AMTRAK: Daily U.S. rail services to be reduced from October 2020

The U.S. rail provider is ending daily services to hundreds of stations across the country; from October, trains will stop at many stations just three times per week, on a reduced schedule that could remain permanent. Amtrak has estimated that passenger numbers could fall by 50% over the next year, and ridership has already decreased by 95% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States of America
Rail
Amtrak
Business
Leisure

AUSTRALIA: Visitors to Queensland to be required to pay for quarantine costs from 1 July 2020

Passengers arriving in the Australian state from overseas will be charged fees for quarantining in government arranged accommodation from 1 July - unless they carry proof that their flight booking was made prior to 17 June. The state has published a detailed list of FAQ's on their website including a scale of costs, which start at AU$2800 for a single traveller to undergo the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Australia
Borders
Leisure

AIR CHINA: Airline publishes updated timetable of flights for July 2020

The airline has published an updated schedule of flights operating between 1 July and 1 August; during this period, Air China will operate a total of 24 international routes per week, including 19 routes through Beijing, three Shanghai routes, and two Chengdu routes.
Mainland China
Airline
Air China
Business
Leisure

SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Updated flight schedules published for June and July 2020

The airline yesterday published their latest update on flight schedules for June and July 2020. Reinstated scheduled services include flights to Adelaide, Amsterdam, Auckland, Barcelona, Brisbane, Cebu, Christchurch, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Medan, Melbourne and Osaka.
Australia
Hong Kong
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Singapore
Airline
Singapore Airlines
Business
Leisure

DISNEY WORLD: Paris parks set to reopen in phases from 15 July 2020

Walt Disney Co announced yesterday that it will re-open its Disneyland Paris theme park in phases from 15 July, days after it plans to open its parks in the United States. It expects to reopen Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney's Newport Bay Club hotel and Disney Village, according to its president.
France
Hotel
Walt Disney World
Leisure

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline to resume flights from London to Delhi & Mumbai from September 2020

The airline is set to resume flights from London-Delhi and London-Mumbai from 2 September. The resumption of these routes into India is part of yesterday's announcement by Virgin Atlantic that it will resume flights to an additional 17 destinations from August.
India
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
Business
Leisure

PUERTO RICO: International tourism to resume from 15 July 2020

The Caribbean island is set welcome international travelers again on 15 July. Visitors arriving at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport will have their temperature checked and will undergo a quick health check-up - free and voluntary COVID-19 testing is also available on site. The government is also working on exceptions to the mandatory 14-day quarantine that remains in place, for those who can provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline's global network increases to 270 weekly flights to 45 destinations

The airline published an updated press release yesterday detailing both the resumption of flight routes and an increase in frequency on existing routes over the past week; it has now increased to more than 270 weekly flights to 45 destinations, most recently resuming services to Budapest, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Istanbul and New York.
Middle East
South Africa
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: Country extends ban on cruise ships and tightens border restrictions

New Zealand's government yesterday extended a ban on cruise ships arriving in the country, which was previously set to expire on 30 June. It also tightened measures for visitors to exit quarantine, after reporting more COVID-19 cases linked to overseas travel. Passengers in quarantine may now need to undergo multiple virus tests, and must test negative for COVID-19 before leaving the facilities.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

LOUNGE PASS: Lounge health & hygiene standards released

The provider, who work with VIP lounges in over 350 airports worldwide, have released guidelines to help protect the safety and welfare of both their customers and the crucial staff operating within the global lounge network. They believe the application of these responsible measures will ensure airport lounges continue to provide assurance of safety, as well as that unique and personal experience.
Airline
Business
Leisure

SAUDI ARABIA: International visitors not permitted to make Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

The country's government has banned international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj, this year due to restrictions related to COVID-19. Otherwise, up to two million people would have otherwise visited Mecca. Meanwhile, domestically a nationwide curfew has been lifted and all economic and social activities have been allowed to resume from 21 June.
Middle East
Borders
Business
Leisure

SKYTEAM: Airline alliance launches enhanced safety measures

SkyTeam, an international alliance of member airlines, has launched a pledge to enhance safety measures across all of its member airlines at every step of the customer journey. Named ‘SkyCare&Protect’, the pledge will allow passengers to make educated decisions about their travel plans.
France
Italy
Kenya
Mainland China
Middle East
Russia
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vietnam
Airline
Aeroflot
Air France
Alitalia
China Eastern
Delta Air Lines
Kenya Airways
KLM
Vietnam Airlines
Aeromexico
Saudia Airlines
Business
Leisure

AUSTRALIA: Government endorses COVID-Safe domestic passenger journey protocol

The health guidelines provide clear and consistent advice regarding risk-minimisation principles and processes, in domestic airports and on aircraft, for domestic passenger travel. The protocol is informed by health advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, as well as guidance from international aviation authorities.
Australia
Airline
Business
Leisure

PHILIPPINES: Returning Filipino nationals required to register prior to arrival in Manila

The country's government has advised Filipinos who are overseas and returning to the country via Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to register online before their flights home. Registration is to be completed on the Philippine Red Cross website at ecif.redcross.com.ph prior to their scheduled arrival.
Philippines
Borders
Philippine Airlines
Business

AVANI HOTELS & RESORTS: AvaniSHIELD health and safety measures updated

Avani have published updated information on the measures they're taking to prepare for post-COVID-19 travel, as more of their hotels globally begin to re-open. Their protocols, introduced under the name 'AvaniSHIELD', include initiatives such as digital check-in/out, a digital concierge app and a trusted partner program for local transport.
Australia
Middle East
South Africa
Thailand
Hotel
Avani Hotels
Business
Leisure

FIJI: Plans for travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand proposed

The country's prime minister told Fiji's parliament yesterday that he plans to create a travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand, as part of of a plan for the slow resumption of tourism in post-COVID-19 society. No confirmed plans or dates are yet in place, though, for the so-called 'Bula Bubble'.
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

SPAIN: Arrivals from the United Kingdom not required to self-quarantine

Spain's government announced yesterday, 21 June, that British tourists are now permitted to arrive in the country without having to self-quarantine. Spain’s borders are now open to arrivals from EU countries (except Portugal), the UK and some other Schengen area countries from 21 June.
Spain
United Kingdom
Borders
Business
Leisure

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Flights to 17 additional destinations to resume from August 2020

The airline has today announced that they are set to resume flights to an additional 17 destinations across their global network from August; this follows the previous news of passenger flights being set to resume from 20 July. Flights to the additional destinations will resume from 1 August through to early October, and include cities across the Unites States, India, South Africa and the Caribbean.
India
Middle East
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
Business
Leisure

INDIA: Taj Hotels rated as India's strongest brand by Brand Finance

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company, announced that its iconic brand Taj Hotels ranks number one on the list of the strongest Indian brands by Brand Finance in their coveted ‘India 100 2020’ report. It was ranked the highest across brands in all sectors, with a brand strength index (BSI) score of 90.5 out of 100 and a corresponding elite AAA+ brand strength rating.
India
Hotel
Taj Hotels
Business
Leisure