Read all about it! As the nation begins two weeks of Zoom-like political conventions, the death toll from Coronavirus surges past 169,000 175,000 176,000. As many places open, others shut back down. Travel continues to wobble: Airline passenger volume flattens, hotel occupancy rates remain far below 2019 levels. And more. Latest items are at the top. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update for August 22, 2020

The United States has now passed 5.5 million confirmed Coronavirus cases. But don't tell you know who 'cause it offends him. Here are today's other developments:
        Costa Rica opens to some Americans. If you are a resident of one of six U.S. states and can scare up a negative Coronavirus test within 48 hours before arrival, Costa Rica welcomes you starting September 1. The details have just been posted at the official Costa Rica visitor Web site.
        My dinner with Boris Two weeks into a plan to subsidize British citizens as much as 10 pounds for a restaurant meal, the so-called Eat Out to Help Out program has doled out 35 million subsidies at 85,000 venues. The Washington Post has the details.
        Canberra Airport, which serves the Australian capital, now has so little traffic that it is closing on Saturdays. The Australian Broadcasting Company has the details.
        No flights, no delays The Transportation Department says U.S. carriers registered an 89.1 percent on-time rating in May. Of course, almost no one was flying in May, so there's that ... Somehow, though, the airlines are still recording 2.79 reports of mishandled bags out of every 1,000 checked.
        Down again Eurocontrol says aircraft traffic in Europe's skies on Thursday was 47.4 percent of 2019 volume. Traffic had briefly reached 50 percent earlier this month.

Coronavirus Update for August 21, 2020

Just for grins and giggles, we now have Tropical Storm Laura. It's the earliest we've had a L-named storm in almost a decade. Here are today's other developments:
        Delta Air Lines has scheduled no winter flights from its Minneapolis/St. Paul hub to Paris, Amsterdam, London/LHR and Seoul. From its Salt Lake City hub, there are no flights scheduled to Amsterdam, London or Paris. International flights from its New York/Kennedy and Atlanta hubs are sharply reduced.
        Seal Team Stupid The former Navy Seal who claims to have been part of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden has been banned from Delta Air Lines for not wearing a mask in-flight. He outed himself by posting a picture from a Delta flight with the caption, "I am not a pussy." Business Insider has the details.
        Decline across the pond British Airways is cutting U.S. schedules again. Pittsburgh flights to London are cancelled during the winter. There will be smaller aircraft and fewer flights to both San Diego and San Francisco. Flight schedules to San Jose, Seattle and Miami have been reduced.
        Qantas says it is unlikely to resume international flights until next July. Trans-Tasman flights to New Zealand may start earlier, but Qantas does not expect to resume flights to the United States until a vaccine is widely available. It currently flies only 20 percent of its domestic schedule.
        Virgin Atlantic continues to delay the relaunch of flights to Orlando from Manchester, England. Service was originally due to resume August 24, but is now delayed until October 6.
        The Thursday thirty The TSA says 772,380 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That represents 30.49 percent of 2019 volume, about in line with recent Thursday traffic.

Coronavirus Update for August 20, 2020

Good news: The Coronavirus mortality rate and the infection rate is falling slightly. Bad news: Jobless claims jumped above one million again and children are more effective virus spreaders than previously thought. Here are today's other developments:
        Wednesday weakness The TSA says 586,718 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday, about 4,000 less than last Wednesday (August 12), which was about 5,000 lower than the previous Wednesday (August 5). Wednesday is the slowest flying day of the week, but the dropping volume for consecutive weeks indicates the end of weakness of the "boomlet" in the travel recovery.
        Southwest Airlines says it expects third-quarter cash burn to $20 million a day, down from its earlier $23 million estimate.
        Bali blues The popular holiday island of Bali says hotel arrivals fell 99 percent in July compared to July, 2019.
        Pittsburgh Airport has a lounge again. The Club on Concourse C has reopened and operates from 7am to 7pm.
        The Zen of pandemic The financial app AppZen says business flying expenses decreased 97 percent in July compared to July, 2019. Business entertainment expenses fell 85 percent in the same time period. Internet expenses increased 24 percent.

Coronavirus Update for August 19, 2020

The TSA reports 565,946 people passed through airport checkpoints on Tuesday, traditionally one of the slowest travel days of the week. That represents about 25 percent of 2019 volume. Here are today's other developments:
        Paradise still lost Hawaii has again delayed its reopen-with-testing plans. It's now October 1 at the earliest, according to Hawaii Governor David Ige. At the moment, visitors or returning residents are required to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
        Ireland has ordered restaurants to close by 11:30pm, according to new restrictions imposed by the government after a spike in Coronavirus cases.
        European summer As Europe rolls back some of its opening regimen, air traffic is taking a hit, too. Example: Travel between the United Kingdom and Spain fell by 13 percent over the last two weeks, according to Eurocontrol.
        School daze Notre Dame has ordered all classes moved online for at least the next two weeks. Separately, Michigan State University, which was due to resume classes on September 2, says it will not bring students back to campus. "It is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus," wrote school president Samuel Stanley.

