Read all about it! More than 204,000 205,000 209,000 Americans have died during the virus pandemic as global deaths pass one million. Airlines trim fall and winter transatlantic flights since there's little chance countries will open their borders to the United States. The White House becomes a Coronavirus hotspot. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update for October 3, 2020

The White House crisis intensifies. Yesterday evening, Trump was helicoptered to Walter Reed. At least three U.S. senators--Johnson of Wisconsin, Lee of Utah and Tillis of North Carolina--have tested positive. So has the top Trump campaign official (Bill Stepien); Kellyanne Conway, former Presidential advisor; former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Rev. John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame; and three White House beat reporters. There are indications the virus spread at the White House event last Saturday introducing Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and during President Trump's private prep for Tuesday's debate. Eleven people who worked on the debate itself also tested positive. Here are today's other developments:
        Rules? Where we're going we don't need rules! In violation of Delta Air Lines rules, three GOP Congressmen flew back to Minnesota yesterday after being exposed to the Coronavirus when they flew with President Trump on Air Force One. The Star Tribune has the details.
        United Airlines says it will fly 49 percent of its domestic 2019 schedule in November. It will fly only 38 percent of its international schedule, however.
        Texas has now surpassed New Jersey and is the state with the second-highest Coronavirus death toll. New York State, the U.S. epicenter in the spring, still has by far the most deaths.
        Order(s) in the court In a 4-3 ruling, the Michigan Supreme court said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer exceeded her authority when she extended Coronavirus measures via executive orders. Whitmer has 21 days to change the rulings. Michigan is one of the country's current Coronavirus hotspots.
        Friday figures The TSA says that 857,186 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 33.9 percent of 2019 traffic, right where we've been since the Labor Day "rebound" ended.

Coronavirus Update for October 2, 2020

President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Trump aide Hope Hicks all tested positive last evening for the Coronavirus. GOP leader Ronna McDaniel has also tested positive. Vice President Pence and his wife have tested negative. Here are today's other developments:
        Hotel occupancy in the United States was 48.7 percent for the week ended September 26. It is now a month since nationwide occupancy last reached 50 percent.
        It is what it is The TSA says that nearly 856,000 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday. That's 35 percent of 2019 volume, right about where Thursdays have been since the Labor Day Weekend "surge" subsided.
        Hawaiian Airlines says nonstop flights from Honolulu to Oakland, San Jose and Phoenix resume November 1.
        Amtrak says trains between downtown Denver and the Winter Park ski resort will not return this winter. The train has traditionally run on weekends from January through March.
        Cardiff Airport traffic is down 93 percent compared to this time last year, according to the interim chief executive of the facility owned by the Welsh government.
        Ukraine has lifted all restrictions barring visitors from entering the country.

Coronavirus Update for October 1, 2020

The Agriculture Department now requires surplus food boxes distributed to needy families during the pandemic carry a note from President Trump. Traditionalists and Democrats are enraged. But the note is almost anodyne by Trump's combative standards. Politico.com has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Falling in the fall Eurocontrol, which handles airline traffic in the European skies, says aircraft traffic in September was down 54 percent from 2019. That is a poorer performance than August, when traffic fell "only" 51 percent. But that's not the bad news: Eurocontrol expects aircraft traffic to be down as much as 58 percent in October and November and 60 percent in January, 2021.
        Same old same old The TSA says about 634,000 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That is down around 240,000 from Sunday, which has emerged as the busiest day for flying in these pandemic times. But it's also 30.4 percent of 2019 volume, so it's right where we've been since Labor Day.
        Los Angeles County will allow indoor operations at malls and nail salons to resume over the next 10 days. Outdoor playgrounds will also be allowed to reopen.
        Madrid is now in a new version of total lockdown. The more than three million residents of the Spanish capital are only permitted essential travel. Restaurants and bars must close at 11 pm, an early hour for Spanish diners.
        Dubai bars and restaurants must now close by 1am. Hotels may serve until 3am, however. Diners are limited to groups of eight. These are rather strict regulations for a 24-hour city such as Dubai.

Coronavirus Update for September 30, 2020

Just hours after President Trump congratulated himself during the debate--"I brought back football!"--the NFL has announced the Pittsburgh Steelers-Tennessee Titans game on Sunday has been cancelled due to positive Coronavirus tests among the players. Here are today's other developments:
        Tennessee has rolled back all Coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses. The state's six largest cities, including Nashville and Memphis, will be allowed to formulate and/or continue their own restrictions.
        Typical Tuesday The TSA says that 568,688 people passed through airport checkpoints on Tuesday. It represents 28.4 percent of 2019 volume. That's right where we've been since Labor Day weekend.
        Disney is laying off 28,000 full- and part-time employees. Although the company did not break out layoffs by park, Disneyland in Anaheim remains closed, Hong Kong Disneyland has closed twice this year and Disney's Florida parks are working with reduced hours and capacity.
        Ireland hotels expect October occupancy nationwide to be just 23 percent and November occupancy to fall to only 12 percent.
        One and done Blue Islands airlines, which serves the Channel Islands, yesterday cancelled flights between Jersey and East Midlands, England. The route had operated for just one day when the decision was made. Flights end October 13.
        You've got to hide your boss away Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is self-isolating after an aide tested positive for Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Update for September 29, 2020

