VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline announces a £1.2bn rescue deal to secure its future post-COVID-19

Virgin Atlantic has today announced that they have agreed to a private £1.2bn recapitalisation deal which will allow the airline to secure its future post-COVID-19. By 2022 the airline plans to fly the same number of flights as they did in 2019, albeit from smaller operating bases at the UK's London Heathrow and Manchester Airports; this follows the suspension of operations at London Gatwick Airport for the forseeable future.
South Africa
United Kingdom
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
Business
Leisure

FIJI AIRWAYS: Airline extends flight suspension until the end of August 2020

Fiji's national airline has announced the extension of international flight cancellations through to the end of August, citing the cause as the prolonged border closures and travel restrictions in the destinations to which they operate. Fiji Airways have though said that the extended pause will give them more time to prepare a new network plan; this could include potential routes within a 'Bula Bubble' travel corridor with their main international markets - Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji
Airline
Fiji Airways
Business
Leisure

QANTAS: Frequent Flyers to get new rewards

Qantas has announced new rewards for its frequent flyers, including a one-off boost of 50% of the Status Credits needed annually to keep their tier.
Australia
South Africa
Airline
Business
Leisure

JETBLUE: U.S. airline to continue to block middle seats until 8 September 2020

U.S. low-cost airline jetBlue has announced that they are committed to continue blocking middle seats on their Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft through to 8 September, in order to aid efforts in social distancing and help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Seat blocking has become a contentious issue in the U.S, and while some other airlines are making similar efforts, many such as American Airlines and United Airlines have reverted to selling their standard seat allocations.
South Africa
United States of America
Airline
jetBlue
Business
Leisure

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS: Creditors approve airline's business rescue plan

There was good news for South Africa's national airline on 14 July, as 86% of creditors have voted in favour of the South African Airways' business rescue plan, meaning that the airline will for now avoid liquidation.
South Africa
Airline
South African Airways
Business
Leisure

UNITED STATES: Country suspends flights by Pakistan International Airlines

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that it has revoked permission for Pakistan International Airlines to conduct charter flights to the United States, citing concerns over Pakistani pilot certifications. Pakistan last month grounded almost a third of its pilots after discovering they may have falsified their qualifications.
Pakistan
United States of America
Airline
Borders
Pakistan International Airlines
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Flights to six additional cities to resume by August 2020

The Dubai-based airline have announced that they will shortly resume flights to a further six cities: Geneva, Los Angeles, Dar es Salaam, Prague, Sao Paulo and Boston. This will take the airline’s network to 58 cities by mid-August, including 20 destinations in Europe and 24 destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Brazil
Czech Republic
Middle East
South Africa
Switzerland
Tanzania
United States of America
Airline
Emirates
Business
Leisure

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Hong Kong flight suspension extended until 5 August 2020

The U.S. airline has announced today that it has delayed the resumption of flights to Hong Kong, following the introduction of measures from 8 July whereby airline crew are now subject to arrival testing and a 14-day medical surveillance. American Airlines were due to begin a three-times weekly service from Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport from 9 July, but have now pushed the resumption date back until 5 August.
Hong Kong
United States of America
Airline
American Airlines
Business
Leisure

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: Airline releases flight schedules through to October 2020

The airline has published their summer flight schedule for this year through to the end of October, when their capacity will double from 20% to around 40% of normal levels, with flights to over 60 destinations. They are also set to increase capacity on most routes from September.
Austria
South Africa
Airline
Austrian Airlines
Business
Leisure

FINNAIR: Flight schedule set to increase to over 30 destinations in July 2020

The airline have announced that, in line with Finland opening its borders to a number of countries from 13 July, they will increase their flight schedule for the remainder of July with services to over 30 domestic, European and Asian destinations.
Finland
Airline
Finnair
Business
Leisure

NORWEGIAN: Airline releases latest COVID-19 updates

Norwegian Air Shuttle, the low-cost airline which trades is 'Norwegian', has released its latest round of updates on cancellation, re-booking and changes to services during COVID-19. There is also information on the meal services on board, changes to hand baggage requirements and the mandatory use of face masks on board.
Norway
Airline
Business
Leisure

