COSTA RICA: Country to permit entry for residents of six additional U.S. states and counties

          The country’s tourism ministry has announced that residents of two further U.S. states, plus Washington DC, are now permitted to enter, and three additional states will be added to the list on 15 September; Colorado, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. This will bring the total number of states from which residents are able to enter Costa Rica to 12.
          Costa Rica
          United States of America
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          AIR CANADA: Airline restricts use of face masks with exhalation valves by passengers

          The airline has announced that it will no longer permit passengers to wear face masks with exhalation valves on board, as it claims that they have been deemed ineffective in protecting against COVID-19. In an update published on the airline website, it states that although valves make the mask more breathable for the person wearing it, they also allow infectious respiratory droplets to spread outside the mask.
          Canada
          United Kingdom
          United States of America
          Airline
          Air Canada
          Business
          Leisure

          RUSSIA: Country resumes international flights with three additional countries

          The country has resumed international flights with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives according to a Russian government order published today. Three flights per week are reportedly authorised to Cairo, as well as two flights per week to Dubai and the Maldives.
          Egypt
          Maldives
          Middle East
          Russia
          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

          SOUTH AFRICA: International arrivals now permitted to self-isolate at a nominated location

          The government of South Africa has said that eligible international arrivals to the country are now permitted to self-isolate at a place of their choosing, provided that it complies with government criteria. An application must be submitted 72 hours before the date of intended travel; otherwise, arrivals will be quarantined for 10 days in a state appointed facility. More information can be found in the latest Department of Health guidelines.
          South Africa
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          WIZZ AIR: Low-cost airline to offer a total of 13 routes from the UK's Doncaster Sheffield Airport

          The low-cost airline is due to offer a total of13 routes from Doncaster Sheffield Airport from 22 October; in addition to existing routes, added will be services to Alicante, Malaga, Faro, Larnaca, Lublin (Poland), Kosice (Slovakia) and Suceana (Romania).
          Portugal
          Spain
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          Wizz Air
          Leisure

          POLAND: Country's government suspends direct flights from 44 countries

          The country’s government has announced that from today, 2 September, it is banning direct flights from 44 countries including Spain, Israel and Romania in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The United States, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Brasil, Argentina and India are also on the list of countries.
          Argentina
          Brazil
          India
          Malta
          Mexico
          Montenegro
          Poland
          Romania
          Spain
          United States of America
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline to add five additional routes in September 2020

          The airline has announced further route resumptions with five additional services being added for September; Virgin are resuming flying from London Heathrow to New Delhi, Tel Aviv, Atlanta, Mumbai and Lagos. Further routes are also set to be resumed throughout the remainder of 2020.
          India
          Nigeria
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          Virgin Atlantic
          Business
          Leisure

          CHINA: Country to allow resumption of direct flights to Beijing from eight countries

          The country’s civil aviation regulator has said today that direct flights to Beijing from eight countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Canada will be able to resume from tomorrow, 3 September.
          Canada
          Denmark
          Greece
          Mainland China
          Sweden
          Thailand
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          INDIA: Country moves into 'Unlock 4.0' stage of COVID-19 lockdown re-opening

          The Indian government has released information on it’s ‘Unlock 4.0’ - the fourth stage of the country’s post-COVID-19 re-opening. Within September a number of transport, sporting and entertainment services will be permitted to resume, and inter-state movement of people and goods can no longer be restricted.
          India
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          AER LINGUS: Airline reportedly due to start flights from the UK to the U.S. and Canada in 2021

          The Irish airline has made a request to six UK airports to offer flights to the U.S. and Canada from 2021 until at least 2024; Aer Lingus reportedly are seeking to swap capacity from Shannon, Ireland to the UK as part of this plan.
          Canada
          United Kingdom
          United States of America
          Airline
          Aer Lingus
          Business
          Leisure

