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The UK's national carrier has announced a new program of safety measures, designed to protect passengers at every step of the journey as they're welcomed back on board.

The airline has announced a new process to improve how customers can use their ticket value held in credit if their travel was impacted by COVID-19. Customers now have the option to use ticket credit towards multiple bookings, with greater flexibility that allows them to complete rebooked travel up until an extended deadline of 31 December 2022.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has released further updates to its industry-leading wellness program, including a video highlighting what they describe as a transformation to the passenger airport experience. Among other measures introduced by Etihad is a dedicated wellness ambassador on board each flight.

The airline has today announced that it will expand its schedule to offer scheduled flights for travellers to 10 additional cities. This includes Colombo from 20 June, Sialkot from 24 June and Istanbul from 25 June; this is to be followed by Auckland, Beirut, Brussels, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from 1 July and finally Barcelona and Washington DC from 15 July. However, flights from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Pakistan will only carry passengers one-way into Dubai and onward connections.

Qatar's national airline has today announced the resumption of flights to New York (JFK) from 19 June, as well as Boston, Los Angeles and Washington Dulles from 1 July. This will see the airline’s U.S. network rebuild to 39 weekly flights to six U.S. cities by mid-July, including existing services to Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth which have remained in operation.

The airline has reportedly suspended all international flights until at least 24 October, with the exception of some services to New Zealand.

Taiwan has announced that from 22 June, border restrictions will be eased to allow business travellers from some low-risk countries to enter. Arrivals must provide a negative test result from the previous three days, have an invitation letter and be subject to a full 14 day quarantine - unless they pay for a further test after arrival in which case this may be reduced.

The airline has announced that passenger flights between Auckland and Shanghai will resume once per week from 22 June. Flight number NZ289 will leave Auckland on a Monday, and return from Shanghai on a Wednesday. The service will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft and will remain on this schedule until 30 August, unless otherwise advised.

The airline has announced that the suspension of all southbound flights will now be extended until at least 31 July.

Dubai-based Emirates is planning to open ‘air bridges’ with European countries, according to local media reports. Air bridges, also referred to as ‘travel corridors’, would allow tourists to travel between two countries during the current COVID-19 pandemic, without needing to quarantine.

The airline has announced a revision of VAT tax (K7) which has increased from 5% to 15% for domestic tickets. These taxes do not apply for international tickets.

The country has today re-opened borders to international arrivals; its national carrier, Ukraine International Airlines, is expected to resume international services within the next week, and currently a 14 day arrival quarantine is still in place until at least 22 June.

The airline has today announced an updated Summer schedule from 5 July to 4 August; flights to 45 destinations are planned including 39 in Canada, five in the U.S. and one in Mexico.

Airlink has announced that they will no longer be flying between Johannesburg and Durban from 15 June onwards, due to the route proving to not be financially viable. They will continue flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town and will also focus efforts on other routes once permissions allow; this includes flights to Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Kimberley, Upington, Umtata, Pietermaritzburg, Richard’s Bay, George, Port Elizabeth and East London.

The airline took to the skies today for the first time since 30 March, flying to a small number of mainly domestic UK destinations. By August, easyJet plans to resume around 75% of routes, albeit at a much lower frequency than the same time last year.

The Montréal-based airline has announced that flights are set to resume from 23 July; a new schedule will offer services to more than 20 destinations including those in Europe, the United States and domestically in Canada.

The country announced today that it will take airline passengers’ temperatures before they fly and anyone with a fever will not be allowed to travel. Those arriving in Canada will be screened by the end of June; those leaving the country, as well as domestic travelers, will be screened at the country’s four biggest airports by the end of July.

The airline has announced that the tier status for Executive Club members has been extended for a full year, as of today, as a thank you for the loyalty of their customers. The number of Tier Points needed to reach each tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Guest List) will also reduce by 25% for the year after the 12-month extension.

The airline is set to double current capacity by early July, adding approximately 30,000 seats across 320 flights per week to its domestic schedule. Virgin Australia will also introduce a comprehensive new set of safety and wellbeing measures, including pre-departure eligibility and health screening, contactless check-in, more frequent cleaning onboard and at the airport and expanded social distancing measures.

From today, the airline will resume a twice-daily service between Istanbul Airport and London Heathrow. Flight TK1979 will depart from Istanbul at 08.20 each morning; the return service, TK1980, will depart London Heathrow at 12.50.