CANADA: Country's border with the U.S. to remain closed until at least 21 May 2021

The Canadian government has announced that its land border with the United States will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month until 21 May. The land border restrictions, aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, were first announced in March 2020 and have thus far been renewed monthly.
Canada
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

SABA: Caribbean island to welcome visitors from 'high-risk' countries from 1 May 2021

The Caribbean island has said that it will begin to welcome visitors from countries deemed 'high-risk' for COVID-19, including the United States, from 1 May; However, passengers need to obtain approval before arriving in Saba via info@sabagov.nl. Fully COVID-19 vaccinated adults must present proof of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival and are not required to quarantine. Non-vaccinated travelers must quarantine for five days and take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test on day five.
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

JAPAN: Country's government reportedly considering a state of emergency for Tokyo and Osaka regions

The government of Japan is considering the declaration of a state of emergency for Tokyo and Osaka, according to broadcaster NHK, in order to curb the increased spread of COVID-19; Osaka's neighbouring prefectures of Hyogo and Kyoto could also be affected. If adopted in all four regions, the emergency measures would cover close to a quarter of Japan’s population of 126 million. In Tokyo, reports suggest this could span from 29 April to 9 May in order to incorporate the annual 'Golden Week' holiday period.
Japan
Borders
Business
Leisure

BARBADOS: Island's international airport re-opens following volcanic ash cleanup

The island's Grantley Adams airport has re-opened following a week-long closure due to the ash fall from La Soufriere volcano on St. Vincent. In St. Vincent, however, Argyle airport remains closed due to heavy ash fall; the island was hit by another eruption on 18 April, blanketing St. Vincent with another layer of ash.
Barbados
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED AIRLINES: Airline adds flights to Croatia, Greece and Ireland for Summer 2021

The U.S. airline has announced that it will add flight services to Croatia, Greece and Iceland during Summer 2021, as United focusses its upcoming transatlantic schedules on countries which are easing COVID-19 travel restrictions. The airline will fly between Newark and Dubrovnik, Croatia, three-times weekly from 8 July through to 3 October; it will expand its Greece service with daily flights from Washington Dulles to Athens running between 1 July and 3 October; finally, United will fly daily between Chicago and Reykjavik from 1 July through to 3 October, competing on the route with Icelandair.
Croatia
Greece
Ireland
United States of America
Airline
Business
Leisure

UNITED KINGDOM: UK government to add India to its 'red list' from 23 April 2021

The UK’s Department of Transport has announced a change to be made to England’s ‘red list’ from 04.00 (GMT) on Friday 23 April 2021. From this date, visitors who have departed from or transited through India in the previous 10 days will be refused entry to England. Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights (including long-term visa holders) will be permitted to enter; however, they must stay in a government-approved facility for 10 days.
India
United Kingdom
Borders
Business
Leisure

GREECE: Country lifts COVID-19 quarantine requirement for EU Countries, U.S. and others

The country's government yesterday, 19 April, lifted COVID-19 quarantine restrictions for travellers from most European countries and the United States, as well as Israel; the easing of measures come as it prepares to re-open tourism services from next month. Air travelers from exempt countries will no longer be subject to a seven-day quarantine requirement if they hold a vaccination certificate or negative PCR test issued within the previous 72 hours. Other exempt countries include the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Iceland, Liechstenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Greece
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Middle East
Norway
Serbia
Switzerland
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline introduces ultraviolet (UV) cabin hygiene system

The middle-eastern carrier has introduced the second version of its Honeywell ultraviolet (UV) cabin system, further advancing its hygiene measures on board in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The system now features extended UV wings that treat both narrow and wide areas on board, reducing the overall disinfection time. This version also includes a hand wand that disinfects areas like the cockpit and other smaller spaces and is non-motorised leading to less battery consumption.
Middle East
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

UNITED STATES: State of Alaska to offer COVID-19 to tourist visitors from 1 June 2021

The government of the U.S. state of Alaska has said that COVID-19 vaccines are due to be made available to visitors at key airports from 1 June, in a further attempt to bolster the state's tourism industry, which has been heavily affected by the pandemic. The state plans to offer vaccines at airports in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, with the clinics outside the security area; they will be available to anyone passing through from 1 June. State health officials are also encouraging travelers to test for COVID-19, although it's no longer mandated.
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED STATES: Country's government to boost 'do not travel' guidance to 80% of countries globally

The U.S. state department said yesterday, 19 April, that it plans to boost its 'do not travel' guidance for citizens to include 80% of destination countries worldwide, citing the risk to travellers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently around 34 our of 200 countries are listed under the level four guidance, implying that this will shortly increase to around 130 countries. So far, no indication has been given as to when the measures will eventually ease.
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Airline launches IATA Travel Pass trials