AIR NEW ZEALAND: New bookings suspended for international flights to New Zealand until 26 July 2020

Air New Zealand advises that following a request from the country's government, a hold has been placed on all new bookings for international flights into New Zealand - this is effective immediately until at least 26 July. The measure has been put in place in order to ease pressure on quarantine facilities.
New Zealand
South Africa
Airline
Air New Zealand
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Arriving passengers from Pakistan required to carry negative COVID-19 test report

Dubai-based airline Emirates has now resumed passenger flights to and from Pakistan, after a temporary suspension of eight days finishing on 1 July; all passengers arriving in Dubai from Pakistan must, though, carry a negative COVID-19 test result from a branch of Chunghtai Labs, an approved laboratory which will share the results directly with the airline. Branches of the laboratory can be found within all big cities in Pakistan, and passengers must take along their passport and confirmed booking within 96 hours of their departing flight.
Middle East
Pakistan
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Emirates
Business
Leisure

INDIA: SpiceJet to operate 25 repatriation flights from UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman

The Indian low-cost airline SpiceJet is currently operating 25 flights under India's national repatriation drive, known as the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). The airline will help bring back close to 4500 Indians stranded in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman under the initiative. SpiceJet has so far operated six of the scheduled special flights, bringing back over a thousand Indian nationals; it will operate another 19 flights this month from Ras Al-Khaimah, Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh and Muscat.
India
Middle East
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

ETIHAD: Airline to charge passengers travelling to Lebanon for COVID-19 arrival testing

Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad has published details surrounding the collection of COVID-19 PCR test charges for all passengers travelling from the UAE to Beirut, Lebanon; since 1 July, negative PCR test results have been required by Lebanon either before and/or after departure depending on whether testing facilities are available in the passengers' country of origin. Etihad will bear part of the costs payable for arriving testing, but will also add an additional US$50 fee as a tax charge to new and existing tickets.
Middle East
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

AIR ARABIA ABU DHABI: Low-cost airline to begin flights on 14 July 2020

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Etihad and Air Arabia, is Abu Dhabi's first low-cost airline and will take to the skies from 14 July. It will begin operations with direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Alexandria and Sohag in Egypt. The inaugural flight will take off from Abu Dhabi to Alexandria on 14 July followed by flights to Sohag the next day.
Egypt
Middle East
Airline
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
Air Arabia
Etihad Airways
Business
Leisure

BRITISH AIRWAYS: Airline announces further route resumptions throughout July 2020

The airline has announced that it will resume flying to more destinations across its network throughout July 2020. Across the UK and Europe, the airline will return to more short haul destinations by the end of July including Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey. Domestic flights will resume between London and Belfast, Inverness, Jersey, Manchester, Newcastle and Newquay and the airline will move to double daily services to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Long-haul services set to resume include flights to a number of U.S. cities, the Caribbean, Toronto and Tokyo.
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ireland
Japan
Norway
Portugal
South Africa
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
British Airways
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline makes face shields mandatory onboard flights

Passengers flying with Qatar Airways are now required to wear a face shield throughout their flight, in addition to a face mask or covering. Face shields will be available at check-in at Doha's Hamad International Airport, where the airline is based. If passengers are travelling on Qatar Airways flights from other destinations, face shields will be distributed at the boarding gate.
Middle East
South Africa
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline to move London Heathrow operations to airport's Terminal 5

American Airlines will move its London Heathrow operations into the airport’s Terminal 5 on 7 July, where joint venture partner British Airways is based. The move will facilitate smoother connections between the four daily Heathrow flights American Airlines is currently flying and British Airways’ domestic, European and global networks.
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
American Airlines
Business
Leisure

AIRLINK: Airline releases updated resources for South African domestic travel

The South African regional airline has published updated information on everything that passengers need to know in order to travel domestically, including: social distancing at the airport, airport access, drop-off, pick-up and parking; thermal screening, boarding procedures, hygiene on shuttle buses and procedures on board the plane.
South Africa
Airline
Airlink
Business