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The Australian airline has said that it has started taking bookings for international flights from 1 July; Qantas had previously said that it did not expect to fly internationally until much later in the year. Ticket sales for Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, which had been set to start in March, have been pushed back to July, while other destinations like London have been brought forward from October. New Zealand is the only overseas destination to which Qantas is currently flying.

The country's government announced on 30 December that it will impose additional entry restrictions and quarantine regulations for non-nationals, effective from 00:01 (local time at the airport of departure) on 1 January 1, 2021. Among the updates measures is a temporary suspension on transiting through Taiwan.

The country's government has published updated requirements, restricting entry for foreign nationals to those already holding a valid stay permit (KITAS/KITAP) until at least 14 January 2021. However, all such travellers must undergo hotel quarantine and also require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 48 hours prior to departure. Passengers will be required to undergo a further COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in addition to quarantine requirements.

The country's government has announced that it will close its borders to international arrivals from 20 countries, including South Africa, until at least 15 January, citing the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant internationally. In addition to the UK, locations with lower rates of COVID-19 including Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore also fall under the restriction. International passengers who transit through these locations are also not exempt from the restrictions. However, Filipino citizens will still be able to return to the country; they are required to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival, regardless of COVID-19 test results.

The country's government has announced that from 24 December, foreign nationals arriving from the UK and in possession of visas issued since 1 October under the 'Global Residence Track' will not be permitted to enter Japan. Quarantine requirements are now also in place for those on the Short-Term Business Trips scheme. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The country's government has announced that all passengers arriving directly from the UK, or those who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days, will be required to complete their mandatory 14 day quarantine at a designated quarantine centre. From 23 December 2020, the frequency of direct flights from the UK to Taiwan will also be reduced. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The country's government has temporarily suspended flights from the UK to the Philippines starting at 00.01 (local time) on 24 December until 31 December 2020. Passengers not arriving directly from the UK who have been in the UK within 14 days prior to arrival to the Philippines, including those just transiting through the Philippines, are prohibited from entering the country during this period. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The country's government announced on 21 December 2020 the suspension of flights between the UK and Russia from 00:01 (local time) on 22 December 2020, for a period of one week. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The country's government has announced that from 23:59 (local time) on 23 December, all travellers who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days before travel will not be permitted to enter or transit Singapore. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The government of Hong Kong announced on 21 December that from 00.01 (local time) on 22 December, travellers who have visited the UK for more than two hours within the past 14 days will be denied entry to Hong Kong. The restrictions have been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The country's government has announced that all flights from the UK to India will be suspended from 22 December 2020 (23.59 hours IST) until 31 December 2020 (23.59 hours IST). Passengers arriving into India from the UK before 22 December deadline will be subject to a mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival. The restriction has been introduced in response to the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 within parts of the UK.

The airline, the national carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld Alliance, is set to increase the frequency of passenger flights from the country;s capital of Colombo to Singapore from once a week to three-times weekly, starting from 18 December. In addition to this, SriLankan Airlines will also operate a weekly service between Kuala Lumpur and Colombo every Friday.

The airline has announced that it is the latest carrier to provide free COVID-19 insurance cover for passengers who test positive for the virus while travelling. The policies are provided by Allianz Travel and cover medical costs relating to a positive diagnosis, as well as isolation and additional travel costs. The cover applies to all passengers on Japan Airlines (JAL) marketed and operated flights for travel between 23 December 2020 and 30 June 2021, and is valid for 31 days from the first leg of the journey.

The government of Singapore has announced today, 15 December, that it's set to launch a new segregated travel lane for business travellers on short-term stays; the initiative will be open to a limited number of business, official, and high economic value travelers from all countries who are coming to Singapore for short-term stays of up to 14 days. Applications are due to open in mid-January 2021, and passengers will be required to adhere to strict COVID-19 health and testing protocols, including staying within a 'bubble' at segregated facilities.

The country's government has announced that Nepal has re-opened to foreign tourists, after a nine month suspension as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic; all tourist visas have been restored, and foreign visitors are now free to fly into the country, but the land borders are still closed. All travellers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to their departure, and must take a further COVID-19 test after five days of a mandatory seven day hotel quarantine; this also applies to Indian nationals arriving in Nepal under the bilateral travel bubble agreement. Tourists are also required to hold valid COVID-19 travel insurance to the value of at least $5000 USD.

Philippine low-cost airline Cebu Pacific has announced that it is increasing flight frequency between the country's capital of Manila and key Asian destinations including Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Dubai and Japan; as border restrictions internationally begin to ease, the airline has done so to cater to increased demands for flights during the festive season. Flights between Manila and Singapore will now operate with an increased frequency of three times weekly, while flights between Manila and Dubai will operate six times weekly.

Singapore will unilaterally lift border restrictions on travellers from Taiwan. With immediate effect, travellers can apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) for entry into Singapore quarantine-free from 18 December, as long as they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival. Applicants must have remained in Taiwan in the last 14 consecutive days prior to departure, and they must also travel to Singapore on direct flights without transit.

The country's government has announced, after multiple delays, that Sri Lanka is now confirmed as planning to re-open its borders for tourism starting in 2021; the exact dates of re-opening, which will be under a 'travel bubble' arrangement, are due to be announced by 1 January 2021. All tourists arriving in Sri Lanka will need to undergo COVID-19 PCR tests on arrival and seven days after arriving in the island, and it will be mandatory that all international visitors have also evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours before arrival. All tourists will be required to stay a minimum of 14 days in the country. The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be reopened in a phased-out manner, with no more than 300 arrivals per day in total as the first phase.

The government of Hong Kong has announced today that from 10 December, arriving passengers will be required to take an extra COVID-19 test three weeks after landing, in addition to the tests already required immediately after landing and towards the end of their mandatory two-week quarantine. The increased measures coincide with an increase in local restrictions from the same date; Hong Kong will once again ban dining in restaurants after 18.00 (local time) and close all gyms and beauty salons, to curb a rise in COVID-19 cases in the densely packed financial hub.

The country's government has announced that from 15 December, the island province of Bohol will once again accept arriving passengers travelling for leisure purposes, regardless of age and including those arriving from general community quarantine areas; the move is part of a new 'test-before-travel' policy. Travellers must submit a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to travel., and must also have a pre-arranged booking with 'DOT-certified' accommodation establishments or tour operators. Arrivals must also register through the province’s website, and will be issued with a contact tracing card bearing a unique QR code that will serve as a pass upon entry and while in Bohol. Travellers should be aware that international travel restrictions may still apply for entry to the Philippines.