EU sets out virus pass plan to allow free travel by summer

Mandatory Covid testing for travelers from China 'unjustified', EU says

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive body proposed Wednesday issuing certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer so long as they have been vaccinated, tested unfavorable for COVID-19, or recovered from the disease. With summer looming and tourism-reliant nations anxiously ready for the return of […]

IATA Travel Pass Successfully Trialed on First International Flight

WTTC publishes report on Digital Travel post-COVID

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport of the first traveler using the IATA Travel Pass app to manage their travel health credentials. “The successful implementation of IATA Travel Pass in this trial with Singapore Airlines passengers demonstrates that technology can securely, conveniently and efficiently help travelers and […]

Spanish islands inform tourists to follow covid guidelines

Total expenditure by international tourists visiting Spain stood by 11,869 million in July, 127.0% more than in July 2021

MADRID — Faced with a possible flood of tourists from Germany later this month, authorities in Spain’s Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists should adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same manner residents do. Like the rest of Spain, the archipelago within the Mediterranean Sea is strengthening measures to fight the virus before the […]

UK put on Qatar and Oman to red travel list, remove Portugal and Mauritius from List

Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 to be held at Fuwairit Kite Beach

Oman, Qatar, Ethiopia, and Somalia were added to the UK’s travel red list, the department for transport mentioned on Monday. The new guidelines will come into force on Friday. While Portugal and Mauritius removed from Britain’s travel red list. It mentioned a ban on flights between both nations and the UK had also been lifted […]

Covid-19: Cyprus alter country categories

Covid-19: Cyprus alter country categories

Cyprus stated on Monday it has downgraded Finland and upgraded Portugal in its classification of nations based on their epidemiological situation, effective from Thursday, March 18. The classification affects travelers from these nations. The health ministry stated Finland has been moved from Orange to Red, while Portugal was upgraded from Red to Orange. The categories […]

2,000 flights canceled in Denver as heavy snowstorm arrives

Flights halted and Travel disrupts as snow covers Istanbul

DENVER (AP) — More than 2,000 flights have been canceled over the weekend at Denver International Airport as a major snowstorm strikes the area. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, saying it expects 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm) of heavy, wet snow to fall in Denver and Boulder from Saturday […]

COVID-19: EU travel certificates must prevent discrimination, draft shows

Unvaccinated foreign nationals below 18 yrs do not need to quarantine, U.S. CDC says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union COVID-19 certificates intended to free up travel should prevent discrimination towards those not vaccinated by including data on whether or not individuals have been tested or have recovered, according to a draft document. The European Commission is expected to launch its final proposal for COVID-19 “green digital certificates” next week, […]

Vaccinated people to travel without restrictions, British Airways

British Airways cancels more than 1,000 flights

LONDON (Reuters) – British Airways’s new boss mentioned vaccinated individuals should be allowed to travel without restriction and non-vaccinated individuals with a negative COVID-19 test, as he set out his ideas for a travel restart a month earlier than the UK government finalizes its plans. Holidays won’t be allowed till May 17 at the earliest, […]

Working on travel bubble with Singapore, Australia

The latest Business Travel Tracker finds American companies increasingly paring back pandemic-era restrictions on business travel amid developing storm clouds in the form of persistently high inflation and a looming recession—pointing to the need for immediate government intervention to sustain a positive rate of growth. Many companies slashed their business travel budgets during the pandemic, but less than half of companies (42%) still have policies in place restricting business travel—down from 50% in Q2. Businesses have shown a willingness to get back on the road, with 78% of business travelers expecting to take at least one trip to attend conferences, conventions or trade shows, and 75% expecting to visit customers, suppliers or other stakeholders in the next six months. In addition to the Business Travel Index, two separate surveys of corporate executives and business travelers form the Quarterly Business Travel Tracker, a product of the U.S. Travel Association, J.D. Power and Tourism Economics. Headwinds on the horizon The U.S. Travel Association’s forecast projects that business travel’s growth cannot be sustained in the long term, leading to a decline in the coming quarters. The new survey data arrives as economists in the U.S. and around the world sound the alarm about worsening economic conditions. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday cautioned that “very, very serious” headwinds—including inflation, rising interest rates and the ongoing war in Ukraine—were likely to tip the U.S. into a recession in the next six to nine months. With many economists and business leaders anticipating a mild recession in 2023, companies may look for ways to limit investment and travel spending, delaying a full recovery in business travel activity—as reflected in the forward-looking Business Travel Index. Federal policies to spur business travel demand In the face of this slowdown, certain federal policies can help offset these headwinds and spur the recovery of business travel. The U.S. Travel Association is calling on Congress to support temporary tax provisions that would encourage companies to restore business travel spending, particularly with regard to spending that supports workers in the food service and entertainment sectors. Further, the U.S. Department of State should take steps to greatly reduce visitor visa interview wait times to facilitate more international business travel—which have crept to over 440 days on average from top source markets—particularly as the strength of the U.S. dollar is posing a hurdle to attracting international meetings and events. “Business travel is coming back slowly, and these policies will be essential to keeping employees on the road and helping still-recovering companies weather an oncoming recession,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman.

SYDNEY: Australia is “working with Singapore” to create a travel bubble between the 2 nations as early as July, officials mentioned on Sunday, in an effort to restart tourism and travel placed on hold by COVID-19. Early within the pandemic Australia successfully closed its international border to slow the spread of the coronavirus, with non-citizens […]

Covid-19: Multiple Italian regions to lockdown amid rising cases

Covid-19: Multiple Italian regions to lockdown amid rising cases

Multiple areas in Italy will be locked down from Monday, the Italian Ministry of Health announced on Friday. The most populated areas including Lombardy and Lazio, where Rome is situated, can be classified as “red zones” which is Italy’s maximum level of coronavirus restrictions. Non-essential shops and restaurants have to shut in a red zone. […]