AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline partners with Caribbean nations to pilot COVID-19 testing

          The airline has announced a first-of-its-kind agreement with select Caribbean governments to directly offer COVID-19 tests prior to travel; the scheme will begin next month in Miami International Airport in collaboration with Jamaica, and will initially be open only to Jamaican residents. If the pilot proves successful, however, the airline hopes to expand availability to all passengers flying from select U.S. airports to around 20 participating Caribbean nations and associate nations.
          Jamaica
          United States of America
          Airline
          Borders
          American Airlines
          Business
          Leisure

          GERMANY: Country to introduce increased COVID-19 restrictions for its citizens

          The country’s chancellor has yesterday, 29 September, announced that she will introduce a number of increased restrictions to curb COVID-19 infection rates over the winter months; the measures include, but are not limited to, restricting the size of gatherings and increasing penalties for those not adhering to the track and trace system.
          Germany
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          SWISS AIR LINES: Airline releases updated flight schedules for Winter 2020/21

          The airline has published updates to their flight schedules and pledged to keep Switzerland connected with the world throughout the winter, despite strict quarantine restrictions. Among additions to their short haul services will be Munich and Wroclaw, Poland from the end of October; Luxembourg, Birmingham, London City and Nuremberg from February 2021 and Graz from March 2021.
          Germany
          Luxembourg
          Poland
          Switzerland
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          SWISS Air Lines

          EMIRATES: Airline updates 'OK to board' requirement for some passengers travelling to Iraq

          The Dubai-based airline has announced that it has updated its 'OK to board' approval process for some passengers travelling to Iraq; all non-Iraqi nationals travelling to the country will now require this approval for travel using all visa types. The documents required are the passenger booking reference, passport copy and visa copy, and the approval can be obtained at check-in.
          Middle East
          Airline
          Emirates
          Business
          Leisure

          SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS: Airline operations suspended until funding is confirmed

          Administrators in charge of South African Airways (SAA) have said that they have suspended all operations and put the state-owned airline under “care and maintenance” until funding for a restructuring plan is found. It is understood that all existing cargo and repatriation flights will be undertaken but no new ones will be accepted.
          South Africa
          Airline
          South African Airways
          Business
          Leisure

          SOUTH AFRICA: Country releases information on essential business travel to South Africa from 'high risk' countries

          The country's government has said that travellers who wish to make an application to travel from a 'high risk' country to South Africa for essential business purposes may do so as of 1 October. Applications must be made in writing to the Minister of Home Affairs and must demonstrate justifiable reasons for their request. Applications must be directed to: Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za with the following supporting documentation: a copy of the passenger's passport and/or temporary residence visa; ​proof of business activities to be undertaken in the country; proof of travel itinerary and proof of address or accommodation in South Africa.
          Middle East
          South Africa
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          EMIRATES: Airline provides special COVID-19 testing rates for passengers departing Dubai

          The Dubai-based airline has announced that passengers due to depart from Dubai on their services can access a reduced COVID-19 PCR testing price of AED 150; this is available at the American Hospital Dubai Media City Clinic, the American Hospital Al Barsha Clinic and the American Hospital Al Khawanij Clinic (opening soon). Home or office testing is also available and test results will be available within 48 hours. Passengers must present a valid ticket/boarding pass and ID to take the COVID-19 PCR test at these rates.
          Middle East
          Airline
          Emirates
          Business
          Leisure

          ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA): Airline releases updated flight schedule for November 2020

          The Japanese airline yesterday, 28 September, released an updated flight schedule announcing that it will resume flights to Singapore and Bangkok in November, in addition to increasing frequency on other international routes; among them, twice-weekly services will fly from Tokyo Haneda to Sydney, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Manila in the Philippines. One flight per week will also operate from Tokyo Haneda to London.
          Australia
          Japan
          Philippines
          Singapore
          Thailand
          United Kingdom
          Vietnam
          Airline
          ANA All Nippon Airways
          Business
          Leisure

          CANADA: Country's borders remain closed to international tourists until at least 31 October 2020