          UNITED KINGDOM: Scotland to impose self-quarantine on arrivals from Greece

          The government of the devolved UK administration of Scotland has announced that it will impose a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from Greece starting tomorrow, 3 September. Britain’s national government in London is expected to decide later this week whether to also quarantine travellers returning from Greece - a decision that would then also apply to England.
          Greece
          United Kingdom
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          THE BLUE TRAIN: South African luxury train journey set to resume operations

          South Africa's iconic luxury train journey on board The Blue Train will be resuming services for private charters from September 2020, the provider has announced; the move coincides with COVID-19 restrictions within the country being adjusted down to level two. Leisure travel will also resume with a full schedule from 1 November, and passengers will benefit from strict and thorough COVID-19 hygiene protocols.
          South Africa
          Rail
          Leisure

          EMIRATES: Airline reactivates partnership with carrier flydubai to offer increased connectivity

          Emirates and flydubai have announced that passengers of both airlines can once again access a wider range of travel options around the world, connecting seamlessly through Dubai through their reactivated code share partnership. Emirates customers can now travel on codeshare flights to over 30 destinations on flydubai, while flydubai customers have over 70 destinations they can travel to on Emirates.
          Middle East
          Airline
          Business

          AMERICAN AIRLINES: U.S. airline announces elimination of change fees on domestic flights

          The U.S. airline has joined others in announcing with immediate effect the elimination of change fees on tickets purchased for travel within the domestic U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in first class, business class, premium economy and the main cabin excluding tickets purchased on a Basic Economy rate. Starting from 1 October, all passengers will also have the ability to fly standby on earlier flights for the same destination on the same day at no charge.
          United States of America
          Airline
          American Airlines
          Business
          Leisure

          ETIHAD: Airline to offer free COVID-19 testing for some passengers transferring from XNB bus terminal in Dubai

          The Abu Dhabi-based airline has said that it will now offer complimentary COVID-19 PCR testing 48 hours prior to departure for passengers originating from XNB bus terminal in Dubai, who are due to transfer to Abu Dhabi International Airport before travelling on to 46 destinations. The current operating times are from 10.00-15.00 (local time) each day, and the facility is located at Etihad's Dubai Office at Mazaya Center on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road. Passengers must present a valid passport and a copy of their ticket.
          Middle East
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          Etihad Airways
          Business

          EMIRATES: Airline resumes flights to Bangkok from 1 September 2020

          The Dubai-based airline has from today, 1 September, resumed passenger flights to Bangkok, Thailand; this resumption has expanded Emirates’ current network to 78 cities in September, offering travellers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific convenient connections via Dubai to the popular Thai destination. Flights between Dubai and Bangkok will be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering seats in first, business and economy class.
          Middle East
          Thailand
          Airline
          Emirates
          Business
          Leisure

          ESTONIA: Airport COVID-19 testing available for arrivals from 1 September 2020

          The government of Estonia have announced that as of today, 1 September, those returning to Estonia from COVID-19 risk countries now have the opportunity to be tested for the virus at the airport and port in order to shorten the 14-day self-isolation requirement. Testing is free of charge for Estonian residents; foreigners can take the test at a cost of 67 euros and can pay on the spot by card.
          Estonia
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          MAURITIUS: Country to continue gradual re-opening of border from 1 October 2020

          The government of Mauritius is reopening its borders in three phases. The first phase is for the repatriation of Mauritians stranded abroad, which will continue until 30 September. Arriving passengers will continue to be quarantined in the centres made available by the government. The second phase will start on 1 October, during which travel to and from certain destinations will be allowed. Access to Mauritius will be authorised for passengers abiding by sanitary protocols. Online booking for airline tickets and hotel room reservations will be available. However, priority will be given to Mauritian nationals, licensed residents, those employed in Mauritius and other visitors wishing to travel to Mauritius. The third phase of reopening the borders will be determined by the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
          Mauritius
          Borders
          Business
          Leisure

          UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Returning Dubai residents to require GDRFA approval

          The government of the United Arab Emirates has said that all residents holding a Dubai-issued residency visa will be required to gain approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) before they are eligible to return to the country via any UAE airport. Approvals can be obtained via a dedicated government portal.
          Middle East
          Borders
          Business