviation industry crisis unleashed by coronavirus. “This slot waiver will provide the necessary flexibility and certainty for our aviation industry in …

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Boeing Pleads For $60B Bailout As Stock Value Craters

MarketWatch reports: Many investors didn’t trust airline stocks through the bull market. Their valuation to earnings ratios were low, even as profits rose dramatically. But despite a history of rough patches during unforeseen events, such as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the volcanic eruption in Iceland in 2010 that disrupted air travel, large U.S. airline companies spent most of …

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United CEO: Virus Impact Is Worse For Us Than 9/11

The Hill reports: United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz is telling top lawmakers that the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on his industry is “much worse” than that experienced from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “We unequivocally support prudent steps like these to keep the American people safe. But, these actions have also created a fast-moving, financial crisis unlike anything the …

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US Airlines Seek $50B Bailout Amid Coronavirus Crisis

The Washington Post reports: U.S. airlines are asking for more than $50 billion in federal assistance amid the economic uncertainty caused by the dramatic decrease in passenger traffic due to the coronavirus outbreak. The aid would come in the form of grants, loans and tax relief. Among the asks is nearly $30 billion in grants for passenger airlines and cargo …

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Flight Delayed 8 Hours Over Man’s Virus Joke [VIDEO]

Nashville’s ABC News affiliate reports: An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Nashville took over eight hours to take off and was delayed three times after a man reportedly joked about having coronavirus. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly wouldn’t lift his tray table up before the plane took off at which point he claimed he had coronavirus. …

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Virus Screenings Bring Chaos To US Airports [VIDEO]

The Washington Post reports: Airports around the country were thrown into chaos Saturday night as workers scrambled to roll out the Trump administration’s hastily arranged health screenings for travelers returning from Europe. Scores of anxious passengers said they encountered jam-packed terminals, long lines and hours of delays as they waited to be questioned by health authorities at some of the …

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American Airlines Cuts International Flights By 75%

Reuters reports: American Airlines Group Inc on Saturday said it will implement a phased suspension of nearly all long-haul international flights starting March 16, amid reduced demand and travel restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Between March 16 and May 6, American will reduce its international capacity by 75% on a year-over-year basis, it said in a statement, adding …

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Guatemala Bans Arrivals From United States, Canada

Reuters reports: Guatemala will from Monday widen travel restrictions to fight the spread of coronavirus, banning arrivals from the United States and Canada, President Alejandro Giammattei said on Friday. “We are therefore announcing that everyone who arrives from Canada and the United States between now and midnight on Monday will be subject to quarantining,” Giammattei said in a televised address. …

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Denmark Seals Borders, Travelers Stranded At Airport

The Copenhagen Post reports: In the wake of Denmark closing its borders today at noon, the Copenhagen Police has revealed that any stranded passengers must remain in the airport in order to reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus. The police said they would reach out to the airlines in cases regarding stranded passengers from abroad. Denmark’s decision yesterday to …

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Delta Airlines To Slash Flight Capacity By 40%

Axios reports: Delta Airlines will reduce its flight capacity by 40% for the next four months due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, a dramatic increase from the original 15% reduction, CNBC reports. The airline industry has had to curb flights as it grapples with lack of demand, as Americans are advised to avoid nonessential travel. CNBC notes Delta is seeing …

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Airlines Continue To Slash Flights As Bookings Plunge

The BBC reports: Thousands of flights have been cancelled worldwide as airlines struggle to cope with a slump in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Ryanair will stop services to and from Italy from Friday until 8 April, with BA scrapping its routes until 4 April as the country goes into lockdown. EasyJet has cancelled all of its flights to …

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Disruption About Sneezing Flier Spurs Plane Diversion

The Associated Press reports: A commercial flight from Colorado ski country to Newark, New Jersey made an unscheduled stop in Denver after several passengers became disruptive because they were seated next to someone who they thought was sick, officials said. Three passengers failed to follow crewmember instructions after growing upset about being seated next to the supposedly sick passenger. The …

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CDC Warns Against Long Plane Trips, Cruise Ship Travel

Politico reports: New guidance from the CDC urges travelers, especially the elderly and those with compromised health, to avoid long plane trips “and especially” cruises — a stark shift in rhetoric from an administration that had previously appeared reluctant to discourage Americans from moving around the globe. The CDC now recommends that travelers “defer all cruise ship travel worldwide” and …

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Europe: Airlines Fly “Ghost Planes” To Keep Flight Slots

The Insider reports: Airlines have wasted thousands of gallons of fuel running empty “ghost” flights during the coronavirus outbreak because of European rules saying operators can lose their flight slots if they keep their planes on the ground. Demand for flights has collapsed across the globe. Under Europe’s rules, airlines operating out of the continent must continue to run 80% …

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Industry Group: Virus Could Cost Airlines $100B+

The Associated Press reports: The International Air Transport Association says the virus outbreak that began in China could cost airlines as much as $113 billion in lost revenue due to the collapse of air travel. Representatives of the airline industry group said Thursday after a working meeting in Singapore that the industry urgently needs help from governments in waiving some …

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