EASYJET: Airline to close bases at three UK airports from September 2020

Low-cost airline easyJet has confirmed that it will close its base at London Stansted Airport from 1 September; easyJet will also close bases at the UK's Southend and Newcastle Airports. In-bound flights from Stansted and Newcastle will continue, but all flights departing and arriving in Southend will stop. The decisions have been cited as being due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Kingdom
Airline
easyJet
Business
Leisure

SUN INTERNATIONAL: South African hotel and entertainment brand releases re-opening dates

The South African hotel and entertainment brand has announced that with inter-provincial borders within the country now open and restrictions on alcohol now lifted, its hotels will also begin to-reopen for guests; Sun International has accordingly published the re-opening dates of each property along with the answers to many frequently asked questions. All hotels now bear the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) safe stamp of approval, verifying that the COVID-19 health and safety protocols they have in place meet international benchmarks.
South Africa
Hotel
Resort
Sun International
Leisure

JAMAICA: Increased restrictions for U.S. passengers from 20 August 2020

The government of Jamaica has announced that from 20 August, arrivals from all U.S. states are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited lab within 10 days of the intended travel date. As a reminder, all tourists visiting Jamaica must also adhere to the ‘Stay in Zone’ order, requiring them to stay in accredited hotels within certain areas.
Jamaica
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

MEXICO: Border with U.S. to remain closed until at least 21 September

The government of Mexico has agreed with the U.S. to extend by a further month the restriction on non-essential travel between the two countries via their shared land border. The agreement will now be in place until at least 21 September; the land border restrictions, aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, were first announced in March and have thus far been renewed monthly.
Mexico
Borders
Business
Leisure

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline increases restrictions on face coverings from 19 August 2020

The U.S. airline has announced that from 19 August it will not allow certain types of face coverings on board; this includes those with exhaust valves, those made with materials such as mesh or lace, and those that do not cover the nose and mouth. Face shields without the addition of a face covering are also prohibited. American Airlines’ face mask rules apply to all passengers over the age of two, but the masks may be taken off briefly by passengers while they're eating and drinking.
United States of America
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American Airlines
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BIMAN BANGLADESH: Airline to impose new fees on tickets issued from 16 August 2020

The national airline of Bangladesh has announced that, in accordance with a government directive, from 16 August it will collect additional fees with the issuance of each new ticket; the fees are cited to fall under the categories of 'Airport Development' & 'Passenger Security'. The fees will be collected for any flights departing from Bangladesh and will appear seperately on the ticket breakdown under tax codes 'P7' and 'P8'.
Bangladesh
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Biman Bangladesh
Business

ICELAND: Country to extend arrival self-isolation measures from 19 August 2020

The government of Iceland has announced that from 19 August, arriving passengers who opt for COVID-19 testing on arrival (at their own cost) as opposed a blanket 14-day quarantine, must also be tested a second time four to five days after arrival and remain in self-isolation until the second test result is obtained.
Iceland
Borders
Business
Leisure

ANGUILLA: Country to re-open border to international visitors from 21 August 2020

The country's government has announced that it is re-opening its border to international visitors from 21 August, when it will also begin to accept online entry applications. All passengers will be given a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival, with a second test also required on day 10 of the visit; visitors must remain in their accommodation in the interim until after day 10.
Borders
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Leisure

UNITED STATES: Borders with Canada and Mexico to remain closed until at least 21 September

The U.S. government has announced that its land borders with both Mexico and Canada will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month until 21 September. The land border restrictions, aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, were first announced in March and have thus far been renewed monthly.
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Airline to resume flights to Warsaw, Poland from 4 September 2020

The Dubai-based airline has announced that it will resume passenger flights to Warsaw, Poland from 4 September starting with twice-a-week services, and increasing to three-a-week from 7 October. The resumption of flights to Warsaw will expand Emirates’ current network to 75 cities in September, offering travellers in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific connections via Dubai to the Polish capital.
Middle East
Poland
South Africa
Airline
Emirates
Business
Leisure

