Read all about it! More than 219,000 220,000 225,000 Americans have died during the virus pandemic and predictions for the next few months are dire. U.S. infection rates soar to mid-summer highs. Cruise lines consider reopening. Airlines and hotels try to imagine the future. Global lockdowns get more severe. Airlines face ugly numbers. And more. Read up from the bottom for context.

Coronavirus Update for October 24, 2020

Universal adoption of masks could save 130,000 lives by the springtime, according to a new study. The Hill has the details. I'm sure some moonbat right-wing site has a complete rundown of why Americans have the freedom and the right not to help save the lives of fellow Americans. Go find it yourself if that sort of garbage appeals to you. Here are today's other developments:
        America first Johns Hopkins says there were 83,757 new cases of Coronavirus infection on Friday in the United States. That's the highest one-day total of the pandemic. Even with the reduced mortality rate in recent weeks, it augers very bad things for the days ahead.
        The new "normal" The TSA says that 958,437 people passed through airport checkpoints on Friday. That's 36.9 percent of 2019 volume, the fifth day in the last nine at 36 percent give or take a few basis points.
        Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian says 460 people are now on a "no fly" list because they violated the carrier's in-flight mask mandate.
        Now they run on-time ... The DOT says U.S. airlines operated 90.5 percent on-time during July. The best-performing carrier? Southwest Airlines at 94.5 percent. The worst? JetBlue Airways at 85.4 percent. So now we know the secret of on-time operation: Fly empty planes.
        Not much light at the end of the tunnel Eurostar, the rail service that connects England with key points on continental Europe via the Eurotunnel under the English Channel, has sharply reduced its schedules. The U.K. edition of Business Traveller magazine has the details.

Coronavirus Update for October 23, 2020

Idaho's hospitals are now at 99 percent capacity as the Coronavirus surges in the Gem State. So, of course, one Idaho county has repealed its mask mandate. Because, muh, freedom. The Hill has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Turgid Thursday The TSA says that 934,386 people passed through airport checkpoints on Thursday. That's 36.7 percent of 2019 volume, within a tenth of a point of last Thursday's performance.
        Alberta, Canada, is testing a new Coronavirus test option for arrivals at Calgary Airport and the Coutts land border crossing with the United States. If the test comes back negative, travelers can leave quarantine as long as they commit to getting a second test about a week later. Otherwise, the standard 14-day quarantine rules apply.
        Un demi-pain About half of France's population will be under a 9pm to 6am curfew starting tonight. The new restriction covers 54 of France's 96 mainland départements and about 46 million people.
        Feeling two-foot small IAG, the parent company of British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Volaris and Level, will operate just 30 percent of its total schedule in the fourth quarter. That is down sharply from a previous estimate of 54 percent.
        Cathay Pacific, which killed its Cathay Dragon subsidiary this week, says it'll operate less than 50 percent of its capacity through 2021. Cathay doesn't expect to return to 2019 schedules until 2023.

Coronavirus Update for October 22, 2020

Pick your poisonous datapoints: Yesterday was another day of 60,000+ new infections and more than 1,000 Coronavirus deaths in the United States. Meanwhile, airlines today reported quarterly losses of $2.4 billion (American), $1.16 billion (Southwest) and $431 million (Alaska Air). Here are today's other developments:
        Wicked Wednesdays The TSA says that 694,150 people passed through airport checkpoints on Wednesday. That's 30.9 percent of 2019 volume, the lowest daily number since ... last Wednesday, when 30.9 percent of 2019 volume passed through airport checkpoints.
        Southern exposure The Campagnia and Lazio regions of Italy impose nightly curfews starting Friday. The Lazio region curfew is midnight to 5am. Campagnia's is 11pm to 6am. That means Italy's three largest cities--Milan, Rome and Naples--all have curfews. Lombardia, the area surrounding Milan, moved to a curfew earlier this week.
        Manchester, England's third-largest city, is moving to the highest level of alert. Effective Friday, pubs, bars and cafes not serving meals must close. So must betting shops, casinos and gaming centers. Residents are urged not to travel out of the area.
        Southwest Airlines says that its July load factor was 42.6 percent, followed by 42.2 percent in August and 51.5 percent in September. Southwest estimates that October and November load factors will be in the 50-55 percent range. The airline also announced it will resume selling all seats on aircraft effective December 1.
        Worst quarter ever The U.S. hotel industry recorded its worst-ever third quarter on record, according to lodging statisticians STR. Nightly occupancy was 48 percent and average daily rate was $101.25. The numbers are skewed, however, since many hotels around the country remain closed.

Coronavirus Update for October 21, 2020

The United States topped 60,000 new infections yesterday, tossing us back to the worst moments of the summer spike. But a bit of good news: For a variety of reasons, the death rate from Coronavirus is dropping in most age groups. NPR has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Look out below The TSA says that 662,484 people passed through airport checkpoints on Tuesday. That is a tumble of around 250,000 passengers from Monday, notable but not necessarily unusual since Tuesday is one of the slowest traffic days of the week. It represents 31.2 percent of 2019 volume, slightly better than the two previous Tuesdays in October.
        Washington, D.C. has cancelled next year's cherry blossom parade although other festivities will take place.
        Tumbling dice Eurocontrol says "big scale backs [are] underway" in Europe's skies. Aircraft volume, which had edged north of 50 percent of 2019 traffic in August, fell to 38.8 percent yesterday.
        Exit the dragon Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong flag carrier, says it will kill its Cathay Dragon regional full-service carrier. Most routes will be transferred back to the mainline carrier or HK Express, the low-fare airline it purchased last year.
        New York state of mind The New York metropolitan area--which includes Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania--won't demand a 14-day quarantine for the region's travelers and commuters despite the fact that several of those states exceed the infection threshold imposed on dozens of other states. The New York Times has the details.