Coronavirus Update for August 18, 2020

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has folded its tent after just one week of undergraduate classes. With students in quarantine and a positivity rate north of 13 percent, the school moves online for the remainder of the semester. Here are today's other developments:
        San Francisco International will reopen a part of the International Terminal. Closed since April 1, Boarding Area A, which includes Gates A1-A15, reopens on September 1.
        Ryanair, Europe's largest discount carrier, will reduce capacity by 20 percent in September and October. The airline says demand for flights has stalled and even its limited capacity is too much.
        Qatar Airways says it will restore flights to Houston/Intercontinental. Three weekly flights to Doha will resume on September 2.
        Dis-a-pier Chicago's Navy Pier complex will close again on September 8 and remain shuttered until spring. Tourism to keep the attraction open has not materialized since it reopened in June.
        Stall The TSA said 773,319 people passed through airport security checkpoints on Monday. That is around 12,000 more than the previous Monday and 30 percent of 2019 travel volume.

Coronavirus Update for August 17, 2020

Georgia municipalities are rushing to adopt mask mandates now that Governor Brian Kemp has backed off his statewide ban on face coverings. Here are today's other developments:
        A little more is more. The TSA says a total of 2,336,588 people passed through airport security checkpoints on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (August 14-16). That's only about 60,000 more than the previous weekend, but also represents a nearly 2-point jump in volume compared to a similar weekend in August, 2019.
        Hong Kong Airport handled just 96,000 passengers and 9,870 flights in July. That's a year-on-year decline of 98.6 percent and 73.2 percent respectively.
        Europe by half The 3.5 percent increase in week-on-week flights in Europe's skies brings the continent to 50 percent of last year's volume, according to Eurocontrol.
        Japan experienced a 27.8 percent annualized decline in its economy during the second quarter.
        New Zealand has delayed national elections to October 17 from September 19. The change is due to an uptick in Coronavirus cases. The island nation had gone 102 days without a new case.

Coronavirus Update for August 16, 2020

European nations have been tightening internal travel rules as Coronavirus cases spike upward again. Here are today's other developments:
        It's not a mirage. MGM Resorts says its Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas will reopen on August 27.
        Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a new executive order that allows cities in the state to impose their own mask mandates. It's a substantial climb-down after Kemp sued Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to overturn her mask mandate. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the details.
        Ireland tourism boss Michael Cawley resigned after it was revealed that he was vacationing in Italy. That's not against any rules, but it does violate the spirit of Ireland's no-unessential-travel advisory. Reuters has the details.
        Cold comfort A Montana truck company has found a niche market: converting vehicles to refrigerated mobile morgues to help cities handle the upswing in Coronavirus deaths. The Billings Gazette has the details.

Coronavirus Update for August 9-August 15, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 162,000 165,000 169,000. There are now more than 20 million cases worldwide and a quarter of them have been in the United States. Travel continues to be in an extended holding pattern as Americans fret about schools, the football season--and the post office. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 2-August 8, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll spikes dramatically as the nationwide tally surges past 155,000 160,000 162,000. Countries that thought they'd tamed the virus are scaling back activities just as the August vacation season kicks into high gear. U.S. carriers and hotels face the wreckage of a shrunken travel industry. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 26-August 1, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 146,000 150,000 154,000 as new cases and rising hospitalization rates tax hospitals in Florida, Texas and other Sunbelt states. European countries consider requirements for returning residents to test after holidays. The travel industry worries about the fragility--and shallow nature--of the "recovery." And more. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 19-25, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 140,000 145,000 146,000 while infections rage out of control throughout the Sunbelt. Countries close their borders again and reopenings in the United States are rolled back or curtailed. The travel industry faces a hard reality: There's no V-shaped recovery. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 12-18, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 135,000 140,000 while countries such as New Zealand can declare themselves virus-free. New York City, however, said it had its first death-free day since mid-March. Meanwhile, Florida is the new global epicenter of Coronavirus. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for July 5-11, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 130,000 135,000 and new virus infections are rising around the nation and around the world. The question is now what a post-Fourth travel scene will look like as several states with key hubs--California, Arizona, Texas, Florida--report record-breaking infection numbers. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 28-July 4, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 125,000 130,000. As the Coronavirus 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, including Americans, are still barred. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 21-27, 2020

Read all about it! The U.S. Coronavirus death toll surges past 115,000 120,000 125,000 126,000. Deaths slowed last week, but the infection rate is growing in half the states. U.S. travel picks up. The Northeast states that suffered in earlier months now quarantine arrivals from the high-infection states. European carriers grow capacity as the continent prepares for a July 1 reopening that may not permit Americans to visit. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 14-20, 2020

