ISRAEL: Country re-opens borders to small groups of international tourists

          The country's government re-opened its borders to international tourists on 24 May following a fall in COVID-19 infections, but said it would take time for passengers to start arriving and to revive its tourism industry. Under an easing of its restrictions, a plan to start letting in small groups of tourists from countries using COVID-19 vaccines of which it approves will begin; due to continue until 15 June, visits by 20 groups of between 5 and 30 tourists from countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have been given the green light.
          Middle East
          Borders
          Leisure

          SPAIN: Country to re-open borders to COVID-19 vaccinated U.S. passengers from 7 June 2021

          The tourism authority of Spain has said that from 7 June, U.S. citizens will be eligible to visit the country if they have received a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, at least 14 days prior to their arrival; proof of vaccination must be shown, and eligible passengers will not be subject to any period of quarantine on arrival in Spain.
          Spain
          United States of America
          Borders
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          SPAIN: Country to lift COVID-19 entry restrictions for passengers from UK and Japan from 24 May 2021

          The government of Spain has said that it will officially lift COVID-19 restrictions for passengers from the UK and Japan on 24 May, when a decree takes effect; both countries will be on a list of those whose residents are able to avoid restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU, and will not need a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. However, UK tourists travelling to Spain will still have to quarantine on their return.
          Japan
          Spain
          United Kingdom
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          GERMANY: Country's government to suspend most travel from the UK from 23 May 2021

          The government of Germany has announced that it will suspend most travel from the UK starting on 23 May, amid concerns about the spread of a COVID-19 variant first discovered in India. German citizens and residents will still be allowed to enter the country from the UK but will be required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival, according to a release from Germany’s public health institution as it simultaneously classified the UK as an area of concern.
          Germany
          United Kingdom
          Borders
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          AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline expands 'Verifly' app to incorporate COVID-19 vaccination documentation

          The U.S. airline has announced the expansion of the capabilities of its 'Verifly' health pass app to accept COVID-19 vaccine documentation; passengers headed to the Bahamas, El Salvador and Guatemala can now upload a photo of both sides of their vaccination card into the app. The airline will then verify the documentation remotely, streamlining check-in and processing at the airport. Each of those countries now allow fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S. to enter without testing, and further destinations are expected to soon be added by the airline.
          Bahamas
          El Salvador
          Guatemala
          United States of America
          Airline
          Borders
          American Airlines
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          MALDIVES: Country set to open COVID-19 travel 'bubble' with United Arab Emirates (UAE)

          The government of the Maldives has said that it is in the process of creating a travel corridor between the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which will allow COVID-19 vaccinated passengers to move freely between the two nations; however as of now, no specific date has been revealed.
          Maldives
          Middle East
          Borders
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          EMIRATES AIRLINE: Suspension of passenger uplift from South Africa to Dubai further extended

          The suspension of passenger uplift from South Africa ( JNB, DUR & CPT) to Dubai has been further extended up to & including 30th June 2021. Daily Passenger services to JNB only will continue as per below. EK763 DXB 09h55 – JNB 16h15 ( local time ) (passengers & cargo) EK764 JNB 19h10 ( local time ) – DXB 05h25 +1 (cargo only) *** Please note passengers who have been to or connected through South Africa in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE ***
          Middle East
          South Africa
          Airline
          Emirates
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          SPAIN: Country's government launches new visitor information tool for international passengers

          Spanish government travel authority Turespaña has announced the launch of a new tool within its 'Travel Safe' microsite for international tourists wishing to travel to the country. The new tool allows passengers to consult COVID-19 travel restrictions on entry to Spain, as well as entry and exit requirements imposed by their respective countries. The microsite features a continually updated information system on these restrictions, meaning all the necessary information for planning a trip from 50 countries is readily available.
          Spain
          Borders
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          VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Airline extends South Africa flight suspension until June 2021

          The airline has confirmed a further extension of its suspension of flights to South Africa; under the updated announcement, flights between London and Cape Town are suspended until at least 5 June, and flights between London and Johannesburg are suspended until at least 2 June. However, this could be subject to change dependent on developments with the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions.
          South Africa
          United Kingdom
          Airline
          Virgin Atlantic
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          DELTA AIR LINES: Airline extends South Africa flight suspension until 4 August 2021

          The airline has confirmed a further extension of its suspension of flights to South Africa; under the updated announcement, Delta Air Lines has cancelled flights until at least 4 August. This could, however, be subject to change.
          South Africa
          United States of America
          Airline
          Delta Air Lines
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          LA COMPAGNIE: Airline to resume U.S. flight operations in June 2021

