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

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

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

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

DELTA AIR LINES: 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., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands in Delta’s First Class, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin, with the exception of Basic Economy tickets. Additionally, the airline will extend its waiver on change fees for newly purchased flights, including international flights and Basic Economy fares, through to the end of the year and will extend its expiration on travel credits to December 2022 for tickets booked before April 17, 2020.
United States of America
Airline
Delta Air Lines
Business
Leisure

ALASKA AIRLINES: U.S. airline announces elimination of change fees on domestic and international 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., and has also pledged to do so for its international destinations. The new change-fee policy applies to all tickets, except for Saver fares. Previously, the airline's change fee applied to all non-Saver travel, except for passengers traveling on refundable tickets and Mileage Plan top elite status members.
United States of America
Airline
Alaska Airlines
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