NIGERIA: Country to resume international travel operations

The country's government has announced that it is gearing up to resume international flights in and out of the country after shutting down its airport in March to curb the spread of COVID-19. According to a statement released today, 17 August by the Nigeria's government, flights will resume on 29 August from Lagos, the west African nation's commercial hub, and Abuja, its capital city. Travel within other cities will follow at a later date.
Nigeria
Airline
Borders
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VISTARA: Indian airline likely to commence flights to the UK, Germany and France

Indian private airline Vistara are reportedly likely to shortly begin flight operations between India and the UK, Germany and France under the bilateral air bubble arrangements that have been signed with these countries by the government of India. A three-times weekly service between Delhi and London Heathrow Airport is likely to the first new flight announced as early as next week, according to industry sources.
France
Germany
India
United Kingdom
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Vistara
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SOUTH AFRICA: Country to move to downgraded COVID-19 alert level two

South Africa will be downgraded to enter COVID-19 alert level two as of midnight, 17 August, whereby all restrictions on inter-provincial travel will be lifted. Accommodation, hospitality venues and tours will also be permitted according to approved protocols to ensure social distancing. South Africa's borders though remain closed, with no international travel taking place with the exception of repatriation flights in and out of the country. Meanwhile, a national state of disaster has been extended by a further month, until 15 September 2020.
South Africa
Borders
Business
Leisure

ECUADOR: Country to drop quarantine requirement for arrivals who test negative for COVID-19

International travellers arriving in Ecuador by air are no longer required to quarantine so long as they present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to arrival obtained a maximum of 10 days before departure. Passengers who do not present this may take a test on arrival at their own cost, using a qualifying facility, and self-isolation is mandatory while they wait for the results. If negative they can leave the isolation; if positive they must self-isolate for 14 days, at their own expense, in hotels or private accommodation.
Ecuador
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED KINGDOM: Arrivals from France and five additional countries to be required to self-quarantine

The UK government has announced that from 04.00 (local time) on 15 August, both arrivals and returning passengers from France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos and Aruba will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days due to the countries being removed from the UK's travel corridor exemption list. In addition, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has also advised British nationals against all but essential travel to these destinations, based on the risk currently presented due to their levels of COVID-19.
Aruba
France
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Borders

VIKING CRUISES: Cruise line cancels all remaining sailings in 2020

The Swiss-based river, ocean, and expedition cruise operator has announced that it has cancelled all river and ocean sailings through to the end of 2020 due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic; guests with cancelled cruises will be offered 125% future credit.
Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
United States of America
Cruise
Viking Cruises

EMIRATES: Airline to operate one-off flight to Clark, Philippines on 19 August 2020

The Dubai-based airline has said that it will operate a one-off passenger flight on it's flagship Airbus A380 aircraft to Clark in the Philippines on 19 August; the special flight will help to meet the demand for flights to and from the Philippines, especially serving passengers from metro Manila and the surrounding Luzon areas and beyond.
Middle East
Philippines
Airline
Borders
Emirates
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Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: Country extends reinstated lockdown until at least 26 August 2020

The country’s prime minister has announced a 12-day extension to the country’s reinstated COVID-19 restrictions after a new cluster of cases has grown to 29. The measures will now last until at least 26 August; Auckland will remain on level three (the maximum is four), meaning most businesses will remain closed and residents must stay home when not at work or school. The rest of the country is under level two, meaning residents and visitors must wear a mask if possible, and gatherings of more than 100 are banned.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline to resume daily flights to London Gatwick Airport from 20 August 2020

The airline has said that it will resume daily flights to the UK's London Gatwick Airport from 20 August, in a move which will see its UK network expand to 45 weekly flights to four gateways. UK passengers will now be able to connect via the airline's Doha hub to over 40 destinations in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Middle East
United Kingdom
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Qatar Airways
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