QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline to resume four weekly flights to Lisbon from 14 August 2020

The airline has announced that it is set to resume four weekly flights to Lisbon, Portugal from 14 August on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy. This will see the airline’s European network expand to 225 weekly flights to 33 destinations.
Middle East
Portugal
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

GERMANY: Country extends travel warning for some Spanish regions

The government of Germany confirmed yesterday, 11 August, that it has extended a partial travel warning for Spain to both the capital of Madrid and the Basque region due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move was cited as a warning against any unnecessary tourist trips by German citizens to both regions because of a rising number of new COVID-19 infections; the German government had already issued travel warnings for the Spanish regions of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarra.
Germany
Spain
Borders
Business
Leisure

AMERICAN AIRLINES: Airline extends pause on AAdvantage frequent-flyer program mileage

The U.S. airline has extended its pause on AAdvantage frequent-flyer program mileage expiration through the end of the year. American Airlines had earlier paused mileage expiration through to June due to the COVID-19 crisis. With this extension, all AAdvantage points that had expired since 1 July will now be reinstated.
United States of America
Airline
American Airlines
Business
Leisure

FINLAND: Country to introduce mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantine for some arrivals

The country’s government has said that it will introduce mandatory COVID-19 tests and quarantines for travellers from certain high-risk countries, following the arrival of a number of passengers testing positive on a flight from North Macedonia on 8 August. Subject to approval, the new measures will be enforced as soon as possible, and failure to respect the two-week quarantine would be sanctioned with up to three months in prison or a fine.
Finland
Borders
Business
Leisure

CHINA: Country to allow UK/EU citizens with valid work or residence permits to return

The government of China has yesterday, 10 August, that certain categories of foreign nationals who hold a valid residence permit (for work, private affairs and reunification residence permits) can now apply to any embassy or consulate in their respective countries free of charge to obtain a new visa to re-enter. The applicable countries are: Albania, Ireland, Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Belgium, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Netherlands, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Romania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Cyprus, Slovakia Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy & United Kingdom.
Mainland China
Borders
Business

UNITED KINGDOM: Face masks made mandatory in public places in Northern Ireland

The local government of Northern Ireland have taken the decision to make it mandatory to wear a face mask in shops and other enclosed public spaces, in an effort to contain COVID-19 infection numbers which have risen three-fold since July. The Department of Health said it would be an offence to breach the law without having a "reasonable excuse", and breaches could attract a fixed penalty notice of £60 (GBP).
Ireland
United Kingdom
Borders
Business
Leisure

GREECE: Arrivals from some countries to require COVID-19 pre-testing from 17 August 2020

The country’s government has announced that from 17 August visitors from Sweden, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic will need proof they have tested negative for COVID-19 to gain entry; a negative test result obtained within 72 hours of departure must be presented. The government said the same requirement will apply to all visitors entering Greece via its land borders, including Greek citizens returning home.
Belgium
Czech Republic
Greece
Netherlands
Spain
Sweden
Borders
Business
Leisure

P&O CRUISES: Suspension of sailings extended until 12 November 2020

The cruise line has extended its suspension of sailings until mid-November and cancelled a pair of long-haul itineraries next year following guidance from the British foreign office. Guests booked to sail on cancelled cruises will automatically receive a 125% future cruise credit or they can opt for a 100% refund.
United Kingdom
United States of America
Cruise
P&O Cruises
Leisure

GERMANY: Country mandates COVID-19 testing for arrivals from high-risk countries

The government of Germany has, since 8 August, mandated that passengers entering Germany from designated high-risk countries or areas must undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival. The country regularly updates the list of high-risk areas, and the list can be found on the website of the Robert Koch Institute.
Germany
Borders
Business
Leisure

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Country to lift lockdown measures from 12 August 2020

The government of Papua New Guinea are pressing ahead with plans to lift lockdown measures this week despite a recent sharp rise in COVID-19 infections; the country's prime minister confirmed that a two week lockdown in the capital of Port Moresby will be lifted from tomorrow, 12 August.
Papua New Guinea
Borders
Business
Leisure

MACAU: Country's government announces resumption of some tourist visas

The government of Macau has announced that from 12 August it will begin to reinstate tourist visas for the neighbouring, mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai. It is thought that the move will pave the way for a revival of visitors due to the fact that the majority of passengers arriving in Macau for gambling purposes utlilise the soon to be resumed visa category.
Mainland China
Borders
Leisure

NEW ZEALAND: Country reinstates COVID-19 lockdown following detection of new cases

The country is set to increase its COVID-19 alert level following four cases of COVID-19 being detected in a household in Auckland - the first domestic cases of the virus in around 100 days. The capital city of Auckland will return to level three lockdown restrictions from midday tomorrow, 12 August until at least midnight on Friday, 14 August. Residents will be asked to stay at home and many businesses will close. The rest of the country will also be raised to level two restrictions during the same initial time period.
New Zealand
Borders
Business
Leisure

AUSTRALIA: Strict caps on international arrivals extended until at least 24 October 2020

The government of Australia has confirmed that strict caps on international arrivals, previously put in place to ease the pressure on government sanctioned hotel quarantine facilities, will continue until at least 24 October. This includes, but is not limited to, caps in Sydney of 350 passenger arrivals per day; Perth, 525 passenger arrivals per week and Brisbane, 500 passenger arrivals per week.
Australia
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED AIRLINES: Airline extends 'Global Services' status for members until January 2022

The U.S. airline has announced that it has extended 'Global Services' status for its current members through to 31 January 2022. United had previously also extended 'MileagePlus' status for members at the Premier 1K level and below through to the same date.
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
Airline
United Airlines
Business
Leisure

EMIRATES: Airline resumes flights to five cities in Pakistan from 10 August 2020

The Dubai-based airline is increasing its passenger flights to five cities in Pakistan from today, 10 August, bringing its total network connectivity to over 70 destinations worldwide. As of 16 August there will be 53 weekly flights to Pakistan on their Boeing 777-300 aircraft.
Middle East
Pakistan
Airline
Emirates
Business
Leisure

QATAR AIRWAYS: Airline to resume 56 weekly flights to U.S. destinations by mid-September 2020

The airline has announced that it will offer 56 weekly flights to eight U.S. destinations by mid-September, meaning it us due to be the largest international carrier flying to the country. In addition, the national carrier of the State of Qatar will also increase frequencies of flights to Los Angeles to daily from 12 August, and twice-daily to New York from 1 September.
Middle East
United States of America
Airline
Qatar Airways
Business
Leisure

HONG KONG: Increased entry requirements for some arrivals from 10 August 2020

The government of Hong Kong has confirmed that from 10 August, arriving passengers who have visited or transited through Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa or the United States will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure. They will also require proof of the credibility of the testing facility, and proof of a hotel room reservation in Hong Kong for at least 14 days from the day of arrival.
Bangladesh
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Pakistan
Philippines
South Africa
United States of America
Borders
Business
Leisure

EGYPT: Country require passengers to provide COVID-19 test result from 15 August 2020

The government of Egypt has announced that from 15 August, the country will require most foreign travellers to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test result less than 72 hours prior to arrival. This is only with the exception of tourists flying directly to, and staying within, Red Sea destinations including Hurghada, Marsa Allam and Sharm El-Sheikh.
Egypt
Borders
Business
Leisure

UNITED AIRLINES: Airline to increase flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii in September 2020

The airline has announced that it is planning to increase flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii from September, as part of the resumption of a number of services to around 25 international destinations. All in all, the updated September schedule will account for 37% of their normal level of passenger flights compared to 2019.
United States of America
Airline
United Airlines
Business
Leisure