NEW ZEALAND: Country to retain COVID-19 lockdown measures until mid-September 2020

The country’s prime minister today, 4 September, announced the retention of current COVID-19 restrictions in New Zealand until at least mid-September; this means that Auckland will remain on alert level 2.5, limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people, and the rest of the country will remain on the less restricted alert level 2. A review will be due on 14 September.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: Jetstar extends suspension of domestic flights until 16 September 2020

Low-cost carrier Jetstar has suspended all New Zealand Domestic flights until at least the end of Wednesday 16 September; this follows the New Zealand government's recent announcement of the extension of COVID-19 alert level 2 across New Zealand, and 2.5 in the city of Auckland, until 23.59 (local time) on 16 September 2020.
New Zealand
Airline
Jetstar
Business
Leisure

AUSTRALIA: Country's prime minister hopes to open interstate borders by December 2020

The country’s prime minister has said that he’s pressing state governments within Australia to re-open their internal borders by December in order to ease interstate travel restrictions. He also pledged to bring more Australians home, which would involve the raising of the current cap of 4,000 international arrivals per week to the country's airports.
Australia
Borders
Business
Leisure

ONEFINESTAY: Housekeeping & guest safety commitment update

Onefinestay provides high-end home and villa rentals worldwide, offering personal and professional service to guests and homeowners alike. Since launching in 2010, Onefinestay has been committed to the highest hospitality standards. They have recently enhanced these standards with stringent new guidelines around housekeeping and hygiene, so that you can continue feeling safe and reassured when staying in any of their homes or villas.
Australia
Indonesia
Mexico
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States of America
Hotel
Accor
Business
Leisure

PRINCESS CRUISES: Cruise line cancels two sailings in early 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions

Princess Cruises has announced that it will cancel early 2021 sailings on two ships, citing restrictions on travel, borders and ports relating to COVID-19 as the cause. The ships affected are the Island Princess and Pacific Princess, which were due to sail from North America and Australia respectively.
Australia
United States of America
Cruise
Princess Cruises
Leisure

SINGAPORE: Visitors from Brunei and New Zealand to be permitted from 8 September 2020

Singapore Airlines have released an update on entry requirements for Singapore, whereby it's reported that from 1 September visitors from Brunei and New Zealand will be able to apply for a single-entry Air Travel Pass (ATP) for arrival from 8 September onwards. Visitors must apply between 7-30 days prior to travel, and will also be subjected to a COVID-19 test on arrival in Singapore.
New Zealand
Singapore
Borders
Singapore Airlines
Business
Leisure

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline introduces complimentary COVID-19 global cover

The airline has introduced their new COVID-19 cover policy, which provides free insurance for new and existing customers on flights booked for departures up until 31 March 2021, should they fall ill or experience difficulties due to COVID-19. As well as covering applicable medical costs incurred as a result of the virus, Virgin will also incur costs in the event that a passenger is denied boarding due to COVID-19-related reasons, or is unexpectedly quarantined upon arrival in their destination.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
Business
Leisure

LUFTHANSA GROUP: Airlines to increase restrictions on face masks from 1 September 2020

The airlines of the Lufthansa Group have announced that they are restricting the exceptions from the obligation to wear a mask on board their flights from 1 September, when an exemption from the obligation to wear a mask during the flight for medical reasons will only be possible if a medical certificate is presented on a form provided by the airline. Passengers can download the document from the airlines' websites. In addition, passengers who are unable to wear a mask during the flight must present a negative COVID-19 test result, which is not older than 48 hours at the scheduled start of the journey.
Australia
Austria
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Middle East
New Zealand
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
Lufthansa
Austrian Airlines
SWISS Air Lines
Brussels Airlines
Air Dolomiti
Business
Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: City of Auckland to remain in level three COVID-19 lockdown until 30 August 2020

The country’s prime minister has said that the current reinstated lockdown measures in Auckland will be extended until 23.59 (local time) on 30 August, with the city’s step down from level three to level two restrictions starting gradually from the following morning. Under level three, most businesses remain closed and residents must stay at home when not at work or school. The rest of the country will remain at level two until at least 6 September.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline to award tier points for rewards flights from 1 September 2020

The airline has announced that from 1 September it will award tier points on every flight, including redemption bookings; passengers will receive the same number of points as they would when booking using cash, making it easier to progress to Gold and Silver status.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
Business
Leisure

ACCOR: Hotel group now offers free 24/7 medical care for guests in some regions

Guests staying at any Accor-branded hotel, resort or apartment property in Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia now have free in-room access to a network of thousands of accredited medical professionals 24/7 via a tele-medical consultation. The free-of-charge medical service can apply to any non-urgent medical need and is suitable for, but not limited to, concerns related to COVID-19. According to Accor, the consultations can relate to any non-urgent medical need, and are not just limited to COVID-19 concerns
Australia
French Polynesia
New Zealand
Hotel
Accor
Business
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

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

SEABOURN: Cruise line announces further cancellation of sailings on three ships

The Seattle-based ultra-luxury cruise line has announced the cancellation of sailings on three ships as part of an extension in the pause of global ship operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the operator has previously already announced the suspension operations from until 20 November. Sailings on the Encore will be suspended until 25 November, the Ovation until 20 December and the Sojourn until 24 May 2021.
Australia
Canada
United States of America
Cruise
Seabourn
Leisure

HOLLAND AMERICA: Cruise line extends suspension of sailings until 15 December 2020

Holland America Line has confirmed in a press release that it is extending its pause of cruise operations and cancelling departures on all ships through to 15 December, following the continuation of travel and port restrictions due to global COVID-19 health concerns.The pause extension affects sailings from, to and via the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal, Pacific Coastal, South America, Antarctica, Hawaii, South Pacific, Australia and Asia.
Australia
Mexico
Panama
United States of America
Cruise
Holland America Line
Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: Country reinstates COVID-19 lockdown following detection of new cases

The country is set to increase its COVID-19 alert level following four cases of COVID-19 being detected in a household in Auckland - the first domestic cases of the virus in around 100 days. The capital city of Auckland will return to level three lockdown restrictions from midday tomorrow, 12 August until at least midnight on Friday, 14 August. Residents will be asked to stay at home and many businesses will close. The rest of the country will also be raised to level two restrictions during the same initial time period.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline to resume flights to Australia's Adelaide on 16 August 2020

The airline has announced that it will be resuming two flights per week to the Australian city of Adelaide from 16 August, which will be its fifth Australian destination; this will make it the only international airline to service this number of Australian destinations, which will account for a total of 23 weekly passenger flights.
Australia
Middle East
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

AUSTRALIA: Strict caps on international arrivals extended until at least 24 October 2020

The government of Australia has confirmed that strict caps on international arrivals, previously put in place to ease the pressure on government sanctioned hotel quarantine facilities, will continue until at least 24 October. This includes, but is not limited to, caps in Sydney of 350 passenger arrivals per day; Perth, 525 passenger arrivals per week and Brisbane, 500 passenger arrivals per week.
Australia
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED AIRLINES: Airline extends 'Global Services' status for members until January 2022

The U.S. airline has announced that it has extended 'Global Services' status for its current members through to 31 January 2022. United had previously also extended 'MileagePlus' status for members at the Premier 1K level and below through to the same date.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
United Airlines
Business
Leisure