          The small, all business class airline has said that it plans to resume flights between Paris and New York's Newark Liberty International Airport from early June; the resumption of a seasonal summer route from Nice to Newark is also then expected to follow in early July. Confirmed schedules will be released should the U.S. and France formally relax international travel restrictions further.
          France
          United States of America
          Airline
          La Compagnie
          Business

          ITALY: Country reportedly opens to U.S. leisure passengers on 'quarantine free' flights

          The country's borders have reportedly re-opened to arriving U.S. passengers travelling on approved 'quarantine-free' flights, according to announcements from carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines; Italy on 16 May began to welcome leisure passengers on the flights, which previously were open only to U.S. citizens visiting the country for work or other essential travel. Regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, to enter the country passengers must provide proof of a negative test result obtained within 72 hours of departure, and then pass another test on arrival to avoid Italy's 14-day quarantine.
          Italy
          United States of America
          Borders
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          SAUDI ARABIA: Country's government re-opens outbound international travel for its citizens

          The government of Saudi Arabia has from 17 May lifted a 'ban' on citizens travelling out of the Gulf state without prior permission from authorities. Saudi nationals who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose a minimum of two weeks prior to travel, those who have recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months, and those under 18 will be allowed to travel for the first time since March 2020.
          Middle East
          Borders
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          UNITED AIRLINES: Airline to add more than 400 daily flights in July 2021

          The U.S. airline has announced that it will add more than 400 daily flights to its July schedule and increase services to re-opened European destinations, as easing COVID-19 restrictions spur summer travel demand. Among the additions, giving passengers more options for transatlantic travel, will be a fourth weekly flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia as well as more seats to Athens, Greece.
          Croatia
          Greece
          United States of America
          Airline
          United Airlines
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          EASYJET: Airline returns to leisure travel from the United Kingdom

          The low-cost airline has relaunched holiday and leisure flights from the UK to European destinations, and throughout May will operate 186 flights to destinations given a ‘green list’ classification by the UK government, as part of an easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions beginning on 17 May. Among them, easyJet will operate flights to Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel and Iceland which are on this list. However, the airline has also said it will continue to operate to ‘amber’ countries, where it sees demand among customers willing to accept the mandatory COVID-19 quarantine and testing requirements on their return to the UK.
          United Kingdom
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          easyJet
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          TAIWAN: Country's government tightens domestic COVID-19 restrictions

          The government of Taiwan raised its COVID-19 alert level on 15 May in the capital of Taipei, as well as the surrounding area, in response to a reporting additional 180 new domestic cases of the virus. The increased restrictions will last for at least two weeks; face masks are to be worn outdoors for the first time, and the government now encourages work and study from home. In addition will be the closing of cinemas and entertainment spots, while limiting gatherings of families and friends to five indoors and 10 outdoors.
          Taiwan
          Borders
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          SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS: Airline plans to resume flight operations in July or August 2021

          The airline has said that it aims to resume flights in July or August, but the restart date will depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and whether the airline can resolve a pilot dispute; state-owned South African Airways (SAA), which was put into administration in December 2019, has not flown commercially since September, when its administrators further postponed all operations pending funding for a restructuring.
          South Africa
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          South African Airways
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          HONG KONG: Region delays planned travel bubble with Singapore for a second time

          A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore due to open on 26 May has been postponed for a second time, following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Singapore which has further stalled the plan for quarantine-free travel between the financial hubs. The bubble was initially scheduled to begin in November 2020 but was postponed after a rise in infections in Hong Kong. Under the delayed plan, passengers would still be required to test negative for COVID-19 before departure and on arrival, to move freely between the cities.
          Hong Kong
          Mainland China
          Singapore
          Borders
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          UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: UAE airlines Etihad and flydubai cancel flights to Israel's Tel Aviv

          United Arab Emirates (UAE) airlines Etihad Airways and flydubai have announced the cancellation of flights to Israel's Tel Aviv, joining others making similar decisions due to escalating hostilities in the region; Abu Dhabi's Etihad has suspended all passenger and cargo services to Tel Aviv from 16 May, while flydubai has also cancelled flights from Dubai on 16 May, although other services are currently scheduled for the following week.
          Middle East
          Airline
          Borders
          Etihad Airways
          Fly Dubai
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          GREECE: Country's government ends COVID-19 lockdown measures and re-opens to tourism

          The country's government has officially launched its summer tourist season, lifting most remaining COVID-19 restrictions on movement and declaring their intentions to put the lockdown behind them. In order to be accepted for entry, passengers from a list of 53 approved countries have to fill in a passenger locator form (PLF) the day before they travel, listing where they are staying; they must also supply a COVID-19 vaccine certificate, a negative PCR test result or a documentation of recent recovery from the virus.
          Greece
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          Leisure