          The latest updates from the country's government show that Canada's borders will remain closed to all international tourists until at least 31 October. This applies to tourism and leisure travel from all countries including the U.S. by land, air or sea. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the ban but face a strict 14-day self-quarantine on returning to Canada. The closure of Canada's land border to all non-essential crossings between the country and the United States also remains in place until at least 21 October.
          Canada
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          THAILAND: Country to start gradual re-opening of tourism in Phuket from 8 October 2020

          The country's government is set to trial a return to tourism on the island of Phuket from 8 October, when a flight carrying around 120 people will fly directly into the region’s airport from Guangzhou, China. Visitors will be provided a long stay visa, be quarantined for 14 days, be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result and be tested a further two times during quarantine.
          Mainland China
          Thailand
          Borders
          Leisure

          NEW ZEALAND: Country's prime minister says Australia 'travel bubble' could be in place before 2021

          The country’s prime minister has yesterday, 28 September, said that plans for a ‘travel bubble’ between New Zealand and some Australian states could finally be in place before the end of the year; with the virus largely contained in New Zealand, and as cases continue to decline in Australian regions, talks of the long-discussed arrangement have been revived.
          Australia
          New Zealand
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          OMAN AIR: Airline to resume flights to Dubai and Doha from 1 October 2020

          Muscat-based Oman Air will resume flights to 18 cities in 12 countries, including the UAE and Qatar by 1 October; this will include two scheduled flights per week to Dubai and Doha, according to an announcement by the airline on Twitter. All flights will depart and arrive on Sundays and Thursdays and will run until at least 24 October initially.
          Middle East
          Airline
          Oman Air
          Business
          Leisure

          EMIRATES: Airline to resume flights to Uganda and Oman from 2 October 2020

          The Dubai-based airline has announced that it will shortly resume services to Entebbe, Uganda from 1 October and Muscat, Oman from 2 October; this will bring the total airline network globally to 94 cities. The Entebbe service will operate three weekly flights, and the flight from Dubai to Muscat will operate twice per week. Both routes will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
          Middle East
          Uganda
          Airline
          Emirates
          Business
          Leisure

          NETHERLANDS: Country imposes increased COVID-19 restrictions following surge in cases

          The country’s government announced a range of new restrictions yesterday, 28 September, in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases which is being described as a second wave for the Netherlands. The measures include rules on the use of face masks, earlier closure of some businesses, restrictions on public events and advisories against non-essential domestic travel.
          Netherlands
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: Airline set to resume flights to South Africa in October 2020

          The Ethiopian national airline has announced that, in conjunction with the re-opening of South Africa's borders from 1 October, it will resume commercial passenger flights to and from Johannesburg and Cape Town. A full list of operational flights across the airline's route network can be viewed on their website.
          Ethiopia
          South Africa
          Airline
          Ethiopian Airlines
          Business
          Leisure

          DENMARK: Country extends COVID-19 restrictions until 18 October 2020

          The country’s government has announced that it has extended its current COVID-19 restrictions for a two further weeks until at least 18 October. Among the restrictions is a limit of 50 people for both public and private gatherings.
          Denmark
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          HAWAIIAN AIRLINES: Airline to offer airport COVID-19 testing in some U.S. gateway airports

          The airline has announced that it will begin to offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing in some U.S. gateway airports; initially it is partnering with a supplier to do so in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with more locations to come. Hawaiian Airlines have said the COVID-19 PCR tests will be shallow nasal-swab tests, a 'gold standard' screening that meets state guidelines; the tests will be $90 (USD) for results within 36 hours and $150 (USD) for day-of-travel express service.
          United States of America
          Airline
          Hawaiian Airlines
          Business
          Leisure

          SWITZERLAND: Country includes UK on list of those from which quarantine is mandatory

          The country’s government has added several countries including the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal to its list of countries from which travellers must go into a 10-day quarantine on arrival; the measures take effect from today, 28 September. Quarantine measures which are in force in Switzerland also apply to Liechtenstein.
          Belgium
          Denmark
          Ireland
          Netherlands
          Portugal
          Switzerland
          United Kingdom
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure