Internet Travel With Context
June 28-July 4, 2020
June 28-July 4, 2020
Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 125,000 130,000. As the virus rages throughout the South, reality sets in about the pace of any possible "recovery" and reopenings. Europe drops most of its intra-continental travel restrictions, but most foreign visitors are still barred. Latest items are at the top. Read up from the bottom for context.
Coronavirus Update for July 4, 2020
Today is Independence Day in the United States. Many of the 130,000 dead from the Coronavirus would have been here to celebrate if we'd been better, if our leaders were better. Here are today's travel developments:
British Airways today reopened some of its lounges at London/Heathrow. Others around the world will open in stages this month and next, the airline says. No stars Major League Baseball says it will start the season later this month. Perhaps, but either way the annual All-Star Game has been cancelled. Switzerland says the country's borders will be closed until at least July 20. On that date, it will allow residents from the countries suggested by the EU. (Switzerland is not an EU member.) The one exception: Visitors from Serbia will not be permitted. England has published its list of travelers exempt from the current 14-day self-quarantine. The United States and Canada are not on the list. Details here. Love the one you're with Australia imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine on all arrivals early in the pandemic. Everyone, including citizens, were and still are required to lock down in government-selected hotels. The inevitable sex scandal has erupted. Details here.Coronavirus Update for July 3, 2020
There were more than 55,000 new Coronavirus cases reported Thursday in the United States. That's the highest single-day number to date. Here are today's travel developments: Delta Air Lines says it expects to handle 600,000 travelers over the July 4th holiday weekend. Delta registered 3.2 million flyers in 2019. In other words, that's 18.75 percent. Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air commuter subsidiary are now flying about 600 flights a day. That is fewer than half its pre-pandemic schedule. Chicago has imposed a 14-day quarantine on people arriving from high-infection-rate states. It is similar to rules adopted by New York. It does not apply to flyers connecting at Chicago's two airports, however. Details here. Texas Governor Greg Abbott finally imposed a statewide mask mandate. Only counties with fewer than 20 Coronavirus cases are exempt. Nashville, which had halted the next stage of reopening, is now going backward. Restaurants, gyms, barber shops and other "high-touch businesses" must return to 50 percent of capacity. The city's fireworks display has been cancelled. Oklahoma City says bars are now limited to 50 percent capacity. Restaurant and bar employees must wear masks.Coronavirus Update for July 2, 2020
There were 50,000 confirmed new cases of Coronavirus yesterday in the United States. That is the highest total since the pandemic began. Here are today's travel developments: Glass Quarter Full At the beginning of an expected surge of holiday weekend traffic, the TSA reports 626,516 travelers passed through airport checkpoints on Wednesday. That is 24.58 percent of 2019 volume. Look! Up in the Sky! Eurocontrol, the agency that handles Europe's airspace, reports 12,742 flights operated yesterday. That is 35 percent of 2019 levels. Atlanta/Hartsfield closed its primary security checkpoint on Wednesday evening when another TSA screener was confirmed with Coronavirus. To date, 29 ATL-based TSA employees have contracted the disease. California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered 19 counties to close indoor dining, movie theaters and similar group venues. The order includes the largest Southern California counties--including Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside--and two counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. The order covers more than 70 percent of the state's population. United Airlines says it will operate 40 percent of its 2019 schedule in August. That is up from 12 percent in June. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf mandated wearing of masks or facial coverings “whenever anyone leaves home.” Pennsylvania previously required masks only in businesses. Galveston, a popular Texas beach destination, closed beaches ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.Coronavirus Update for July 1, 2020
The five states with the most new Coronavirus cases over the last 72 hours: California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia. Here are today's travel developments: Stepping back While New York state now permits some outdoor dining, New York City was due to permit limited indoor dining starting tomorrow. That's now off the board. Colorado ordered bars and nightclubs to close. They were permitted to reopen less than two weeks ago. Opening up Airports and the pyramids at Giza have reopened in Egypt. In Dubai, Emirates Airline has restored chauffeur service and reopened some of its airport lounges. In Australia, Qantas has reopened some airport lounges. Charlotte Airport says traffic is down 65 percent from 2019 levels, a substantial uptick from the second week of March, when traffic plunged 95 percent. Airport director Brent Cagle says about 10,000 people will travel through CLT over the holiday weekend. New York State now requires visitors from high-infection-rate states to self-isolate for 14 days. Eight more states were added to the list yesterday, according to Governor Mario Cuomo. Prognostications A full recovery to 2019 flight levels will require at least three more years, says Air Canada. It'll be at least 2023 before the hotel demand rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, say two leading lodging analysts.Coronavirus Update for June 30, 2020
With 625,235 people passing through TSA checkpoints on Monday, it's the first time since mid-April pandemic lows that airport traffic passed 25 percent of 2019 levels. But the absolute volume of airport traffic seems to be slowing now, perhaps a recognition of the second wave (or a revived first wave) of Coronavirus. Here are today's other travel developments: Air Canada is indefinitely suspending service on 30 domestic routes between larger cities and smaller airports in the country. Eight airports will lose all service. Arizona has ordered bars, gyms and some other businesses to close again due to spiking virus infection rates. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has ordered masks worn throughout the state. The order takes effect on July 3. New Jersey has delayed plans to allow restaurants to reopen for indoor dining. Las Vegas McCarran Airport reported a 91.5 percent year-over-year decline in traffic in May. The passenger volume totaled just 391,712. Still, it was more than double the 152,716 people using the airport in April.Coronavirus Update for June 29, 2020
TSA checkpoint numbers for the weekend reached 24 percent of 2019 numbers, the highest to date. But the pace of recovery has slowed noticeably and with key states--Florida, Texas, Arizona and North Carolina--suffering a sharp upturn in Coronavirus infections, future recovery is questionable. Here are today's other travel developments: Porter Airlines, the Canadian carrier based at Toronto/City Island, has delayed its relaunch again. It now says flights won't resume until August 31. The carrier grounded itself on March 21. Italy has barred carry-on luggage and use of overhead lockers on all international and domestic flights. The theory is that eliminating carry-on bags will enhance social distancing during the boarding process. Jacksonville, Florida, site of the Republican Convention in August, requires masks for indoor public events. The mandate becomes effective at 5pm today. Broadway shows will be dark through January 3, 2021. The announcement was made by the Broadway League, the group that oversees Broadway theaters. Broadway first shut down performances on March 12. California has ordered the closing of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles. The state also suggested local officials close bars in eight others.Coronavirus Update for June 28, 2020
What an ugly trifecta today: Ten million confirmed cases worldwide and 500,000 dead--plus more than 2.5 million confirmed cases in the United States. Here are today's travel developments: Austin health officials last week saw the highest rate of positive coronavirus tests of any metro area in the nation, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Saturday. The Statesman has details. American Airlines says Friday's traffic was the highest since the pandemic lows. It was "only" down 73 percent from a similar day in 2019. The airline had 2,373 scheduled flights Friday compared to 7,006 in 2019. Separately, airline executives confirm premium cabin load factors on its international flights are at or below 20 percent. Dubai says it will reopen to visitors on July 7. Travelers must have certification that they are free of Coronavirus or undergo a test at the airport. Details are here.