The global death toll from Coronavirus has now passed one million, according to Johns Hopkins. And that doesn't even include the real numbers from China and Russia that may never be known. Here are today's other developments:
        Settle for a third The TSA says that 797,699 people passed through airport checkpoints on Monday. That represents 33.6 percent of 2019 volume, right around the average for "busy travel days" since the end of the Labor Day weekend.
        Singapore Airlines is desperate to raise funds with most of its aircraft grounded. Solution? Turn one of its A380s into a restaurant and to-go versions of its in-flight food. Reuters has the details.
        Oh, never mind The global airline trade group IATA has retracted most of its rosier recovery forecasts for worldwide travel. Bleak forward bookings lead it to predict 2020 airline volume will be down 66 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. International traffic in August was down 88 percent and global flying volume is just 25 percent of 2019 levels.
        Melbourne, Australia's second-busiest gateway, will continue to bar overseas traffic until at least early November.

Coronavirus Update for September 28, 2020

The director of the CDC was overheard criticizing President Trump's newest Coronavirus wonder boy. "Everything he says is false," CDC Director Robert Redfield said about Dr. Scott Atlas. The details are here. Here are today's other developments:
        Flag warning The huge financial company that owns more than 120 Marriott-branded hotels is threatening to move them to the Sonesta flag. The firm, SVC, says Marriott owes millions in payments. SVC moved more than 100 Intercontinental properties to Sonesta earlier this year over IHC's missed payments.
        "Good" news The TSA says that 873,038 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 35.6 percent of 2019 volume, the "best" performance since Labor Day weekend.
        Bye-bye, billion OAG, the airline industry's schedulekeeper, says one billion fewer seats have been scheduled since January 20 compared to the same eight-month time frame in 2019.
        Blame Canada United and Delta airlines have cut their fall transborder schedules as the United States and Canada have continued the warning against nonessential travel.
        Between a Little Rock and a pandemic place Little Rock teachers say they won't appear for in-person instruction, citing Coronavirus issues in school buildings in the Arkansas capital. KATV has the details.

Coronavirus Update for September 27, 2020

The United States is fifth in deaths per 100,000 population, according to Johns Hopkins. Peru, with more than 100 deaths per 100,000, "leads" the world, followed by Brazil and Chile. Spain in fourth at 66.84 deaths then the United States at 62.50. Here are today's other developments:
        Grim going The U.S. lodging industry's trade group says a survey of members reveals that 68 percent of hotels are employing fewer than half their pre-pandemic staff. About three-quarters expect further layoffs. About half the properties say they fear foreclosure and more than two-thirds say they can't survive more than six months with current cash flows.
        Minneapolis/St.Paul traffic is down about 70 percent since the pandemic began and local officials are beginning to wonder about its future as a hub for Delta Air Lines. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has details.
        Fun with fractions The TSA says that 659,350 people passed through airport checkpoints on Saturday. That represents 33.5 percent of 2019 volume. It closes out a week that had fractionally more traffic than last week.
        Let's try this Delta Air Lines abandoned flights between its Salt Lake City hub and Guadalajara in January 2018. But desperate for traffic wherever it can find it, Delta says it will resume daily Airbus A319 flights on the run starting November 8.
        Air France is trimming schedules for the rest of the year as its traffic projections turn out to be overly optimistic. Among the routes taking big hits: New York-Paris. JFK-Orly has been cancelled until the spring and JFK-Paris/CDG has been slashed to three daily flights from five.

Coronavirus Update for September 20-26, 2020

Read all about it! More than 199,000 200,000 204,000 Americans have died during the Coronavirus pandemic. Airlines and hotels cut back because there is little traffic to support more optimistic approaches. Europe resumes some limited lockdowns. Airline bosses expect the worst. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for September 13-19, 2020

Read all about it! More than 193,000 195,000 199,000 Americans have died during the virus pandemic as positive cases pass the 6.5-million mark. Countries that once "beat" the virus experience a dreaded second wave. Flying numbers fall as both business and leisure travel slows. Hotels are closing forever. Ground borders in North America remain closed. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for September 6-12, 2020

Read all about it! More than 188,000 190,000 193,000 have died during the pandemic in the United States. Schools and universities continue to cancel or curtail in-person classes. U.S. airlines press for another bailout, but the Senate omits it from its bill. The travel industry begins autumn cutbacks as the summer uptick flattens. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 30-Sept. 5, 2020

Read all about it! The United States has now passed 6 million confirmed cases and 182,000 185,000 188,000 dead. That's about 24 percent of the global cases and 20 percent of the death toll. We are 4 percent of the world's population. Meanwhile, more and more 2021 events are cancelled as travel dials back from a brief summer "high." And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 23-August 29, 2020

Read all about it! The death toll from Coronavirus surges past 175,000 180,000 182,000 as European and Asian nations deal with resurgences of the virus. Flying hits the wall as daily traffic sags noticeably. Airlines globally begin to pull down service again. And more. Click here for day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for August 16-August 22, 2020

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. Click here for day-to-day 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.