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

ETIHAD: Airline issues reminder on COVID-19 testing requirements for travel to Abu Dhabi

The airline have posted an advisory and reminder regarding COVID-19 PCR testing; if Etihad's hub of Abu Dhabi is a passenger’s final destination, they must have a negative test result issued by an ICA-approved medical facility within 72 hours prior to departure, available to present at check-in for their flight at the destination of origin.
Middle East
Airline
Borders
Etihad Airways
Business
Leisure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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