• Middle East
      • South Africa

          AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline increases restrictions on face coverings from 29 July 2020

          From 29 July American Airlines will require all passengers over the age of two to wear face coverings at airports and on board, at all times with the exception of when eating or drinking. The airline has said that anyone unwilling to comply may be barred from future travel for the duration of these measures being in place.
          Australia
          Canada
          New Zealand
          South Africa
          United States of America
          Airline
          American Airlines
          Business
          Leisure

          TRAFALGAR: Tour operator to offer private group trips to ease COVID-19 concerns

          Guided tour operator Trafalgar have announced that they will now offer private trips for groups of 12 or more, to help ease customer concerns over travelling with others outside of their friend and family circles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The option is available for most of the company’s winter and spring itineraries throughout Europe and North America.
          Australia
          Canada
          New Zealand
          South Africa
          United Kingdom
          United States of America
          Tours
          Trafalgar
          Leisure

          QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline resumes flights to two Turkish destinations from 23 July 2020

          From today, the middle-eastern airline has resumed twice-weekly flights to the Turkish destinations of Antalya and Bodrum. They have also announced that by the end of this month they will have resumed operations via 450 weekly flights to more than 70 destinations.
          Middle East
          Turkey
          Airline
          Qatar Airways
          Business
          Leisure

          SWITZERLAND: Country to expand COVID-19 quarantine watch list

          The country's government has announced that they have expanded to 42 the number of countries on its COVID-19 watch list, from which new arrivals must enter a 10-day quarantine. New entries as of tomorrow, 23 July include Bosnia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, the Palestinian territories, Suriname and the United Arab Emirates. Belarus and Sweden, however, are to be removed.
          Belarus
          Costa Rica
          Ecuador
          El Salvador
          Guatemala
          Kazakhstan
          Luxembourg
          Maldives
          Mexico
          Middle East
          Montenegro
          Suriname
          Sweden
          Switzerland
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          BRITISH AIRWAYS: Airline to change terminal for flights from Dubai International Airport

          From 18 July, British Airways will be resuming flights from Dubai International Airport; services will operate from Terminal 3, rather than Terminal 1 as they did previously.
          Middle East
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          British Airways
          Business
          Leisure

          ETIHAD: Airline to resume flights to 10 destinations in the Middle East and Africa

          The Abu Dhabi-based airline has announced that they are now set to operate flights to 10 cities in the Middle East and Africa throughout July and August. From 1 August this will include flights to Amman, Casablanca, Muscat, Rabat, Riyadh and Seychelles.
          Middle East
          Morocco
          Seychelles
          Airline
          Etihad Airways
          Business
          Leisure

          RWANDAIR: Airline to resume operations from 1 August 2020

          Rwanda's national airline have announced that they will resume flights on 1 August to select routes within Africa, where border restrictions are currently not prohibitive. They will also resume services to Dubai International Airport.
          Middle East
          Rwanda
          South Africa
          Airline
          RwandAir
          Business
          Leisure

          ROYAL CARIBBEAN: Group extends cruise suspension until 30 September 2020

          The Royal Caribbean group has announced the decision to extend the suspension of cruise sailings for passengers due to depart on or before 30 September. Included among the group’s brands are Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea.
          Australia
          Canada
          Italy
          Jamaica
          Japan
          Mexico
          Middle East
          New Zealand
          United Kingdom
          United States of America
          Cruise
          Royal Caribbean
          Celebrity Cruises
          Azamara
          Silversea Cruises
          Leisure

          IRAQ: Country to re-open airports from 23 July 2020

          Iraq's government announced on 16 July that the country will re-open its airports for scheduled international traffic on 23 July, after suspending regular commercial flights in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The country will also lift a nationwide night-time curfew after the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, and re-open restaurants and malls as long as they implement certain measures.
          Middle East
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          JORDAN: Country to re-open to commercial flights from August 2020

          The government of Jordan announced on 16 July that it will partially resume commercial flights from August to a limited number of European and Asian countries on an internationally approved safe list; the list currently includes Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong and Thailand.
          Middle East
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          AIRLINK: South African regional airline suspends some flights from Johannesburg

          Airlink have announced that all flights between the South African destinations of Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg will be suspended from 20 July, as will its flights between Johannesburg and Upington from 27 July. The soon to be suspended routes were among a number of regional destinations that were introduced on 6 July as part of a government COVID-19 level three strategy, but have since not proven successful in terms of demand.
          South Africa
          Airline
          Airlink
          Business
          Leisure

          SOUTH AFRICA: Additional domestic airports to resume operations from 21 July 2020

          Further domestic airports within South Africa are set to re-open; from 21 July, East London Airport, George Airport and Kimberley Airport will resume operations. Airports that have already re-opened within the country include O.R Tambo International Airport, Lanseria International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport, Bram Fischer International Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Pietermaritzburg Airport, Port Elizabeth International Airport, Richardsbay Airport, Skukuza Airport and Upington International Airport.
          South Africa
          Airline
          Business
          Leisure

          BIDVEST: South African group's car rental division facing difficulties due to COVID-19

          The South African services, trading, and distribution company has said that it may be forced to close or sell its car rental business as it struggles to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bidvest’s car rental business includes car, van, truck and coach hire in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
          Botswana
          Namibia
          South Africa
          Car
          Business
          Leisure

          DELTA AIR LINES: Airline likely to continue blocking seats past 30 September 2020

          Delta Air Lines have said that they are likely to continue to block middle seats past the current deadline of 30 September in order to increase social distancing and reduce the risk of COVID-19; in total the airline is currently blocking 40% of economy seats. Other U.S. airlines currently blocking seats are Southwest Airlines, jetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines, however, are not.
          South Africa
          United States of America
          Airline
          Delta Air Lines
          Business
          Leisure

          ETIHAD AIRWAYS: Airline to resume special passenger flights between Abu Dhabi and six Indian cities

          Following the partial lifting of international flight restrictions by the United Arab Emirates and India, Etihad Airways will resume a limited number of special flights to six Indian gateways. The airline will operate services from Abu Dhabi to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Mumbai.
          India
          Middle East
          South Africa
          Airline
          Borders
          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

          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