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The Dubai-based airline has announced that it will resume four weekly services to Thailand's resort island of Phuket from 2 July, to coincide with the re-opening of the popular destination to international tourists; in addition, those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 will enjoy even fewer restrictions, with no quarantine applicable on arrival. The Dubai-Phuket route will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration, offering premium services in first and business class as well as economy class.

The Dubai-based airline has said that it will resume flights to Venice from 1 July, initially offering three weekly services on the route. Emirates will also increase services to Milan from eight to ten weekly flights in July. This will comprise of a daily service on the Dubai-Milan-New York JFK route, and a three-weekly return flights between Dubai and Milan. Together with five weekly flights to Rome and three weekly flights to Bologna, this will take the total services to Italy to 21 weekly flights to four cities in July.

The middle-eastern airline has announced the upcoming launch of a seasonal service between Muscat and Tbilisi, Georgia; Oman Air will offer two weekly direct flights, on Wednesdays and Sundays, operated with a Boeing 737 aircraft. The flights are currently due to operate until mid-September, subject to government approvals.

The U.S. airline has said that it is expanding its pre-flight COVID-19 testing program with new self-administered and more in-person testing options; customers can now order an Abbott BinaxNOW home test through telehealth provider eMed. These 15-minute, self-administered tests are supervised virtually by an eMed certified guide 72 hours before a customer’s return to the U.S.

The government of the Seychelles has announced that from 2 June, South Africa has been reinstated to the non-permitted list of countries for entry; this means that only Seychellois and permanent residents are allowed to enter the Seychelles, and are to be quarantined for 10 days in a certified establishment regardless of of proof of COVID-19 vaccination - which should be submitted when applying for entry. More information can be found on the Seychelles government portal.

The airport has announced the re-opening Terminal 3 as a dedicated facility for arrivals into the UK from 'red list' countries; monitored hotel quarantine for arrivals from the most at-risk for COVID-19 destinations has been required for nearly four months, however there had been concerns of passengers mixing in queues during immigration. There are 43 countries on the red list, but direct flights are permitted from only a few of them, including India. Only British and Irish nationals or UK residents are allowed to travel from countries on the list, but must pay for quarantine in a hotel for ten nights after their arrival in the UK.

The country's government has confirmed the lifting of COVID-19 related restrictions for some passengers; fully-vaccinated passengers, or those who have tested positive for COVID-19 more than six weeks prior to their departure date, will no longer need to quarantine on arrival or provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

The government of Australia has announced that as COVID-19 cases continue to grow, the current 'lockdown' restrictions in the city of Melbourne are now set to continue for a further seven days from 23.59 (local time) on 3 June. During this time the wearing of face masks is mandatory everywhere outside of the home unless a person has an exemption, and the five reasons for leaving home will remain: shopping for essentials, exercise, essential work, care and care giving, getting vaccinated. The restrictions will be eased in the regional Victoria region, however some restrictions still apply and travel to Melbourne will be restricted.

The government of the Australian state of Queensland has announced that, in response to a COVID-19 outbreak within Victoria, it will from 27 May reinstate some travel restrictions for its residents who are set to travel to and from the southern region. From 27 May, only Queensland residents who have been in the region since 11 May will be allowed to return to the state, but they will have to go straight into hotel quarantine. Non-residents will be turned away, unless they have an approved exemption, but even then they will also be required to complete the mandated government-approved quarantine. Visitors and Queenslanders travelling from the City of Whittlesea from 27 May will also be sent into hotel quarantine, unless they have a valid exemption.

The quarantine-free travel between NZ and Victoria had been scheduled until 19.59 (local NZ time) on 28 May; however, due to the increase in community cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, the NZ Government has announced an extension of an additional seven days until at least 19.59 (local NZ time) on 4 June.

The government of the Australian state of Victoria have just announced a seven-day COVID-19 'lockdown' to be imposed with immediate effect from midnight today until 23.59 (local time) on 3 June; the restrictions are being introduced in a bid to curb the state's growing COVID-19 outbreak. During this time, residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for a limited number of reasons. Meanwhile, the state of Western Australia is set to close its border to Victoria at 10.00 (local time) this morning, with travel being restricted. For the latest state border conditions for Australia and New Zealand, click the link in this alert.

The government of New Zealand has announced that quarantine-free travel from the Australian state of Victoria to the country has been paused, while the source of infection of five COVID-19 cases detected in the city of Melbourne is investigated; the pause commenced at 19.59 (local time) on 25 May and initially will be in place for 72 hours. The measures is a one-way pause only, meaning that while no flights will depart from Victoria to New Zealand, services from New Zealand to Victoria can continue.

The government of Croatia has announced the re-opening of its borders to international tourism, having reportedly relaxed the majority of its previous COVID-19 restrictions for visitors who are fully vaccinated against the virus, have proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, or who have recently recovered from an infection. However, strict health measures will be enforced for visitors, including on beaches and in bars, such as social distancing requirements.

The U.S. government and its health officials have as of 24 May warned its citizens against travel to Japan due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, which is preparing to host the Olympics in just two months. The twin alerts don’t prevent U.S. citizens from visiting the country, but could have an impact on insurance rates for passengers, and may factor into decisions by Olympic athletes and spectators on whether to compete in or attend the games, which are due to start in July.

The government of India has said that its capital of New Delhi will start to ease its strict COVID-19 'lockdown' restrictions from 31 May if cases of the virus continue to fall within the city; one of the worst hit locations, New Delhi went into 'lockdown' on 20 April, but new cases have declined in recent weeks and test positivity rate has fallen under 2.5%, compared to 36% last month.

The low-cost U.S. airline has said that it will enter the transatlantic market later this year, offering flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and both London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports in the UK. Flights to London Heathrow will start on 11 August, followed by those to London Gatwick on 29 September. Meanwhile, a London service from Boston is expected to start in the Summer of 2022.

The government of Zambia has revised its COVID-19 entry requirements, meaning that arriving passengers from South Africa will be required to undergo a quarantine period; from 24 May, at all points of entry, all inbound passengers must present a negative PCR test certificate, conducted within 72 hours of departure from the country of origin. Passengers from a country on the high-risk list will have to quarantine at home or in a designated facility for 14 days, at their own cost. Only travellers who have complete documentary proof that they are fully vaccinated will be exempt from quarantine.

The country's government has announced a strict COVID-19 'lockdown' in all high-risk areas of the country in response to a rise in infections; the new measures will last until at least 30 May, and will involved the restriction of the circulation and movement of people. Face-to-face social, economic, educational, religious, and sports activities will be suspended, while only essential services will remain permitted.

The government of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has announced that from 25 May it will relax its entry protocols for inbound U.S. passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19; arrivals will be required to present a valid vaccination card upon entry. In addition a local curfew, which has been in effect since March 2020 from midnight to 05.00 (local time), has been eliminated. Valid COVID-19 test results will continue to be required for all un-vaccinated passengers and for those arriving on international flights.

U.S. carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have resumed flights to Tel Aviv, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire in unrest that had included rockets fired in the vicinity of Ben Gurion International Airport. Delta Air Lines operated its first flight from New York to Tel Aviv since early last week on the evening of 21 May; United Airlines also resumed service on 21 May, and American Airlines plans to restart flights from New York to Tel Aviv on 24 May.