The Dubai-based airline has become the latest carrier to launch trials of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass. The mobile app is designed to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information. In the future, travellers will also be able to share vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.
Middle East
Airline
Emirates
Business
Leisure

INDIA: Country's capital to enter COVID-19 'lockdown' for six days from 19 April 2021

The country's government has announced that its capital of New Delhi will be under a strict COVID-19 'lockdown' for six days from the evening of Monday 19 April, following the news that India's healthcare system is at breaking point due to the worsening spikes in cases of the virus.
India
Borders
Business
Leisure

HONG KONG: Region's government suspends flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for two weeks

The government of Hong Kong has announced that it will suspend flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines from 20 April for two weeks after a mutant COVID-19 strain was detected in the Asian financial hub for the first time. The three countries will now be classified as 'extremely high risk' for the virus, after there have been multiple imported cases carrying the strain into Hong Kong in the past 14 days, the government have said.
Hong Kong
India
Pakistan
Philippines
Borders
Business
Leisure

FRANCE: Country to quarantine South African arrivals starting from 24 April 2021

French authorities will restrict who can travel to France from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa, and will impose a 10-day quarantine on those who do. Entry from the four listed countries will be limited to French citizens and their families, citizens of other EU countries, and foreigners with permanent homes in France. Travellers must have tested negative for the virus before take-off, and will be given antigenic tests on arrival. The above restrictions will come into effect on 24 April. Currently, travellers from France’s low risk list of countries are not restricted and are subject to only a seven-day quarantine period according to France’s ministry of foreign affairs.
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
France
South Africa
Airline
Borders
Business
Leisure

AIRBALTIC: Airline to launch flights to Tenerife from September 2021

The Latvian airline has announced that from 2 September it will launch new flights from its base in Riga to Tenerife in Spain; the new service will operate three times per week using an Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
Latvia
Spain
Airline
Airbaltic
Leisure

WIZZ AIR: Low-cost airline to add new flights from London to Antalya and Rzeszow in 2021

The Abu Dhabi-based low-cost airline has announced that it will soon launch two new summer flight routes from London Luton Airport to Antalya in Turkey and Rzeszow in Poland. The services are due to begin from 22 June and 22 September respectively; with the addition of these new destinations, the airline will now operate a total of 74 routes from its base at London Luton Airport.
Middle East
Poland
Turkey
United Kingdom
Airline
Wizz Air
Business
Leisure

FRONTIER AIRLINES: Low-cost U.S. airline to launch new flights to Latin America and the Caribbean

The low-cost U.S. airline has announced seven new flight routes to Latin America and the Caribbean to be launched in Summer 2021. From Miami the carrier will serve St. Maarten, Nassau and San Jose, Costa Rica. From Orlando, Frontier will fly to St Maarten and San Jose. From San Juan, the airline will serve St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. And from Dallas-Fort Worth, Frontier will be flying to Cancun. Launch dates for the routes range from 10 June through to 10 July, and frequencies range from weekly to four times per week.
Bahamas
Costa Rica
Mexico
United States of America
Airline
Frontier Airlines
Business
Leisure

FLYBE: Collapsed UK regional airline to return to flying in Summer 2021

UK regional airline Flybe, who previously collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic, is preparing to return to the skies in the Summer of 2021 after the sale of assets to a new company previously known as Thyme Opco - who will now be renamed as 'Flybe Limited'. The airline previously had a hub based at Exeter Airport and also operated flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay.
United Kingdom
Airline
Flybe
Business
Leisure

FRANCE: Country's government to impose 10-day quarantine for passengers arriving from Brazil

The government of France has announced that it will order a strict 10-day quarantine for all passengers arriving from Brazil from 24 April, in a bad to prevent the spread of a COVID-19 variant first discovered in the South American country. In addition, the suspension of all flights to Brazil by the government of France has now been extended until at least 23 April.
Brazil
France
Borders
Business
Leisure

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL: Hotel chain partners with Uber to expand U.S. Bonvoy loyalty program

Marriott International has announced that members on its Bonvoy loyalty program can now earn points via Uber, in an effort to diversify the hotel brand's loyalty offering amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the partnership, Bonvoy members can earn points toward free nights at Marriott properties, including home rentals, by ordering food delivery via Uber Eats or requesting select Uber rides. The perk is available in the United States, and those who sign up and have at least one qualifying transaction by May 31 will get 2,000 Bonvoy bonus points.
United States of America
Car
Hotel
Marriott
Uber
Business
Leisure