Coronavirus Update for October 20, 2020

Only Hawaii recorded fewer new Coronavirus infections during the last seven days, according to CNN. More than three dozen states recorded more than the previous week while the others held steady, the network says. Here are today's other developments:
        Back to "normal" The TSA says that 921,031 people passed through airport checkpoints on Monday. That's 36.6 percent of 2019 volume, exactly the same as last Monday, October 12.
        Let's get tiny Europe's commercial aircraft traffic last week fell to 43.7 percent of 2019 activity, according to Eurocontrol, which handles the continent's air traffic control. The agency says passenger volume is only about 25 percent of 2019 levels.
        Now you tell us A thirty-something woman died on a flight from Arizona to Texas in July, but no one was told the cause: Coronavirus. The NBC affiliate in Dallas has the details.
        Washington, D.C. added eight more states to its list of places where visitors must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the district.
        Ireland says bars and restaurants can only offer takeaway or delivery service and those who can work from home must do so. Exercise is only permitted within five kilometers of home. Restrictions go into effect on Wednesday.
        Belgium says bars, cafes and restaurants can only offer takeaway service and must close at 10pm. Alcohol sales must end at 8pm. Flea markets and Christmas markets are prohibited. In public spaces, groups are limited to four people. The restrictions are effective immediately.
        Something, something Kansas, Toto Every resident of one Kansas nursing home contracted Coronavirus. So have some of the staff. The Hill has the details.

Coronavirus Update for October 19, 2020

Donald Trump attacked his presidential opponent yesterday in Colorado. His line of attack? Joe Biden "will listen to the scientists." The Hill has the perplexing details. Here are today's other developments:
        A million! The TSA says that 1,031,505 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. It's the first time since March 16 that a million people have been in U.S. airports. But at 39.6 percent of 2019 volume, it still trails the 44 percent registered on September 4, the Friday before Labor Day, and the 40.8 percent achieved on Labor Day.
        Canada says land borders with the United States will remain closed until November 21. The border have been closed since March and no nonessential land crossings permitted.
        Wales is headed back into full lockdown effective on Friday. People must stay at home. Pubs, restaurants, hotels and nonessential shops will shut. The shutdown will last until November 9. The BBC has all of the details.
        Hard times at the hotel National overviews of the hard times in the hotel industry might not be as useful as local snapshots. The Business Journals, which publishes locally, offers some shocking details from Asheville, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Seattle, Washington. Meanwhile, The New York Times offers granular details of the day-by-day struggles of a small, family-owned chain of hotels.
        Allora! Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has devolved Coronavirus safety to the country's mayors. They are now empowered to enforce curfews as early as 9pm in public squares and ban local festivals. Meanwhile, restaurants and bars nationwide will be permitted to remain open until midnight, but it's table service only starting at 6pm. That's three hours earlier than before.

Coronavirus Update for October 18, 2020

Twitter has removed anti-mask posts issued by radiologist Dr. Scott Atlas, who just happens to be President Trump's current go-to savant on the pandemic. Because believing in science is no longer required in key Trump Administration science positions. The Hill has the details. Here are today's other developments:
        Saturday "strength" The TSA says that 788,743 people passed through airport checkpoints yesterday. That's 38.4 percent of 2019 volume, higher than the previous two Saturdays this month.
        Can't fool them "We can really throw away the crystal ball," says Ankit Gupta, United Airlines vice president for domestic network planning. That's the type of insightful planning going on at United during the pandemic, explains The New York Times. The details are here.
        Numbers don't lie More than 69,000 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the United States on Friday, the highest number in a single day since mid-July. There were about 57,000 new infections on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins.
        Cycle of stupidity This summer's huge motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, may be the cause of the current Coronavirus outbreak in the Dakotas, Wyoming, Minnesota and Montana. The Washington Post has the distressing details.
        Cruising before Coronavirus A federal judge said she will require Carnival to certify that each of its cruise ships is compliant with its probation obligations 60 days before those ships reenter U.S. waters to restart cruises. But the order doesn't involve Coronavirus and covers pre-pandemic offenses by the world's largest cruise conglomerate. The Miami Herald via MSN.com has the details.
        Lombardia, the epicenter of Italy's Coronavirus when Italy was the global epicenter, is cracking down again. After 6pm bars of all type will be barred from selling alcohol for takeaway and may only serve customers seated at tables. The consumption of food and drink in all public outside areas is now also prohibited. The new restrictions will continue until at least November 6.

Coronavirus Update for October 11-17, 2020

Read all about it! More than 214,000 215,000 219,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as the second wave takes hold around the world. Cities and countries eschew total lockdowns, but restrictions on daily life return. The airlines and hotel chains warn it will be years before 2019 travel patterns return. Airline third-quarter numbers are predictably dreary. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for October 4-10, 2020

Read all about it! More than 209,000 210,000 214,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as a second wave engulfs many Western nations. Cities once past the worst of the Coronavirus begin new shutdowns. The White House Coronavirus crisis deepens. Airlines rethink international routes. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

Coronavirus Update for Sept. 27-October 3, 2020

Read all about it! More than 204,000 205,000 209,000 Americans have died during the pandemic as global deaths pass one million. Airlines trim fall/winter transatlantic flights since there's little chance countries will open their borders to the United States. And more. Click here for the day-to-day details.

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.