Read all about it! The nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 115,000 119,000. The second wave seems to be starting in states that opened early. More airlines around the world resume service. U.S. airlines add back some flights, but traffic remains below 20 percent of 2019's totals. And more. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for June 7-13, 2020

Read all about it! The nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 110,000 115,000 and the number of confirmed cases passes the two-million mark. Protests around the nation overshadow the pandemic and its effects. New York City opens up just as London and Britain launch 14-day quarantines. Flight traffic jumps yet remains a small fraction of 2019 volume. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 31-June 6, 2020

Read all about it! As the nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 100,000 105,000 110,000, the nation's cities are hit with peaceful protests and violent riots. European carriers begin to fly again and the continent's major tourist countries plan to reopen to the world. U.S travel inches up from its mid-April floor. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 24-May 30, 2020

Read all about it! As the nation's Coronavirus death toll surges past 95,000 100,000 103,000, holiday travel "surges" back to about 13 percent of 2019's numbers. Some international travel resumes, but new bans are instituted, too. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 17-May 23, 2020

Read all about it! As the national Coronavirus death toll surges past the 85,000 90,000 95,000 96,000 mark, all eyes are on the states that opened quickly. Will their infection and death rates spike? Asia deals with zero tourism as bans on visitors continue. European countries sweat the decisions to open to some tourism. Flying is still down more than 90 percent compared to 2019, but surges for Memorial Day. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 10-May 16, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 75,000 80,000 85,000 88,000 mark. European countries make plans for slow, phased openings. The United States is more chaotic. Airlines and airports go beyond masks to temperature checks. Travel is picking up--if you squint and squeeze the numbers. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for May 3-May 9, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 65,000 70,000 75,000 78,000 mark. We enter the era of the masked flyer. New York closes its subways for the first time ever. Airline losses keep piling up. Traffic doesn't. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 26-May 2, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 66,000 mark. Some states loosen restrictions while European countries will keep things closed into the summer. U.S. airline traffic begins to nudge up as airline earnings plunge. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 19-April 25, 2020

Read all about it! The nationwide Coronavirus death toll surges past the 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000 52,000 mark, but progress is made in Italy, Spain, Austria and France. Governors start opening their states. Airlines begin to declare bankruptcy and the first tranche of first-quarter financial results are brutal. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 12-April 18, 2020

U.S. governors talk about when the states can reopen even as nationwide Coronavirus deaths surge past the 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 mark. Airlines whine about the terms of the bailout money they're getting from the nation's taxpayers. And only fools and self-important pundits know anything about the future of travel. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for April 5-April 11, 2020

Read all about it! As the world convulses with the waves of Coronavirus, the toll on the travel industry is revealed. Remaining flights are essentially empty, airports are shutting terminals and business travelers have nowhere to go--and aren't in a rush to get there. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 29-April 4, 2020

Read all about it! Domestic travel is down more than 90 percent from last year. More states impose stay-at-home orders. The death toll in Italy and Spain continues to skyrocket. And doctors and nurses are scrambling for supplies to help Coronavirus patients--and protect themselves. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 22-28, 2020

The new "new normal"? International transit airports barring transit passengers. U.S. states demanding arrivals from other U.S. states quarantine themselves on arrival. U.S. passenger volume dropping by 90 percent in a matter of days. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 15-21, 2020

Read all about it! The world is closing--and we watch in personal and transportation isolation. Countries are closing borders, airlines are all but shut and hotels are putting the keys in the door. Here's how we're covering it. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 8-14, 2020

Read all about it! Italy, Spain, France and Israel shut down. Other countries close their borders as the United States preps for what's to come. The Trump Administration botches the roll out of a ban on "all travel from Europe." U.S. carriers begin cutting service to the bone. Here's how it's happening. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for March 1-7, 2020

Read all about it! Italy emerges as the new Coronavirus hotspot so airlines begin making huge service cuts there. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines resume some flying. The chief rabbi of Israel says don't kiss the mezuzah. The travel industry starts tallying the financial damage. Here's how it's happening. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for February 15-29, 2020

Read all about it! The Coronavirus spreads around the globe. Japan, South Korea and Italy are hit hard and airlines quickly drop their flights. Tourism disappears and companies begin telling employees to curtail business travel. The Tokyo Summer Olympics may be threatened. Airlines begin rolling out gimmicky fee waivers to nervous flyers. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for February 1-14, 2020

Read all about it! The spread of the Coronavirus is still mostly affecting mainland China, but Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are losing flights and visitors, too. As Chinese tourists stay home, however, the travel industry learns how much they mean to airline traffic, cruise ships and hotels. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for January 23-31, 2020

Read all about it! As the Coronavirus worsens, airlines have reacted by slashing service to Hong Kong and mainland China. Retailers and food-service giants such as McDonald's are closing locations, too. And neighboring countries are closing their borders. Click here for the day-to-day details.